The DJI Phantom 2 Vision+ is currently the best option for a fully assembled, ready-to-fly drone or quadcopter with a camera. Whether you need buttery smooth video footage or still photos from the air, I have found that Vision+ will be the least setup time, most beginner-friendly, and *can* be less expensive than assembling a custom solution to do the same job (especially if you need first-person-view, FPV).
BEST FEATURES (WHAT I LIKED)
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✔ GIMBAL: The standout feature of the Vision+ is the 3-axis gimbal with the 1080p video camera (14 MP still photos) built right in. DJI makes high-end gimbals and ventured into cameras late last year with the original Phantom 2 Vision, but that model had a single-axis gimbal with plastic construction. Now just over 6 months later comes the Vision+ with same camera specs and an all-metal design that integrates both the camera and the gimbal into a sleek, lightweight alloy. Finally, this new gimbal lets the camera **look straight down**, giving you a point of view that wasn't possible with the original Vision.
✔ BATTERY: Flight time of the Vision+ is about 25 minutes with the included **intelligent battery**. First introduced with the Phantom 2 Vision, this is the same 5,200-mAh battery used for all the Phantom 2 models and is light years ahead of the small battery (connected by a difficult-to-attach wire) included with the original Phantom series.
✔ DJI's VISION APP: For both Android and iPhone, the Vision App is the final aspect that separates the Vision+ from the do-it-yourself crowd and from the non-Vision copters in DJI's lineup. First released with the Phantom 2 Vision, the latest version of the app adds support for the Vision+ gimbal, but it's mostly the same app already used on the original Vision. I liked the radar positioning feature that shows the Vision+ in relation to your location. The Wi-Fi range is up to 700m with this version and, while there's some lag and you may need to suffer with 15 fps, it's very cool to see what the copter is seeing from over a quarter mile away.
CAMERA SPECS AND PERFORMANCE
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The camera's housing has changed to all-metal and integrates nicely with the gimbal, but the basic specs haven't changed since the original Phantom 2 Vision. The sensor is capable of 1080p HD video at 30 fps (30p) or 60 interlaced frames per second (60i) and outputs 14MP stills in either sensor RAW (which programs like Adobe Lightroom 5 support for enhanced dynamic range and white balance tweaking) or the more standard JPEG format. Adobe's also providing lens correction profiles (especially helpful for barrel distortion) in their newest raw processing engine in Photoshop's ACR and Lightroom.
Back to the hardware, the lens also seems identical with an f/2.8 maximum aperture and a 140-degree field of view. The video can be cropped to still get 1080p footage from the center of the frame, yielding more natural looking videos without the extreme wide-angle look of the 140-degree lens. All in all the video from this camera has a slight edge over the GoPro Hero3+, and I'll be posting some follow-up stills and comparison tests.
BUT HOW DOES IT FLY?
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With a camera and gimbal attached, you'd be forgiven for thinking that the Vision+ is less nimble than the unencumbered Phantom 1. I did see a difference in flying, and I think it's because (not yet verified) that the software settings for how quickly the copter responds have been toned down a bit. It's much easier to fly the Vision+ smoothly, and we found it easier to keep the camera steady even if you factor out the gimbal. The Vision+ seems destined for a life of grand panoramic bliss as it glides across your favorite landscape or event.
All the standard Phantom series features are present including the emergency automatic landing at your home point, intelligent orientation control and GPS/manual stability control.
CONCLUSION
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DECISION: With the price drop on the original Vision to $999 and the introduction of this new model, you've now got a quandary: spend what you would have spent last week on the Vision to get this new, improved model, or save $300 and go for the older (6 months, mind you!) model with only a single axis. For me, the question comes down to a simple choice--if you're looking to make serious movies that people will actually want to see, go for the Vision+. The extra stability from the gimbal and the elegant camera design are worth every cent and the whole system is now so tightly integrated that this new model has become more than just a "Vision with a gimbal". It's a whole new generation.
CONS:
✔ $1300 is a big price tag. This is not a quick decision for most people. Do the reading and think in advance if you can stomach a total failure due to your own fault or some external circumstance. If you can't risk this much money, don't buy it.
✔ The camera is stuck on the copter. The most alluring competitor to this copter is the Phantom 2 with a 3D Gimbal and some GoPro variant. If you already a GoPro Hero3 (preferably 3+), then buy the Phantom 2. If you have an older GoPro or none at all, then buy the Vision+. The advantage of the GoPro combo is that you can use the GoPro for other projects, like diving, surfing, biking, driving too fast, etc. The Vision+ camera stays put and is only usable in the air.
FINAL WORD:
If you merely want to *experiment* with first-person video and like playing with the latest toy, consider the Phantom FC40, also from DJI, or the even cheaper Parrott AR 2.0 drone that uses your smartphone to view and control the craft in flight. Both of these will satisfy your novelty itch and cost less than half as much as the Vision+. But those the budding film-maker or someone who uses a quadcopter for their job (farmer, realtor, emergency response, government), the Vision+ is the real deal. You take it out, screw on the props, charge the batteries and fly, with plenty of time left over to watch the videos you take!
This bundle contains 3 items
1 of DJI Phantom 2 Vision+ Quadcopter with FPV HD Video Camera and 3-Axis Gimbal
(169)
- Super smooth video thanks to the 3-axis gimbal
- Crystal clear stills and live streaming video from the redesigned HD video camera with built-in FPV link
- Extra-long flight times of up to 25 minutes from the intelligent 5,200-mAh battery
- More flight power and security from the high-efficiency self-tightening propellers
- Advanced GPS-based navigation and programmable features you can set up via the built-in USB port
1 of DJI Battery for Phantom 2 and Phantom 2 Vision (White)
(150)
- 5,200 mAh
- 25-28 minutes of run-time on a single charge
- Advanced charging and fail-safe circuitry built-in
1 of DJI Part28 Phantom 2 Series 9-Inch Prop Guards (White)
(104)
- Protects your quad copter from prop damage
- Lightweight and durable
- Compatible with all Phantom series quad copters
- Sized for use with 9" propellers
- Includes safety cord to prevent objects from entering spaces between guards
Savings Details
| List | Price | |
| DJI Phantom 2 Vision+ Quadcopter with... | $1,399.00 | $1,159.00 |
| DJI Battery for Phantom 2 and Phantom 2... | $199.00 | $129.00 |
| DJI Part28 Phantom 2 Series 9-Inch Prop... | $29.99 | $19.00 |
| Total Bought Separately: | $1,307.00 | |
| Bundle Price: | $1,307.00 | |
