Hubsan Zino 2 test: photo, video, range, flight time

The Hubsan Zino 2 is the successor to the Hubsan Zino and offers significantly more power. The video quality has improved, the flight time has increased and the flight range should also have increased.

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The Chinese mail-order company Gearbest is now offering the Hubsan Zino 2 exclusively in advance of sales.

The new drone initially starts at $ 399.99, which equates to roughly € 359. According to Gearbest, shipments will begin in early January next year.

The following video shows the first unboxing and details about the drone:

Scope of delivery and technical data

The package also includes a drone and a remote control.
two blades with screws, charger, screwdriver, USB cable, English manual and drone battery. There is also a bag.

Overall, the scope of delivery is very large and you get a lot of accessories for the Hubsan Zino 2.

A quick overview of the most important features of the new drone:

• Video resolution: 4K / 60fps, 1080.720 pixels / up to 200fps
• Remote control with built-in real-time display
• Flight time: 33 minutes / charging time 2 hours
• Range 6 km, height 500 m
• Frequency 2.3-2.4 / 5.7-5.8 GHz
• maximum speed 72 km / h (20 m / s)
• Photo resolution 12 megapixels (recording in JPEG or RAW format)
• Image sensor Sony sensor -1 / 2.3
• Lens: f / 2.2, 23mm / replaceable filter
• Flight modes: GPS, Optical Flow, ATTI
• Folded dimensions: 216.5 x 129.0 x 94.9 mm
• Unfolded dimensions: 326.0 x 260.0 x 94.9 mm
• Battery 3800 mAh (17.4 V)
• Remote control: 3350 mAh
• Total weight: 915g

Hubsan Zino 2: Recording Technique

Pre-sale of the new 4K drone started on Wednesday. Pre-sale at Gearbest by mail, price € 359 (RRP € 532).
However, the offer is limited to 1,000 copies, so if you want to buy a copy before official sales start, you should hurry up. The promotion will last until January 1, 2021.

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Compared to the previous model (test on droneprozone.com), a lot has changed. The new Hubsan Zino 2 can now also record 4K video, but at 60 frames per second, which provides a much smoother image stream.

With 4K 60 FPS, the Hubsan Zino 2 also stands out from the competition. Because 4K with 60 frames has so far only been brought by top models, such as the Phantom 4 Pro or Auto Evo (test at droneprozone.com)

The drone supports various photo and video formats. These include JPEG and DNG (RAW) for images and MP4 (h.264 codec), and MOV (mpeg4 AV codec) for videos.

MOV files are an Apple format that provides high compatibility with other devices. MOV files can be played on the vast majority of mobile media devices, be they MP4 players or smartphones.

DNG format is a format for storing RAW image files.

Unlike RAW, DNG file has lossless compression. Which in most cases is about 10-20% of the file size. In some photographs, however, only 1% or 2%. In addition, DNG can be saved lossy.

Which reliably reduces file size by 1/3 + – 5%. The image quality suffers very little, still incomparable with JPG, if only because of the higher color fastness of 4096 color channels instead of 256 (JPG).

The only drawback of the DNG format is that even if only the image metadata changes, the entire file must be saved again. This can take a while with several hundred or even thousands of images and depending on the hard drive / memory card or SSD.

Of course, video can also be recorded in 1080p (120fps) or 720p at 200fps and a maximum bit rate of 100Mbps. However, a photo from 12 megapixels in 4K resolution (3840 × 2160). A larger camera is used for this.

Namely, a lens with a 1 / 2.3 inch CMO sensor from Sony. This makes the lens slightly larger than its predecessor and provides better images in low or low light conditions.

Hubsan Zino drone recording technology at a glance:

Model Hubsan Zino 2 Hubsan Zino ProHubsan Zino 117s

SoC (microprocessor)	Ambarella H22	Ambarella A12S	Ambarella A12
Camera sensor / sensor size	Sony 1 / 2.3 inches	Sony 1 / 2.3 inches	Sony 1 / 2.3 inches
Video resolution	3840 × 2160 / 60p 1920 x 1080/120 pixels 1280 × 720/200 pixels	3840 × 2160 / 30p 1920 × 1080/60 pixels 1280 × 720/120 pixels	3840 × 2160 / 30p 1920 × 1080/60 pixels 1280 × 720/120 pixels
Video codec	H.264 codec	H.264 codec	H.264 codec
Video bitrate	100 Mbps	60 Mbps	40 Mbps
Image Resolution	4K / 12 Megapixels	4K / 12 Megapixels	4K / 12 Megapixels
Image compression	RAW / JPEG	RAW / JPEG	Jpeg
Image stabilization	3-axis gimbal	3-axis suspension	3-axis suspension
lens	f / 2.2, 23mm	f / 2.2	f / 2.2 89 ° wide angle
Information carrier	Micro SD card	Micro SD card	Micro SD card

Technical data and additional information

As with the previous model, the Zino 2 again uses a 3-axis gimbal system for reliable image stabilization. This guarantees a stable recording like the previous model.

In addition, the manufacturer has significantly increased the range, so the Hubsan Zino 2 shines with a very long flight range of up to 8 kilometers.

However, local laws in force on German soil must be observed here, so we are only allowed to fly within sight. The same, of course, applies to the maximum height of 100 meters of the Hubsan Zino 2.

The flight time has been increased by 10 minutes compared to the Hubsan Sino 117s, to 33 minutes, because the battery now offers 3800 mAh instead of 2600 mAh.The battery operates with an operating voltage of 17.4V and a charging power of 52.2W. charging time is 2 hours (half compared to the Hubsan Zino 117s!).

Charging is done via micro USB, but the remote has a USB-C interface in addition to a micro USB port.

The built-in display of the remote is also turned on again and, according to the manufacturer, has better contrast and stronger illumination, so everything can be seen even in sunlight.

Drone firmware updates can now be installed directly via the digital display remote controller. However, a small drawback is the non-replaceable remote control battery.

In flight modes, nothing has changed, you can control the drone as usual using GPS, ATTI (Attitude Mode, mode without position stabilization) and four channels. Four channels are two channels in the 2.3 to 2.4 GHz range and two channels in the 5.7 to 5.8 GHz range.

Like its predecessor, the drone is very compact and can be folded with rotors. Ideal for carrying in a backpack when you are away from home.

The Hubsan Zino 2 also has two modes, namely sport mode and normal mode.
The maximum angle at which the drone flies varies (normal 25 ° / 50 km / h and sporty 35 ° / 72 km / h).

The maximum speed around its own axis is 150 ° per second.
In addition to the barometric air pressure meter, the drone uses GPS and GLONASS signals to determine its location.

Hubsan Zino drones comparison

So that you can compare the drone with other Hubsan models, I have summarized the remaining technical data of the various models in a table:

Model Hubsan Zino 2 Hubsan Zino ProHubsan Zino H117s

Sensors	Optical flow, barometer	Optical flow, barometer	barometer
positioning	GPS / GLONASS	GPS / GLONASS	GPS / GLONASS
Maximum speed	72 km / h	36 km / h	36 km / h
the size	326 × 260 × 95 mm (in flight) 216 × 129 × 95 (folded)	304 x 252 x 90mm (in flight) 187 x 104 x 90mm (folded)	304 x 252 x 90mm (in flight) 185 × 100 × 90mm (folded)
Weight	915 gram	700 gram	710 gram
Flight time	33 minutes	24 minutes	20 minutes
frequency	5.725 to 5.850 GHz	5.8 GHz	5.8 GHz
Transmission power	26 dBm	22 dBm	16 dBm
Range	6 km	2.5 miles	1.5 km
price	€ 539.99	459.95 euros	399.95 euros
Dealer	Gearbest	Gearbest / Amazon	Gearbest / Amazon

Hubsan Zino 2 Recording Settings

As with the previous version, various settings are included such as waypoints, Follow Me mode or Active Track.

The active track mode works as usual, you mark the object in the application. For example, an AI recognizes itself and an object, and then follows it every step of the way.

According to the manufacturer, the drone is better than its predecessor in recognizing changes in the direction of the tracked object.If you do not want or cannot use the Active Track mode, as it is based on image recognition and is especially unreliable in the dark, you can use the Follow Me mode.

An ideal height for this is 10-30 meters. Follow Me mode is not dependent on image recognition but is based on GPS or GLONASS satellite network.

This means positioning is independent of image recognition, and the drone can also quickly change direction or control poor lighting conditions.

In addition, there is again a surround mode in which the drone circles over the target with configurable speed and height. In addition to Sorround, Waypoint, Follow-Me, and Normal modes, Creative Video is again available.

Waypoint flight mode

It returns with the familiar flight into the sky, orbital image, panoramic image. In addition to these recording settings already known from its predecessor, the Hubsan Zino 2 is finally getting Hyperlapse mode.

Hyperlapse is an effect that has always had to be painstakingly created on a computer, unless you have a drone that supports it.

When using Hyperlapse or Space Lapse, the camera position constantly changes during recording to simulate movement.

Unlike simple time-lapse recording, Hyperlapse recordings move the camera over long distances, making it ideal for a drone.

With its help, landscapes, as well as architecture, can be presented in video without editing and in full. The Hubsan Zino 2 can also make simple frame-by-frame recordings.

However, you must ensure that the Hubsan Zino 2, like the previous model, does not have obstacle detection and you must always provide an obstacle free environment. Waypoint mode works as usual.

You mark waypoints from a height of 10 meters, and the drone flies over them. Alternatively, you can also enter waypoints on the map with coordinates that the drone can then navigate to.

The Return To Home function also performed very well in the test. Due to the somewhat limited number of sensors, it is important to ensure that there is sufficient space allocated to the drone. Because the drone cannot avoid obstacles on its own.

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Conclusion on Hubsan Zino 2

Like its predecessor, the Hubsan Zino 2 remains a cheap and affordable camera drone ideal for beginners and hobbyists alike.

Three-axis stabilization and vastly improved image quality clearly favor the Hubsan Zino 2, and the Hubsan is definitely one step ahead of the competition in this 60fps and 4K price range. The only negative for me is the non-replaceable remote control battery, because the batteries wear out and need to be replaced.

In addition, there are no Hubsan Zino 2 sensors pointing forward or backward. Below is only the optical flow sensor. Who is one

However, the Hubsan Zino 2 is a very good and inexpensive drone that already competes with the top models for the € 500 limit.

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Entertainment factor
Flight behavior
Material quality
Recording quality
Price quality
Overall rating 4.5 / 5