The gauntlet has been thrown and GoPro has finally shown the world its latest gambit. Its first independent entry into the drone market, the GoPro Karma was unveiled yesterday. It is seen by many as GoPro’s last chance to correct a downward trajectory, caused in part by numerous pretenders and usurpers to the action camera throne.
But in this move, none could deny that GoPro has knowingly strayed into the domain of another tech giant – DJI. Though there are other drone companies, with its Phantom series DJI inarguably rules the roost.
We found it only logical to ask what each side brings to the fight? In this article, we’ll compare DJI’s flagship drone, the Phantom 4, to GoPro’s Karma
We’re a photography site so let’s cut straight to the meat of the issue – the cameras. The Phantom 4 has an inbuilt camera that can record video in 4K at 30fps and shoot stills at 12. 4MP. Karma on the other hand has no inbuilt camera at all. Instead, GoPro’s drone works by pairing it with a separate GoPro camera. Currently that means it is usable with the Hero 4, the Hero 5, and the Hero 5 Session, but it will also almost certainly be compatible with future GoPro action cam models. This means that even if the currently best available camera for Karma, the Hero 5, is incredibly similar to the Phantom 4’s cam (4K 30fps video, 12MP stills) , Karma users will eventually be able to upgrade their eye in the sky without buying an entirely new, expensive drone. That longevity, versatility and future-proofing makes Karma very attractive even if it means that rather than an actual flying camera, it’s more of a flying tripod.
/GoPro
This also leads into the greatest strength of Karma, that it’s incredibly modular. Unlike the Phantom 4’s inseparable camera, not only can a Karma’s camera be switched out, but the stabiliser can be removed with it. This means that the cam plus stabiliser can be hooked up to other things, including a special camera control handle that’s part of the Karma package. One could suggest that GoPro’s not just starting a scuffle with DJI’s Phantom division but is treading on the toes of its Osmo crew as well.
Rather than buying several devices of individual mastery, GoPro’s offering a jack of all trades. As GoPro founder Nick Woodman says, “we’re not a camera company, we’re an experience-sharing company,” and the Karma is designed to do just that in as many different ways as possible.
But let’s return to the focus of drones – flying. In that department the Phantom 4 beats Karma pretty soundly. First off it can fly faster than GoPro’s offering, offering top speeds of 45mph versus Karma’s 35mph. The Phantom 4 can also fly for slightly longer, offering 28 minutes compared to Karma’s 20 minutes.
/DJI
What really splits the difference when it comes to aviation ability is that the Phantom 4 has incredible advanced flying programs that Karma may not able able to match. Though Karma has simple move functions and a return home button, the Phantom 4 has its trademark follow-me and object avoidance tools that are becoming invaluable for UAV shooters. DJI shows its experience here, and the Phantom 4 stands on the shoulders on countless software innovations that have come before it to make the Phantom 4 one of the easiest drones to operate.
Karma does present one distinctly intriguing flying tool; the passenger feature. A mobile app will allow a pilot to share their video feed with another person, who can then be put in control of the camera. By splitting duties, the possibilities for unique shots grows exponentially.
By this point you may be beginning to see that these two drones were designed with incredibly different use cases in mind meaning they also have different pitfalls. Karma’s modular aspect doesn’t just make it versatile, but extremely compact, with it folding away tightly. However this same aspect means that each of these individual parts require individual battery charging. Conversely, the Phantom 4 requires just a single battery to charge but does not fold away and can be awkward as hell to carry around.
/GoPro
In general that is the problem with comparing these two units. The DJI Phantom 4 and the GoPro Karma are indeed both drones but are chasing wildly different strategies. Even if DJI’s own rumoured compact drone packs away to be just as portable, GoPro has changed the rules by providing a device that can be modified and changed as your shooting needs themselves change throughout the day.
GoPro are also providing this all at an affordable and highly competitive price. Buying Karma will cost US$799 without a camera, but for US$999 it will come bundled with the Hero 5 Session or for US$1,099 bundled with the Hero 5 Black. This is without a doubt, a steal compared to the US$1,199 price tag for a Phantom 4 alone.
There’s nothing wrong with the Phantom 4. We loved it in our review, and in several key aspects it’s the superior device. However, Karma is a truly innovative, modular product that may prove to be a more tempting, cheaper option for entry-level users. With it, GoPro has shown real forward thinking and innovation. Now, all eyes will be on DJI to see if it can demonstrate that same ambition.
/DJI
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. digitalrev.com2016-10-7 03:00
