How do you like that Mavic? I thought about getting one of those but the camera mount didn't appeal to me.
Well, since you asked, and I
must be honest, I have to say I absolutely love it. It's
not my Typhoon H by no means, but it is clearly a quality drone in its own right. It's a neat, well-designed incredible little flying machine with lots of automated features that make great filming and image capturing a real breeze. More importantly, it is a pleasure to pilot. Totally rock solid in winds in excess of 22 mph and very maneuverable.
The Mavic's compactness is unbelievable (takes up the space that a bottle of water does when folded up, props included) making it incredibly easy to just toss in your car or carry along with you anywhere, on a motorcycle, on a bicycle or on foot. It weighs nothing, 1.6 lbs with a battery. I take mine with me wherever I go just in case I come upon anything worth capturing. It stays secure in the small handbag that comes with it designed to carry the drone, its controller, extra props and up to 4 batteries, all of which takes up a space I measured to be only about 8.5" x 8.5" x 6.5". (The storage bag has solid belt loops and shoulder straps to accomodate a variety of needs. Everything is well thought out in the Mavic's design.)
Yet, the Mavic has an incredible
stock RC/video transmission range of 4.7 miles in any terrain with no trouble whatsoever; an incredibly excellent 4K camera and extremely stable gimbal assembly that yield perfect image results; an average flight range per battery of more than 8 miles and with flight times in
cold weather of at least 20-22 minutes by my tests this past winter, sometimes even more (and that's with a remaining 30% battery power I stick to when it's time for me to bring it back in safely); speeds of up to 43 mph; redundant and intelligent forward and bottom facing sensors and cameras that avoid objects not only in front of it it but also beneath it, ensuring safe RTH functions as the Mavic will find alternative routes and avoid obstacles - tiny tree branches or whatever- to find its own way back to you, utilizing both cameras and sensors as part of its OA systems, thereby able to literally land itself in RTH mode on almost the exact same spot it photographed and recorded during takeoff, just to name a few capabilities that stick out to me.
It also comes designed with several failsafe systems to protect the aircraft in the event of in-air problems and even pilot oversight. For example, the Mavic warns you of high winds it's encountering in realtime; can return to you if you have exceeded the battery power needed to safely return the aircraft to its homepoint; comes back to you in the event of a signal loss using both GPS coordinates and also the takeoff images I just mentioned, and much more than I need share here.
The Mavic has carved out its own niche in the drone world. Like the Typhoon H, it well-serves its customers. But also like the H it, too, fills its own certain purpose and comes with its own limitations and downsides. However,
I need to stress that nothing replaces my Typhoon H; that's why I have another one coming my way in a matter of a few days to replace the one I lost yesterday.
Would I get a Mavic if I were you, Chad? Well, yes. I'd consider it. Especially being in your particular field of work (manufacturer DJI claims the Mavic can be safely flown indoors to capture unique interior shots; there's even a flight mode for that in the App). They are affordable. Right now they're cheaper than our Typhoons but are hard to get.due to an ongoing high demand for them worldwide.
Feels a little weird to tout the Mavic's abilities in this Forum dedicated to the Yuneec Typhoon H, but I decided the truth is the truth, we are all big people here, and knowing what is out there should only be a good thing, not heresy. So please take what I have written in the spirit in which it was meant: to answer a fellow Forum member's question.