Parrot Bebop 2 Vs. DJI Spark

Are you a photography enthusiast or have you developed an interest in photography lately? If your answer is yes, then you are most likely aware of drone technology. This is because drones help you take high quality aerial photos and videos, and they are designed for the photographer who is intrigued by technology. You probably also know that there are numerous brands of drones in the market, implying that it is up to you to select the one that suits your needs best because they all have different technical specifications. Their prices also vary. If you have your eye on the Parrot Bebop 2 or the DJI Spark, this guide will carry out a comprehensive review of both drones to help you with your purchase decision.

Here is the quick comparison of these two drones.

The Camera

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When you are looking for the perfect drone, one of the significant things that you consider is its camera. The DJI Spark and the Parrot Bebop 2 are fitted with cameras that allow you to take high-quality images and videos, and their cameras are not so different. The DJI Spark is equipped with a 1/2.3 - inch CMOS sensor that allows you to shoot 12 MP still images, plus it has an 89.1◦ FOV. When it comes to shooting videos, the DJI Spark enables you to take 1080p quality videos. The quality of the videos is further enhanced by its 2-axis gimbal, which ensures to stabilize the camera even when flying at top speed. The Spark also makes for a great drone to get someone for Christmas this year.

On the other hand, the Parrot Bebop 2 is fitted with a camera that allows you to take full HD 1080p quality videos. When it comes to capturing pictures, the Parrot Bebop 2 is superior to the DJI Spark because it features a 14 MP camera. The major difference between the two is that the Bebop does not have a gimbal stabilizer; rather, it is fitted with digital stabilization, which is not as effective as the gimbal. The Parrot Bebop 2 also has a fisheye camera that could have some distortion. Ultimately, the DJI Spark's camera quality is more superior to that of the Parrot Bebop 2. If taking images and videos is your main agenda, you might consider settling with the former.

The battery and flight time

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When you are flying your drone taking aerial images and videos, you want a drone that can stay in the air longer. The flight time of your drone is greatly influenced by its battery capacity, meaning that it is a factor that you have to consider. These two drones have different flight times, and it is up to you to select the one that best suits your needs.

The DJI Spark is designed with a 1480 mAh LiPo battery with a capacity of 11.4 Volts. This drone provides you with a flight time of approximately 16 minutes. The flight time of this drone is significantly low, but if you compare it to its size, it is quite something.

Moving forward, the Parrot Bebop 2 is more superior to the DJI Spark where flight time is concerned. This drone is designed with a 2700 mAh battery, which allows it to have an impressive flight time of about 25 minutes.

As such, you would do better with the Bebop 2 than the DJI Spark if you intend to take a lot of images and videos because of the flight time. However, it is advisable to get yourself a spare battery whenever you plan to fly your drone. The spare battery will allow you to stay in the field longer regardless of the drone you choose to acquire. That is a worthy investment, which ensures that you complete your intended tasks every time you fly your drone.

The size and design

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The DJI Spark and Parrot Bebop 2 almost have the same size and weight, but they have some slight differences.

For instance, the DJI Spark is smaller than the Parrot Bebop 2. Its small size makes it very portable, enabling you to move with it to the site that you would like to capture images and videos. It measures 9.8 x 3 x 8.2 inches and weighs 1.49 pounds. Despite its size, it is a high-quality drone since it has all the capabilities that other drones possess.

The Parrot Bebop 2 is also a reliable drone since it measures 15 x 3.5 x 12.9 inches and weighs 1.1 pounds. By looking at the size, you see that the Parrot is larger than the Spark. However, it is compact and lightweight, allowing you to move from one place to another easily.

The two drones vary in designs, and one of the most notable difference is their storage allocation. The Parrot Bebop 2 is designed with an internal 8 GB storage, meaning that you do not have to worry about forgetting an SD card every time you want to use the drone. On the other hand, the DJI Spark is designed with an external storage port that enables you to fit in a 64 GB SD card storage, providing you with more space. And to be honest, who doesn't want more space to store images and videos? Depending on your storage needs, you can choose the drone that best works for you.

Flight distance

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Every drone is designed with a maximum distance range, and it is one of the essential features of a drone. This is because it goes a long way in determining the freedom that you will have when you are flying your drone, especially in open air.

When you are using a transmitter to fly the DJI Spark, you should expect to have a transmission distance of 2 Km.

The Parrot Bebop 2's transmission distance is also not so different from that of the Spark when you use a transmitter. It provides you with a maximum flight distance of 2.1 Km.

However, you should expect to experience some connectivity issues when you are flying the Parrot Bebop 2. Keep in mind that you have the choice to purchase these drones with the transmitter or without it, although it is more advisable to use a transmitter because it gives you better control of the drone.

Alternatively, you could use your smartphone to fly either of these drones. It is important to note, however, that using a phone gives you with a limited range compared to a transmitter. When using a phone, the DJI Spark has a range of 100 m while the Parrot Bebop 2 has a range of 300 m.

Maximum speed

                         31 MPH                                       VS                                     37.28 MPH

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The maximum speed of a drone is one of its most crucial features, and you should ensure to review it whenever you are getting yourself a drone. However, you must know that the speed of a drone is affected by the weather condition when you are flying it. You should not expect it to achieve the same speed it does when the weather is calm.

The DJI Spark is built to achieve a maximum speed of 50 km/h. The Parrot Bebop 2, however, is superior to the Spark because it has a maximum speed of 60 km/h. Therefore, if you are looking for a fun and thrilling flying experience, you would be better off with the Parrot Bebop 2 than the DJI Spark. The latter is mainly suitable for aerial photography and or cinematography. It is imperative to look at your preferences before buying one of these drones.

Obstacle avoidance

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Obstacle avoidance is an important safety feature in drones that prevent them from crashing into obstacles when you are flying them. It is a feature that goes together with the longevity of the drone.

That said; the DJI Spark outranks the parrot Bebop 2 in matters of safety. Why is that? The Spark is fitted with front obstacle avoidance sensors, which enable the drone to detect obstacles along its flight path. It can detect obstacles that are between 0.2 and 5 meters from it. The sensors allow the drone to stop instantly to prevent a collision. Unfortunately, the Parrot is not fitted with obstacle avoidance sensors, meaning that the control is in your hands. As such, it would be difficult to fly the Bebop 2 in areas that have plenty of trees.

The Spark also has a vision positioning system, which allows it to hover accurately because the sensors can detect the ground below your drone. Additionally, it has GPS positioning, a feature that is also present in the Parrot Bebop 2. It is a vital safety feature on these drones that enables them to hover in place precisely, preventing them from swaying side to side.

Intelligent flight modes

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With the advancements in technology, drones' manufacturers are now able to incorporate intelligent flight modes in their drone designs. These modes enable the drones to pilot themselves autonomously. Why is this a useful feature? Well, it lets you concentrate more on taking high-quality videos and images instead of controlling the drone. Fortunately, both the DJI Spark and the parrot Bebop 2 have intelligent flight modes.

The Spark is designed with TapFly, a feature that only requires you to tap your phone's screen, and the drone flies towards that position. It also has Activetrack, a feature that allows you to track any object, even those that are mobile. Other intelligent features include QuickShot, Tripod, and Advanced Gesture – a feature that allows you to pilot the DJI using your gestures.

The Parrot Bebop 2 has Follow me, an intelligent flight mode that incorporates GPS and visual tracking on your smartphone, enabling the drone to follow you when you are engaged in a different activity. It is, however, an in-app purchase.

Accessories

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When a drone is fitted with accessories, it becomes handier, providing you with the ultimate flying experience and better image and video capturing capabilities. Luckily, these two drones come fitted with some accessories to improve your experience.

The DJI Spark comes accessorized with an SD card, a case, spare propellers, a spare battery, and ND filters.

The Parrot Bebop 2 comes accessorized with a backpack, a case, spare propellers, and a battery.

Flying First Person View (FPV)

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The Parrot Bebop 2 comes with Cockpit glasses that provide you with a great FPV experience. They also are a great fit. On the other hand, if you want FPV with the DJI Spark, you need to get yourself DJI Goggles or Goggles RE. Unfortunately, these goggles will require you to dig deeper into your pockets.

Pros and cons of the DJI Spark

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Pros

• It has great positioning systems
• It is compact and lightweight
• The drone is portable
• It is economically priced
• DJI Spark comes fitted with obstacle avoidance technology
• It has a couple of intelligent flight modes
• It has some control options

Cons

• It has a limited flight time
• DJI Spark has a limited flight range
• The drone cannot withstand heavy wind

Pros and cons of the Parrot Bebop 2

Pros

• It is made with some intelligent flight modes
• The drone has an excellent FPV
• The drone captures excellent video and images
• It has an impressive flight time
• The drone has a compact and lightweight design
• Parrot Bebop 2 comes with a case for secure storage and portability
•  It has GPS positioning for safety

Cons

• The Bebop 2 has limited internal storage space
• It needs a lot of set up
• The propellers have no guards
• You may experience image distortion

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Which Drone is Right for You?

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Both drones are great and you will most likely be happy with either. However here are some points to consider.

• If you are looking for portability go with the Spark.
• If price is the issue go with the Bebop 2. Spark is still one the best under 500.
• The Gimbal and Camera on the Spark give it an edge in this area.
• The Spark has Obstacle Ovoidance which may be a deciding factor for some end users.
• Flight Time: Bebop 2 is 25 minutes, Spark has 15 minutes.

Conclusion

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A drone is one of the most impressive items that you could get yourself, especially if you are enthusiastic about photography. Unlike in the past, photographers no longer must rely on helicopters when they want to take aerial photos and videos. Drones have brought in technologies that have made the process simple and affordable to wide range of photographers. There are many drones in the market, but this article specifically focused on two drones: the DJI Spark and the Parrot Bebop 2. The drones have their differences but also feature numerous similar attributes.

The most exciting thing about them is that they are very affordable. They are a worthy investment compared to the quality of photography and cinematography that they present you with. The task is left to you to choose the drone that best suits your needs. We hope that this article has clearly outlined all the features you would want to know more about before purchasing a drone.