Fimi X8 SE: absolutely perfect.

We recommend that you pay attention to the modified version of the drone. Details about the Fimi X8 SE 2020 quadcopter in our review!

Introduction

Less than a month after the release of FIMI A3, the developer quietly announces its first folding drone-Fimi X8 SE. Based on the technical specifications of the portable drone, the novelty will be able to compete with such bestsellers as Parrot Anafi, Yuneec Mantis G and Hubsan Zino. As the saying goes, time will tell, but for now we suggest that you familiarize yourself with the details of the new model and, by tradition, let's start with the key features.

Features

  • Portable design and foldable design
  • Positioning GPS GLONASS is a new visual positioning system consisting of from the main camera, lower optical and ultrasonic sensors
  • 2 × EMU modules
  • Brushless power unit
  • Noise reduced by 7dBm compared to Mi drone 4K
  • Quick-release folding rotor
  • 12MP 4K 1 / 2.3 ″ CMOS camera with Ambarella ISP processor
  • Pixel size 1.55μm
  • 3x digital zoom
  • Image stabilization: 3-axis mechanical gimbal
  • F-Log and DNG RAW modes
  • Max. bit rate 100Mbps
  • Video stream transmission via the second generation TDMA HD digital system at 5.8GHz
  • Video stream quality 720p
  • Max. distance of removal 5 km
  • Max. flight altitude 500m (electronically limited)
  • Max. flight speed 65 km / h
  • Max.flight time 33 min
  • Sliding design of control equipment with removable sticks, allowing installation from a smartphone to a tablet the size of an iPad mini
  • 4 × programmed shooting modes Cine shot
  • 3 × modes intelligent object tracking
  • Flight mode by points with the ability to plan tasks
  • 3 × options for performing panoramic images
  • 3 × options for performing Motion-lapse that do not require post-processing
  • SAR mode
  • Control of "No-Fly" zones
  • Weight 790g
  • Ready for FPV flight out of the box

117]

  1. Fimi X8 SE drone
  2. Battery
  3. Sliding controller
  4. 4 × carriers screws (2CW / 2CCW)
  5. 2 × spare rotor (1CW / 1CCW)
  6. Battery charger
  7. Power cable for charger
  8. 3 × OTG- Lightning to Mic cable ro USB / Type-C
  9. Quick Start User Manual

Specification

Drone

Brand:
Xiaomi FIMI
Model:
X8 SE
Color:
White
Dimensions in flight:
20.4 × 10.6 × 7.26cm
Diagonal Size:
372mm
Weight:
790g
Max. takeoff speed:
18 km / h
Max. descent speed:
14 km / h
Max. level flight speed:
64.8 km / h
Max. flight altitude:
500m
Max. flight time:
33 min (no wind at a stable speed of 28 km / h)
Wind resistance:
≤ 14 m / s
Satellite Positioning:
GPS GLONASS
Indoor Positioning:
main camera lower optical and ultrasonic sensors
Position holding accuracy:
Vertical: ± 0.1 m (when supported by ultrasonic sensor) ± 0.5m (when satellite positioning is active) Horizontal: ± 1.5m
Power:
3S 11.4V 4500mAh 51.3Wh
Operating frequency range:
5.725 - 5.850GHz
Operating temperature range:
0 - 40 ° C

Control equipment

Dimensions:
20.38 × 9.1 × 4.66cm
Weight:
370g
Operating frequency range:
5.725 - 5.850GHz
Max. FPV distance:
5km
Power supply:
3.7V 3900mAh Li-ion
Charging port:
Micro USB

Gimbal

Controllable swing range:
0 ° to -90 °
Stabilization:
3-axis mechanical
Accuracy Angle Control:
± 0.004 °

Camera

Matrix:
1 / 2.3 ″ CMOS Sony IMX378
Lens:
FOV 78.8 °
Zoom:
Digital 3x
Aperture:
f2.2
Focal length:
4.73mm
Equivalent focal length:
26mm
Eff. Pixels:
12M
ISO Range:
Movie: 100 - 3200 photos: 100 - 1600
Shutter speed:
8 - 1 / 8000s
Max. bit rate:
100Mbps
Photo resolution:
12MP 4000 × 3000
Video resolution:
4K: 3840 × 2160 @ 24/25/30 fps 2K: 2560 × 1440 @ 24/25/30/50/60 fps FHD: 1920 × 1080 @ 24/25/30/50/60/100 fps HD: 1280 × 720 @ 200 fps
File system:
FAT32 / exFAT
Photo format:
JPG; JPG DNG
Video format:
MP4
Memory card:
Micro SD (U3 or higher) capacities 8 - 64GB (recommended by Sandisk, Kingston U3)

Charger

Rated output power:
13.05V 3A

Carrying screws

Removal mechanism:
quick release
Length:
8.5 inches (21.59cm)

Appearance

Motors

Fimi X8 SE is equipped with motors brushless type. At the moment, the developer does not specify information about performance. The power plant is adapted for quick-release folding 8.5 inch rotors.

Camera

Onboard X8 SE 12MP 4K camera built on 1 / 2.3-inch CMOS sensor Sony IMX378 (Pixel size = 1.55μm) with f / 2.2 aperture under the control of the Ambarella ISP processor. Installed in a 3-axis mechanical suspension with an angular control accuracy of ± 0.004 °. Provides stabilized video recording at maximum resolution: 3840 × 2160 @ 24/25/30 fps. Recording at 100Mbps. Max. photo resolution: 4000 × 3000. The footage is saved on a pre-installed microSD card with a maximum capacity of 64GB.

The new F-Log mode, as well as DNG and RAW formats, will allow you to preserve more detail for later post processing.

FPV

First-person flight for the X8 SE is implemented using the second generation TDMA HD digital system on frequency 5.8 GHz. The picture from the camera in real time and with the least delay is transmitted to the display of a paired smartphone / tablet (IOS or Android). 720p video stream quality. The maximum transmission distance of the video stream is 5 km.

Smart Modes

There are 5 different modes at the disposal of the user that allow you to easily receive cinematic content from the air:

Cine Shot

The mode offers the user 4 options for performing autonomous aerial photography with a cinematic composition in one tap:

  1. Rocket - drone takes off vertically upward and takes pictures underneath.
  2. Dronie - the drone takes off from the bottom up at an angle, focusing on the subject for shooting.
  3. Circle - the drone makes a circular flight around the object for shooting.
  4. Spiral - the drone performs a circular flight around a given object for shooting, moving away along a spiral trajectory.

Smart tracking

Provides the user with 3 options to track the subject for shooting:

  1. Trace - tracks an object from different angles
  2. Lock - tracks an object from a given angle
  3. Profile - follows an object in parallel its movement

Flight planing shooting

Flight planing mode with the ability to plan tasks. Allows the user to plan not only the flight, but also to set points of interest (POI) on which the drone camera will focus when performing the planned flight.

Panoramas

Takes 3 panoramic shots in auto mode:

  1. Pano -180 °
  2. Pano-Horizontal
  3. Pano-Vertical

Time-Lapse

Allows to realize professional time-lapse shooting in one tap without the need for post-processing. Implies three options:

  1. Free
  2. Focus
  3. Waypoint

SAR mode

SAR (Search and Rescue) - provides access to 3x digital zoom and real-time acquisition GPS coordinates of the current location of the drone. Combined with a flight duration of up to 33 minutes and a flight range of up to 5 kilometers, the drone can be used in search and rescue operations.

Positioning system

In addition to satellite positioning GPS and GLONASS, the system includes a visual positioning complex consisting of a main camera, optical and ultrasonic sensor. Together they provide accurate hovering, even in the absence of satellite communication.

The developer specifies that when launching the drone from the take-off site, the positioning system will not only fix the coordinates of the take-off site, but also take a picture, thereby ensuring an accurate landing right in the center of the site.

Control of No-Fly zones

flight and will warn the pilot about this with a message on the display of the paired device.

Power supply

The Fimi X8 SE quadcopter is equipped with an intelligent 3-cell (11.4V) lithium-polymer battery with a capacity of 4500mAh 51.3Wh. Provides a maximum flight time of 33 minutes. The electronics of the drone monitors the current battery charge in real time and promptly warns of the need to return. And the Return to Home (RTH) function will allow you to quickly return the drone to the take-off site and land in automatic mode.

The pilot can also forcibly return the drone to the take-off point by toggling a button on the control equipment.

Control

The drone is controlled using the included control equipment, which has a sliding design and removable sticks... The sliding mechanism allows you to install in the remote control from a smartphone to a tablet with a max. diagonal - 20cm. Power is supplied from a built-in lithium-ion 1S (3.7V) battery with a capacity of 3900mAh. Operates in the frequency range: 5.725 - 5.850GHz. Provides a maximum removal distance of 5 km.

Price

The Fimi X8 SE quadcopter is available for purchase on various Internet marketplaces at a price of $ 499.

Output

Fimi X8 SE$500
8.6444444444444
Price
7/10
Camera
8/10
Functionality
10/10
Flight time
10/10
Flight performance
9/10
Compactness
6/10
Completion
10/10
Reliability
10/10
Price / Quality
10/10

Pros

  • Quality versions
  • Portable (folding arms and props) / Props with quick release mechanism
  • Powerful low-noise power unit
  • Controllability and positioning accuracy
  • Image quality / Modes F-Log and DNG RAW / Bitrate 100Mbps
  • Auto flight and shooting modes
  • FPV flight up to 5 km
  • Sliding design of the remote control with removable sticks (for smartphone / tablet)
  • SAR mode
  • Price

Minuses

  • Does not fly around obstacles
  • No 4K @ 60 fps
  • Bulky remote control

Based on the information presented, the novelty deserves attention. We hope that the developers will not disappoint and prepare high-quality software for the drone's hardware. Indeed, as practice shows, it is software that becomes a problem for newly-made high-tech devices. For the rest, the potential of the drone will be fully appreciated by fans of high-quality aerial photography for whom the criterion of portability is no less important when choosing a UAV. Also, due to the flight duration, distance of removal, SAR mode, Fimi X8 SE will be indispensable in search and rescue operations, emergency situations, damage assessment as a result of natural disasters, inspection and monitoring.

We recommend that you pay attention to the modified version of the drone. Details about the Fimi X8 SE 2020 quadcopter in our review!

Video

Comparative review of FIMI X8 SE 2020 vs FIMI X8 SE.

Problem software.

The video shows bugs in the drone that arose after the next software update. In this connection, the author warns the owners of the model that before updating the firmware of the copter, you need to make sure that it is working, for example, through Google.

Video from the Fimi X8 SE quadrocopter.

Video review of Fimi X8 SE.

Video of the Fimi X8 SE shooting quality test.

Video of the Fimi X8 SE quadcopter flight range test.

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