After scouring the web and reading many reviews, watching some of my favorite and most trusted fellow YouTube contributors, and looking at pricing options I was finally able to fly the DJI Spark to form my own opinion of the next wave of drone/quadcopter technology. The Spark comes with a full list of pros and cons which we will discuss later in this post. The first thing I need to do is give a giant Thank You to Sean Bowers of Creative Edge Productions for coming in and speaking to my students and I about the amazing work he is doing in the film industry and how drones are continuing to revolutionize what he is doing. If you have a moment check out their site : http://creativeedgepro.com/ for more information.
If you are considering picking up the Spark check out Banggood for some amazing deals! The Spark and tons of accessories are available if you follow the links below.
DJI Spark Quadcopter: 2KM FPV with 12MP 2-Axis mechanical gimbal and camera equipped with quick shot gesture mode. This hand sized brushless quad makes every moment last with hand gesture control and facial recognition software that will take your selfies/Droneies to the next level.
Link can be found HERE
11.4 Volt 3S 1480mAh Original intelligent flight battery: The sparks intelligent flight battery enables 16 minutes of flight on a single charge. Spark uses a high energy density LiPo battery for optimal performance. Sparks battery estimates remaining flight time letting you know when to land in real time.
Link can be found HERE
Phone Holder: No controller with your Spark? No Problem! This ergonomic controller style phone holder makes piloting your spark via the app a breeze.
Link can be found HERE
Soft Water Proof Carrying Case: When traveling to your destination with your Spark and extra's it is nice to have an easy to carry case. This soft case makes transporting your spark a breeze.
Link can be found HERE
Hard Shell Water Proof Case: Sometimes you need a little extra protection when you are transporting your Spark. This hard shell case will give you the added protection a standard soft case will not all while allowing you to transport your Spark essentials.
Link can be found HERE
Drone Skins: By far one of the most frustrating parts of the Sparks release have been the lack of availability in any color other than Alpine White. These high quality custom cut skins solve that problem by letting you customize your Sparks appearance as often as you like.
Link can be found HERE The Good-The Bad-And The Is This Thing On?
Lets start with the Cons of the Spark. For an entry level selfie drone we can carry with us everywhere to capture life's fleeting moments it is still around $500 for the base model without controller. If you want to operate it like a traditional drone you will be paying closer to $650 with some really nice fly more packages available. Secondly it struggles to recognize your face in bright lighting and when you have obstructions on such as sun glasses, hats, etc... The last con can be fixed by simply putting your back to the sun and taking off your hat so it is not a big deal to me. Thirdly you really need to have the app pulled up to see what you are going to get in your image. I tried to take around 10 shots and ended up with 3. This to can be helped by better understanding how to form your hands to get the drone to take an image which of course will need to be practiced.
Now to the Pros of the Spark. First and foremost you are flying it Jedi style with your hands....enough said. This $500 dollar piece of equipment is using facial recognition software and hand gestures to fly around you and capture images.
Seriously, that is one of the coolest drone features yet. Secondly it is a DJI product so it is backed up with amazing tech support, firmware updates, constant improvement of the product, and is a rugged and durable drone. Thirdly the Spark was able to switch between operators mid flight making sharing the flight experience easy which allows a more comfortable pilot to deal with the take off and landing procedures. By eliminating the contact with the drone younger pilots in training can experience the technology with the risk of getting hurt. The fourth and last Pro we will discuss is the drones ease of use both indoors and outdoors. I have attached a short demo video on Guest Speaker Sean Bowers operating the Spark in my classroom during his visit. The Spark had the students in awe as he maneuvered it around the room taking images.
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AuthorI am an Art and AVID teacher in the Green Bay Area. My love of Teaching, Art, and Exploration takes me down many paths. Each path is a new journey along the road of life and is full of obstacles and triumphs with each having their place in the formation of our characters. Archives |