The DJI Inspire 2 quadcopter is aimed at professional users, especially high-end filmmakers wanting to capture stunning aerial content.
The drone supports cinematic cameras from DJI, most notably the Zenmuse X7 and X5S.
In essence, the Inspire 2 takes everything that was good about the revolutionary Inspire 1 , and improves it.
To capture the best content possible and unleash the true potential of the Inspire 2 and its cameras, licenses can be purchased (included in the Advanced Kits) to unlock CinemaDNG and/or Apple ProRes.
The Inspire 2 Activation Key activates the usage permission of CinemaDNG/Apple ProRes inside CineCore 2.0.
The CineCore 2.0 image processing system includes a high-performance video processor and high-speed storage system featuring DJI CINESSD and the optimised FAT32/exFAT file system.
The licences unlock these capabilities for high-level filmmaking purposes and enable Hollywood-grade video formats to be captured for advanced post-production.
The advantages include:
The purchase of an activation key unlocks a licence permanently.
|
Activation Key |
Features |
Specs |
|---|---|---|
|
CinemaDNG Activation Key |
• CinemaDNG support
• Accurately records all details of a scene
• Oversampling captures more detail
• Popular workflow support
|
3840x2160 12bit 23.976*/24*/25*/29.97*/47.952◇ fps
3840x2160 10bit 50/59.94 fps ◇
4096x2160 12bit 23.976*/24*/25*/29.97*/47.952◇ fps
4096x2160 10bit 50/59.94 fps ◇
5280x2972 12bit 23.976/24/25/29.97 fps ◇
|
|
Apple ProRes Activation Key |
• Apple ProRes 422 HQ and Apple ProRes 4444 XQ (no alpha) support
• Oversampling captures more detail
• Popular workflow support
|
Apple ProRes 422 HQ:
3840x2160 23.976*/24*/25*/29.97* fps
5280x2160 23.976/24/25/29.97 fps
Apple ProRes 4444 XQ(no alpha):
3840x2160 23.976*/24*/25*/29.97* fps
|
|
CinemaDNG & Apple ProRes Activation Key |
• CinemaDNG and Apple ProRes support
• Oversampling captures more detail
• Popular workflow support
|
CinemaDNG:
3840x2160 12bit 23.976*/24*/25*/29.97*/47.952◇ fps
3840x2160 10bit 50/59.94 fps ◇
4096x2160 12bit 23.976*/24*/25*/29.97*/47.952◇ fps
4096x2160 10bit 50/59.94 fps ◇
5280x2972 12bit 23.976/24/25/29.97 fps ◇
Apple ProRes 422 HQ:
3840x2160 23.976*/24*/25*/29.97* fps
5280x2160 23.976/24/25/29.97 fps
Apple ProRes 4444 XQ(no alpha):
3840x2160 23.976*/24*/25*/29.97* fps
|
(*) Oversampling used. (◇) Only available when using 480G CINESSD.
Once you have purchased your Activation Key, either separately or included in the Inspire 2 Advanced Kits, you need to activate it. This is how:
The Inspire 2 has a built-in imaging system.
This includes dedicated storage to help make processing the high-quality images and video footage you record a breeze.
CineCore 2.0 is included, along with the ability to record 4K video @ 60fps.
There's also support for ProRes 5.2k video, H.264, H.265 and simultaneous recording to the DJI CINESSD and your SD card.
Thanks to the new CineCore 2.0 image processing technology included with the Inspire 2, the quality of images and stills that this new quadcopter can produce is nothing short of sensational.
The CineCore system is capable of recording 5.2K videos in DNG1, ProRes2 and other formats.
The system is integrated within the nose of the Inspire 2 and works with the following DJI cameras the X4S, X5S and X7.
Both of these cameras also support high-resolution stills.
A new obstacle avoidance system on the Inspire 2 is another step forward from the technology found on the Phantom 4.
The DJI Inspire 2 can detect obstacles from up to 30 meters away at a speed of up to 34mph.
The peace of mind that this provides will be invaluable for pilots while using their quadcopter.
In addition, there are infrared sensors on top of the Inspire 2 and sensors underneath the body of the aircraft help with accurate hovering.
These new sensors make the Inspire 2 an incredibly stable aircraft.
The Spotlight Pro camera mode is an intelligent tracking mode.
It allows Inspire 2 pilots to capture "complex, dramatic images".
The sensors allow the Inspire 2 to follow a single subject extremely accurately, regardless of the flight path of the quadcopter.
Shots that previously required a dedicated second camera operator can now be captured by a single pilot.
The Inspire 2 also has an onboard 2-axis FPV camera.
This gives the pilot a "flight view" as well as their feed from the attached camera and gimbal.
In FPV view, the pilot simply taps their route onto the screen and the drone will follow that route, giving the pilot complete control over the camera to capture the perfect shot.
The Inspire 2 has extra redundancy included.
This means that if one IMU or Compass were to fail in mid-flight, this new quadcopter would carry on flying, allowing the pilot to recover the aircraft safely.
The addition of a second battery also means that battery failure is no longer an issue.
If either of the batteries fails during flight, the second battery will take over and return the drone home.
The Inspire 2 has the following flight modes:
For more details on these flight modes, check out our in-depth blog post on the Inspire 2's body.
Experienced filmmaker, Chris Boyes, has used the DJI Inspire 2 to capture incredible footage for the BBC and L’Oréal.
And he admits that the drone and its cinematic cameras rekindled his passion for aerial photography. It's easy to see why, looking at this incredible shot!
Having struggled to capture content from paragliders and small aircraft, the Inspire 2 was Chris' 'Eureka! moment' and his company, 5kdigitalfilm, was born.
The top clients - and quality aerial content - duly followed.
Chris said: "The Inspire 2 is so flexible. You can shoot dolly shots or complicated crane shots in minutes that would usually take hours of setting up heavy equipment and cost the production thousands."
Chris chose heliguy™ as his drone supplier. He said: "I would like to thank everyone at heliguy™ for their support over the years. heliguy™ understands what most companies have failed to – that it’s not just about selling stuff, but a genuinely human and caring approach to every aspect of aftersales, service and support."
This showreel, from Pivotal, shows the capabilities of the Inspire 2 with the X5S and X7.
Indeed, film company Pivotal has used the drone and its cameras to shoot outstanding visuals for the likes of Netflix, WarnerMedia, the BBC, ITV and Channel 4.
Director of Film and Pivotal Co-founder, Phil Crothers, said: "As a filmmaker, drones have changed the environment completely and are an absolute necessity.”
And at the very heart of Pivotal's operation is the Inspire 2 with the X5S and X7.
Crothers said: "In terms of safety, operational capability and image capture, it is really hard to beat the DJI Inspire 2 drone with the X5S or X7 cameras.
"The X5S and the X7 for their raw capabilities, lenses and prime lens sets that you can use with them are very hard to beat in terms of bang for your buck, the image capture, the image capability and what you can get out of them.”
He praised heliguy™ for supporting the company, saying: "Heliguy has been instrumental from day one and the support they have given has been unquestionable. Whatever we have needed has come through when we needed it."
Oliver Sugars, of Leading Edge Films, deployed the Inspire 2 and X7 in an unforgiving desert environment to capture scenes for a National Geographic documentary in Jordan.
Encountering plenty of sand and intense heat along the way, the equipment was pushed to its limits - but it delivered, and Oliver described the Inspire 2 and the X7 as a powerful combination.
"With some stick inputs, the Inspire 2 handled the wind well when in motion," he said.
Not only is the Inspire 2 a rugged and reliable aircraft, it is also a speedy drone - which can be essential for filmmakers.
Oliver said: "The speed of the Inspire 2 came in handy when we were filming a fast-moving 4×4. I was able to do more than keep up, I could actually overtake, which added an extra dimension to the shots available to my director."
Oliver turned to heliguy™ to supply the equipment for the job, describing heliguy™ as his 'go-to UAV suppliers for a number of years'.
In addition to launching this powerful new quadcopter, DJI have also unveiled a range of add ons and accessories for the Inspire 2 available from launch or shortly afterwards.
These include:
DJI CINESSD - Available in 120gb, 240gb or 480gb variations, this CINESSD features PCIExpress 3.0, giving the fastest data transfer speeds available, up to 4.2gbps.
CINESSD Station - Used for connecting your CINESSD to your computer to make transferring images and video footage from the Inspire 2 simple.
DJI Licence Keys - Available for both ProRes and CinemaDNG, these licences allow the CineCore image processing unit found on the drone to record in your post-production format of choice.
CrystalSky Displays - This range of three DJI CrystalSky displays with bright displays to help outdoor photographers get the best view of their footage while in flight. The integrated video decoder makes video footage playback smooth enough for professional use.
Battery Charging Station - This 800W charging station will charge as many as 8 Inspire 2 batteries at one time. In addition, the station can hold 4 extra batteries that aren't charging and the standard battery charger. It also features 2 USB charging ports.
Cases - A range of cases are available - including the HPRC Inspire 2 Hard Case and 2 layer version.
Extra Batteries - To get more flight time, we suggest purchasing extra TB50 batteries for the Inspire 2.
Do you need some help and support with your DJI Inspire 2 drone?
Then the collection of guides and tutorials below should be able to help you out.
If not, and you are still struggling with your drone, give us a call on 0191 296 1024 or contact us for help.
