DJI has announced the Mavic 2 Zoom, with a price tag of €1,249 / £1,099.
This new DJI drone joins the Mavic 2 Pro, and while the underneath the Mavic 2 drone is identical in both the Pro and Zoom version they feature vastly different cameras, read more about the DJI Mavic 2 Pro here.
Both models build on the foldable design of the predecessor, but now feature improved gimbal stabilisation, a massive 31 minutes of flight and improved video transmission.
More on the Mavic 2’s latest features here.
All new zoom lens
The Mavic 2 Zoom is an all-new concept for a drone at this price point and gives the pilot far more control over the composition of the shot than would normally be possible.
It’s this new Zoom camera that really marks the difference between the Pro and the Zoom. The Zoom is powered by a 1/2.3-inch CMOS sensor.
Unlike most other drones of this size the Zoom, as the name obviously states, can zoom. That range is a relatively mild at two-times, enabling an optical zoom that takes the focal range from 24mm-48mm.
There is also a more common digital zoom that enables zoom simulation to 96mm, and that’s able to capture video in full HD resolution. Essentially it crops into the 4K image to give you the perception of the zoom.
Hybrid auto-focus is also a major feature of the Mavic 2 Zoom cameras and this combines phase and contrast detection. The result is a higher focus accuracy with an increased focus speed that is up to 40% faster over the previous Mavic.
The DJI Mavic has become a firm favourite of photographers due to the small size which makes it light and easy to carry alongside other kit.
The DJI Mavic Pro 2 will be able to shoot 12 million pixel photos. Alongside the native resolution, a new feature, Super Resolution, enables the Mavic 2 Zoom to shoot nine images together and then stitches them seamlessly to create a detailed 48 million pixel image. An ideal solution for landscape photographers.
One of my all-time favourite video tricks is Dolly Zoom and here exclusively to the Mavic 2 Zoom is the ability to shoot using this effect.
What is Dolly Zoom QuickShot mode
The Dolly Zoom effect has been used extensively in the movie industry and was first seen in films such as Vertigo before rocketing to visual success in Jaws.
Now with the Mavic 2 Zoom, you can create this effect easily and produces an otherworldly warped perspective. It works by automatically zooming into the subject as the Mavic 2 Zoom flies away.
The results are that the subject stays the same size in the frame while the background scene is revealed. You can read more about the Dolly Zoom effect and how to create it with a standard camera here.
As with the Mavic 2 Pro, the DJI Mavic 2 Zoom will shoot 4K video at an impressive 100mb/s using the H.265 compression codec.
Dynamic range is also boosted for still images using the new Enhanced Dynamic Range feature which boost the dynamic range up to 13-stops.
DJI Mavic 2 Zoom key features at a glance
- Mavic 2 Drone
- 12 million pixel sensor
- 4K HDR recording at 100mb/s
- H.265 compression codec
- 13-stops HDR stills
- 24-48mm focal range
- Automatic Dolly Zoom mode
When will the Mavic 2 Zoom be onsale?
The Mavic 2 Zoom will be available soon, we’ll bring you the exact date as soon as we hear.
How much will the Mavic 2 Zoom cost?
When it does appear on the shelves of your local store it will have a price tag of €1,249 / £1,099. That price will include the drone, battery, remote controller, charger, and four pairs of propellers
For more information please visit dji.com/mavic-2