DJI is now shipping the Phantom 2, which is the product many aerial imagers have been waiting for. The Phantom 2 Vision is a great aerial platform for still pictures, but the lack of a brushless gimbal makes it less than ideal for video. The Vision’s built-in telemetry and smart-phone support is very cool, but it comes at the expense of usable video.
The main differences between the Phantom 2 and the original Phantom are as follows:
- much larger, 5200 mAh battery (~25 min real-world flight time).
- cartridge-style smart battery with charge indicator. no more wire-based connectors.
- Built-in Zenmuse H3-2D support (couldn’t be easier to install)
- Gimbal pitch control slider on back of radio
- Self-tightening propellers (no tools required for installation)
- External micro-USB port
- CAN-Bus expansion support for FPV, iOSD and Bluetooth data link (which enables mission planning via iPad ground station software)
Ground station support via Bluetooth is interesting, but given Bluetooth’s limited range, it is likely that it will be used for programming and deploying blind missions in which the data link is severed after the quadcopter flies out of range. In theory, you could still see what the GoPro is seeing via FPV (if you’ve installed an FPV solution) and regain control via the radio, but you won’t be seeing live data on the iPad app if the telemetry link is using Bluetooth. Also, since Bluetooth runs at 2.4 Ghz, it seems to me fundamentally incompatible with 2.4 Ghz radio links, since they might clash and cause bad things to happen.
The main reason aerial imagers will want this upgrade is the longer battery life. I expect more people to buy the Phantom 2 and gimbal, which sells for a street price of under $900, and add their own FPV support via Fatshark / ImmersionRC / Boscam transmitters.
The Phantom 2 hasn’t made it onto Amazon Prime yet, but a lot of people I know really like DroneFly, who sells a Phantom 2 + H3-2D gimbal combo for $869. Also, if purchased an original Phantom before Sep 9, 2013, you can get a $150 credit on your new Phantom 2. Ask your dealer for this before you buy.