Why I returned my DJI Phantom 3 Standard Edition
0A couple of weeks ago I ordered a DJI Phantom 3 Standard Edition from Sam's Club.
Price was my motivator. With a list price of $999, and a normal street price of $699, Sam's Club $150 discounted price of $550 was compelling. But even at the discounted price, there just weren't enough checks in the "Pros" column to offset the "Cons".
Pro: Appealing price point for a semi-pro outfit
Pro: Integrated camera/gimbal from a single-source maker (DJI)
Pro: Intelligent battery with extended flight time
Pro: Quality of manufacture
Pro: Plenty of after-market accessories and repair parts
Con: Price too high for low performance camera
Con: REQUIRES phone or tablet to activate before flight and start/stop video/pics
Con: Phone or tablet must be "fully compatible" (don't expect to use just any Android phone or tablet).
Con: Camera performance is pitiful for this price point. 1080p/30? Even cheap clone cameras will do 1080p/60. Sure, it'll do 2.7K/30, but my 3 year old GoPro 3+ will do that, PLUS 4K. P3 Standard won't do ANY 4K.
Con: Wifi based FPV with limited range
Con: Low-power TX with limited range
In the end... it just wasn't worth it. For a bit over $600, there are a ton of options out there with better range, true FPV VTX, more TX and RX channels, etc. etc. etc. Even at the Black Friday discounted price, this rig just doesn't deliver.
All that said... IF... if I could find this setup priced at $500 delivered, I might bite. Definitely at $400. Definitely NOT at $600. So back to Sam's Club it went.
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Glad I didn't bite on that either. I just couldn't justify another quad when I have so many builds already started and not completed.
DJI is just not for you my man. You are too much of a tweaker to arrive at a 'complete' product. kudos.
BTW, this was a compliment. LOL
@sportykev Taken as such. You are probably right. Currently there doesn't appear to be an out-of-the-box experience that delivers all the capability and specs I desire without spending $3000 or $4000. Plus, there's that satisfaction derived from a scratch build as well.
I also have a bit of buyer's remorse over having to buy a tablet (that is acceptable). I wasn't anticipating this. Some of the comments on the forums seem to indicate that the average joe doesn't mind shelling out 550 for a drone, then another amount almost equal to that for the latest Ipad. I am looking to pick up something cheap, in the 8" range to use. my iphone is compatible, but it is too small a viewing screen to use.
in my best bill clinton voice let me tell you that "I feel your pain".
@Ecriscit I had $595 into the P3 ($550 sale price, plus tax). If I cheaped out and got a refurbished iPad Mini 2 from Walmart, that'd be another $195 out the door.
So I'd have been all-in for $800. And still not had 60FPS video, and only 2.7K max resolution.
Buying the P3 was a knee-jerk reaction to finding a bargain. But like many bargains, in the end they wind up sucking up good money after bad. @DJMajickMan has wisely reminded me a couple times... spend my money right. It may cost a few extra few bucks up front. In the end it's likely worth it.
So off to the drawingboard to design my 1000 class hex with Pixhawk FC, dual GPS, and all the bells and whistles. I'll probably have close to the same money into it, but with so much more capability.