DJI debuts palm-sized DJI Neo drone, adds DL 75mm f1/8 lens

DJI announced the DJI Neo, a new personal lightweight and compact aerial videographer. Weighing less than 5 ounces (135g), Neo can take off and land from the palm of the hand, and can be flown indoors or outside for a flight time of up to 18 minutes, and takes 4K ultra-stabilized videos via QuickShots. The propellers are fully enclosed.

“At DJI we are always studying everyday camera use so that we can help people capture their videos and photos in the most convenient way possible. The DJI Neo strives to give people the latest tech in the smallest form factor so that they can capture their daily lives, saved as treasured memories, safely and with ease,” said Ferdinand Wolf, Creative Director at DJI.

By simply pressing the mode button and selecting the desired shooting mode, Neo will automatically snap 12MP stills with its 1/2-inch image sensor or produce 4K UHD stabilized videos at 4K/30fps¹ using DJI’s powerful stabilization algorithms. Upon completion, Neo will return to the user’s palm.

Tell Your Story with QuickShots

Neo’s AI algorithms have been created to keep the subject within the frame, plus the user can choose Neo’s QuickShots, which has six intelligent shooting modes, offering a range of different recording angles.

• Expanse: Videographer flies backward and ascends, with the camera locked on the subject, and records a video.
• Circle: Videographer circles around the subject.
• Rocket: Videographer ascends with the camera pointing downward.
• Spotlight: Videographer rotates while keeping the object of interest within the frame
• Helix: Videographer ascends and spirals around the subject.
• Boomerang: Videographer flies around the subject in an oval path, ascending as it flies away from its starting point and descending as it flies back. Its starting point forms one end of the oval’s long axis, while the other end is at the subject’s opposite side from the starting point.

Neo can be piloted using one-button QuickShots or voice control which is enabled with the “Hey Fly” command. With a Wi-Fi connection, Neo can also be controlled using the DJI Fly app’s virtual joysticks on the app’s interface with a control range of up to 50 meters. Within the app, the perspective and distance can be set, giving extra freedom to shoot from afar or up close.

Neo is equipped with a single-axis mechanical gimbal and is capable of handling high speeds or flights with lots of maneuvers. When combined with RockSteady or HorizonBalancing stabilization, overall image shake is significantly reduced and horizon tilt is corrected within ±45°¹, for smooth and stable footage that maintains clarity in both highlight and shadow areas. Using an infrared and monocular vision positioning system, Neo can hover steadily in the air, maintaining stability even in Level 4 wind conditions. It also supports automatic Return to Home (RTH) for convenient, worry-free operation.

The DJI Neo is available for pre-order from store.dji.com and authorized retail partners, in the following configurations: DJI Neo: 199 USD and DJI Neo Combo: 289 USD

DJI also unveiled the DL 75mm F1.8 lens, a medium telephoto lens that boasts the widest aperture and longest focal length of any DJI DL Lens. It was custom-designed for the Inspire 3 cinema drone’s Zenmuse X9-Air gimbal camera. With the introduction of the DL 75mm lens, DJI’s full-frame lens selection now spans ultra-wide, wide, standard, and medium telephoto focal lengths, catering to a wide range of cinematographic needs.

“With the new DJI DL 75mm lens, we continue to bring innovation to the filmmaking industry by pushing aerial and handheld cinematography to new heights,” says Wolf. “As a leader in civil drone and creative camera technology, we aim to provide creators with the professional tools they need to unlock their creative potential and bring their visions to life.”