DJI Spark - All information about the drone, vouchers & deals

DJI Spark - mini camera drone

DJI Spark cheap from China?

Anyone who has decided to buy the DJI Spark will surely have noticed that DJI products are much cheaper to purchase as imports from China. Compared to local shops or the official DJI store, you can save several hundred euros. Despite the tempting prices, there are a few things to consider when importing from China. I will go into more detail in the following video on the essential points, such as shipping and the guarantee. You can find all current offers at the end of this post. 

Drone insurance and drone regulation?

In the second part of the DJI Spark video series, I explain what you should definitely pay attention to before the first flight attempts. Among other things, drones count as aircraft in Germany and are subject to insurance under the German Air Traffic Act! It should be noted that the private liability insurance, which most of you have probably already taken out, often does not include drones or other aircraft. Here you should get detailed information from the respective insurer beforehand. With the emerging drone trend, numerous insurers have also included drone flights in their personal liability insurance.

A good example of a cheap and comprehensive private liability insurance, which also includes drone flights as far as possible, would be  PHV the liability heroes . This costs 72 € per year and is to be understood as a complete PHV. It is also interesting that this insurance also covers drone flights abroad, is not limited to individual models and also includes autonomous or FPV flights. You can find everything else under the following link.

To the PHV of the liability heroes

You should also pay attention to the new drone ordinance, according to which from October 1, 2017 drones with a take-off weight of 250 grams or more must be labeled. At the same time, proof of knowledge is required for drones with a take-off weight of over 2 kilograms. A permit is even required from 5 kilograms! The general altitude is limited to 100 meters. If you want to exceed the flight altitude, you need proof of knowledge and permission from the state aviation authority. You should also pay attention to the no-fly zones, which are located above and around constitutional organs of the federal and state governments, airfields, hospitals, industrial plants, residential properties and other gatherings of people. All further information on this can be found on the BMVI website. 

Overview of the Drone Ordinance

General information about the DJI Spark

With the DJI Spark, the Chinese drone manufacturer “DJI” released another compact camera drone for the consumer market at the end of May 2017. The drone has been officially available since June 2017 and is classified below DJI Mavic Pro at. The focus of the drone is clearly on selfies, but also on aerial photographs. Enclosed you can find out what you need to know about the Spark and what differences there are to the Mavic, which is almost twice as expensive! A test copy is also already on the way to us. The detailed test will follow soon at this point.

Compact and mobile

Although the DJI Spark is not a foldable drone, it measures just 143 × 143 × 55 mm and therefore fits easily into any larger jacket pocket. With a weight of a mere 300g, the drone weighs only slightly more than a smartphone. Speaking of smartphones: In terms of mobility, the Spark can be controlled completely without a separate remote control directly via the smartphone or tablet.

Operation can also be done using gestures. With the so-called “PalmLaunch” the drone can be launched directly from the palm of your hand. The “PalmControl” then allows control using hand gestures. For example, you can change the position of the drone with your hand outstretched. Waving puts the drone into chase mode. Selfie shots can also be triggered fully automatically using gestures. If you form a frame with your hands, the Spark starts a countdown to take a picture. In addition to the “PalmLaunch” there is also the “PalmLand”. If you position your palm directly under the Spark, it will automatically start to land.

The so-called “tap-to-fly” control method is a beginner-friendly control method. You can determine the direction of flight using touch input on the smartphone display. For better handling, however, it is also possible to purchase an additional remote controller, which costs €179. As with the DJI Mavic Pro, there is also a “Fly More Combo” for the Spark, which includes an expanded scope of delivery, but also costs €200 more.

QuickShoot modes

A total of 4 different flight maneuvers (“QuickShoots”) ensure action-packed video recordings. In the so-called “Rocket” mode, the drone climbs steeply upwards. The camera is oriented downwards. In “Circle” mode, the Spark circles its target. In “Dronie” mode, the drone moves away from its target and rises at the same time. The "Helix" mode is the craziest mode and has a little bit of everyone. The drone moves away from its target like a corkscrew.

In all of the modes, the Spark's camera creates a 10-second video that can be cut within the DJI GO 4 app and also shared directly on social media. Different modes of the DJI Mavic are also on board. Among other things, there is the Active Track mode, which can be used to set a target to be followed.

Camera and gimbal

The drone is equipped with a 12 megapixel 1/2.3" CMOS. The field of view is 81.9°. The DJI Spark takes images with a maximum of 3968×2976 pixels. Unfortunately, photos cannot be saved as RAW. Videos are recorded in 1080p with 30 frames. Recorded per second. The maximum video bit rate is 24 Mbps. To stabilize the recordings, the drone uses a 2-axis gimbal. Pitch and roll movements are compensated for. The gimbal cannot compensate for tilts. 

As befits a camera drone, the Spark also offers a variety of shooting modes. Particularly interesting is the Shallow Focus Mode, which can be used to create shots with a so-called “bokeh effect”. The focused and foreground object appears particularly sharp, whereas the background blurs out of focus. This mode is particularly suitable for taking portraits. The supported panorama modes are also interesting. Horizontal and vertical panoramic images can be generated fully automatically.

Speed ​​and range

In sport mode and under ideal conditions, the Spark reaches top speeds of 50 km/h. The maximum climb and descent speed is 3 m/s. The flight altitude is also impressive and is a possible 4.000 meters. Of course, this value is only a theoretically possible value. In practice, the Spark achieves a maximum flight distance of 100 meters and a maximum altitude of 50 meters in the WiFi network. In combination with the remote control, according to various reports, stable ranges of up to 1500 meters (height 100 meters) are possible. The smartphone receives the video signal directly from the control unit via OTG. If the DJI Spark used “OcuSync”, significantly greater flight distances would be possible. Due to the lack of OcuSync, it is also not possible to pair the DJI Goggles wirelessly with the Spark. The only option is to connect the goggles directly to the Spark remote via USB.

With the 16 minutes specified by DJI, the flight time is well below a Mavic. The capacity of the LiPo battery is only 1480 mAh. Again, it is interesting that the battery can be charged directly via the drone via a USB connection. For example, if you're on the move, I can easily carry Spark in my backpack and be charged at the same time via a power bank. Additional batteries or replacement batteries cost around € 55.

GPS and sensors

To guarantee a safe flight, the Spark is equipped with numerous sensors. The drone uses both GPS and GLONASS to determine its position. A 3D vision system is used for obstacle detection and detects obstacles up to 5 meters. The drone is protected from the ground by optical sensors. The DJI Spark is able to fly autonomously and can be automatically returned to its starting point using a “return-to-home” function.

Conclusion

The DJI Spark is not a drone for the professional sector, but is clearly aimed at the conventional consumer. Due to its compact design and small size, the Spark sees itself primarily as a drone for the road. Although one is limited in terms of recording quality and the recording options, for one or the other aerial or even selfies, the Spark is certainly suitable. By operating via smartphone and even by gestures, the Spark is currently the most beginner-friendly drone on the market. A test copy is already on its way to us. The detailed review will follow soon!

To the product page of the manufacturer: dji.com

 Are you also interested in other DJI drones? Then take a look at our articles on... 

Contribution to the DJI Mavic Air  Contribution to the DJI Mavic Pro

DJI Spark - Deals and Coupons

The Spark is available in 5 different colors. In addition to a simple model in white, there are also the colors “Sky Blue”, “Meadow Green”, “Lava Red” and “Sunrise Yellow”. The basic package costs €599. The Fly More combo with an additional control unit, an additional battery, a charger with charging station as well as four propeller protectors and a shoulder bag is available from €799. The drone has been available since June 15, 2017! In addition to the review that will appear here soon, you will find the best deals on the DJI Spark at the moment. The offers are updated regularly. It's worth taking a look!

At GearBest you can currently get the DJI Spark drone in the so-called “FMC” version, i.e. with controller, with a voucher for a reasonable €509.48. With GearBest Priority Line or Germany Express Shipping, the DJI Spark is delivered directly to your door without customs duties and import sales tax. The shipping time is usually 10 to 14 days! This means that it is usually cheaper not to purchase the drone directly from the DJI shop, but rather to buy or import it from one of the many Chinese online retailers. Warranty cases will continue to be handled by DJI. GearBest has also moved to offering DJI products directly from EU warehouses. The price is higher, but you will receive your drone or accessories within a few days.

In addition to offers specifically for the DJI Spark, there are also offers for the DJI Mavic Pro, the new DJI Mavic Platinum and the DJI Mavic Air. Enclosed you will find all currently valid vouchers and discounts. GearBest has also switched to offering the Mavic with EU shipping. The warehouse can be selected on the respective product page. There are warehouses in Great Britain, the Czech Republic, Poland, Spain and France, among others. 

Current DJI coupons

Currently no new coupons available!

Buy DJI Spark - Warranty and Guarantee?

If you look around in the more well-known China shops, such as GearBest, TOMTOP, Banggood or Geekbuying, the DJI Spark can sometimes be found for less than 350 €. These prices sound tempting at first, but what about the dealer's warranty or the manufacturer's guarantee?

Dealer warranty

Many dealers from China often offer a free exchange if the goods have arrived “dead-on-arrival”, ie already defective. What sounds positive at first is much more complicated in practice. The dealers' “Dead-On-Arrival” guarantee usually goes hand in hand with sending the product, in this case the Spark, back to China at your own expense. Probably the most popular retailer “GearBest” has, however, switched to having a return address based in Spain available since the beginning of 2018. Further information can be obtained from the respective customer service department of the shops.

DJI warranty

In addition, you are protected by PayPal if you choose this payment method. The more interesting question is the extent to which you can also make use of the manufacturer's guarantee. On the internet you can often read that the DJI manufacturer's guarantee only applies to the country in which the drone was purchased. However, that is not true! There are no disadvantages when ordering DJI products from China. The guarantee can be claimed directly from the German DJI customer service and is also processed through them. You are also free to register the drone for the DJI Care Refresh program, which is completely independent of the place of purchase.

DJI Spark Buy - Customs and EUSt?

One of the most popular places to go for DJI products is the online retailer GearBest. This shop has pretty much every DJI consumer drone and accessories listed and offers them with shipping from China, but now also with shipping from European warehouses well below the DJI RRP. Of course, you should pay attention to the respective customs duties and applicable tax charges (19% EUSt). The delivery time from China is usually between 10 and 20 working days. If you order from one of the EU warehouses, you usually have your drone in your hands after 4-7 working days. There are of course no additional charges when ordering from an EU warehouse.  

Many shops have also switched to reimbursing customers for orders from China retrospectively or sending them via “Delivery Duty Paid”, ie taking over any customs duties and taxes incurred directly at their own expense. Other shops also offer the shipping method, which is often referred to as “Priority Line” or “Germany Express”. The shipment is first sent to a logistician in another EU country, who in turn imports it in accordance with the regulations of the respective country. Then the shipment takes place within the EU to a German logistician, who in turn forwards the shipment to an association service provider. Here, too, the respective shop takes on the import.