How the Phantom 4 Pro Remote Spoiled Me
When I began flying, it was with the Phantom 2, it using an analogue video transmission. I had a small 7 inch monitor with a built in antenna and a pair of FatShark Goggles. When I returned to the world of drones, everything had gone digital. All my equipment that I had was obsolete for the modern aerial cinematography platforms available. I had the option of a Phantom 4 Pro + and it wasn't till I started using the Inspire 2, that out of all the benefits of the Phantom 4 Pro +, the one that stands out the most is the remote.
It was DJI's first foray into their CrystalSky system, and the only time they integrated a monitor with one of their remotes. The CrystalSky 5.5" and 7.85" were created afterwards and is compatible with the widest range of drones, from the Spark to the M210.
So, how did DJI's initial monitor turn out? Surprising well.
Yes, I still used a Sun Hood
(for glare and reflection control)
The best part of the monitor wasn't the brightness, most of the time I didn't need to adjust the brightness to see, it was the simplicity of use. Being able to power my drone and remote with the same charger was just the icing on the cake. The best part was battery life, being able to have a remote and monitor that could last a full day on set without recharge was a relief and allowed me to focus on flying. The Inspire 2 was the first time I used a cell phone to connect to a drone, and when I would go flying, I always ended up reaching for the Phantom 4 Pro over the Inspire 2. It was always easier to fly with the Pro + remote, having all the cables integrated made sure that I wouldn't forget any loose cables when packing my drone or if there would be an issue with said cable as well. It was one less issue to have.
THE SIMPLICITY OF THIS REMOTE SHOWED ME THE POTENTIAL OF CRYSTALSKY
This is really the heart of the matter when it comes to a monitor that gives you less control over how to control your drone. I've flown with pilots who love using Litchi and are able to create amazing visuals with these fantastic tools. When moving to the Pro + remote, I didn't have any options of third party applications, there were even issues with adding in additional software that DJI made! It made the use of the Pro + singular in nature, only being able to use the DJI Go 4 application to create my visuals. That's the bigger picture with this monitor, it's a pathway to using DJI's monitor system to streamline the process of flying DJI aircraft.
Spoil me? I will say that I didn't want to use anything else when it came to flying. The screen, the battery use, the lack of cables. All of these elements combined helped DJI point in the right direction when creating a simple solution for pilots. Is it an ideal system, for some. There were a few more perks that the Pro + remote had in store.
HDMI Output
Tap for a Director's Monitor and the world of LUTs
Having an HDMI port built into the remote made working on set a breeze. I already had a 5" Sony CLM-V55 HDMI monitor with a handle, which turned into a nice director's monitor when I was working on larger sets. Using a monitor that can load a LUT allows for color accuracy when working on multi camera shows, making it much easier to collaborate with the DP when setting up and executing shots. In short, it made my life easier.
Earlier this evening I used the CrystalSky 5.5" monitor with the Inspire 2, and it was just as simple when I was flying with the Phantom 4 Pro +; That's how successful the litmus test that is the Pro + remote with monitor integration was.