A new low! Or, we could say, a new low price…
🙂
DJI has announced a new entry model of the Phantom 3 – at the price of $799 complete with camera, gimbal and battery. This is an unheard-of price for a complete RTF camera unit and should allow many more consumers to buy into this fascinating hobby.
http://click.dji.com/1yk3KUe9TO2kUNTE
What does it have – and what doesn’t it have?
Things are moving so quickly in this hobby that it’s tough to keep up! With the introduction of the P3 Standard, DJI now have 3 models in the Phantom 3 line. The differences are basically as listed below:
P3 Pro – $1259 – 4K Video, Dual GPS, Lightbridge digital video feed to your device, VPS.
P3 Advanced – $999 – HD video, Dual GPS, Lightbridge digital video feed to your device, VPS.
P3 Standard – $799 – HD video, Single band GPS, wifi video feed to your device.
See full story —-
In short, the P3 standard has lesser range (up to 1,000 meters – which is far enough for most) is not designed for indoor low-level flight and has a weaker (but adequate) GPS system. It is, in many ways, an evolution of the former Phantom 2 Vision+ as opposed to the “revolution” of the other two P3s.
DJI is probably trying to appeal to various markets with this model. Beginners just stepping up from their toy models will find $799 a better entry price – and will be less concerned about a crash or loss than if the model was $1300. More experienced pilots often need a backup model for when they go on jobs shooting video or still pictures – at the $799 price it makes for good insurance for the semi-pro pilot. The 2015 Holiday Season is also coming up and lots of P3 Standard models are likely to be on the gift lists!
For the occasional user and hobbyists the lesser specs should still be more than enough to satisfy. The cash saved can be used for a second battery, a backpack and/or other items the budding pilot may find useful.
With this release DJI has locked up the lions share of the consumer market for RTF quadcopters for the remainder of 2015. 2016 may bring some new surprises such as a drone from GoPro, but it’s going to be difficult to compete with DJI due to their massive amount of resources and engineering.
Along with the release of the Phantom 3 Standard, DJI has announced an upgraded Pilot App named DJI Go. The same app will operate other DJI models and will feature upgrades such as true autonomous flight (waypoints, point of interest, etc.).
It’s an exciting time to be in this hobby – and the Phantom 3 Standard is likely to introduce many more to the pleasures of aerial photography.
Links:
Our review of the Phantom 3 (pro and advanced)
Our review of the Phantom 2 Vision + (this is somewhat similar to the P3 Standard)
More at the DJI site:
http://click.dji.com/1yk3KUe9TO2kUNTE
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