Take one of our very favourite drones, improve it in all sorts of ways, then stick a Hasselblad camera on the front – how can DJI’s Mavic 2 Pro not be a classic?

Words Sam Kieldsen

£1349 /stuff.tv/Mavic2Pro

Drone-maker DJI is on a roll. If you’d asked us a few weeks ago to name our favourite flying camera, we’d have blurted out “Mavic Air” before you’d finished the question – but things have changed now, and it’s all down to this handsome aerial devil: the Mavic 2 Pro.

Back in 2016, the Mavic Pro ushered in an entirely new folding design. Many drones since have copied that, but the Mavic 2 Pro is the true successor, keeping all the good bits of the original while making real improvements in almost every area.

Perhaps most significantly of all, it comes with a brand new camera developed in association with the legendary Swedish company Hasselblad. It’s not a huge surprise that this has happened, given that DJI bought a majority stake in the firm last year, but this is the first camera to arise out of the partnership… and it’s fantastic.

This is an undeniably pricey drone, but we think enthusiasts will find it’s worth every penn

Tech specs

Camera20MP 1in CMOS

Video 4K@30fps, 1080p@120fps

Maximum speed 20m/s

Max flight time 31 minutes Range 8km

Connectivity USB-C, microSD storage

Dimensions 283x277x110mm, 907g

Alternatively… DJI Mavic 2 Zoom

£1099 /stuff.tv/Mavic2Zoom

With the same folding design as the Pro and many of the same flight features, the Zoom differs in only one significant way: its camera.

No Hasselblads here, just a 2/3in sensor with 12MP. This model does, however, come with a world first for drones: a 2x optical zoom lens. That might sound a mite gimmicky, but it affords this Mavic a couple of special tricks.

OK, yes, the Pro’s camera is much better. But in good lighting conditions the Zoom is more than capable of delivering impressively sharp 4K footage as well as reasonably clear and clean 12MP stills.

And then we come to the fun part. The Zoom’s lens lets you perform a dramatic Hitchcock-style dolly zoom, where the drone flies backwards while zooming in on a subject. It also allows you to fill the frame with subjects that you’d rather not get too close to.

If your budget doesn’t stretch to the Pro, this is a very attractive alternative that offers the same battery life, safety features and quiet, agile flying.

Stuff says ★★★★★

No match for the Pro, but a top drone in its own right

It’s not as small or affordable as the Mavic Air, but we feel that the battery life, safety features and image quality more than make up for that. If you’re in the market for a compact drone that flies and films like a dream, and you’re willing to pay a premium for it, the Mavic 2 Pro should be right at the top of your wishlist.@samkieldsen

STUFF SAYS ★★★★★

A drone without any real weaknesses: if you can afford it, this is the new gold standard in portable flyers