Following many months of speculation, DJI have finally revealed their latest product, the compact and impressive DJI Spark, but is the price-point overly optimistic for a drone capable of only 1080p.
DJI struggled to keep this product quiet, months prior to the official launch today, images and even video were leaked revealing the drone, app and even flight test footage.
[stextbox id=”info”]To buy the Spark directly from the DJI, click here! But be quick as the DJI Spark is in demand![/stextbox]
Today DJI official revealed Spark and it has so far been met with positive reaction due to the size, functionality and featured packed specification.
DJI Spark Design…
It is an odd choice for the DJI Spark not to incorporate folding arms, after-all that would have significantly reduced the core size of the drone during transport.
Existing small-scale drones, such as the Dobby from ZeroTech, have been incredibly successful in the market but they do not incorporate a gimbal and that has limited the quality of the video footage.
Overall, the size and weight of the DJI Spark allows it to be legitimately pocket-sized, even with the fixed arms. Prop guards are also available for the DJI Spark and are not included in the standard package.
Charging is a ‘breeze’ with the DJI Spark, it features a USB port which can be used to charge it without the need for a full-size charger.
DJI Spark Specifications…
Despite its tiny size, the DJI Spark packs in features which would normally be found only on larger devices, and even sporting a flight time far beyond that of competing small-scale drones.
The weight of 300g (50g above the previously imposed FAA restriction for registration) will no longer be of concern to those based in the USA.
| Max Speed | 31 mph (50 kph) in Sport Mode without wind |
|---|---|
| Max Flight Time | 16 minutes (no wind at a consistent 12.4 mph (20 kph)) |
| Satellite Positioning Systems | GPS/GLONASS |
| Takeoff Weight (with battery) | 300 g |
| Dimensions | 143×143×55 mm |
| max wind speed | 13‑18 mph (20‑28 kph) |
Drone manufacturers such as Wingsland, Dobby, Vantage Robotics and others have struggled or failed to incorporate viable obstacle avoidance into their miniature drone projects, DJI appear to have succeeded.
| Obstacle Sensing Range | 1-16 ft (0.2 – 5 m) |
|---|---|
| Operating Environment | Surface should be larger than 20×20 cm and enable diffuse reflection, with reflection rate >20% (eg. wall, tree, people) |
A disappointment for some eager customers will be the limited video and photo resolution of only 1080p @ 30fps, far below the 4K promised by the pre-order campaign for Snap (Vantage Robotics) and delivered by Wingsland with their S6 drone, despite the lack of mechanical gimbal.
| Sensor | 1/2.3″ CMOS Effective pixels: 12 MP 2-1/8000 s |
|---|---|
| Lens | FOV 81.9° 25 mm (35 mm format equivalent) f/2.6 (shooting range: 2 m to ∞) |
| ISO Range | Video: 100-3200 Photo: 100-1600 |
| Image Size | 3968×2976 |
| Still Photography Modes | Single Shot Burst Shooting: 3 frames Auto Exposure Bracketing (AEB): 3 bracketed frames at 0.7 EV bias Interval: 2/3/5/7/10/15/20/30/60 s |
| Video Resolution | FHD: 1920×1080 30p |
| Max Video Bitrate | 24 Mbps |
| Video Format | MP4 (MPEG-4 AVC/H.264) |
The camera is even attached to a mechanical gimbal providing 2-axis stabilisation which should be adequate for more purposes. The missing axis is for yaw but once in straight-line flying motion, the lack of stabilisation here will be almost unnoticeable.
| Controllable Range | Pitch: -85° to 0° |
|---|---|
| Stabilization | 2-axis mechanical (pitch, roll) |
And the DJI Spark even has a transmitter which utilises a smart-device but this is at an additional cost within the ‘Fly More Combo’.
Customers may however be frustrated by the limited control range of only 2km for FCC compliant countries (USA), only 500m for CE (UK), but with such a limited flight time, it would not be wise for DJI to have provided a greater range.
As an additional option, the DJI Spark can be flown with WiFi smart-device control alone, therefore negating the requirement to carry the transmitter with you, although in this mode the control range is limited to around 100m.
But the DJI Spark can even fly without either, using gesture control alone you can power-up Spark and fly by controlling it with just your hand.
| Max Transmission Distance | 2.412 – 2.462 GHz (unobstructed, free of interference) FCC: 1.2 mi (2 km); CE: 0.3 mi (500 m); SRRC: 0.3 mi (500 m) 5.745 – 5.825 GHz (unobstructed, free of interference) FCC: 1.2 mi (2 km); CE: 0.18 mi (300 m); SRRC: 0.7 mi (1.2 km) |
|---|---|
| Battery | 2970 mAh, 950 mAh @3.7 V |
| Supported Mobile Device Size | Thickness range: 6.5-8.5 mm Max length: 160 mm |
The onboard battery consists of a generous 3 cell lithium polymer but a capacity of only 1480mah, it is impressive that DJI have managed to squeeze a flight time of 16 minutes out of this moderately-sized pack, although as with all DJI products only the real-world flight tests will provide a true flight time.
| Capacity | 1480 mAh |
|---|---|
| Voltage | 11.4 V |
| Battery Type | LiPo 3S |
| Net Weight | Approx. 0.2 lbs (95 g) |
Stable indoor flight has always proven to be a challenge for drone manufacturers, DJI have utilised their proven VPS (Vision Positioning System) technology to keep DJI Spark hovering on the spot, even without GPS coverage.
| Velocity Range | ≤22.4 mph (36 kph) at 6.6 ft (2 m) above ground |
|---|---|
| Altitude Range | 0-26 ft (0 – 8 m) |
| Operating Range | 0-98 ft (0 – 30 m) |
| Operating Environment | Surface with clear patterns, enables diffuse reflection with >20% reflection rate Adequate lighting (lux>15) |
But then there is the price…
It was always hoped that the DJI Spark would be priced competitively, at an affordable but realistic level but at $499 (USA) and £519 (UK), this new drone not cheap. If you require the transmitter and additional accessories then the price rises to $699 (USA) and £699 (UK) respectively.
It has to be considered that due to its specification and the proven DJI flight controller platform that it warrants the premium price, but for a drone targeted at the ‘selfie’ crowd, it may be just a little too costly.
Once again, DJI have set the benchmark high for this class of drone, current pre-order campaigns may struggle to retain their patient customers over the coming months if they do not deliver.
Where to buy DJI Spark…
You can buy the DJI Spark directly from DJI, but demand will be high and so place your pre-order quickly to avoid delay.
At this time, only the ‘white’ Spark is still available.
DJI Spark Reviews…
A number of DJI Spark reviews have already appeared on YouTube from the lucky recipients of early production models.
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