DJI Neo Overview – For Video or for Vlogging?

I have done a few articles about the Mini 4k describing it as the most affordable DJI model for videography and photography. Several users have asked me to compare this model to the newly released DJI Neo

In this video, I will explain why in my opinion, the DJI Neo is not a direct competitor of the Mini 4k as it targets different categories of users: its design prioritizes vlogging at close distance and basic FPV flying, while the Mini 4k is a traditional drone for videography and photography

Vlogging

The DJI Neo is very competitively priced and sells for about 200 dollars or euros in the basic version, versus about 300 for the Mini 4k

Autonomous Flight

The basic version has no remote controller or other devices to control Neo’s flight. It operates autonomously, a new concept for DJI models

Using AI tracking capabilities, the Neo takes off from the palm and recognizes the operator. In the default mode, it follows the target from behind at a close distance

By pressing the button on top of the aircraft we can choose other flying modes:

Dronie, to fly away and upward

Circle, to orbit around the operator
Rocket, to fly straight up
Spotlight, with the drone hovering and rotating to follow the operator’s movement.

Helix, orbiting while raising in altitude
Boomerang, drawing en ellipse around the target
Direction Track to follow the target from the front, much more interesting than from behind

The last three modes are available after choosing Custom

Using a Smartphone app

Custom mode requires the use of an app with a smartphone or a tablet. With the app, it is also possible to modify some parameters like the distance of the Quickshots, however, the maximum distance is limited to 10 meters, which is not enough for landscape videography

When the drone is used without a controller, the maximum speed is around 21 KM/h, so it can only follow a car, or a bicycle at moderate speed, but this is not an issue when following someone walking and talking

The app can simulate the action of the two sticks of a remote controller, but the resulting moves could be smoother, they are not suitable for cinematic moves

The maximum distance from the operator is limited to 50 meters. Manual exposure control is not available leading to annoying shifts of luminosity

Designed for Vlogging

Without a controller, the Neo is not optimized for videography and photography. It seems to be designed for vlogging

The modes Direction Track and Spotlight are particularly useful for following a person talking and moving from close range, without having to hand-hold a camera, some of the Quickshots can also be used for the same purpose

The Neo is not equipped with obstacle avoidance sensors, so it should be used only in areas free of obstacles

The aircraft is equipped with propeller guards which protect the body and the lens from crashes at low speed, but extra care is needed as it might fall into water, bushes, or other spot from where it would be impossible to retrieve it

The DJI Neo can be an excellent choice for vloggers who use a hand-held small camera in urban situations and want an aerial tool to be used in rural areas without obstacles

It is also suitable for indoor flying, thanks to the protection of the propeller guard

FPV experience

It is possible to control the Neo using different tools. I will analyze the traditional remote controllers for videography later on

It is also possible to use it with the Goggle 3 paired with either the RC Motion 3 or the FPV Remote Controller 3 for an FPV experience, including the exciting Easy Acro moves introduced with the Avata 2

The same limitations due to the lack of obstacle sensors apply, but the NEO can be a very affordable introduction to the joy of FPV flying

Videography and photography

Controllers for Videography

Neo can be used with the new RC N3 controller, which is very similar to the RC N2. It enables all the traditional settings of DJI Fly app for videography and photography

After purchasing the controller, the price of the Neo is practically the same as the Mini 4k

The Neo is also compatible with the RC N2 and the RC2. This is interesting for users who already own another current DJI prosumer drone

Video Features

When using a controller, the Neo has the same features as the Mini 4k, including manual exposure, automatic Return to Home, Cine, Normal and Sport speed modes, Ocusync 4 video transmission

Despite the lack of obstacle sensors, the Neo features the three intelligent flight modes of Focus Track:

Active Track
Spotlight

Point of Interest

This is due to the ability to recognize and keep track of a target through AI; it is a massive plus compared to the Mini 4k

Sensor size	1/2″
Field of view	14 mm
Aperture	f 2.8
Max bitrate	Mbps 75

The extremely large field of view suggests that the Neo is optimized for close-range vlogging shots rather than landscape videography

Video Quality

My first impression is that the quality of the footage is not up to the level of the Mini 4k: the images are oversharpened and look a bit plasticky, the dynamic range is limited with dark shadows and harsh highlights, there are nasty flares when the sun is near the frame, and the results in low light are poor

The image processor and the software platform are not up to the level of the Mini 4k and other DJI lightweight models. However, I will analyze the video quality in further articles

Limitations for Video and Photos

The weight is only 135 grams, versus 250 grams for the Mini 4k. This is great for portability, but the announced wind resistance is 28km/h, (level 4) vs 36 (level 5) for the Mini 4k

This is not an issue when flying close to the target near the ground for vlogging, but landscape video should only be performed in very low winds

Unlike the other DJI lightweight models, the gimbal is not a three-axis one with tilt, roll, and pan. The Neo is single-axis with correction of the footage done by the algorithm Rocksteady and by horizontal Balancing stabilization

This system works well at close range near the ground, but at higher altitudes, the image can be shaky even in moderate winds

The maximum flying time is announced at 18 minutes, which is too short for videography, against 31 minutes for the Mini 4k

The Neo is the only DJI prosumer drone without an SD card slot. Footage and photos can only be recorded in the internal memory, with a relatively generous storage size of 22 GB

This is another serious limitation for videography and photography. With any other model, it is possible to carry a couple of 64 GB SD cards for several hours of video shooting on location, while the Neo is limited to less than an hour

There is also the inconvenience of having to transfer the content of the internal memory to a PC or smartphone after each flight to have full storage for the next outing

Photos can only be saved in JPEG format. This is an indication that photography has not been considered a priority, as the RAW format is an absolute must for drone photos

Who is it for

The Neo is an innovative product targeting two specific niches: the first one is vlogging at a close distance and low altitude for social media in rural environments without obstacles

It can also be appealing as an introduction to FPV mode at an affordable price, even though a specialized controller and maybe a pair of goggles must be purchased

For video and photos, it cannot compete with the Mini 4k which can be purchased for a similar price if we include the remote controller for the Neo. However, videography and photography are not the main purposes of Neo’s design

It is the first generation of an interesting concept and we can assume that some improvements will come from firmware updates

Maybe we will soon see a Pro version with obstacle avoidance sensors, a slot for an SD card, longer battery life and improved wind resistance