Simple question: Which drone is best for a complete beginer?

That’s a reasonable price for the 2018 model SE X8, I use a ipad 9.5 using a Mavic adapter which I’m very happy with.

I have the Mavic Air 2 as well as the mini but I think that’s a little out of your price range but honestly it’s a fantastic drone the active track and apas system are absolutely phenomenal and 100% worth the money! It’s around £950 for the Fly more combo.

Hi, paradad,

You say “Fimi sales and backup is crap to put it politely!” Or impolitely :wink: But you also say “I have a FIMI X8 SE 2018 and I love it”. So perhaps the quality and performance of the drone itself excuses the Fimi poor service? I agree up to a point about Fimi - I asked them directly if the A3 was discontinued, and they simply suggested I try Banggood (who were out of stock!) But no straight answer! One might hope that buying via Amazon would give a decent degree of protection and backup if things went wrong.

Cheers,
Peter

I don’t really have any axes to grind regarding manufacturers or suppliers. Although It would be good for choice and competition if makes other than Mavic were more readily available in the UK. DeanoG60 loves his Air2. But I’ve just seen this Youtube offering (May 2020) which puts a somewhat different slant on things!

Cheers,
Peter

Had my Air 2 for just over a month now and can honestly say I’ve encountered non of the issues raised in that video but then I haven’t pushed it to its absolute limits like that guy has. And by the sounds of it he has been using it in some pretty extreme conditions. The gimbal tilt in sport mode has been fixed in a firmware update so that’s no longer an issue. I guess at the end of the day it all depends on what you want out of the drone, if its professional work like the guy in the youtube video then it’s clearly not the right drone. But if its for hobby flying and shooting good smooth footage then in my opinion the Air 2 is fantastic and so is the mini and both are at a good price point for the features they offer. I wasn’t sent my drones for free and I am not affiliated with DJI in any way, I’m purely giving my opinion on the drones that I own and recommending them based on the experiences that I have had flying them.

:+1:

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Judging by the date the video was uploaded, and the amount of time the uploader claims to have spent with it, he was an early adopter which is never a good thing, especially where DJI are concerned. Discounting the gimbal and sporadic drop outs, which are unacceptable, most of the other issues can be explained because the Air2 is not a substitute for the Mavic Pro (2) otherwise it would be called the Mavic 3.

I do, however, agree wholeheartedly with his opinion with regard to DJI Customer Service. My experience with them back in 2014 is the reason I have no inclination to purchase any of their Mavic range. I did purchase a Spark FlyMore kit from Maplin but that’s because they were going under and they were practically giving them away.

On the subject of the Xiomi Fimi, I personally have no experience with these Drones and I am sceptical of YT reviews as they are usually done by folk whom are affiliated with the Box Shippers, who are the primary source of these type of Chinese businesses. They maybe nice packages, I don’t know, but when you have to search high and low for consumables like Props and proprietary smart batteries it can make the experience somewhat sub-par. It’s for these reasons I now stay clear of most “Off The Shelf” solutions and instead build my own. My DJI Spark I’ve had for only three years is now obsolete because batteries are very thin on the ground, where as the Hex I built in 2013 (with 4K video, follow me, waypoints, etc) is still going strong and will do for quite a few years to come.

Conclusion. If you look at the price, then factor in how much use you expect to get out of it in its limited lifespan, plus being able to accept the loss if things go irreparably wrong, if the price out-ways these factors then there’s little reason not to go with it.

Nidge.

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Just going back a bit, the auction for that Fimi A3 which I gave the link to earlier in this thread (‘Buy now’ for £200) had another three days to run. But it’s gone for the £200. Somebody knew a bargain when they saw it! Someone from this forum ??
Cheers,
Peter

A good point, I checked my machine today and it was built in July 2019. I belong to two X8 SE pages on Facebook and many members complain bitterly about the poor service they get from this firm from sales to spares, repairs, returns and speed of delivery (or no speed). Yes I love flying my machine but if a company was to start up in the UK producing drones of a similar price and equipment I would keep my money here. I could add more but then it would become political!!!

That was very interesting. As a Fimi X8 SE flyer I would like to know what you DJI pilots think.

if you want to see what an Air 1 can do have a look at one of our members videos @BrianB
shot with a mavic Air he shot some great stuff with his Air and I think a couple are in the photographic order of merit gallery Photographic Order of Merit Gallery

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Agreed.

DJI should have used Brian for their marketing, his shots were amazing and really showcased what the drone could do.

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@BrianB hasn’t been about for a while, but still very active on Instagram and well worth a follow.

https://www.instagram.com/brian.bracher/

.

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Unfortunately I don’t do Instagram but I have just sub’d to him on YT, purely for his video above. This further enforces my comments I made in another thread a day or so ago, in that it wouldn’t matter what I was flying I wouldn’t know where to begin to produce a video of that quality. It’s why I/we value this forum so much.

Nidge.

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Hi, my name is Joe Balanda & new to the forum. I am an absolute beginner to drones, although in my past life over nearly 30 years ago I did fly single engine fixed wing aircraft. However I am under no illusion that flying a drone is completely different!
I would greatly appreciate some help with the right Drone to buy. After quite a while researching, I have narrowed it down to the following 2 drones.

  1. Fimi x8 SE 2020
  2. 2020 Hubsan Zino 2 Leas
    Could someone please tell me which would be the better one to go with as I am well and truly stumped as to which to choose?
    From what I’ve seen & read, they are so close between the two of them. Perhaps someone has these drones & could give some advice. I would greatly appreciate any feedback as I am chewing at the bit to get on with buying right now & get flying!
    Kind regards,
    Joe

@JoeBalanda welcome to Grey Arrows.

Your question has been moved to a thread from yesterday on the exact same subject.

Thank you, I’m sorry if I posted in the wrong place
Kr
Joe

Hi Joe and welcome! Im in the same boat as you completely new to drones and battling the dilema of which drone to get lol
I was looking at both the Fimi X8 SE 2020 and Hubson Zino 2 and they both look fantastic drones for the price from what I have seen while searching the internet. I was leaning towards the Fimi myself but have now decided to up my budget and look for a secondhand DJI but now need to decide which of the DJI family to go for? :grimacing:
The guys on here have been great giving warm welcomes and sound advice so hopefully they can help point you in the right direction and help you make your decision :+1:t2:

Hi, thanks for your reply,
I’m in a real dilemma, I started off looking at cheap drones around the £100 mark, so I’ve already increased my budget considerably, my wife is sitting opposite me now & still thinks I’m looking at £100 drones, by the time I’ve bought all the extras, including 3 batteries, I’m looking at quite a few hundred.
She’ll go apeshit when she finds out!

Thats exactly how I started! Then you see one for a little more and start looking at that and so on lol before you know it youre looking at drones for £1000 and drooling :grin: Fortunately I have turned a blind eye a few times when the Mrs has purchased a few expensive carrier bags aka handbags lol That and my Birthday is in a couple of weeks so Ive been given the green light to up my budget a little :+1:t2:

By the way the cheapest Ive seen the Fimi was on the Aliexpress app in the official Fimi store. It was £312 if that helps at all?