Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

While this is not my first drone I ordered, it is the first to arrive (my others are Kickstarter and Indiegogo units, so they are in development). The features that sold me to buy a 3rd unit (!!) before having any was the camera (linear rather than curved field), 12MPix images 4K video, and other camera features (AE bracket, AE Lock etc.). And, the built-in long-range (1.2 miles) ability (some have reported up to 3 miles). I actually don't intend to use it that far, being a chicken (Don't want to lose it!)... but that means for a few hundred to 1000 feet, it should never lose connection. Unpacking was a drag - they put plastic sheeting over almost everything, even the props. It took some time to carefully cut it off. I guess they want it to arrive in pristine condition... :) The next thing I did was download the app, at which point I discovered a message that I had to update the firmware. I downloaded it, read the instructions, but had some confusion about the sounds that would be generated to tell me the status of an update. Consequently, I sat there for 20 minutes waiting for it to complete, and finally gave up, only to discover it completed many minutes ago, I just did not understand the "D..D..D..D" and "DDD..D" terminology (that is their way of explaining "morse code" buzzing from the camera). You use the same download file to also update the transmitter, and then put it back in the Phantom to update the battery. Once that was done, I explored the interface and set about reading the manuals and getting ready for my "maiden flight." The manual that shipped with my unit was fairly brief, but fortunately the app gives you access to a much more complete version (touch "help"). It took me a few hours to read all of the stuff (highly recommended before your first flight). I could not find some of the features in the software, however. Specifically, the camera modes (burst auto exposure bracket, timer etc.). And, for some reason, my camera was stuck in EV +1.7 rather than EV 0. In other words, always overexposing. I took my maiden flight anyway. It was scary: I flew it behind a tree and freaked out. I was able to recover without hitting the tree. It is hard to judge distance without 3D... :) I did not understand that if you start the motors, the take-off icon goes away (and is replaced by land). It turns out that takeoff will start the motors for you. Takeoff and landing worked great! Stability is fantastic! It just hovers if you take your hands off the controls. For me, going sideways or backwards is not an option (unless I am above the trees). Travel can be fast, so be caareful not to go so fast that your reaction time is too long to prevent a crash! No crashed yet (although I did drop the Phantom down the stairs by mistake, cutting my finger on a propeller, and without damage... OOPS!). Stairs had carpet, but still, it handled the fall without incident. Whew! I contacted support about the EV problem, but before they responded, I tried "camera reset" and that fixed the EV problem. I contacted them again to explain better what the problem was (the manuals could certainly have even more info in them), because I have no idea how the problem occurred. I also asked them where the missing camera features were. Turns out you get them by holding down on the shutter button. Who woulda known? Other than wishing for a more complete manual (actually, for a Chinese company''s manual, it is quite good and in real English), the 3 Pro performs very well. On my 2nd flight, with the camera working correctly I took my first shots of my neighborhood. I then processed them using Intensify Pro and Noiseless, two apps on my Mac I use for most of my imaging work (along with Photoshop). The images are excellentt! i only wish for more pixels and a zoom lens... :) If you are a photographer or a videographer, this is the best yet. The video is so smooth yuo woud not think it was a drone. Rock solid! Bravo, DJI! Update: I can't stress enough that the stability is amazing. I got to fly my neighbor's Phantom 2 Vision+ yesterday (and watch him fly it) and it was ... difficult - due to drift. I managed to run into a tree, and he also almost lost control. Lost one prop (unit is undamaged). And the pilot app on the Vision+ is very limited compared to the Phantom 3. In fact, my neighbor is now selling his Phantom 2 set so he can buy a Phantom 3... It's like a completely different product, with so much improvement it is truly amazing! Attached is a photo I took (Note: it was adjusted to my liking with Intensify Pro and Noiseless).