About the Author

Chris Monti

Chris is an FAA-certified drone pilot located in the Chicago area. By day he is an engineer who has designed and tested several camera systems and acoustic actuators. Nights and weekends are reserved for flying, testing, designing, and building drones.

Chris Monti's favorite gear

Mavic 2

The DJI Mavic 2 Zoom and Pro are the two most advanced consumer drones you can buy.

Mavic Air

The Mavic Air is an excellent compact drone that is great for almost anyone.

GoPro

This little waterproof camera is great for wide-angle shots.

Sony a6500

Mirrorless is the way to go in my opinion and this full-feature camera lacks the bulk of a full frame

The Skydio 2 warranty: Read the fine print

Chris Monti -
SkydioSkydio 2
Skydio 2 Warranty Thumbnail 2

The brand-new Skydio 2 drone that was announced a few weeks ago is supposed to have an amazing warranty. Unlike other drones companies, Skydio will replace or repair your drone for free if it crashes. But as always, there is some fine print. I read it, so you don’t have to. I also got in touch with Skydio to clarify some of the details. Let’s see just how good this warranty really is. Spoiler alert: Don’t sell your Mavic just yet!

Continue Reading

These are the DJI Mavic 2 features that the new Skydio 2 is missing

Chris Monti -
DJIDJI Mavic 2 Zoom and ProSkydioSkydio 2

The Skydio 2 is undoubtedly the most exciting and the most important consumer drone of the year. Despite its groundbreaking capabilities, there are two features that the Skydio 2 is missing that the DJI Mavic drones ($1439-$1729) have. These two features give DJI an advantage in the eyes of many consumers. In this post, I’ll tell you why the Skydio 2 does not have folding arms and why the Skydio 2 doesn’t have any landing gear.

Continue Reading

Skydio 2 vs. DJI Mavic Camera Quality – Can Skydio compete?

Chris Monti -
DJI Mavic 2 Zoom and ProSkydioSkydio 2

There is no doubt the Skydio 2 is going to be an exciting drone. It is most certainly an improvement over the original Skydio drone. Its autonomous flight modes are undoubtedly better than any DJI drone to date. But how will the camera stack up against the Mavic 2 series or the Phantom 4 Pro ($2199)? With a 1/2.3-inch sensor it can’t likely compete, right? After all, size matters. Or does it?

Continue Reading

DJI’s upcoming “Air Unit” racer is NOT a drone…or is it?

Chris Monti -
ExclusiveDJIDJI FPV DroneGoggles RE

If you take a closer look at the recent FCC filings you will see that unfortunately none of them is actually for a drone. Unless that drone is the size of a Double-Stuff Oreo cookie. The “Air Unit,” which we hoped might be a drone, is nothing more than a transmitter and receiver for a racing drone. So it looks like DJI is not releasing a drone in 45 days, or are they?

Continue Reading

Autel Evo camera vs. DJI Mavic series – Complete comparison

Chris Monti -
DJIDJI Mavic 2 Zoom and ProAutel Evo

Most of the online reviews about the Autel Evo ($999) date back from when it was first available to testers. The reviews from that time indicate that the Evo is riddled with software bugs and that people should wait for the Mavic 2. Apparently, there is only one chance for a first impression – reviewers tested the drone and never looked back. I finally got my hands on an Autel Evo and I have the benefit of looking at it with fresh eyes. I took a detailed look at the Evo camera and compared it to the full Mavic lineup including the Mavic 2 Pro ($1,499), Mavic 2 Zoom ($1,249), and Mavic Air ($799). The results surprised me.

A special note for our readers: At the time of publishing this article there is a great deal on Amazon for a bundle that for the normal price of $999 includes two extra Evo batteries and a carrying bag for free (a $220 value)! Hurry and get one, there are only a few remaining.

Continue Reading
Quick Charge Podcast: March 27, 2023
Own a business? Helixx will help you build your own EV fleet
Winnebago acquires lithium-ion battery provider to power its upcoming electric RVs
New Tesla Cybertruck sighting brings back megawiper debate
Rivian (RIVN) bets on employee relocation to boost EV production at plant
A Chinese wind turbine maker just debuted Asia’s first recyclable blade
VinFast to ship longer-range VF 8 EVs to the US, larger VF 9 SUV to follow
In a first, renewables beat coal in the US power sector in 2022
Finally switch to a battery-powered string trimmer with RYOBI’s 18V 15-inch kit at $139 in New Green Deals
Jeep shows off its Recon Moab 4xe electric vehicle concept to dealers [Images]

Pilot Era 360 camera first impressions – an impressive 360 camera

Chris Monti -

The Pilot Era from PiSoftTech promises to be one of the best high-end 360 cameras. I was intrigued enough to write a preview article a couple of weeks ago. Now I got my hands on one and so far I am impressed.

Continue Reading