Karma is the first quadcopter from everyone famous company GoPro. The manufacturer decided not to stop developing the best action cameras in the world, and entered the highly competitive drone market. It will be easier for them, since they were able to win the hearts of millions of fans of making high-quality videos. Let's see what they can do. After all, combining a high-quality camera, instant response and obedient controls in one is not so easy.
You can buy GoPro Karma in several configurations:
White gloss and black matte go well together. All the details and lines look amazing. The arms and legs of the quadcopter fold easily. A few light movements and the drone is ready to fly. You don't need to add anything else! Red-green backlight will help you find your way in the dark. The battery is located in a special compartment at the back, and has a useful indication of the remaining charge. After use, the compact quadcopter easily fits into a lightweight, convenient backpack for storage and carrying, which comes included.
The company developed GoPro Karma exclusively for filming. They've done half the job, the cameras in the configurations meet the latest video shooting technologies. You just need to put everything together correctly. It was then that we noticed the first shortcomings. The camera is mounted not from the bottom like most drones, but from the front. She is not protected by anything. And in a direct collision it will receive maximum damage. Although there is a plus in its location, since the propellers will never get into the frame like .
The quadcopter is capable of flying with a fully charged Li-po 5100 mAh battery for 20 minutes, with a maximum speed of 56 km/h. It responds responsively to deviations of the remote control sticks. The greatest distance from the control equipment is 1 km, which is not so much when comparing quadcopters of this type price category. The drone has brushless motors, which is a plus. It is equipped with a GPS system, which gives maximum control and ease of control of the drone. FPV broadcast is available up to 600 meters, beyond that there is interference.
There is no GLONASS system.
The control equipment comes included and unfolds like a laptop; it fits comfortably in the hand and has the minimum required number of buttons. You don't need a smartphone or app installation. A remote control with a 5-inch touchscreen display with a resolution of 1280×720 (720p) and a WiFi signal transmission frequency of 2.4 GHz. displays necessary information, broadcasts video and configures flight parameters. Its weight is 625 grams, which is normal. The equipment is charged separately, and its resource is 240 minutes.
4K cameras of the Karma quadcopter with a resolution of 10 megapixels and 12 megapixels are mounted on a 3-axis brushless gimbal. Tilt angle from 0 to 90 degrees. can be controlled from the remote control. You can be sure that the picture will turn out smooth, without jerking. Also, using the GoPro Passenger application, available for download on Android and iOS, it becomes possible for a second person to control the camera. With all this, the video can be broadcast to friends or subscribers.
Conclusion on the GoPro Karma quadcopter
The GoPro Karma quadcopter is the first in its line. Prior to this, the manufacturer specialized in the production of action cameras. According to the plan, the drone was supposed to provide flawless operation with the Hero camera, and at the same time - to surpass its closest competitor. The device claimed a place in the middle niche of the technology market, but as a result it was withdrawn from sale. We'll look at what worked and what didn't in this review.
If you want to purchase a karma quadcopter but have no experience in operating it, we strongly advise against choosing it. There are several reasons for this: firstly: it is too expensive for a first drone-drone, and secondly: it lacks important skills for beginners: for example, an obstacle recognition system. It is difficult even for experienced pilots to control such a device.
The good thing: Karma has a storage case. It is convenient to take it out and transport it. However, you need to be careful with the screws. They are easy to damage. Second: the camera is fixed at the top, and not at the bottom, like most analogues. The developers wanted to prevent foreign objects, as well as parts of the copter itself, from getting into the camera during shooting.
Included with the karma drone:
What the Karma quadcopter from GoPro pleased the audience with was its stylish appearance. This quadcopter model is one of the most compact among its analogues. Black – white design looks stylish. The plastic from which the Karma body is made is quite durable. Considering that the drone cannot recognize objects, this is more of a necessity than an advantage. The battery compartment is located at the back. Insert the battery with a little force until a click appears.
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The beams of the device are rounded and there is a backlight. Since there is no headless mode, in other words, the device does not understand where the front is and where the back is, relative to the position, it will clearly not be superfluous. The assembly is well done, but it is frustrating to have to remove the screws every time you need to fold the drone.
The motors operate almost silently. They are quite powerful and can reach a speed of 54 km/h, which is not bad for a drone.
The karma quadcopter can:
The bag in which the Karma is delivered is not very good big size. It has straps and a compartment for attaching a camera. This allows for convenient shooting when you need to show movements from the side, but there is no one around to do this.
The Karma control panel resembles a small laptop. From this point of view there is nothing to complain about. Touch control is supported, which makes flying a little easier, there is nothing superfluous. There are two control sticks, standard on the right and left, a button to turn the quadcopter on and off, mode switches and several buttons on the end.
The drone's camera is mounted on a three-axis gimbal. It can be easily removed and installed on a monopod. This will add stability when shooting on the ground. The most important rule is not to move too quickly so that the shots turn out smooth. There is a burst mode up to 30 frames. In general, the quality of videos and pictures can be called almost ideal.
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When purchasing an expensive quadcopter from a company with a reputation that calls itself a flagship, the buyer expects to get maximum benefit or pleasure from the purchased toy, especially if it is designed to solve some important tasks other than flying on the street and at home. But not at this time.
The karma quadcopter can't resist strong wind, whose speed is higher than 10 meters/second. The range – a reason for sadness – is only 1 km. At the same time, the maximum flight duration is 20 minutes, which is 7 minutes less than competitors.
There are 4 operating modes:
This is what became the real karma for “karma”. Manufacturers have paid little attention to software. Some owners noticed that the drone turns off and falls down, although the charge is full. Later, the developers attributed this to the firmware, but the problem remained.
The karma quadcopter is a case where the audience is forced to overpay not for cool functionality, but for the label. The gopro company priced its development quite expensive.
There are three configuration options, which determine the cost:
Such an inflated cost of the quadcopter is justified by the fact that the developer has been on the market for a long time and has been able to earn a reputation.
Let's find out which of these beauties deserves to take a place in your arsenal.
Competition, as we know, is the engine of progress, so it is always interesting to watch how giant corporations fight for a leadership position in the market, making their products better and better.
And now we are witnessing a battle for the niche of compact quadcopters, where on one side of the barricades is the newcomer GoPro, and on the other is the old-timer DJI.
If you still don’t understand what we’re talking about, I’ll explain: GoPro recently presented their “Karma”, and a week later DJI. Now let’s figure out who will win this fight and who will remain out of work.
1. They are compact. Every manufacturer of any gadget is trying to make a new model more compact than the previous ones, and if in the case of smartphones the count is in millimeters, then the situation here is completely different.
The dimensions of the DJI Mavic when folded are 8x8x20 cm, and this, for a second, is 1/6 of the size of the DJI Phantom 4! Are you aware? 6 times smaller than its predecessor! Fantastic!
The GoPro drone is significantly larger. With the blades folded, its size is 9x22x36 cm. But, despite the fact that it is larger than its competitor, it still remains quite compact and suitable for transportation without the need to pack it in a special backpack ( Hello Phantom 4).
2. They are fast. In level flight and in the absence of wind, the GoPro Karma can reach a speed of 56 km/h, and the Dji Mavic – 65 km/h. Very good results!
3. They fly long and far. A drone from DJI can stay in the air for up to 27 minutes and fly a distance of 7 km, and a copter from Gopro can fly for 20 minutes and 3 km. This is enough time for you to get up, remove everything you want, and then land and change the battery. And then the whole circle again.
4. Excellent picture stabilization. Each drone is equipped with a three-axis stabilizer, so the picture will not twitch on any of them.
4. Shoot 4k video. Both the built-in camera in the Mavic and the GoPro Hero 5 that Karma works with have 1/2.3″ CMOS sensors and can shoot 4K video.
This is where the similarities end, and the differences and “tricks” begin.
1. Flight safety systems. The drone calmly navigates in space, automatically flying around obstacles. Responsible for this are 5 cameras, GPS/GLONASS modules, ultrasonic scanners, and, possibly, the US State Department (but this is not certain).
You will only be able to destroy this drone if you really want to.
2. Camera protection. The camera is covered with a transparent plastic dome, which will protect it if it falls. In Karma's defense, the GoPro Hero 5 itself is pretty well protected, so it doesn't require such a dome.
1. Own ecosystem consisting of:
2. Control panel. Unlike DJI, which is controlled from your smartphone, GoPro offers you a remote control with a built-in touch screen.
In my opinion, a very good solution, because every owner of a drone controlled from a smartphone has faced a dilemma: reject an important call or lose control of the quadcopter.
The DJI Mavic is essentially better than the Karma in every way, so if you want a compact, fast, shooting nice picture drone, then the choice is obvious. The purchase will reduce your card balance by $999, in return for which you will receive a lot of pleasant experiences and many beautiful videos.
However, the scales may also tip towards the GoPro Karma. This will happen if you already own a GoPro Hero 4, which you are completely satisfied with, but want to expand its capabilities with aerial photography.
Karma without a camera will cost you $799. In general, one thing can be said about GoPro Karma: it’s not bad for the first time, but it hasn’t reached the level of DJI yet. Hopefully the next drone from the Australian manufacturer will be a more competitive opponent for DJI.
The GoPro Karma quadcopter has become a sensational novelty in the electronics market. Engineers from an Australian company, which is the manufacturer of the most famous action cameras in the world, worked on a compact, folding device. The Karma quadcopter increases user interest in the company's activities.
The device is compact, equipped with folding arms and a 3-axis suspension for a GoPro camera (hero 4 and 5) on the front side. Due to the design features, the drone's propellers are not visible during shooting, regardless of the flight mode. Automatic takeoff and landing, the ability to hold a certain altitude, as well as a return to starting point function - all these options are available on similar devices from other manufacturers. Controlling the copter is convenient and intuitive: as conceived by GoPro engineers, even a user who has no experience in controlling a UAV will be able to quickly understand the rules for controlling this copter.
The main advantage of GoPro devices has always been compactness. And the GoPro Karma drone was no exception; its folded dimensions are 9x22x36 cm. And, although the copter is not the most compact among representatives of other companies, its dimensions allow you to transport the device in a backpack.
GoPro is a pretty fast aerial camera. If the wind is weak or absent at all, the device reaches speeds of up to 56 kilometers/hour. The copter can be operated for 20 minutes in continuous shooting mode. The flight range is 3 kilometers. The three-axis image stabilizer makes the camera image clear and smooth, eliminating the effect of vibration during flight. Karma supports GoPro Hero 4, and this is a clear plus for users who are not eager to update the device to version 5.
The equipment set contains a control panel with a built-in touch screen. You don't need a phone to fly in pilot mode (FPV). When controlling a drone using a smartphone, there is often a need to accept a call, which can cause you to lose control of the device. GoPro has saved users from such trouble.
The GoPro drone comes fully equipped and is ready to fly out of the box. The kit contains the following components:
The creators implied that the gopro karma drone quadcopter could always be at hand to create quality video V the right time. Note that the company managed to create a faithful companion for those who dream of unforgettable, beautiful shots.
A minimal set of buttons on the control panel ensures convenient manipulation of the device along with the compact size of the remote control. The remote control does not contain anything unnecessary. There is a high-resolution multifunctional touchscreen monitor. Separately, we note the simulator installed in the console for pre-flight training. This option is relevant for beginners who are just starting to control unmanned vehicles.
You can also display camera images on your mobile device using the GoPro Passenger App. You can control the camera through the app. This means that the pilot can concentrate on controlling the aircraft itself.
Characteristics:
The drone comes with a Karma Grip handheld monopod. Simply detach the gimbal from the copter and insert it into the monopod. A huge advantage is that the monopod can be attached to a helmet or chest (using a special belt) and you will get smooth, stabilized video.
The estimated cost of the copter is $799. Would you like to get a GoPro Hero 5 camera in addition? An additional payment of $300 will be required.
The development company managed to create a high-tech, advanced copter for amateur photography from the air and ground. Of course, it lacks many of the modes available on today's top models (such as "follow me"). But we think that GoPro will soon catch up with the market leaders.
Video of GoPro Karma quadcopter
The well-known manufacturer of the best action cameras presented its completely new product - the Karma drone. As the creators of the drone say, the main task was to implement a UAV that differs from others in its compactness, ease of use and, of course, high-quality photo and video material at the output.
Unlike most released products, the most famous brands, the drone from GoPro has compact dimensions, folding beams and non-standard camera placement. In the quad, it is located not under it, but in front, thus eliminating the presence of the drone’s rotors in the frame in any flight modes.
Otherwise, the quad was equipped with the standard capabilities of top-end drones with the letter Smart: auto take-off, auto landing, altitude hold, return home, etc. Everything here is done in such a way that absolutely anyone with no experience in owning a UAV can fully take advantage of all the functions of the drone and enjoy the process.
The Karma drone has 6 programmed shooting modes with which the pilot can realize any creative idea:
To gain new perspectives in shooting, the drone's camera can now take a vertical position with the lens up, without capturing the drone's rotors in the frame.
According to the developers themselves, the owner of the drone should not think about whether to take the drone with him or not, the drone will always be nearby, waiting for new shots, it is equipped with the most necessary equipment for high-quality shooting, both in the air and on the ground.
*camera not included.
The remote control has optimal sizes with a minimum set of control buttons. There is nothing superfluous, everything is intuitive and logical, and does not require preinstalled software. The remote control is equipped with a high-resolution multifunctional touch screen (720p). In appearance, the control equipment looks like a mini LapTop. The remote control has a simulator for pre-flight training, which beginners will appreciate.
When combining a GoPro camera with this accessory, the owner will always be able to film high quality photo and video material from the ground.
Flight time:
up to 20 minutes (in practice 17 minutes)
Complete drone weight:
Drone battery:
4S 14.8V 5100mAh 75.4Wh LiPo
Drone battery weight:
Operating control frequency:
Flight Modes:
Follow/Watch/Dronie/Cable Cam/Reveal/Orbit
Maximum flight altitude:
Maximum wind resistance:
Maximum flight speed:
Maximum distance:
Drone battery charging time:
Transmitter screen size:
Transmitter screen resolution:
Transmitter battery operating time:
Transmitter weight:
Transmitter screen brightness:
Transmitter battery charging time:
Rated charge voltage:
Karma Grip charging time:
Karma Grip Weight:
Gimbal weight:
Gimbal Motion Range:
90° to 0° (down/up)
Camera Compatibility:
HERO6 Black, HERO5 Black, HERO5 Session, HERO4
Drone Lighting:
Flight environment:
outdoors
Device Compatibility:
iOS 9 and earlier Android 5.0 and earlier
Today the Karma drone is officially available for the Russian Federation. On the official website of the developer, the drone is sold at the following prices:
from $1060
8/10
Functionality
10/10Flight time
9/10Flight qualities
10/10Compactness
10/10Equipment
10/10Reliability
10/10Price quality
10/10According to new trends, a modern drone should not only fly well, film well, and have autonomous qualities, but now, at the same time, it must be compact. GoPro presented its first drone in accordance with the requirements and it should be noted that the “first pancake” came out very well. Karma is suitable for any pilot, regardless of experience in owning a UAV, for high-quality photo/video shooting anywhere and at any time.
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