DJY Mavic Air: any good?

Don't get me wrong, I'm happy that you all get so much pleasure from drones.

But as I was walking by the Thames near Henley the other day, someone was flying one and I have to confess to coming over all 'Porto' and could almost feel one of grandpapa's Purdeys nestled in to my shoulder as I swung through the shot.

Just in my mind, of course. :D
 
MrB said:
Just got an email from Jessops, £200 price drop on the Mavic Pro. Was £1099 now £899.

(no connection)
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£735 from Dronesforless.co.uk

American company, not perfect, but did everything they said they would.

The cheapest place to buy DJi products as far as I'm aware....
 
Just seen this on the DJI website
https://store.dji.com/product/tello
Seems to have DJI software.
Camera only 5Mp and 720p but then again - less than £100

I decided to stick with the Pro rather than the Air - so it is ordered.
And, yes, I know there will be a new Mavic Pro soon but I had all the bits left from the one that went swimming.
BTW - thanks to No Regrets - I bought my original Mavic from Dronesforless.co.uk but I didn't realise that they were offering such a good price.
Thanks for pointing them out.

EDIT
Some comments for anyone thinking of buying from dronesforless.co.uk
So, I ordered it yesterday (Thursday) - just the basic Mavic Pro - I've got all the bits left from the old one.
This evening, a day and a half later, I got an email saying please will I telephone a UK number to confirm my order.
So I rang immediately.
OK - I knew that this was a delivery from America - same people that I bought the original one.
After about a minute waiting, the conversation went like this.

Dronesforless - What is your order number
Me - xxxxxx
Dronesforless - confirm your address
Me - I did
Dronesforless - is that the delivery address?
Me - Yes
Dronesforless - have you dealt with us before?
Me - Yes - I bought the same drone from you last year
Dronesforless - How many batteries do you want?
Me - Errrr - just the one that comes in the box
Dronesforless - Sir, that battery only lasts 30 mins
Me - OK I know, I have had one before
Dronesforless - Oh yes - do you want Insurance
Me - Is that the DJI Care Refresh package
Dronesforless - Yes it is crash insurance
Me - Is that the DJI Care Refresh package
Dronesforless - What is Care Refresh?
Me - it is an insurance from DJI - have you seen it on their website
Dronesforless - It is full crash insurance
Me - OK - don't bother with the insurance
Dronesforless - You don't want insurance
Me - No thanks
Dronesforless - OK how about some filters
Me - I have filters - can I have just the item I ordered?
Dronesforless - OK then
Me - can you confirm how much I am paying
Dronesforless - same as before
Me - How much then
Dronesforless £735
Me - when will you send it?
Dronesforless - maybe today - maybe Monday - but next week sometime - you have only paid for the 6 day carriage.
Me - will I get it nest week?
Dronesforless - err - probably the week after next - you have only paid for the 6 day carriage

And that was that.

So, if you are thinking of buying from dronesforless.co.uk be prepared to be talked into spending more.
It seems that they are cheap because they want to take the opportunity of turning the sale into something much bigger.
Nothing wrong with that but, remember, this is supposed to be a UK sale - most people wouldn't know that the phone redirects to the US.
I know what I'm buying but I bet most punters get talked into something more than they ordered.

My preferred supplier in the UK is Hobby Mounts but he is £164 more expensive.
I did think of phoning him to see if he wanted to match the price but because I'd bought from dronesforless before, I thought they would be OK.
I am half expecting an email saying that the Mavic Pro is out of stock.
I bought using Paypal so maybe I have some kind of cover.

Just thought people should be aware.
I'n not in a rush to get it but I bet lots of people are.
 
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Following my post above, it is nearly 2 weeks now since I ordered from dronesforless.co.uk
They took 6 days to dispatch it despite their claims on the website to dispatch same day.
It comes from the US - nothing on their .co.uk website indicates this but I knew this before ordering so not a big surprise.
I've been following it using the various trackers.
A company called Globegistics handled the transport in the US
Dear old Parcelfarce took it over once it was in the UK.
That was 6 days ago.
Apparently, Parcelfarce are now sending me a letter asking for Customs Charges.
So, I called Dronesforless who agreed that there is a problem and would I pay it.
They say that they will reimburse me.
It probably isn't much but there is a principal here.
I said - "no, I will wait until I get the letter from Parcelfarce indicating how much and then you can pay me the Customs Charge first".
OK he said but don't you want it quickly>
Nop - I said - I won't accept it until all the charges have been paid.

Note on their website, www.dronesforless.co.uk have this statement>-

ALL PRICES INCLUDE IMPORT DUTIES TO THE UK
YOU WILL NOT HAVE TO PAY ANYTHING ADDITIONAL
THE PRICE YOU SEE, IS THE PRICE YOU PAY

It seems to me that they are playing on the fact that most people want delivery and are prepared to give up at the first hurdle and pay up.
Indeed, I usually do.
But, I'm in no rush for the drone and it is covered by Paypal so if it doesn't turn up. I will ask raise a ticket in the Paypal resolution centre.
It is obviously going to arrive but, as I say, there is a principal here.

Just a warning to anyone else thinking of buying from www.dronesforless.co.uk
I probably won't buy from them again.
 
I bought mine from them, and it was all OK except the blade guards which should have been freebies were not present.

I phoned them and they sent the guards, and a larger memory card. It was all a bit frustrating at the time, but in fairness I needed up with more than I paid for.

Therefore I conclude they messed up a bit, but put it more than right.

Would I deal with them again? Well at those prices, probably Yes!

Bear with them....I'm sure it'll all be fine and once you're flying it'll all be forgotten. :encouragement:
 
Oh, and the insurance appears iffy, there is no supporting paperwork or claims advice, so you did the right thing there.

Mavic Pro: Appears way better than Air according to forumites early posts... :D
 
Sorry...must have hurt :disgust:

I have had a strange moment with mine, but got it back.

Launched from moving boat to film a sail past, but it wouldn't respond properly, only going fore-aft and up-down. Wouldn't turn or go sideways...

I had to break from the fleet and get right under it to bring it down, then it refused to land, so I had to grab it.

Scary...it revved up like an angry mad wasp until I managed to shut it down using a spare hand and my tongue on the remote...

Updated and test flown that morning to be on the safe side, but updated again and it was fine.

Launched near a lock....went haywire. Moved up the bank away from all the metalwork and it was fine.

I use it with extreme care near boats these days :encouragement:
 
No Regrets said:
Sorry...must have hurt :disgust:

I have had a strange moment with mine, but got it back.

Launched from moving boat to film a sail past, but it wouldn't respond properly, only going fore-aft and up-down. Wouldn't turn or go sideways...

I had to break from the fleet and get right under it to bring it down, then it refused to land, so I had to grab it.

Scary...it revved up like an angry mad wasp until I managed to shut it down using a spare hand and my tongue on the remote...

Updated and test flown that morning to be on the safe side, but updated again and it was fine.

Launched near a lock....went haywire. Moved up the bank away from all the metalwork and it was fine.

I use it with extreme care near boats these days :encouragement:
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What microSD cards are you using?
My old Phantom had a problem once - flew erratically.
I changed the microSD card and it was OK - back to the faulty microSD card and it flew erratically again.

Landing by hand
We caught the old Mavic Pro lots of times by hand.
Revving up like an angry wasp is normal.
It sees your hand from its underside sensors and tries to pull away.
I believe that the correct procedure is to fly it down to your hand but this is difficult so I just make a grab for it with one hand and the other hand/finger on the "down" joystick.
After about 2 seconds it gives up and switches off.

Your metalwork/lock incident was probably GPS inaccuracy.
Clearing the metalwork gave it access to better positioning.

EDIT
My new Mavic Pro has just arrived.
Next, I'm going to sign up for DJI Care Refresh - I think thats what people on here recommend.
 
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Cheers mlines :encouragement:

Hurricane, using the card it came with and another they supplied, both have flown plenty of times with no issues, but I'll keep an eye on that.

The metalwork problem is one I'm aware of (gotta love forums!) but I didn't think there was actually that much tbh...but much more circumspect these days.

I usually fly up to around 10-15'' and test the thing a bit before flying away, but its hard from a moving vessel :p

Enjoy the new Mavvie :encouragement:
 
Hurricane said:
Next, I'm going to sign up for DJI Care Refresh - I think thats what people on here recommend.
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Only problem with DJI Care Refresh is that if you can't return the drone (eg if it's gone for a swim) then AFAIK they don't replace. I have it with my Spark, but know of others who have added it to home insurance (or other) and have it include replacements if lost.
 
I ordered a Mavic Air from drones for less.co.uk on 2nd Feb, order form quoted 6 - 10 working days for delivery, yesterday (23rd) I called them for a delivery update as I’d had no communications. I was told it may be delivered next week or the week later maybe!

I’m off abroad next week so needed to cancel the order, they were apologetic about the delay and accepted the cancellation.

A bit more communication would have been good. This is obviously an American company selling through the U.K.

I’ve now ordered one through Hobby Mounts which should arrive by mid next week.
 
ben331 said:
I ordered a Mavic Air from drones for less.co.uk on 2nd Feb, order form quoted 6 - 10 working days for delivery, yesterday (23rd) I called them for a delivery update as I’d had no communications. I was told it may be delivered next week or the week later maybe!

I’m off abroad next week so needed to cancel the order, they were apologetic about the delay and accepted the cancellation.

A bit more communication would have been good. This is obviously an American company selling through the U.K.

I’ve now ordered one through Hobby Mounts which should arrive by mid next week.
Click to expand...

Yep - I've bought a few bits from Hobby Mounts - all good and quick delivery.
 
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