DJI's pro-grade Inspire 1 drone has enjoyed some upgrades over its lifespan. Its modular camera design made that possible, with the standard 1/2.3-inch X3 4K camera giving way to Micro Four Thirds X5 and X5 Raw variations. But now it's time for an all new airframe with two new camera options, significantly improved speed, and an obstacle avoidance system. The Inspire 2 ($6,198 as reviewed) is sure to be the darling drone of pro filmmakers, local news stations, and deep-pocketed enthusiasts, as it supports features that demanding aerial videographers require, including dual-operator control and pro-grade video compression. It's our Editors' Choice for high-end drones. Design The Inspire 2 ($3,299.00 at Amazon) is a big drone. It's powered by just four rotors, so it's actually smaller than the competing pro-grade Yuneec Tornado H920. The aircraft's dimensions change slightly based on the position of its landing gear. When set to take off there's about 1.2 feet between each motor. Sw...

If money is no object, the DJI Inspire 2 is the best drone you can buy, delivering Raw video capture at 5.2K quality, superb build quality, and top-end performance.

Magnesium alloy body; Interchangeable cameras; 5.2K video; CinemaDNG and ProRes recording; High-speed Sport mode; Obstacle detection and avoidance; Retractable landing gear and 360-degree camera rotation; Dual-operator control with FPV pilot camera; Intelligent flight modes

High-performance computer required for video editing; Expensive; Adobe Premiere CC bug hampers CinemaDNG workflow

Great Shopping experience

A-1 across the board

With more battery power and a bigger brain, the Inspire 2 is miles ahead of its predecessors.

Incredibly reliable; Useful FPV camera; Robust intelligent flight modes; Plentiful accessories and upgrade options

Expensive; Not compatible with earlier Zenmuse cameras

Great drone, we use in our company, already bought another equal, I intend to buy 2 more

The DJI Inspire 1 made quite a splash when it first launched, offering a raft of cutting-edge features and the ability to swap out the camera lens depending on your shooting goals. It's still one of the best drones around, but the market is evolving – and that's where the Inspire 2 comes in.

Amazing build quality; Good battery life; Plenty of features

Cost is high compared to more consumer-oriented drones

I bought this yesterday and only one rotor worked. Oh well..I will buy a new one

I own the inspire 2 and it is a FANTASTIC drone, but I can tell you right now, the x5s and certainly the x7 are NOTHING without the SSD and lisences for Pro-Res and CinemaDNG. For these upgrades, you are looking at up to $2.6k If you are looking at a smaller budget, but still want the I2, do...

Wow

When paired with the X5S camera and gimbal, the DJI Inspire 2 delivers the best video we've seen from any drone. Its price is prohibitive for most consumers, but it's a solid purchase for video production companies and news organizations, and a drop in the bucket for Hollywood studios.

Magnesium alloy body; Interchangeable cameras; 5.2K video; CinemaDNG and ProRes recording; High-speed Sport mode; Obstacle detection and avoidance; Retractable landing gear and 360-degree camera rotation; Dual-operator control with FPV pilot camera; Intelligent flight modes

High-performance computer required for video editing; Expensive; Adobe Premiere CC bug hampers CinemaDNG workflow

DJI's ready-to-fly professional camera drone, the Inspire 1, has for the most part gone unchallenged since it launched two years ago. Compared to the company's Phantom line and new Mavic Pro, though, its tech is showing its age. That changes now.

It might look the same as the original, but the company's latest professional camera drone promises to be better in every way.