DJI just released perhaps the most advanced civilian hobbyist drone in the market today --- the DJI Phantom 4. For those who use camera drones to record the airsoft action the two main features of this new drone are what will make them save up to get one: the ability to avoid obstacles and can track humans.

It is hard to crash the Phantom 4. If you try to intentionally collide it against a tree or a wall, it will brake to stop crashing into it.  If something can’t be avoided, it will stop and and will wait for your next command.  So what is the secret sauce of this new drone?

The answer is more cameras. Apart from the 4K main camera that is used for capturing the action, there are four more: two are front facing and two are bottom facing. With the front cameras it can sense up to 50 feet away while it can sense up to 30 feet beneath it. DJI calls this magic the Obstacle Sensing System.

As for the 4K camera, while it is the same as last year’s DJI top of the line models, the Phantom 4 has a new lens and gimbal system. It is also prepositioned to make sure that the propellers don’t get in the camera’s line of sight so it won’t ruin the footage. According to the company it has better corner sharpness and less chromatic aberration. All the better as apart from features of the drone to fly better and avoid obstacles, the actual result of better video and image quality is what will matter in the end.

For the drone pilots who will trust the Phantom 4 will do its job with minimum control, they can use the Tapfly feature. With the controls, one just needs to push button for the drone to take off and once it is airborne, set the distance for it to travel, tap the live video feed and the drone will follow the what has been set. It will also return home smartly.

The other cool feature is the ActiveTrack, with the DJI Mobile app, the drone owner can tap on what the camera will follow. Re-selecting a subject for a different frame shot can also be done, giving even better camera controls when covering an event. For airsoft videographers, this feature is a godsend as they can change the subject for the camera to follow.

With the Sport Mode, the Phantom 4 can fly up to 45mph, making it a speedy drone in the market. Overall flight time is 28 minutes and a maximum range of 5 kilometers.

If you want, the DJI Phantom 4 drone is now on pre-oder at the DJI website and Apple Store. As for the price it will retailed at US$1,400 upon release.