Right, so, this DJI Neo thing. I scoffed initially. Tiny little blighter, looks like something a particularly enthusiastic pigeon might have glued together in its nest. And the price? You could buy a decent bottle of single malt for that sort of money. But then, like a particularly stubborn donkey, I gave it a go.
And blimey, this thing has more personality than a barrel of monkeys.
First off, the "Follow Me" mode. Now, I've flown drones with "Follow Me" before. They usually involve a lot of swearing, the drone occasionally deciding to become a kamikaze pilot, and me looking like a right plum as I chase it across the field. Not this one. This little fella sticks to you like a limpet on a particularly hairy sea monster. No, it doesn't have those fancy obstacle avoidance things. But frankly, at this price, if you crash it, you can just buy another one and laugh it off.
And the size? Perfect. This thing disappears into my jacket pocket. No more lugging around those enormous cases that look like you're about to launch a drone strike on a particularly troublesome neighbour. I took it to Richmond – lovely place, – and just slipped it into my camera bag. Then, when I wanted a shot of the river, whizz – off it went. And the sound! Bloody hell, it even captured the roar of the water. You could almost feel the spray on your face (Turn the volume up on the video below).
Now, the FPV goggles. Initially, I thought they were a bit naff. Cheap plastic, looked like something you'd find in a cereal box. But then I put them on. And suddenly, I was a tiny bird, soaring above the rooftops. I started off indoors, naturally, buzzing around the living room like a particularly irate wasp. The missus wasn't impressed, but hey, a man's gotta have some fun.
In conclusion, the DJI Neo. It's not a Rolls-Royce, it's more like a souped-up go-kart. It's cheap, it's cheerful, and it's guaranteed to put a massive grin on your face. Highly recommended. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to see if I can get this thing to do a barrel roll over the neighbour's cat.
Disclaimer: Do not attempt to fly your drone over your neighbour's cat. Or indeed, over your neighbours at all. Unless they're particularly annoying.