- Staaker Drones
The phantom series is the best-selling product line and received high appreciation from users and experts in DJI drones. DJI Phantom 3 Pro Vs 4 Pro two products have been discussed lately, so what is it about these two products that make so many people spend time and money to invest in them.
In this article, Staaker has synthesized and analyzed the different aspects between them and helped you decide to choose the best product for you.
Phantom 3 vs 4
Comparison of Fundamental Specs
1. The Phantom 3 and Phantom 4 include several significant advancements at their core. For the Phantom 4, DJI started with a more robust frame. They are adding a larger battery and making the device far more durable.
2. Adding 100g to the drone’s weight did not have any negative effects on performance. In fact, it has dramatically increased the drone’s overall performance.
3. Compared to its predecessor, the Phantom 4, the drone can now travel at speeds of 4 m/s. On the Phantom 3 it can also detect obstructions between 2 and 49 feet away to prevent mishaps and increase flight duration by at least five minutes.
4. The quality of still photographs hasn’t really improved, but the DJI Phantom 4 now features an onboard camera that can record UHD 4k video in addition to a variety of other formats. The older drone had a different sensor and different image processing, so it couldn’t produce videos with the same quality.
Complete valuation and comparison
Design
There aren’t many differences between Phantom 3 and Phantom 4 when comparing their designs.
Both items have four propellers on top and white patterns. Their cameras may record both still images and moving pictures as they hover below the drones.
The Phantom 4 is a little bit heavier even though the drones are the same size without their propellers (3 pounds to 2.6 pounds).
Effortless Use
The Phantom 4 comes with a controller that may be used to control it without the use of other devices, like a smartphone. The controller is normally constructed with an ergonomic design in mind to make controlling your drone simple, and it has a large screen so you can see everything that is happening with the device.
Although the Phantom 3 comes with a controller, you may view video while flying by using the DJI app on your smartphone. Because of this, handling and operating the drone could be a little awkward. However, you might find your smartphone to be a little bit better if it has a great screen.
Still, the Phantom 4 remains the best drone controller for basic usability.
Features
Apps
DJI’s own mobile apps are compatible with both the Phantom 3 and Phantom 4. And regardless of the kind of drone you’re on, the experience is the same, even if they’re different.
So, don’t anticipate many differences from a software standpoint.
Automating Devices
The Phantom 4 from DJI is constructed using some of the most cutting-edge technologies. In Phantom 4, for instance, you may lock onto a person and follow them wherever they go. Even better, you can control the person’s height and distance so that you may follow them as you like.
Either drone will recognize when you reach a no-fly zone and bring itself to a stop, so you don’t break any laws or rules in the area. The same thing will happen when your battery is low.
The Phantom 4 is the best when it comes to real flight, tracking, and executing special functions while in the air. It has every function you may possibly need to maximize the use of a drone.
Flying: Indoor vs. Outdoor
Both the Phantom 4 and Phantom 3 would be excellent choices for outdoor flying. However, the drones are simply too large and difficult to control for indoor flight. Choose something else if you want to fly a drone indoors and believe you have what it takes to do it.
Battery Life
28 minutes of flight time are provided by the DJI Phantom 4 before the battery needs to be recharged. Up to 25 minutes of flight time are possible with the Phantom 3 on a single battery.
Camera Quality
Video
Phantom 4 from DJI is a powerful video camera. The drone can record 4K footage at a maximum bandwidth of 60Mbps at 24 frames per second. The camera’s field of vision is 94 degrees, and its ISO range is 100 to 3200.
The Phantom 3, on the other hand, has a 40Mbps bitrate and can record up to 2.7K at 24 frames per second. The Phantom 3’s ISO range is a decent 100 to 3200, and its 94-degree option would be handy if you’re searching for a good field of view.
However, the Phantom 3 faces a challenge due to the absence of 4K here.
Photo
The 12-megapixel photo sensor in the Phantom 4’s camera has an ISO range of 100 to 1600. The camera has time-lapse, auto exposure bracketing, single shot, burst shooting, and EV bias. Your photos’ excellent color will be made possible by HDR capability. The Phantom 4 records images in JPEG or DNG format (RAW).
Similar to the Phantom 3, the 12-megapixel sensor of the Phantom 3 has an ISO range of 100 to 1600. The camera can shoot in a single shot, burst, auto exposure, and time-lapse. However, unlike the Phantom 4, it does not offer HDR. However, it will save your images in both JPED and DNG formats (RAW).
Obstacle Avoidance
Obstacle avoidance is the primary and most significant distinction between the two Phantom types. It features two cameras, the Phantom 3. It has a video camera and a stabilization camera. Three additional cameras have been added to the Phantom 4 to increase stabilization and obstacle avoidance.
This is a really useful function for novice drone pilots who are concerned about losing control during their first flight, but it’s also a wonderful tool to have while shooting in-close photos because it will keep you out of trouble.
Speed And Agility
The new sports model is Phantom 4’s second differentiating feature. The obstacle avoidance feature is disabled in this mode, and the top speed is increased to 45 mph—roughly 10 mph faster than the Phantom 3 Professional. It’s a terrific feature for filming what’s below you at high speeds, even though the engines will be apparent in forward-facing photos.
Subject Tracking
Almost all of the moving shots you take with the Phantom 3 require you to manually use the controller’s sticks in order to steer the drone in a specific direction. Another thing that can be challenging for novice pilots is tracking moving objects without making jerky movements. Active track and Tap Flight are new features available with the Phantom 4.
With Active Track, you only need to choose the object you want to track, and it will instantly lock on and begin following it.
Instead of merely tracking a GPS signal from your smartphone, this differs from the Follow Me feature included in the Phantom 3 in that it employs machine learning techniques to track objects visually.
Another function geared toward beginners is tap fly. You may easily fly to various areas simply tapping the area you wish to go in on the screen.
Reliability and Redundancy
The Phantom 4 is on an entirely different level than the Phantom 3, which is still among the most trustworthy consumer drones available. It has two accelerometers, two compasses, and two gyros.
These are all the sensors that provide information to the Phantom about its orientation so that it can maintain stability. A common drone, like the Phantom 3 Professional, won’t be able to stabilize itself if one of these components fails one day, which will cause it to fall from the sky.
The primary purpose of the extra sensors is to provide additional redundancy, but the good thing about the Phantom 4 is that the flight computer can also use the extra sensors to obtain more precise data, which increases the aircraft’s stability in the air.
Faster Setup
I’ve usually had no trouble getting the Phantom 3 Professional ready for flight, but sometimes it takes a while to screw each propeller onto the motors. The Phantom 4 now includes self-locking fast-release Props as a result.
With the new propellers, mounting takes only ten seconds, and you never have to worry about them slipping off because they weren’t fastened tightly enough.
Gimbal And Optics
Unfortunately, we haven’t had a chance to test the Phantom 4’s camera to see if it performs any better than the Phantom 3 Professional. However, DJI claims that the camera has a new lens that improves sharpness and minimizes distortion (that fisheye effect).
Price
The Phantom 3 may be your best choice if you’re looking for a cheap drone. On eBay, the drone is only about $400. It will cost you about $1000 for the Phantom 4.
DJI Phantom 3 vs 4 Pro
DJI Phantom 4 Pro
DJI Phantom 4 Pro adds obstacle sensors to the Phantom 4 and a much better camera.
With a 1-inch sensor camera, the DJI Phantom 4 Pro improves image and video quality.
The Pro is built on the same aircraft frame as the Phantom 4. It can fly slightly longer due to the larger capacity battery.
DJI rates the Phantom 4 Pro at 30 minutes flying time. However, we were able to get closer to 25 minutes during our tests.
The Pro communicated well at 4,250 feet in rural environments and at 2,000 feet in suburban areas during our range testing.
The Phantom 4’s airframe and basic design remain unchanged.
The infrared sensors to the left and right prevent collisions but only when flying low-speed Tripod or Beginner modes.
Even at speeds up to 31 mph, forward and rear obstacle avoidance sensors can prevent crashes.
The Vision Positioning System increases stability indoors.
Pro cameras feature a 1-inch image sensor, 4K capture at 60fps, 20MP still imagery, a mechanical shutter, and a variable aperture.
The Remote Control for the Phantom 4 Pro comes with a Clip that can hold a tablet or smartphone.
DJI Phantom 3 Pro
The DJI Phantom 3 was an iconic drone. The design of the original DJI Phantom 3 is still being used today. There were several versions of the Phantom 3.
The DJI Phantom 3 Pro was the most advanced, with a 4K camera and extended flight range. It also has better positioning and GPS tools. Although the industry had made great strides since 2015 when the Phantom 3 Pro was introduced, it is still a fun drone to fly.
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DJI Phantom 4 Pro V2.0 VS DJI Phantom 3 Pro comparison
Overview
| Model | Phantom 3 Pro | Phantom 4 Pro |
| Camera | 12.4 MP, 1/2.3-inch sensor; f/2.8 35mm lens | 20 MP, 1-inch sensor; f/2.8 – f/11 24mm lens |
| Video resolution/ Max. bitrate | 1280×720 (720p), 1920×1080 (1080p), 4096×2160 (4K); 60Mbps | 1280×720 (720p), 1920×1080 (1080p), 4096×2160 (4K); 100Mbps |
| Photo resolution (pixels) | 4000×3000 | 5472×3648 |
| Supported video formats | MP4, MOV (MPEG-4 AVC/H.264) | MP4, MOV (AVC/H.264; HEVC/H.265) |
| Supported photo formats | JPEG, DNG (RAW) | JPEG, DNG (RAW), JPEG+DNG |
| Storage | microSD card | microSD card |
| Camera stabilizer | 3-axis mechanical gimbal | 3-axis mechanical gimbal |
| Obstacle sensing | No | Forward, backward, downward, left, right |
| Max. transmission distance w/controller | FCC: 3.1 mi (5 km) CE: 2.2 mi (3.5 km) |
2.400 – 2.483 GHz FCC: 4.3 mi (7 km) CE: 2.2 mi (3.5 km)5.725-5.825 GHz FCC: 4.3 mi (7 km) CE: 1.2 mi (2 km) |
| Speed | 35.8 mph (ATTI mode) | 45 mph (Sport mode) |
| Max. flight time | Approx. 23 minutes | Approx. 30 minutes |
| TapFly and ActiveTrack | No | Yes |
Photo Quality Comparison
It makes sense to compare the DJI Phantom 3 professional vs phantom 4. The Phantom 3 Pro’s 12-megapixel camera is compared to the Phantom 4 Pro’s 20-megapixel camera. It has a slightly larger 1″ sensor.
The Phantom 4 Pro produces sharper, brighter images than its predecessor, the Phantom 3 Pro. The Phantom 4 Pro also has a higher ISO rating than the Phantom 3 Pro and produces less noise.
These photos were taken in DNG (Learn more about DNG/RAW here). I made some adjustments to the color and distortion, but they look pretty much like the original images.
The Phantom 4 Pro produces sharper, more vibrant, and cleaner images. The mechanical shutter, which has an adjustable ISO, f-stop, and shutter speed, gives you more control.
The Phantom 3 Pro has a 2.8 aperture, and you can’t change ISO or shutter speed. While Phantom 3 Pro vs. Phantom 4 Pro cameras are excellent in quality, the Phantom 3 Pro is superior to the Phantom 4. These photos will show you the difference!
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Video Quality Comparison
Although this DJI Phantom 3 (Pro) vs. Phantom 4 (Pro) comparison is very short, it shows how the Phantom 4’s larger sensor excels in video shooting. Both drones were tested in 4K at 24 frames per second with a 100% crop and 400% crop.
DJI Phantom 4 vs Phantom 3 Pro were also tested at 1080p at 60 frames per second. I then slowed the speed down to see if there was a difference in frame rates.
The video was exported at 1080p at 24 frames per second, which means that the 60 frames per second are slowed 2.5 times. The Phantom 4 Pro’s larger sensor allows for more light to enter, so the image turned out sharper and with less noise.
Video:
FAQs
What is the dji phantom 3’s weight?
The dji Phantom 3 is 2.8 pounds in weight.
What benefits come with purchasing a DJI Phantom 3 as opposed to 4?
You must first determine your needs in order to choose which dji phantom 3 vs 4 to buy. Before making a final pick, there are numerous features, options, and traits to take into account. To aid you in making a better choice, we’ve produced this buyer’s guide section.
What distinguishes the Phantom 2 from the Phantom 3?
The drone gimbal’s camera type is the only component that differs. The former has a 14MP camera and a 4K integrated camera (2160p), both of which can capture real 4K video. The latter model has a better 1080p camera with 14MP photo capability.
Conclusion
You should choose a drone depending on your requirements; if you are a beginner learn to fly and take a photo in the sky, then Phantom 3 Pro can be the right choice for you which is at a lower price and a good features.
The Phantom 4 Pro is a great option for professional photographers and amateurs. We hope that our Phantom 4 Pro vs Phantom 3 Pro article can help you know exactly which you should choose. Let’s wait for our DJI Phantom 4 Pro V2 and Phantom 4 Pro Plus vs Phantom 4 Pro article next time.
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