DJI Mavic 2 Zoom Review: An Innovative Drone For Your Aerial Photography

For many years now, DJI has been one of the leading brands for camera drones. Since their iconic Phantom series, DJI has come a long way and has moved on to focus on their more modern and innovative lineup, the Mavic series. Now in its second generation, we will be giving you today our dedicated DJI Mavic 2 Zoom review.

A lot of drone pilots, professionals, and tech enthusiasts around the world see the DJI brand as their reliable go-to for their UAV needs. And for plenty of good reasons too. DJI has completely redefined the game when it comes to drone technology.

This particular drone company focuses on constant innovation and curiosity while putting complex technology into an easy-to-use device that anyone in the world can use without a fuss. So without further ado, let’s see if the DJI Mavic 2 Zoom lives up to its brand’s name and reputation.

See Where The DJI Mavic 2 Zoom Ranks In Our List Of The Best Drones For Aerial Photography In 2021 Here.

Overview Of The DJI Mavic 2 Zoom

The DJI Mavic 2 Zoom is everything you love about DJI’s older model, the Mavic 2 Pro but with significant adjustments and upgrades from its predecessor.

Instead of the large 1-inch sensor we are familiar with in the Mavic 2 Pro, the Mavic 2 Zoom boasts a 1/2.3-inch 12MP sensor with up to 4x zoom, including a 2x optical zoom (24–48 mm) that will offer you the most dynamic perspectives in every shot. All of this is packed in a very lightweight and compact foldable design.

Despite the slightly lower camera resolution compared to its older sibling, the Mavic 2 Zoom still comes in and completely redefines everything with its innovative features. Now your footage and stills with the Mavic 2 Zoom have real compositional versatility as well as the ability to shift perspectives with one easy click of a button.

So if you’re an aspiring filmmaker or professional photographer, you’ll absolutely love and enjoy using this camera drone. The amount of unique angles and camera movements you can do with this thing is practically endless.

Other features of the Mavic 2 Zoom also include 31 minutes of flight time, a max speed of 44 mph, 905 grams of takeoff weight, a 3-axis gimbal for ultra-steady shots, 8GB of internal storage, and an SD card support for up to 128 GB.

And if you want to extend your flight time or you feel like you haven’t taken enough shots or footage, you can also opt to bring in an extra set of batteries for a longer flight time.

Features & Specifications

• Product Dimensions: 8.43 x 3.58 x 1.3 inches
• Manufacturer / Brand: DJI
• Item Weight: 905 grams / 2 lbs.
• Material: Engineering plastics
• Wireless Communication Technology: OcuSync 2.0
• Range: 18 km
• Max Speed: 44 mph
• Battery Life: Up to 31 minutes of flight time.
• Battery Type: 1 Lithium Polymer batteries required. (included)
• Camera Resolution: 12 mp
• Video Resolution: 4K: 3840×2160 24/25/30p. 2.7K: 2688×1512 24/25/30/48/50/60p. FHD: 1920×1080 24/25/30/48/50/60/120p
• Control Type: Remote Control
• Colors: Grey
• Accessories: Intelligent Flight Battery, Gimbal Protector, Remote Controller, 3x Propellers (Pair), Battery Charger, Power Cable, Communication Cable (USB3. 0 Type-C), USB Adapter, Spare Control Sticks (Pair), RC Cable (Lightning Connector), RC Cable (Standard Micro USB Connector), and RC Cable (USB Type-C Connector).
• Extra Special Features: ActiveTrack 2. 0, Omnidirectional Obstacle Sensing, Hyperlapse, Low-Noise Design, Adjustable Aperture, HDR Photos, and Dolly Zoom.

Check out DJI’s preview of the Mavic 2 Zoom below.

Want To Check Out Other Camera Drones? Click Here To Read Our Top Recommendations Of The Best Drones For Aerial Photography In 2021.

What We Love About The DJI Mavic 2 Zoom

Here’s a breakdown of our favorite things about the DJI Mavic 2 Zoom.

Impressive Onboard Features

One of the best things the DJI Mavic 2 Zoom has that really makes it stand out from its predecessors and other competitors in the market are its impressive onboard features. DJI’s drone technology is pretty sophisticated and refined which is glaringly obvious once you get to fly the Mavic 2 Zoom.

The Mavic 2 Zoom offers GPS that allows you to track the drone’s position around your location when you use the app. It also stays steady and hovers in the air in case you’re not controlling the drone in any direction at the moment. But the GPS feature is proven to be useful in case the unit gets blown away by a strong gust of wind.

Another noteworthy feature is the anti-collision features such as the omnidirectional obstacle sensing that lets the drone avoid incoming obstacles to prevent crashing into it. The Mavic 2 Zoom will alert you via audio and visual cues in the case of potential danger.

The Mavic 2 Zoom also provides three manual flying modes which can be accessed through the app. But if you’re not yet confident with your skills, the Zoom is also equipped with automated intelligent flight modes to help you out.

Stunning Image & Video Quality

Despite the tinier sensor in the Mavic 2 Zoom, this camera drone can still produce pretty impressive video footage and stills that will surely meet the needs of both amateur and professional photographers alike.

This is all thanks to the onboard lens used by the Mavic 2 Zoom, which provides you with a full-frame equivalent focal range of 24-48mm without looking distorted or lessening in quality. This is pretty useful when you’re trying to close-up shots of sceneries, people, or objects from afar.

Our Least Favorite Thing

Now that we have covered what we liked about the DJI Mavic 2 Zoom, here are some of our least favorite things about this particular camera drone.

Lacks 60 FPS For 4K

As you already know, the Mavic 2 Zoom is built on the success of its iconic and popular predecessors in the Mavic line. And as such, this particular model also shares a lot of similarities with its older siblings.

However, one thing that’s a little disappointing is that I wish the Mavic 2 Zoom didn’t share the Mavic 2 Pro’s lack of ability to shoot 60 FPS at 4K. For a drone at this price point, it’s just something that I kind of expect and would want to have in my arsenal.

This may or may not be a dealbreaker for some of you but it’s definitely something to keep in mind and consider if you’re intent on buying the Mavic 2 Zoom.

It’s Very Pricey

As you might already know, DJI drones are not really the most budget-friendly drones in the market. And the DJI Mavic 2 Zoom is no exception to their high-end price points.

While some may argue that it’s worth the splurge since you are paying for a very premium device with lots of terrific built-in features, not everyone can afford a camera drone this expensive. So if you feel like spending over a thousand dollars on a camera drone is just too much, don’t worry, that’s completely reasonable.

Luckily for you, there are plenty of camera drones in the market that are a lot more affordable. Sure, you might not get the same benefits and features DJI puts into their drones, but you are sure to find drones that can operate just as well, if not better.

Plus, if you’re just starting to get into flying drones, you might also want to start somewhere small first. If you’re looking for recommendations, you can read our article for the best drones for beginners in 2021 here.

In A Nutshell

Now that we have finished covering the things we liked and disliked about the DJI Mavic 2 Zoom, here’s a narrowed-down list of the good and the bad with this camera drone.

Our Final Verdict

Overall, the DJI Mavic 2 Zoom is certainly one of the most innovative and versatile camera drones to be released by DJI. It combines the sophisticated camera features and sensors that made DJI’s most premium drones successful while being able to maintain a lightweight and compact design.

Do you already own the DJI Mavic 2 Zoom? Or are you still thinking about purchasing it? Let me know in the comments section below if you have any insights, questions, or experiences to share with us. We would love to hear all your thoughts!

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