Featured News

Product News

03 March 2025
The Droning Company columnist <a href="https://www.thedroningcompany.com/news/categories/brazzel" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Timothy Brazzel </a>takes a deep dive to determine whether the <a href="https://iniushop.com/products/iniu-p63-e1-power-bank-smallest-100w-25000mah?utm_source=google&amp;utm_medium=cpc&amp;utm_campaign=21907820858&amp;utm_content=729109372446&amp;utm_term=iniu%20p63%20e1&amp;gad_source=1&amp;gclid=CjwKCAiAw5W-BhAhEiwApv4goFtWwP7VDwgFUZsT5BbTpNRwulblYTggzXWWP4YGb-dfgh2UzLDa2hoCcjAQAvD_BwE" target="_blank" rel="noopener">INIU Cougar P63</a> is a good choice for charging your drone batteries. Designed as a swift-charging solution for laptops, tablets, smartphones, and more, the 25,000mAh 100W Cougar P63 is small and portable, so it should be a great option for drone pilots out in the field&mdash;or anywhere else. Watch the video below to see how this Cougar can add a power jump to your drone batteries.
<h5>See the Review!</h5>
<iframe style="width: 672px; height: 378px;" title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/BBpltp7dgOg?si=oc53hLiObENq7oZJ" width="672" height="378" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
Like it? <a href="https://iniushop.com/products/iniu-p63-e1-power-bank-smallest-100w-25000mah?variant=44915636437170&amp;country=US&amp;currency=USD&amp;utm_medium=product_sync&amp;utm_source=google&amp;utm_content=sag_organic&amp;utm_campaign=sag_organic&amp;utm_source=google&amp;utm_medium=cpc&amp;utm_campaign=21812133322&amp;utm_content=&amp;utm_term=&amp;gad_source=1&amp;gclid=CjwKCAiAw5W-BhAhEiwApv4goFEUrsrBDmpLps5VYvJaQqNE0nzDsfxuzsvcAE4_3dByeXKjTce1nRoCC0EQAvD_BwE" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Buy direct at INIU</a>. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/INIU-25000mAh-Capacity-Portable-Powerbank/dp/B0DBHC9F8B/ref=asc_df_B0DBHC9F8B?mcid=8da650d3690b3ed18f0e4455bc2a1897&amp;hvocijid=16799536566814751338-B0DBHC9F8B-&amp;hvexpln=73&amp;tag=hyprod-20&amp;linkCode=df0&amp;hvadid=730352155585&amp;hvpos=&amp;hvnetw=g&amp;hvrand=16799536566814751338&amp;hvpone=&amp;hvptwo=&amp;hvqmt=&amp;hvdev=c&amp;hvdvcmdl=&amp;hvlocint=&amp;hvlocphy=9031931&amp;hvtargid=pla-2281435180738&amp;th=1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Purchase from Amazon</a>.

Gear Review: INIU Cougar P63 Power Bank

Consumer Drones

6 February 2023
By Chris &ldquo;<a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://www.youtube.com/@TheDroneGeek/">The Drone Geek</a>&rdquo; Fravel
<a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://www.autelrobotics.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Autel Robotics</a> is a world-leader in consumer, prosumer, and commercial drone technology. Their UAV platforms have been some of the most popular among hobbyist and professional remote pilots alike.
The <a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://shop.autelrobotics.com/products/drones-evo-nano-plus" target="_blank" rel="noopener">EVO Nano+</a> is no exception. Boasting a variety of features including a 12MP, 1/1.28&rdquo; CMOS sensor, up to 4K at 30fps max video resolution, obstacle avoidance, intelligent flight modes, and more all in a compact package, the EVO Nano+ is one of the most powerful drones on the market for its size.
Let's take a closer look at all of the pros and cons this little powerhouse of a UAV packs and decide whether or not it is the drone for you.
<h5>Build Quality</h5>
<img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/JualiUXyEk73hA2Io2R4hveQ68FR2zSBFH6pB3Zm.png" alt="" width="509" height="339" />
The build quality on the EVO Nano+ is extremely high-quality overall. The plastic used for the body of the drone feels sturdy while allowing the drone itself to maintain a weight light enough to avoid mandatory registration with the FAA if flown recreationally (which requires all drones weighing 250g or more to register no matter their intended use). It&rsquo;s a high-quality and seamlessly portable solution for any weekend warrior or pilot on-the-go.
Where the Nano+ lost points in this category was in the plastic used in the arms. It feels noticeably cheaper than the rest of the drone and gives me concerns about impact resistance and wear and tear over time. To say the arms on this drone feel &ldquo;flimsy&rdquo; would not be unrealistic by any stretch of the imagination.
All that said, I was quite impressed with the build quality on a drone that is meant to be lightweight and compact.&nbsp;
Build Quality Rating: 8 out of 10
<h5>Controller</h5>
<img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/bV9AaTZLnm2nKJAty9wFsNMsCItNaENLowfhwc3k.png" alt="" width="434" height="394" />
The Autel controller is one of my favorites in the game. I enjoy how ergonomic it feels in my hands and the fact that it is akin to a gaming controller &ndash; with which I have a lot of experience. It&rsquo;s sturdy, well-constructed, and easy to figure out and use for drone pilots at any level of experience and knowledge.
What I am not crazy about is the USB-C port placement for the device interface and the joysticks.
The cable port is very awkward and if you forget to take your cable out before closing the device holder, it can damage the cable if done so with too much force. It also makes it difficult to use any other cable besides the OEM cable.
I dislike the joysticks because it seems like a battle to get them to catch the threading and screw in. While not a huge deal, it can mean the difference between getting a shot and not getting a shot if time is limited between set-up and use.
Again, despite the two downsides for the controller, this thing is pretty great and my favorite standard drone controller on the market today.&nbsp;
Controller Rating: 8 out of 10
<h5>User Interface</h5>
<img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/vhJTY7HyJtawusEAdWElrX6uwhsDVeOPVNoBhvYo.jpg" alt="" width="465" height="290" />
The Autel Sky app is easy to use and creates a link between your device, the controller, and the drone very quickly. I love how easy it is to access the photo and video album for the Nano+ and the menus for switching between photo, video, and intelligent flight modes are seamless. The ability to switch from Standard to Smooth to Ludicrous flight modes is also very easy to do through the app interface.
I&rsquo;m not a fan of the menus for changing camera settings and parameters. They&rsquo;re somewhat messy and they are sometimes difficult to use and keep set the way you want. Maybe with some practice I&rsquo;d get smoother at adjusting these settings, but for somebody who has limited experience flying an Autel drone, it could be frustrating for the first few flights.
User Interface Rating: 8 out of 10
<h5>Flight Characteristics</h5>
<img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/3M4D5tENKzthyMRn4GQY2cEETuNERlBXBgffOqRh.jpg" alt="" width="658" height="370" />
The flight on the Nano+ is smooth and enjoyable. It&rsquo;s surprisingly powerful for its size and handles adverse wind with relative ease. I did get some fight when wind speeds exceeded 20mph, but overall, I&rsquo;d feel confident flying the Nano in almost any conditions other than rain or extreme winds. The handling is also well-tuned, and I feel as nimble and agile as ever flying the Nano+.
The big concern for the flight characteristics is the Nano+&rsquo;s inability to control a consistent spot in the airspace. While it is able to hold GPS position and flight some pretty strong winds, I will say that it gets blown around a lot in a 5&ndash;10-foot space. This is not ideal when trying to thread it through tight spaces and crowded airspace. It&rsquo;s not a major mark against the Nano, but something to note before buying.
In general, the flight experience I had with the EVO Nano+ was positive and chock-full of fun.&nbsp;
Flight Characteristics Rating: 8 out of 10&nbsp;
<h5>Flight Time</h5>
<img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/GVwDeVfKCpoZfz90Mi57VJfA4EsoEtX4CKbDzMRT.jpg" alt="" width="644" height="362" />
Featuring a marketed flight time of 28 minutes, Autel was close to replicating my experience when flying. My average flight time over the 10-15 times I&rsquo;ve had it out is around 24 minutes. Not exactly 28, but certainly in the ballpark, proving that this is a great drone when it comes to its ability to stay in the air for long spans of time.
Conditions will always play a role in a drone&rsquo;s total flight time. The harder a drone must work to maintain position or navigate through airspace at the operator&rsquo;s desired pace, the more power it will use and the less flight time you will get. I do wish that the Nano+ had an option for an upgraded battery that gave it closer to 40-minutes of actual flight time (marketed at 45-minutes maybe?). At this point in the game, Autel has proven they can create a battery with a 40-minute-plus flight time, so this should be used to adapt a Nano battery that delivers at least 35-40 minutes.
While it isn&rsquo;t quite what I was hoping in terms of total time in the air, the approximately 24-minutes of consistent flight time I got out of the Nano+ was more than enough to get the shots I needed and have as much fun as I could.
Flight Time Rating: 8 out of 10&nbsp;
<h5>Camera Performance</h5>
<img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/JAPlZnRFL26bgcgNIO3cSX396cY5hDMTGtKZtix3.jpg" alt="" width="634" height="475" />
I am not sure if I was expecting too much, but I was let down by the camera slightly on this review. The image on the camera is true to its word in that it delivers a high-quality 4K image. However, out of the box the images and video are too sharp. There&rsquo;s a ton of sharpness-related noise in the video clips I captured that, to me, are off-putting and the pictures it captures suffer a similar, albeit muted, fate. The other glaring issue with the camera is a slight color-bleed problem. I had a few photos come through that had a magenta or green bleed that happened largely around the outer edges of the images. In one photo I took, the photo was completely balanced and well-colored aside from an obvious pixel issue in one of the windows where, in three different photos, it appeared as a magenta, green, and white splotch respectively.
Where I was pleasantly surprised with this camera was its lowlight performance. At a humble size of just 1/1.28-inches, the sensor would lead you to believe that this drone is not built for great low light performance. However, when the camera settings were balanced just right, I found that the low light shots I got both on the photo and video front were rock solid considering the sensor size. My ideal exposure settings for low light with the Nano were an iso of 1600 and a shutter speed of 1/10. This did lead to some streaking because of the longer exposure influenced by the slower shutter speed, but the lights of the city of Williamsport were phenomenally caught and noise was kept to a minimum. Is it my go-to for low light shooting? No. But does it have the stopping power to make for a solid back-up option? Absolutely.
Yes, I was slightly let down by the camera on the Nano+, but I also admit that my expectations may have been a little higher than they should. For the size of the drone and the sensor, this camera is a solid piece of aerial imaging technology.&nbsp;
Camera Performance Rating: 7 out of 10&nbsp;
<h5>Intangibles</h5>
The Autel EVO Nano+ has some intangible features to it that should be addressed, for better or worse. Starting on a positive note, I really enjoyed the intelligent flight modes, with my favorite of them all being &ldquo;Flick.&rdquo; It also has an impressive panorama shooting mode and solid front-obstacle-avoidance. On top of that the Nano+ premium bundle comes with a nifty carrying case, a 4-port battery charging hub, and an impressively quick set-up and breakdown time.
However, I wasn&rsquo;t thrilled with how difficult the gimbal cover was to take off and put back on and the arm/propeller protection strap gave me anxiety over the possibility of bending the propellers and ruining their integrity.
The one con I want to go into detail about as it relates to intangibles was a glitch I experienced in the return-to-home function on the drone. I was flying over a creek in my area and at one point a metal railroad bridge was between myself and the drone. It should be noted that I had visual line of sight on the drone with the drone at that moment. The railroad bridge caused enough of an interference between the controller and the drone that the signal dropped out altogether. Normally, this would not be an issue as the return-to-home function would send the drone back to the home point. This was not the case and unfortunately I went into a full panic without any indication that the return-to-home was working or where the drone might be other than over the water.
This story ended with a happy ending though, as I ran back and forth between the closest point on shore to the drone&rsquo;s last known location and the original home point, I found that the Nano+ had, indeed, returned-to-home as it was supposed to do. The lapse in responsiveness of this critical feature was disheartening though and caused more of a panic than was necessary.
Intangibles Rating: 7out of 10&nbsp;
<h5>Closing Thoughts</h5>
In closing, I didn&rsquo;t care for the sharpness of this drone&rsquo;s photos and videos right out of the box, but this is easily remedied in either the in-app settings for the camera or in post. Let&rsquo;s also not ignore the color bleed issues I experienced in the magenta and green areas, but this issue could be unique to this drone or a very small batch of drones that might be defective or in need of a firmware update to resolve the issue. Every other &ldquo;negative&rdquo; mark this drone got was admittedly somewhat nit-picky. The reason I was critical with this drone is because it will cater to the beginner and hobbyist sect of drone pilots. That being the case, I believe it is crucial for a drone like this to be as easy as possible to get in the air and produce high-quality footage and photos without a lot of creative thinking or input. To me, it&rsquo;s somewhere between a consumer level drone (for the right reasons) and a prosumer level drone (for the wrong reasons).
All that said, the EVO Nano+ was fun to fly and I had a great time with it out in the field. It&rsquo;s compact and lightweight, which makes it super portable; but it also delivers a stable experience that you&rsquo;d normally only get with heartier drones. Despite my earlier comments, I do think the images and videos that come out of this drone are great and certainly worthy of consideration in both social media projects as well as some commercial applications given the operator is well-versed on how cameras work and putting the camera in a position to do as well as it can. I also loved the intelligent flight modes with &ldquo;Flick&rdquo; continuing to be my favorite of any drone I&rsquo;ve ever flown. It has fast charging times for the batteries and controller, accurate obstacle avoidance sensors, and a nice carrying case to boot.
I&rsquo;d recommend this drone to any of my friends, no matter their skill or experience levels. It&rsquo;s high on my list of &ldquo;favorite drones I&rsquo;ve flown,&rdquo; and Autel&rsquo;s continued innovation comes through on the Nano+. I think if you&rsquo;re a beginner or just a hobbyist looking for a new drone, the Nano+ should be considered. It&rsquo;s easy to use and produces great results. For that and the reasons we talked about earlier in this video, positive and negative alike, the Autel EVO Nano+ comes out of this review with a final score of 7.7-out-of-10.
The Autel EVO Nano+ retails for $679 for the standard package and $719 for the premium bundle. It comes in four different colors including grey, white, red, and the classic Autel orange.
Total Score: 7.7 out of 10&nbsp;
<h5>Watch the Review Video!</h5>
<iframe style="width: 668px; height: 376px;" title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jsb4zKoG5tg" width="668" height="376" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
&nbsp;

Gear Check: Autel EVO Nano+ Reviewed!

Trending News

2 December 2022
By Nathan Sheets, The Drone Ranger
In the world of unmanned systems, there are many decisions an operator must make.
What&rsquo;s the best angle for a certain shot? How many batteries do I need, or how long will they last? What kind of safety equipment should I use?
I believe the most important decision an operator makes is one that happens before the rotors start spinning: Choosing the right aerial platform to work with will have an enormous impact on efficiency, safety, and quality of work.
So, let's zoom right in and launch a comparison of the <a href="https://www.dji.com/air-2s" target="_blank" rel="noopener">DJI Air 2S</a> and <a href="https://www.dji.com/mavic-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">DJI Mavic 3</a>.
<h5 class="p3">Air 2S</h5>
<img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/Wu75x0HmBCLj6fu2DELk6jkHUuDEqKvSk9i1ZGlz.png" alt="" width="483" height="243" />
Think of the Air 2S drone as the &ldquo;Jack of all Trades.&rdquo; This is a phenomenal drone with capabilities far beyond its price point. However, like the nickname implies, this drone is not geared toward any one specific industry. Instead, it focuses on diversity and breadth of ability without compromising quality.
The full, one-inch sensor enables it to perform adeptly in low-light scenarios. The Active Track modes perform second only to the Mavic 3. The 20 MP photos and 5.4k video are top of the line when compared to the competition of similar size and shape. Finally, the price can&rsquo;t be beaten for what you get.
The DJI Air 2S is also smaller than most of the competition. Normally, this would be a disadvantage when talking about power output or performance. However, the size is one of the things that set this drone apart. The Air 2S is smaller when compared to the Mavic 3, Phantom 4 Pro, and even the Mavic 2 Pro. This allows the drone to perform much better in windy conditions. The aforementioned drones all snag a bit more wind than the Air 2S, and this allows the smaller counterpart to shoot and record in windy conditions without needing heavy editing around the gusts. This is especially true in the cell-tower industry where many operations are at altitude. It is absolutely vital that these operators capture quality images for their clients without wasting their time and equipment on reshoots due to blurry or bumpy footage.
Another top quality of this little drone is the ADSB-In that DJI implemented. For those who don&rsquo;t know, ADSB, or Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast, is how Air Traffic Control keeps track of manned aircraft in controlled airspace. This broadcast transmits vital information such as altitude, heading, type of aircraft, groundspeed, and identification number. In the drone world, it is used by operators to determine the proximity of another manned aircraft flying nearby. Now, if each operator is following the regulations and are operating safely, this technology would be redundant. But if there&rsquo;s anything I&rsquo;ve learned in my seven years in the aviation industry, it&rsquo;s that redundancy means &ldquo;saving your bacon." This technology onboard the Air 2S will warn the operator when a manned aircraft is nearby and give them the location that aircraft is from the drone itself.
The keyword I want you to think about when you&rsquo;re considering buying the Air 2S is &ldquo;value." This drone is the ultimate value in the mid-tier, professional drone market. This is the perfect drone for:
&bull; New entrepreneurs just starting into the drone world who aren&rsquo;t sure what industry to dive into.
&bull; Professionals who need a high quality backup drone that will cover all the bases needed in a backup.
&bull; Hobbyists who don&rsquo;t want to splurge on something more expensive but enjoy quality photos and video.
&bull; Drone service providers who need a drone that can perform in windy conditions.
<h5 class="p2">Shot on the Air 2S</h5>
<iframe style="width: 676px; height: 380px;" title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qWw2x5gAbR0" width="676" height="380" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
<h5 class="p3">Mavic 3</h5>
<img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/sGKNL91aKzyoBfY548CxD2K9dyLXgDq1TQhmWIBU.png" alt="" width="452" height="219" />
Released in winter 2021, the Mavic 3 is the flagship drone model from DJI, and the company has already released three or four variants on the Mavic 3 body. The design is sleek and clean with very solid performance in windy conditions.
Unlike the Air 2S, the Mavic 3 was built with a purpose. The Mavic 3 is geared toward providing the highest-quality videography in the market, and it absolutely knocks the competition out of the park. This drone offers D-LOG and normal color profiles in multiple video-recording formats&mdash;including the unique Cinematic 4K. Footage from the drone, even in the normal profile looks incredible.The 4/3 inch sensor on the Mavic 3 is 33 percent bigger than the Air 2S, but the performance is comparable from my experience. This is the drone for anyone needing the highest-quality video-recording capable while staying in the mid-tier drone market.
The biggest upgrade in the Mavic 3 was the addition of a second lens. The telephoto lens has a native 7x zoom that creates the most incredible parallax of any drone on the market. This is the tool that videographers needed to take the next step in their creative journey and unlock new sites and views for their viewers and clients. This lens has a fixed aperture of f2.8 and is much smaller than the main one. This means if you are shooting in bright sunlight, ND filters are a must.
All in all, the Mavic 3 is an incredibly capable drone that is well worth the high price. This drone unlocks so much creative potential while refusing to compromise anywhere else. This drone is perfect for:
&bull; High-level professionals looking to add a dependable drone.
&bull; Drone service providers looking to branch into the videography realm.
&bull; A professional drone operation that wants to focus on their videography clients.
<h5 class="p2">Shot on the Mavic 3</h5>
<iframe style="width: 670px; height: 377px;" title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9PYwPBihRAE" width="670" height="377" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
<h5 class="p3">The Big Differences Between the Air 2S and Mavic 3</h5>
Still not sure which one is right for you? Let me give you some quick pros and cons for each.
Cost: At $2,849 for the Fly More Combo, the&nbsp;Mavic 3 comes in about twice as expensive as the Air 2S.
Adjustments: The Air 2S does not have an adjustable aperture. The Mavic 3 does.
Obstacle Avoidance: The Mavic 3 has omnidirectional obstacle avoidance, while the Air 2S doesn&rsquo;t have sensors facing to the sides.
Battery Life: The Mavic 3 batteries last about 12 to 15 minutes longer than those of the Air 2S, which equates to about a 30-percent increase in flight time for the Mavic 3 over the Air 2S.
Telephoto Shots: The Mavic 3 telephoto lens gives the ability to enhance a viewer's interest by creating an incredible parallax in a shot that would normally be nice and wide.
<h5 class="p3">The Final Verdict?</h5>
Which drone wins? The real winner will be you&mdash;after you&rsquo;ve read this review and purchased the drone that best fits your needs. You&rsquo;ll enjoy taking it flying and not feel like you wasted any money or invested in the wrong asset. Of course, you must always take into account your own business model, needs and wants, competition, and clientele before making the decision that's right for you.
<h5 class="p2">About The Drone Ranger</h5>
<a href="https://www.thedroningcompany.com/pilot/nathan-sheets" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nathan Sheets</a> owns and operates The Drone Ranger&mdash;a drone service provider in Louisville, Kentucky that operates in multiple UAS realms, including cell-tower inspections, videography, and construction management. Sheets has a Bachelor&rsquo;s of Science in Professional Flight from Eastern Kentucky University, and has amassed more than 400 fixed-wing flight hours. Sheets has been flying drones professionally for two-and-a-half years. Find out more about us at <a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://www.thedronerangerky.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">thedronerangerky.com</a>, <a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://www.instagram.com/thedronerangerky/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">instagram.com/thedronerangerky</a>, <a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://www.facebook.com/DroneRangerKY" target="_blank" rel="noopener">facebook.com/DroneRangerKY</a>, and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@thedronerangerky" target="_blank" rel="noopener">youtube.com/@thedronerangerky</a>.

Compared! DJI Air 2S vs DJI Mavic 3

Gear Reviews

By Chris Fravel
The <a href="https://www.autelmfg.com/collections/evo-lite-drone/products/autel-robotics-evo-lite-premium-bundle-6k-video-drone-with-1-cmos-sensor-adjustable-aperture-f2-8-f11-3-axis-gimbal-3-way-obstacle-avoidance-40min-flight-time-7-4-miles-transmission?gclid=CjwKCAjwp7eUBhBeEiwAZbHwka_WUZ6-ru4vyAet35IzF9Heje5e9zouy_NeB_YSZMehpgTi6hrcUhoCWu8QAvD_BwE" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Autel Robotics EVO Lite+</a> ($1,829 direct) is a pro-level drone with features that include 40-minute flight time, a 7.4-mile transmission range, three-way obstacle avoidance, a three-axis gimbal, and 6k/30fps HDR video. Camera performance is supposed to be impressive, so after familiarizing myself with the free Autel Sky app&mdash;which helps users enhance their photography and videography skills&mdash;as well as the handling of the drone itself, I dug right in. Here's what I discovered...&nbsp;
<h5>Camera Performance</h5>
<img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/fdebSIwYY8C3c3iHLxBuM9HnfgoXSuK3Y5SWSGVU.png" alt="" width="681" height="340" />
The Autel Evo Lite+ touts a 1&rdquo; CMOS Sensor with an effective resolution of 20 megapixels. It has an adjustable aperture ranging from f/2.8 to f/11 and its shutter speed can be adjusted between 1/8000 to 8 seconds. It also has a max ISO of 6400.
At first glance, the camera is extremely flexible and can fit into just about any photographer or videographer&rsquo;s toolbox nicely. What really struck me, though, was the 6K video resolution. The image that came out of the camera when shooting 6K/30fps was brilliant, sharp, and dynamic. I&rsquo;m still searching for words that can accurately describe my amazement as I reviewed the footage.
My only wish for this footage is that Autel incorporate some kind of specialized LOG format for their video. Currently, they&rsquo;re using a RYYB color format, which is fantastic right off the SD card, but leaves a lot to be desired when it comes to post-production and flexibility when editing.
As for photography, the Autel Evo Lite+ is capable of shooting in JPEG and/or RAW formats, which makes it a serious option for photographers looking for an aerial solution. Editing the photos was seamless and the files off of the SD card were flexible. I found no major flaws with the photography experience, and it&rsquo;s even more difficult to pinpoint areas where I think there is room for improvement.
Overall, pros and cons factored, Autel knocked it out of the park with this drone and the 6K camera on it. The only obvious room for improvement is to add some kind of LOG format for video. If they can accomplish that with a firmware update, this is going to be a formidable aerial imaging tool.
<h5>Low-Light Performance</h5>
<img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/caB78tZ2HdFME05YoWBTOdumpxHpfgmBNWwyfOPE.png" alt="" width="678" height="339" />
I mentioned&nbsp; the 1&rdquo; CMOS Sensor on the Autel Evo Lite+ earlier, and we are going to mention it again. This large sensor allows in enough light to make it possible to capture professional imagery in low-light conditions. This rang true during the low-light stress test where we opened the camera up in two different low-light scenarios: evening (the twilight period before and after sunset) and night (when the sun sets completely).
The evening shoot went absolutely swimmingly and the amount of noise in the footage was minimal if at all noticeable. A low sun setting behind the mountains of northcentral Pennsylvania made for a hearty challenge for the Autel Evo Lite+, one which it handled with grace by producing brilliant photos and videos.
Where the challenge became a bit more difficult for the Autel Evo Lite+ was during night time. Now, I only preface it that way because the noise became a bit more noticeable in the multimedia captured. This is not to say the camera does poorly in low-light, because that&rsquo;s simply untrue. While the 1&rdquo; CMOS Sensor is great in low light, there are limitations as to just how little light it can process and the darkness of night&mdash;even while illuminated by the light pollution of the city of Williamsport, Pennsylvania&mdash;showed us where the limitations began.
I would still absolutely recommend the Autel Evo Lite+ to anyone who is looking for an aerial-imaging solution that does well in low-light conditions. If you have enough know-how with camera settings such as aperture, ISO, and shutter speed, you can compose your shots well enough to minimize noise and retain details in even the darkest corners of the frame.
<h5>Quickshots Modes</h5>
<img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/n2GkDtw6KcdAkjsL9J1D3jaxXQ1D200sAoP9lIas.jpg" alt="" width="674" height="417" />
Most of the time, I do not use automated flight modes to conduct drone operations. I like to push the limits of what each drone is capable of. That being said, I&rsquo;ll be the first to admit I had a really fun time using the Quickshots mode on the Autel Evo Lite+. There were four different types of Quickshots within the Autel Sky app which I&rsquo;ve outlined and defined below:
Flick. Best described as a &ldquo;pole-vault shot,&rdquo; the operator selects a subject by clicking and dragging a box around it. The drone locks onto this subject and makes a direct pass at it. The drone then flies over the subject, keeping the camera locked on the subject and rotating to finish the fight path backwards. I call it a &ldquo;pole-vault shot&rdquo; because the subject acts as the point at which a pole vaulter would stick their pole before hurdling over the cross bar. I&rsquo;m not sure how much that makes sense to you, but it does to me, so we&rsquo;ll roll with it.
Fade-Away. A typical pull-back shot. The operator selects a subject by clicking and dragging a box around it. The drone locks onto this subject and begins moving backwards and upwards away from the subject, creating a reveal-style shot.&nbsp;
Rocket. This shot mimics the action of a rocket launching off of a launch pad. The operator selects a subject by clicking and dragging a box around it. The drone locks onto this subject and begins moving directly upward to a height predetermined by the operator.&nbsp;
Orbit. The operator selects a subject by clicking and dragging a box around it. The drone locks onto this subject and begins to move sideways in a direction indicated by the operator in a circular motion. This creates an orbital path around the subject to create a cinematic shot. In fact, "cinematic feeling" is how I would best describe some of these Quickshots. They are an easy and efficient way to get a shot that feels like something out of a Hollywood movie. While I still hold firm as a drone pilot who prefers to control his aircraft manually, I can definitely attest to Autel&rsquo;s proficiency with the creation and application of these Quickshots. I loved how unique the Flick shot was and the rest of the Quickshots were easy to set-up and executed well by the programming within the drone. This is absolutely a well-done venture on Autel&rsquo;s part and adds value to the Evo Lite+.
<h5>Tracking Mode</h5>
<img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/GqkJ8evnrPYbFrWOnx44WR2gKalVACarUD3ONXZa.png" alt="" width="682" height="339" />
I don&rsquo;t usually shoot with any kind of automation mode active on my drone. It&rsquo;s just not my style. However, I really liked Autel&rsquo;s Tracking Mode on the Evo Lite+. Is it perfect? No. Could it be improved? Yes. Was it fun? Absolutely.
The tracking leaves a bit to be desired in actually staying locked onto the subject. I stood about six- to seven-feet away from the drone and juked it before sprinting past it in the opposite direction, and it lost me immediately. It almost didn&rsquo;t make an attempt to even turn and try to lock back on. However, when the drone was locked&mdash;and I wasn&rsquo;t intentionally trying to break that lock&mdash;it held me in frame extremely well, even at some pretty big distances.
The only other improvement that could be made is that the drone should follow me when it&rsquo;s locked on. It may be user-error and I may be missing something, but as far as I could tell, there was no setting that allowed me to completely let go of the controls and have the drone follow me as I walked about the area. If this function is not already loaded into the Autel Evo Lite+, then a firmware update should be sent out to add this functionality. That would make it even more fun than it already is!
<h5>Conclusion</h5>
It is no surprise to me that I ended up loving this drone. If you are a professional drone pilot who specializes in photography or video, the Autel Evo Lite+ is a solid multimedia tool that will produce absolutely pro-level results in a compact and easy-to-use package.
Even if you don&rsquo;t fly professionally, and just want a reliable drone that is easily packed into your luggage for weekend getaways or summer vacations, the Autel Evo Lite+ is still a great fit. This drone is the most well-rounded drone I have ever seen for price, performance, portability, and ease of use. I think that Autel set the tone for not just its own drone line, but the drone lines of its competitors for years to come. Bravo!
<h5>WATCH THE COMPLETE REVIEW!</h5>
<iframe style="width: 748px; height: 421px;" title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/leSNTyTeE54" width="748" height="421" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
Chris Fravel has been flying drones for six years. Self-proclaimed as &ldquo;The Drone Geek,&rdquo; Fravel is well-versed in consumer and prosumer drone technology and creates content on his social-media platforms for that demographic. Fravel is also the founder and owner of <a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://www.dronegeekproductions.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Drone Geek Productions</a>, an aerial-imaging and multimedia-production agency serving the mid-Atlantic region of the United States.

Reviewed! Autel Robotics EVO Lite+

Drone Video

Filmmaker <a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/PeterLindgren1/about" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Peter Lindgren</a> has been using a $4,999 <a href="https://store.dji.com/product/dji-mavic-3?vid=110034" target="_blank" rel="noopener">DJI Mavic 3 Cine Premium Combo</a> since October 2021. He was even provided a beta unit before the drone debuted to the public.
While Lindgren acknowledges the Mavic 3 Cine can shoot 4K video at 120 fps onto a 1TB SSD in Apple ProRes 422 HQ codec, he also discusses his five months of using the drone in the below YouTube video and offers whether this high-cost flyer is worth such a lofty investment.
WATCH THE REVIEW
<iframe style="width: 816px; height: 459px;" title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5qwzMPHtIss" width="816" height="459" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
INTERESTED IN BECOMING A PILOT?
Buying a $5,000 drone may be a completely nutso way to start your droning adventure, but check out the links below to find out more about becoming a pilot...
<a href="https://www.thedroningcompany.com/blog/quick-guide-to-five-great-beginner-drones" target="_blank" rel="noopener">FIVE GREAT DRONES FOR BEGINNERS</a>
<a href="https://www.thedroningcompany.com/blog/how-drones-work" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HOW DRONES WORK</a>
<a href="https://www.thedroningcompany.com/blog/make-money-with-your-drone-" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MAKE MONEY WITH YOUR DRONE</a>
<a href="https://www.thedroningcompany.com/blog/how-to-become-a-commercial-drone-pilot-step-by-step" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HOW TO BECOME A COMMERCIAL DRONE PILOT&nbsp;</a>
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