At the IFA we were allowed to fly a particularly luxurious drone model in the outdoor area: The DJI CP.BX.000167 Inspire 2 quad-copter. We became aware of the biggest advantages and disadvantages of the new DJI Inspire model.
In terms of high quality and reliable operation, DJI’s remote controlled copters are very popular and we have already tested a number of drones from the manufacturer.
Of course the products of the market leader are a bit more expensive than competing models. However, the Inspire 2 belongs in the upper price category. At DJI you can also find cheaper quadrocopters between 500 and 1000 €. The DJI Mavic Air, for example, only costs around 750 € and the Spark is already available for around 600 €.
If you want to buy the Inspire 2, you should therefore think carefully about whether this technically mature video and speed monster is really necessary. Many videographers will answer with a clear “Yes”.
And the Inspire 2 is perfectly suited for exactly these people, it is a real professional drone, which in our opinion is somewhat “overpowered” for purely private purposes. And we’ll tell you why in our test.
With the Inspire series, DJI has created the first drone for film production. Previously, there was no such model “Ready To Fly” for professional videographers. Many directors and filmmakers now use the Zenmuse X5, X7 and X5R cameras built into the Inspire drones. So they have proven themselves in practice and are very popular.
In our test report we will go into the most important facts and show you what you should pay attention to when buying a quadrocopter.
Technical data
Of course the Inspire 2 is very popular, it costs a lot of money, but it also has a lot of technology to offer! Among other things, it can be controlled simultaneously by 2 pilots/video recorders using 2 controllers.
Camera and recording quality
It has a M4/3 sensor with a 60 degree field of view and another camera which is solely responsible for the FPV mode.
In total there are 2 cams, one for FPV transmission and one for filming. The one for video recording and photos is of course the much higher quality.
What this camera can do, we have never seen on any other drone model. Normally we celebrate it when a cam of a copter can produce about 4K images at 30 frames per second. The Inspire 2, however, manages 5280 x 2640 pixels at 30 FPS, which is well over 4K and literally ready for the cinema.
Photos can be taken with a resolution of 20.8 megapixels. The images are bursting with color depth, sharpness and realistic expression. Once you have seen the pictures, you will understand why.
Quite new is the integrated CineCore 2.1 system. It is a kind of image processing software. It is able to create videos with a gigantic amount of data of 4.44 Gbps and thus up to 6K films in CinemaDNG. In addition, there are many other formats available to you, with which you can also record 5.2K videos at 30 frames per second, as already mentioned.
Design and housing
The design is very similar to its predecessor, the DJI Inspire 1, with wings that can be manoeuvred down for takeoff and landing. The frame and struts are made of strong aluminium or a magnesium-aluminium composite.
Changes in design are only noticeable in detail, at first glance the two models Inspire 1 and 2 are hardly distinguishable.
With a length of 42.7 centimetres, a height of 31.7 centimetres high and a width of 42.5 centimetres in transport mode, the Inspire 2 also weighs a full 3290 grams. The maximum possible take-off weight is around 4 kg, so you can load up to three quarters of a kilo.
Speed, flight time and maximum range
The top speed of the Inspire 2 is 94 kilometres per hour and the dual battery system ensures a maximum flight time of around 27 minutes, or almost half an hour. This combination of high flight time and enormous speeds is something we have never seen before in any other model.
However, the range is only 3,500 meters in total. In Germany, a drone has to be flown within visual range anyway, so a maximum of several 100 meters is allowed, which puts the 3.5 kilometers into perspective.
Obstacle detection system and safety features
Of course the Inspire 2 has a vision system which is aligned forward and downward. This incredible technical, sensory masterpiece can detect objects up to 30 meters away. This guarantees that even at high speeds and an unfavourable approach angle, immediate evasive manoeuvres can be flown.
In addition, there are several infrared sensors facing upwards, which reach up to 5 metres and protect the quadrocopter from damage to the rotor blades and from collision with other objects.
Battery system
A dual flight battery system is installed. That means, if one battery should fail, the other one takes over and the drone cannot crash. This feature should give the pilot a better feeling for more safety.
The TB50 battery has a total of 4,280 mAh and a weight of 515 grams. You can charge the system with a maximum charge current of 180 watts. In operation the flight battery supplies 22.8 Volt.
The operating temperature ranges between -10 and +40 degrees Celcius. However, the TB50 battery has an integrated battery heater. This provides a heating power of 70 watts and thus the drone can also be flown outside in sub-zero temperatures, where other flight battery systems have already given up the ghost.
Of course this costs some battery power and therefore there is the possibility to switch the heating on or off.
All important parameters are clearly displayed in the DJI app.
Modes and flight characteristics
Thanks to the extensive sensor technology, the Inspire 2 is very stable in the air and is wonderful to fly. Even beginners should have no major problems with the drone.
The powerful propeller drives provide maximum thrust and accelerate the quadrocopter to up to 94 kilometers per hour in a few seconds.
To further enhance the flight and movie experience, there are many different flight modes available. Some of them are surely already known to many of you.
Spotlight Pro
New is the Spotlight Pro mode. This is a powerful tracking mode, which is different from other similar modes you have seen so far.
This allows the pilot to take particularly difficult shots that perfectly reflect the drama of the film. For this purpose a software with a complex and ultra-modern algorithm is used. This software uses the visual stimuli to perfectly fix the target in flight. The complete system works much more reliable than the usual “Follow-Me-Mods” you are used to.
The previous model had a similar mode, but it required 2 pilots in case the gimbal reached its maximum rotation limit. This time DJI has solved the problem so that the Inspire 2 drone automatically rotates in that direction to keep the target in sight. This gives the videographer more freedom and at the same time the filming is not negatively affected.
All in all, the recording mode is divided into 2 further sub-programs, the Quick Mode and Composition Mode.
The fastest way to follow an object is to select the Quick Mode, which is very similar to the typical Follow Me Mode. You simply select the object and the pursuit can begin after the drone has aligned itself with the object.
The composition mode is more for the professionals among you. Here, both the object and the tracking position are selected.
TapFly
TapFly is also known from other DJI models such as the DJI Mavic Pro. To do this, simply tap on the screen in FPV view and select a flight route. The drone will then automatically fly your route without you having to actively intervene in the flight process. At the same time, the pilot can control the 2-axis FPV camera and make the aerial shots more vivid.
This function is especially important in the event that there is no second pilot present to pilot the Inspire 2.
ActiveTrack
In this mode, objects are detected automatically. This includes people, cars, trucks and ships. Here, individual profiles can be created, which individualize the tracking for the pilot even better.
Smart Home function
Compared to other Return To Home modes, the Inspire 2 mode is much more flexible. Thanks to the extensive sensor technology, it finds its way and flies around obstacles.
A special case could be that the signal to the Inspire 2 is lost, in this case the drone simply flies the flown route back to the starting point, because the route you flew before has been saved. This is a significant difference to the usual modes.
In the event that PWM signals are lost, the Inspire 2 drive system has various PWM signal redundancies. This means that in this case the transmission continues through a serial interface.
In the meantime, DJI has revised the entire transmission system so that even in the event of a complete loss of signal, the drone will restore the signal fairly quickly.
Further special features
There are an incredible number of special features that Inspire 2 has to offer, to present them all here would go beyond the scope of this report, but we have put together the most extraordinary ones for you.
2 pilots can control the Inspire 2 (Master Slave principle)
Not only can users choose between 2 frequencies (2.4 Ghz and 5.8 Ghz), but it is also possible to have 2 pilots flying the Inspire 2 at the same time. One pilot controls the Inspire 2 (flight) while the other pilot uses the camera to take pictures.
A master and a slave remote control are specified. Thanks to the latest WiFi HD image transmission, the video images are transmitted in real time from the master remote control to the slave remote control.
The remote controls can be up to 100 meters apart to interact with each other, or that the images are transmitted without loss of quality.
4G-LTE
An extraordinary possibility to forward his videos in high quality is provided by the 4G-LTE interface.
The system uses the 4G network, normally only accessible for smartphones, to send full bandwidth videos to a server. This enables live transmission even to very remote locations. You have to calculate with a latency of up to half a second.
Mounting the license plate
Since the take-off weight of 250 grams is clearly exceeded, you need a license plate with your data, which you have to attach safely and fireproof.
It becomes problematic, however, if the license plate is mounted at important locations and then the sensors cannot work properly or individual sensors are even covered.
For this reason, DJI published a report some time ago, or rather instructions on where and how to affix the number plate.
For the Inspire 2 drone, there is a special instruction on the manufacturer’s website for attaching the license plate. We recommend you to follow them. According to the instructions, the license plate should be mounted under the canopy, sideways, relatively centrally.
Drone driving licence
Since October 01, 2017, you need a drone driver’s license or proof of knowledge in Germany, as soon as you want to start a drone with a takeoff weight of more than 2 kg.
You must be at least 16 years old to obtain a license from the German Federal Aviation Authority. Alternatively, you can get a certified instruction in a model building sports club, this is possible from the age of 14 years.
We also recommend taking out a drone liability insurance.
Scope of delivery and accessories
The scope of delivery is very large and this model has a lot of special features. But it depends on where you buy the Inspire 2. It’s not possible to make a general statement about whether or not an accessory is included in the scope of delivery. Check the shop, you might have to buy some additional parts (optional). We have clearly presented the most important accessories:
- DJI Inspire 2 Drone
- DJI Zenmuse X5S CAMERA
- Master Remote Control
- Slave remote control
- CinemaDNG and Apple ProRes license key
- Charging station
- DJI Charger/Battery Case
- DJI CrystalSky 7.85″ 2000cd Ultra Brightness Android Monitor with GO App
- DJI Focus handheld transmitter
- DJI Inspire 2 CineSSD (480 Gbyte)
Of course there are more accessories and not all of them will be included in the delivery, so please ask in the shop. Many parts are again quite price-intensive.
Advantages and disadvantages
When listing the advantages of the Inspire 2, you probably won’t get to the end of it that quickly, so we have listed the most important facts that caught our eye.
Advantages:
- Specially developed for full professionals
- Incredibly high-quality recordings, up to 6K
- Ideally suited for videographers and film recordings – previous model has already proven itself in the past
- Many different flight modes (Sportlight Pro, Active Track, Smart Home function, etc.)
- Can also be used at very low temperatures (battery can be heated)
- Various accessories can be used to access the 4G network and transfer data directly to a server
- 2 pilots can control the Inspire 2 simultaneously
- Dual battery system for increased flight safety
- Up to 27 minutes flight time
Cons:
- Price of the quadrocopter
- Expensive accessories
- Drone driving licence is required
Conclusion
Our opinion short and sweet: For beginners and purely private use, the Inspire 2 is perhaps a bit overtaxing and “overpowered”. Incredible technology, safety and a high level of reliability in combination with enormous aeronautical and videographic performance make the Inspire 2 quadrocopter a real professional device.
Even with the previous model, many directors have made breathtaking movies. So we can’t do anything else but give a clear recommendation to buy the Inspire 2. Of course you should consider the price and that accessories are expensive. A drone driver’s license is also required. However, this is absolutely justified for this technical monster.
Currently, the CJI CP.BX.000167 Inspire 2 is available at Amazon at a low price! (click here!)*
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