Dajiang Phantom 3 Standard Edition Review: An inexpensive entry-level drone

Dajiang launched an entry-level shooting aircraft! Compared to the two high-end models, the leading and professional versions, the Phantom 3 standard version, which is also designed for the 4-rotor, does not differ much in appearance, but the price is hundreds of dollars cheaper than the previous two models (standard version in the US) The area is priced at $799). In addition, on the occasion of the company's 10th anniversary, Dajiang Company further discounted the standard version to US$499.

The Dhan Phantom 3 leading and professional version of the drone is very simple to operate, which makes these two models become the "sweet" that drone lovers dream of. Unfortunately, the price of these two models is too high. In order to prevent fans from falling into the dilemma of “flashing credit cards”, Dajiang Company launched the Phantom 3 Standard Edition. Compared with the above two models, the Phantom 3 standard version, which is also designed for the 4-rotor, does not differ much in appearance, but the price is hundreds of dollars cheaper than the previous two models (the standard version is 799 in the US). USD). In addition, on the occasion of the company's 10th anniversary, Dajiang Company further discounted the standard version to US$499. We are not aware of the end date of this promotion.

In terms of the price of this grade, the performance of the Phantom 3 Standard Edition is impeccable. Whether it's the unpacking process or the actual operating experience, at this price you can't find a model that matches the Phantom 3 Standard Edition from other vendors.

Needless to say, the Phantom 3 Standard Edition is indeed an entry-level model. Therefore, compared with the leading version and the professional version, the Phantom 3 Standard Edition does not lack the functional configuration. First of all, the Phantom 3 Standard Edition does not have a Visual Positioning System designed for indoor flight, compared to the more expensive versions. In addition, in the outdoor positioning, the Phantom 3 Standard Edition has only a GPS system available, while the other two versions are equipped with a Global Navigation Satellite System (GLONASS) in addition to the GPS system. With the aid of GNSS, the positioning of the GPS system will be faster and more accurate.

The biggest difference is the operating system of the Phantom 3 Standard Edition. The other two versions are equipped with DJI's "Lightbridge" technology, so the image transmission range of the flying equipment can reach 5 kilometers, and the transmission quality will be improved. Unfortunately, the Phantom 3 Standard Edition is not equipped with Lightbridge technology, but uses a 2.4GHz Wi-Fi Mileage Extender. Although this configuration also guarantees real-time image transmission, the delay or signal loss caused by the transmission process is more obvious than Lightbridge technology. In addition, the Phantom 3 Standard has a transmission range of only 1,000 meters and its remote control uses a frequency of 5.8 GHz.

Compared to the standard version, the high-end version of the user can use the remote control to fully control the camera. The two high-end versions of the remote control have start and end video buttons, a button for taking snapshots, and two additional buttons for the user to program themselves. The remote control of the Phantom 3 standard version can only adjust the angle of the camera up and down. Other control actions can only be operated by Dajiang's "GO" application (compatible with iOS and Android devices). In addition, the standard version of the remote control does not have a separate "one button home" button, the user can only use one of the switches for recycling operations.

In terms of camera configuration, the camera used in the Phantom 3 Standard Edition is very similar to the other high-end versions. The standard version uses a wide-angle lens with no distortion, a viewing angle of 94 degrees, and an aperture of 2.8, and can support 2.7K HD video recording at 30 frames per second. The Phantom 3 Standard Edition has the same maximum resolution as the leading version, but the leading version also supports 1080p video recording at 60 frames per second, but the standard version only supports 1080p video recording at 30 frames per second.

The Phantom 3 Standard Edition also supports 12-megapixel Adobe DNG and JPEG-format photos. Users can adjust the camera's shutter speed, exposure compensation, and sensitivity through the "GO" application in DJI. In addition, users can use the standard version for continuous shooting, exposure bracketing, and time-lapse photography.

The Phantom 3 Standard Edition is equipped with the Intelligent Flight Batteries designed by DJI for the "Phantom 3" series. Users can check the health of each battery unit through the Go application. But it also means that when the battery has aged to a certain extent, the user must replace the battery, otherwise the aircraft will not work. Data from the DJI company show that the Phantom 3 Standard Edition has a battery life of up to 25 minutes.

In the evaluation, Phantom 3 Standard Edition has a normal battery life of 22 minutes in the case of breeze (evaluation operations include dangling, take-off, landing, etc.), and users can also automatically take off and land through Go applications. The Phantom 3 Standard Edition has an average battery life of the same model. It's not hard to speculate that the Phantom 3 Standard Edition's battery life will be further reduced once it needs to work at a stronger wind speed.

In order to allow users to effectively use the Phantom 3 standard version of the battery life, Dajiang company specially equipped this model with "smart flight" function, including route navigation, point of interest flight plan and a thoughtful "follow me" ( Follow Me) function.

In the path navigation mode, the aircraft automatically flies according to the user's preset path, so the user can put more energy into the operation of the camera. In the point of interest flight plan, the aircraft will automatically fly around an object so that the user can shoot at any time. In the "Follow Me" function, the user can manually move the remote control and the aircraft will automatically track the user's actions. These three functions can be achieved by the "S1" button located on the right side of the remote control. You'd better set up and start shooting as soon as the aircraft is launched, so as not to waste too much battery life.

The video quality of the Phantom 3 Standard Edition is not bad, and the balance ring on the aircraft keeps the camera stable under strong wind conditions. Like most small cameras, the Phantom 3 Standard does not perform well under bright light conditions, so the final picture of the user may have insufficient clarity of detail. In adapting to light changes, the Phantom 3 Standard Edition outperforms most small shooting equipment. In addition, you may also see horizontal zoning on the imaging, which is very common on shooting devices that use rolling shutters.

Despite certain flaws, the image quality of the Phantom 3 Standard Edition has indeed reached a "good" level, especially considering its low price. One of the most noteworthy points is that the Phantom 3 Standard camera is fixed on the aircraft, so you can't disassemble it for everyday use, and you can't upgrade it manually.

When recording, Phantom 3 Standard will store a compressed 720P video on your mobile device. In order to achieve the "best use" effect, DJI has embedded basic video editing tools in the Go app, where you can edit, integrate, and even edit multiple videos into a single video. In addition, Dajiang Company has prepared a number of templates for you to bring your own music, you can share it directly after use.

in conclusion

Advantages of Phantom 3 Standard Edition: Built-in camera, support for 2.7K resolution video capture, stable shooting experience (equipment with excellent balance ring), easy to use, equipped with the same intelligent flight mode as high-end models. Disadvantages of the Phantom 3 Standard Edition: The camera cannot be removed or upgraded, and the landing gear is fixed to the aircraft, causing inconvenience.
Conclusion: For the $499 price, the Phantom 3 Standard Edition is undoubtedly the best choice for beginners. Once the price rises to $799, the price/performance ratio of this device will be greatly reduced.

In the field of unmanned aerial vehicles, there are many models available for sale between $250 and $700, but these models are not as cost effective as the Phantom 3 standard. Many aircraft either require the user to purchase an additional camera similar to "GoPro" or require the user to purchase an additional remote control (otherwise it can only be controlled via a smartphone or tablet). It can be seen that the price of Phantom 3 Standard Edition of 799 US dollars is not excessive, and the price as low as 499 US dollars can be described as "cheap and good quality"!