DJI Phantom 4 Pro Versus DJI Inspire 2

DJI Phantom Pro Versus DJI Inspire 2 The Phantom 4 Pro and Inspire 2 from DJI are some of the most impressive quadcopters on the consumer and professional market. With the release of the Phantom 4 Pro Obsidian range and the Zenmuse X7 camera for the Inspire 2, heliguy™ Insider have been comparing the two aircraft to see which drone is best for you. We are looking into the appearance, performance, the cameras available and which applications they are suited to. Keep reading for more information on of these remarkable aircraft.

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Specifications

Take a look at the below specifications for each drone.

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What’s Included?

Now you know the specifications, take a look at what's included with each aircraft.   As you can see, there’s very little difference between the standard versions of the aircraft. Each aircraft comes with a carry case which gives you storage and transport options. It’s worth noting, the Phantom 4 Pro is also available in the Phantom 4 Pro+ which comes with a built-in 1,000nit display on the remote controller.

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Appearance

Versus Appearance The Phantom 4 Pro has built on the design of the Phantom range, in particular, the Phantom 4. The Phantom 4 Pro is available in its original version, the standard white and the new Obsidian grey. Despite the colour differences, the two models are almost identical. The only other difference between the two versions is the gimbal coating. The Obsidian has an anti-fingerprint coating likely due to the new colouring. The Phantom 4 Pro weighs in at 1388g and is compact in size at 20 cm tall and around 60 cm across with props fully extended. This makes for easy transportation, especially when using the included carry case. The Phantom 4 Pro has a  sturdy and reliable design that has been developed across the Phantom range. The Inspire 2 has a magnesium-aluminium alloy shell with carbon fibre arms. In flying mode, the Inspire 2 is 31 cm tall and 20 cm in its travelling mode. The length is just over 100 cm in both modes, nearly double that of the Phantom 4 Pro. It weighs in at 3440 g without the camera or gimbal. The Inspire 2 comes in a travel case to help with transport however, a vehicle would ideally be necessary for transport as opposed to the Phantom 4 Pro which could be carried. Keep reading for details on the performance of each aircraft.

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Performance

Versus Performance The Phantom 4 Pro is packed full of impressive functionality to give a great pilot experience. There is 5-direction obstacle sensing and 4-direction obstacle avoidance on the Phantom. This makes flying both indoors and outdoors significantly safer even when travelling at speeds of up to 31mph. Also featured on the Phantom 4 Pro is dual compass modules and dual IMU increasing the drones reliability and precision. The Phantom 4 Pro can reach speeds of up to 45 mph (72 kph) in its Sport Mode. Additionally, the Phantom 4 Pro has access to DJI's Intelligent Flight Modes. ActiveTrack, TapFly, Draw and others are available to give pilots more creative freedom and extensive control over their aircraft. Phantom 4 Pro and Inspire 2 in Flight The Inspire 2 built on the success of the Inspire 1 to create an incredible aircraft capable of a wide range of tasks. Firstly, the Inspire 2 has forward and downward vision systems that are able to sense obstacles at up to 34mph (54kph) from up to 30 meters away; and upward facing infrared sensors that can detect obstacles at up to 5 meters away. The Inspire 2 has a top speed of a huge 58mph (94 kph) and can go from  0 to 50mph (80kph) in just five seconds. The Inspire 2 has a number of dual redundancy modules such as the IMU and barometer helping the aircraft receive the most accurate flight data. Like the Phantom 4 Pro, the Inspire 2 has access to a wide range of DJI's Intelligent Flight Modes. TapFly, ActiveTrack, Intelligent Return to Home and more modes can be accessed. The Inspire 2 also has a CineCore image processing system, as well as the ability to be used with the DJI CINESSD Station and DJI's Broadcast Mode. Phantom 4 Pro and Inspire 2 Both the Inspire 2 and Phanom 4 Pro use DJI's Lightbridge remote controllers. They have access to 2.4GHz and 5.8 GHz frequencies in order to reduce interference. However, the Inspire 2 can be controlled using master and slave controllers for separate aircraft and gimbal control. This is a beneficial function for use as part of a team which gives pilots a huge amount of control as well as camera operators. Keep reading for more information on the cameras on both the Inspire 2 and Phantom 4 Pro.

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Camera

Versus Cameras The Phantom 4 Pro comes with a built-in 1 inch, 20 MP camera capable of up to 4K at 60fps and Burst Mode at 14 fps. The camera lens is comprised of eight elements in seven groups with a mechanical shutter to reduce rolling image distortion at high speeds. 11.6 stops of dynamic range are also available giving great image quality in high and low light situations. An ISO range of 100 to 6400 is available for video and 100 to 12800 for images. Phantom 4 Pro Obsidian   The Inspire 2 has three compatible cameras available, Zenmuse X4S, X5S and the brand new X7. Each of the cameras on the Inspire 2 has access to the CineCore image processing unit. Let's start by looking at the Zenmuse X4S camera, the camera closest to that on the Phantom 4 Pro. The X4S has a 1-inch sensor capable of capturing video in up to 4K at 60fps as well as images at 20 MP in single shot mode and burst shot at 14 fps. Like the Phantom 4 Pro camera, the X4S has 11.6 stops of dynamic range available and an ISO range of 100 to 6400 for video and 100 to 12800 for images. The X4S has a 6.6mm lens with an equivalent focal length of a 35mm camera. Zenmuse X4S The Zenmuse X5S is the mid-level camera available for the Inspire 2. It features a Micro 4/3 sensor capable of 5.2K at 30fps CinemaDNG video and Apple ProRes video as well as 4K at 60fps, however, a licence is required to access these capabilities. Additionally, 20.8MP stills and burst shots can be captured on the X5S. 12.8 stops of dynamic range are available giving high-quality results in high and low light situations. Eight lenses are available for the X5S from DJI, Panasonic and Olympus. The lenses offer varying focal lengths from 9mm-45mm which is proportionate to 18mm-90mm on a 35mm camera. Zenmuse X5S Finally, we have the new Zenmuse X7 Super 35 camera designed for high-end cinema-style filmmaking. The X7 is DJI highest performing aerial camera to date, capable of 6K CinemaDNG and 5.2K Apple ProRes as well as 20MP images as stills and bursts. Like the X5S, a licence is required to access the CinemaDNG and Apple ProRes. A huge dynamic range of 14 stops is available on the X7 giving remarkable results in most light conditions. Furthermore, the X7 has access to a new version of the CineCore processer, version 2.1 and the new DJI Cinema Colour System. These features allow pilots to capture the best results with limited noise and use the new D-Log curve and D-Gamut RGB. Four lenses are available for use with the X7 with focal lengths between 16 and 50 mm. This gives users even more creative control over this fantastic camera. Zenmuse X7 For more information on these cameras and to see our previous Insider Versus post, head here.

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Battery Life

Battery Versus The Phantom 4 Pro has a maximum flight time of approximately 30 minutes from its 15.2V 5870 mAh Intelligent Flight Battery. The Inspire 2 uses two TB50 Intelligent Flight Batteries for dual battery redundancy for increased safety and reliability. The batteries offer a self-heating function to allow use in colder conditions. Flight times vary dependent on payload, with an estimated flight time of 27 minutes with the X4S, its lightest camera. The X7, the heaviest payload, is around 23 minutes. Further information on battery care and maintenance can be found here.

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Summary

It's clear to see reasons why the Phantom 4 Pro and the Inspire 2 are at the top of the consumer and professional drone markets. They are both exceptional aircraft capable of producing extremely high-quality images and video. However, there are aspects that do set the aircraft apart. The Inspire 2 offers more flexibility over the cameras, lenses and the CinemaDNG and Apple ProRes licence capabilities. These features do come at an increased price, especially when buying the cameras, separate lenses and licences, which can be expensive than the Phantom 4 Pro. If you're wanting an aircraft for high-end, cinema-level video and image production, the Inspire 2 is likely to be the best aircraft for your line of work. If you're a photographer or videographer who doesn't need the capabilities of the Inspire 2, the Phantom 4 Pro is an ideal aircraft for you. It is also better suited to individuals so if you're working by yourself, controlling the Phantom 4 Pro may be easier. Whichever aircraft you choose, you're not going to be unhappy as they're some of the best drones from DJI to date.

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For any questions about any of the above information or DJI or Freefly products, please contact a member of the heliguy™ Team on 0191 249 4695 or email us at info@heliguy.com.

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