The DJI Mavic Pro is a great compact consumer drone (released in 2016). This tiny drone paved the way for hundreds of other drones of its kind and showed the world the potential of UAS.
However, as it is the first of its kind, it has some drawbacks. There are 9 known issues with this drone model, ranging from gimbal panning issues to firmware update failures.
This article covers some of the most common DJI Mavic Pro issues and offers tips for dealing with these complaints.
1. Gimbal pan issue
One of the most important features of drones is the gimbal. Without steady motion, cameras mounted on moving machines such as drones are virtually useless.
The biggest drawback of gimbals is that they are fragile.
Something as simple as shipping can damage the gimbal and render the camera completely non-functional.
The Mavic Pro should come with a small gimbal cover. This ensures better protection.
However, do not fly the drone with the transparent gimbal cover attached. This can often do more harm than good, hindering camera mobility.
2. Restrictions on camera settings
Drone cameras are evolving rapidly. When the Mavic Pro was released, small camera quality was just beginning to improve.
The Mavic Pro has a 12-megapixel camera, which is poor compared to the Mavic 2 Pro’s 20-megapixel camera.
It also has a much smaller 1/2.3-inch sensor than the newer models. For the most part, however, aerial photography from this drone does not disappoint.
If camera quality is your main goal, the newer model may be a better choice.
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November 6, 2022 12:05 AM GMT
3. Bulky controller
The controller connects the drone to the pilot. Both comfort and functionality are important in Mavic Pro’s controller design.
The Mavic Pro Controller excels when it comes to functionality. It contains buttons that can be programmed to perform various functions and a wheel for controlling the camera.
However, the design is a little lacking. The controller is bulky, which is inconvenient for travel and light luggage.
4. Camera shake
The camera is the heart of the drone. Without cameras, pilots cannot see, navigate, or assess situations.
Cinematography and other video productions require smooth motion.
Camera shake on the Mavic Pro is often caused by the mounting system.
Luckily, this is easy to fix and can be avoided by simply adjusting the gimbal so that all parts move freely.
5. Compass error
A compass is a tool that lets you know which direction you are pointing.
A compass embedded in a drone does essentially the same thing. Compass uses tools to find magnetic north and align the drone’s direction.
The Mavic Pro’s compass may not be able to determine which direction the drone is pointing.
This usually causes an error message to appear on the screen and prevents the drone from taking off.
6. Lens condensation
Temperature is an important factor to consider when mounting a camera on a quadcopter. Temperatures change with altitude, so special care must be taken to avoid problems.
Cold temperatures and high humidity can cause lens fogging. Mavic Pro commonly encounters this issue due to camera design.
Luckily, this problem only occurs in certain climates and goes away as the drone moves.
7. Loose folding arms
One of DJI’s most popular designs is the foldable quadcopter. With four foldable arms, these drones are compact and easy to carry anywhere.
The Mavic Pro is the first foldable drone released by DJI. No wonder there are some common problems with this section of the design.
The arms of this pioneering model have a tendency to come loose, which can endanger flight.
8. Arm wire pinch/ESC error
Another problem that can occur with any drone is electronic speed control (ESC) errors. These errors can have many different causes and it can be difficult to pinpoint the source of the problem.
An electronic speed controller is a system that controls the speed of the motor in the air when changing speeds. An error in this system can cause the drone to crash.
There are many causes for this error, but the Mavic Pro has a known reason.
Folding arms help keep the drone small, but they require wires running between the gaps in the hinges. This leaves room for wires to be pinched, twisted, or damaged, and can interfere with the ESC.
Constant use of the drone increases the chances of this type of damage, so it’s always a good idea to keep an eye on the wires.
9. Firmware update fails
Companies are constantly working on improving their designs, and this includes improving their software.
Updating drones is a pain, but it’s more trouble than dealing with other system malfunctions that can occur if the drone’s software isn’t maintained.
The Mavic Pro update is no exception, adding to this drone’s repertoire of difficulties. Sometimes the drone gets stuck in the middle of an update and won’t move forward no matter what you do.
It is often caused by a simple bad Wi-Fi connection or an old or unformatted SD card.
Note: Mavic Pro is a discontinued model and DJI does not guarantee repairs.
