Aerial photography, Video captures and the thought of camera drones are too awesome. So if you wish to capture your best moments in travel, picnics, family or community luncheons or weddings or even those famous sports events and have no concern for the budget, Phantom 4 and Phantom 4 Pro are the two best alternatives to consider. So if you are thinking about which one to buy, this article will help you.
Phantom 4 Vs Phantom 4 Pro: Best Comparisons
Phantom 4 Vs Phantom 4 Pro: Design
If you are thinking about the difference in design, then let me tell you there is not much difference when it comes to the design of these two drones. Both the drones are large bodies with four propellers on the top. Phantom 4 has a total weight of 1.38 kg including the battery and propellers while Phantom 4 pro weighs 1.388 kg. What’s more, both the drones have a diagonal size of 350mm. So you see it is more of a draw when it comes to the design of Phantom 4 and Phantom 4 Pro drones.
Also Check: Mavic Pro Vs Mavic Air – Which Is the Best Drone?
Phantom 4 Vs Phantom 4 Pro: Features
These two drones have several apps, which add to the salient features of the duo. Phantom 4 is known for its DJI GO 4 mobile app, and live view features. What’s more, it has a GPS satellite positioning system letting you get a very good live view of the area. Phantom 4 Pro, on the other hand, has the same features along with an infrared sensing system. So if you are looking for several unique features to differentiate the two, you may be disappointed, since like its design both these drones have similar apps. But if you wish to look out for something which sets its apart Phantom 4 Pro is to look out for.
Ease of Use:
Truth be told, the ease of use depends on the control system of the drone. Phantom 4 comes with 6000 mAh LiPo 2S battery and has an operating frequency range of 2.400 – 2.483 GHz. Its EIRP transmission power lets you not control the device through attach smartphones. Rather its the reverse case. You simply control the device via its remote controller and its USB port lets you store the captured shots in Smartphone. Phantom 4 Pro has the same features along with an intelligent one. So, once more it’s a draw in these cases.
Automation Tools:
Both Phantom 4 and Phantom 4 Pro is built with advanced automation tools in the system. Both the devices have an intelligent flight battery system and come with USB Video Output Port and have features that help you detect things in the No-Fly Zone. However, Phantom 4 only comes with forwarding and backward vision systems. Phantom 4 Pro, on the other hand, has forward, backward and downward vision systems. Both come with 3-axis Gimbals stabilization. However, Phantom 4 Pro has additional stereo sensors along with infrared sensors in the sides. This makes it a clear winner as compared to Phantom 4.
Indoor vs Outdoor Flying
When it comes to indoor and outdoor flying, you can opt for either of these two drones. Phantom 4 has a maximum speed of 20 m/s and operates at maximum 6 kilometers above sea level. It comes with wind speed resistance up to 10 m/s and has a flight time of about 28 minutes. Phantom 4 Pro, on the other hand, has three-speed modes. It has a maximum speed of 50 kilometers per hour (km/hr) in P mode, 58km/hr in A mode and 72 km/hr in S mode. The challenge arises in safety. So if you wish for outdoors, go for either of the two drones, but if you wish for indoor flying, it is better not to buy either of these drones.
Video Camera Quality
The camera of Phantom 4 comes with a 1/2.3″ CMOS sensor. It has an ISO range of 100-3200 and comes with a FOV 94° 20 mm lens with a shutter speed of 8 – 1/8000 s. It allows you to record video in UHD, FHD and HD modes supporting videos in MP4 and MOV format. It only provides a 94-degree field view. Phantom 4 pro wins the contest in this aspect. Unlike Phantom 4 which has a maximum bitrate of 60Mbps, Phantom 4 Pro has a maximum bitrates of 100 Mbps. It has an ISO range of 100 to 6400 makes it a clear winner.
Image Camera Quality
Phantom 4 has a 12-megapixel sensor and can store images in JPEG and DNG (RAW) format. This lets you engage in still photography modes of a single shot, Auto Exposure Bracketing (AEB), burst shooting, EV bias, time-lapse and HDR images. Phantom 4 Pro, once again emerges as a winner in this aspect. It has a 20-megapixel sensor and can store images in a range of 50 pixels to 120 pixels in comparison to Phantom 4. Its infrared obstacle sensory range of 0.6 – 23 feet and ISO range of 100 to 12800, lets is shoot 14 images at a time, which is double the number of images shot by Phantom 4!
Low-light Test
So far, the comparison was in the case of optimal lights. But what if the light in the environment is dim? How is the performance? Simply just look out for the noise, dynamic range and color sensitivity of the two. Phantom 4 was found to have 1/2.3” CMOS camera as compared to Phantom 4’s 1’’ CMOS camera. Phantom 4 Pro has lesser noise in performance in dim lights. What’s more, it has a better dynamic range in dim lights too, showing better dynamic range in several ISO settings. What’s more, it is more color-sensitive giving you better image and video quality as compared to Phantom 4!
Price
Phantom 4 is available at cost of 1199 USD. Phantom 4 Pro, on the other hand, is priced at 1499 USD. The So Phantom 4 emerges as a clear winner for those prices picky customers in the market.
Phantom 4 Pro vs. Phantom 4 Pro: Which is for You?
Overall Phantom 4 Pro emerges as a clear winner among the duo. Yes, both have similar apps, there is no denying, but the choice depends on you. If you wish to use smartphones and tablets and have no issues about all the clear quality of the image, Phantom 4 will do just fine. But if you are shooting day and night, like big events, such as weddings, and sports events, where you need high-quality images and shoot several images at one go, it is best to opt for Phantom 4 Pro.
Overall both Phantom 4 and Phantom 4 Pro is very good camera drones when it comes to the choice of such at an affordable price. However, the choice depends on you. Phantom 4 Pro is a clear winner when it comes to quality while Phantom 4 is the winner in price. If you have price issues go for Phantom 4 but if you have no such issues, why not opt for Phantom 4 Pro? Try them out now!
Also Read: Drone Pilot Training – Acquiring Drone Pilot License
FAQ’S:
1Q. I am looking at Phantom 4 and Phantom 4 Pro. I have a budget of 1200 USD? Which one should I go for?
Ans: The price of Phantom 4 Pro is 1499 USD and the limited racing range comes at 1799 USD. But Phantom 4 is available at $1199 only. So it is best to opt for Phantom 4 with your budget.
2Q. I am more for image quality and need to shoot photos for a family reunion. Which one should I go for?
Ans: Phantom 4 Pro has a 20-megapixel camera, shooting 14 images at a go as compared to Phantom 4. What’s more, it is color sensitive, has better dynamic range and less noise even in dim lights. So go for Phantom 4 Pro.
Myself Faran, Author and founder of this blog, since my childhood I was so fascinated about drones and their features that make them very important devices in various fields like search and rescue, surveillance, traffic monitoring, weather monitoring, firefighting, personal use, drone-based photography, videography.