Following Insta360's previous launch of a drone under the Antigravity brand, which combines a panoramic camera and a drone, successfully encroaching on DJI's territory.Antigravity A1DJI also retaliated earlier today. The "DJI Avata 360", which was officially unveiled today (March 26), combines the FPV racing drone genes of the Avata series with the panoramic imaging technology of the Osmo 360, making it the most mature mass-produced panoramic drone on the market.
This drone can not only shoot 8K 360-degree panoramic videos, allowing users to freely reconstruct the framing angle during post-production, but also has a complete propeller guard and an all-around obstacle avoidance system, solving the pain point of traditional drones being unable to shoot portraits or move around indoors at close range.
Core technology: Osmo 360 lens module and 8K panoramic capture
The Avata 360 is slightly larger and heavier than the Avata 2 (approximately 455 grams). Its core feature is the two ultra-wide-angle lenses (f/1.9 aperture, 1.1-inch 6400-megapixel sensor) embedded in the center of the body, pointing diagonally upwards and downwards respectively, achieving an unobstructed 200-degree field of view.
• 8K 60fps panoramic video:Although the final output flat video is approximately 4K, the 8K panoramic footage also offers extremely high post-cutting flexibility.
• Single-lens 4K mode:Unlike its competitors that can only shoot panoramas, the Avata 360 can rotate its lens to the front, allowing it to be used as a traditional 4K 60fps drone (equivalent to a 28mm field of view).
• Visual immersion:Paired with the latest N3 flight goggles, which support head tracking, players can simply turn their heads to observe their surroundings through the goggles.
Performance and obstacle avoidance: Optimization for "harmless" scenarios
As an FPV (first-person view) drone, the Avata 360 maintains its agility and can reach a top speed of 40 miles per hour (approximately 64 kilometers per hour).
• Security protection:Continuing the Avata's fairing design, it effectively protects the propeller blades from injury, and even if the aircraft slightly touches branches and leaves in a forest or indoors, it can maintain stability and not crash.
• Smart Tracking:Equipped with DJI's Focus Track (including ActiveTrack technology), it can achieve 360-degree tracking of the subject in panoramic mode. Even when chasing a fast-running horse, its operating noise of 81dB (slightly louder than the Mini series, but less harsh) is unlikely to disturb the animal.
• Long-term image transmission:It adopts the OcuSync 4.0+ system, doubling the image transmission distance to 20 kilometers, and has a built-in 45GB of storage space.
Pain Points and Costs: Balancing Image Quality and Stability
However, in exchange for the convenience of panoramic photography, the Avata 360 makes some sacrifices in image quality:
• Dynamic blur:Because the camera is fixed to the body, it cannot be corrected for yaw using a mechanical gimbal and relies entirely on electronic image stabilization, which makes it prone to shaking and noise in low-light environments.
• stitch marks:In environments with high light contrast, the "seam" between the upper and lower lenses can occasionally be seen.
• Post-production threshold:Although the DJI Studio App offers a smart tracking cropping feature, for players who pursue ultimate image quality (such as the Mini 5 Pro or Mavic series), the detail after panoramic cropping is still slightly loose.
Analysis of viewpoints
The emergence of the DJI Avata 360 symbolizes the evolution of drones from "photography equipment" to "omniscient recorders".
In the past, FPV drone users needed advanced camera movement skills to shoot smooth tracking footage, but the Avata 360 has significantly lowered the barrier to entry for flying – as long as the drone flies past the target, you can decide whether to look left, right, or back later on the computer, which is quite convenient for vloggers, extreme sports photographers, or solo creators.
Although there is still room for improvement in low-light photography with current image sensors, and DJI needs to apply for a license because its overall weight exceeds 249 grams, it has clearly succeeded in turning the tide against Insta360 with its more mature obstacle avoidance software and lower price (starting at 459 euros in Europe).
As for the Taiwan market, the suggested retail price starts from NT$12790. In addition, accessories such as the DJI RC2 remote controller, the Fly Free Kit (which includes the DJI RC2 remote controller) and the Motion Fly Free Kit (which includes the N3 flight goggles) are also available.
