Fresh off the launch of their own store in SM Megamall, DJI continues expand its own line up of drones with the DJI Spark.
What separates the Spark from the competition is that it’s the first drone that can be controlled using hand gestures. This makes the Spark more palatable to casual users or people that have not used a drone before.
Once in the air, the DJI Spark automatically enters Gesture Mode. This will allow users to control the drone with their hand movements. You can have it take a video flying away from you, take a selfie, and even call it back with just the gestures of your hands.
Aside from the Gesture Mode, the DJI Spark has been programmed with QuickShot options to make life easier for people when capturing and sharing your memorable moments. Four QuickShots are available:
Rocket: It flies straight up into the air with the camera pointed down.
Dronie: The DJI Spark flies up and away from the subject.
Circle: The drone rotates around the subject.
Helix: The device spirals away from the subject as it flies upward.
Each QuickShot automatically creates a 10-second video that’s ready to share on social media to let everyone see your special moment.
Of course, other flight modes that have been implemented in their previous drones can be found in the DJI Spark as well. These flight modes include ActiveTrack that automatically recognizes and tracks a subject while keeping at the center of the frame. TapFly, on the other hand, has two sub-modes: the Direction Mode lets the drone keep going in the flight direction you have chosen with your phone and Coordinate Mode allows the Spark to fly to a location you have designated on the screen. The DJI Spark also automatically avoids obstacles with its 3D Sensing System. So you don’t have to worry about the drone bumping into anything while using its automated modes.
Aside from controlling the DJI Spark with your hand or from your phone, it can also be controlled via its remote controller. While using the remote, users can choose to unleash Sport Mode, which allows the drone to fly up to 50kph (31mph). This mode also switches the gimbal to first-person view (FPV), which allows the camera to move with you as you fly. It’s also compatible with DJI Goggles for a more immersive flight experience.
Panoramic photos can also be taken with the Spark with its Pano Mode. The camera creates horizontal or vertical panoramas by automatically adjusting its gimbal and heading while simultaneously taking a series of pictures and stitching them together. ShallowFocus, on the other hand, puts a part of a picture into sharp focus while the background is softened. Of course, photos and videos that you take with the DJI Spark can be edited via the DJI GO 4 app with its array of filters and automatic editing templates for easier social media sharing.
On the technical side of things, the DJI Spark has a 1/2.3-inch CMOS sensor that allows the drone to capture up to 12MP photos and stabilized 1080p videos under normal flight mode. Shake and rolling shutter effect is dampened with the Spark’s 2-axis mechanical gimbal and UltraSmooth technology.
The DJI Spark’s FlightAutonomy system consists of the main camera, a downward-facing vision system, a forward-facing 3D Sensing System, and dual-band GPS. The star of the show, however, is GLONASS, which is a high-precision inertia measurement unit and 24 computing cores. These instruments enables the Spark to hover accurately with vision assistance at up to 30 meters (98 feet) and sense obstacles up to 5 meters (16 feet) away.
The DJI Spark is also designed to return to you whenever the batter is too low, the connection is lost, or you use the Return to Home button on the remote given that there is sufficient GPS signal.
The DJI Spark retails at a price of PhP 30,500, which includes the Spark itself, a battery, a USB charger, and three pairs of propellers. Meanwhile the Spark Fly More Combo priced at PhP 42,700 includes the Spark, two batteries, four pairs of propellers, a remote control, propeller guards, a charging hub, a shoulder bag, and all required cables. It comes in five colors: Alpine White, Sky Blue, Meadow Green, Lava Red, and Sunrise Yellow.
