le idea IDEA 39 – GPS camera drone with 30 minutes flight time
The le idea IDEA 39 is a relatively inexpensive GPS camera drone weighing less than 250 grams. The foldable quadcopter takes photos in 4K and videos in Full HD. Other highlights include Return to Home, an Optical Flow Sensor, and a flight time of up to 30 minutes.
Design and weight
The le idea IDEA 39 is coated in light gray and looks very similar to the DJI Mavic Mini and DJI Mini 2, although they are in a different price range. The weight of 230 grams is also similar to that of the two DJI models.
When unfolded, the le idea IDEA 39 measures 25 x 25 x 5 cm. When folded, the drone measures just 8.5 x 14 x 5 cm and can therefore be transported in a space-saving manner. For safe transport of the drone and controller, a practical carrying bag is also included.
Equipment and flight characteristics
The motors used in the le idea IDEA 39 are brushless motors, which are more durable and quieter than the brushed motors used in many inexpensive drones.
You can fly both indoors and outdoors. When flying outdoors, the drone can rely on both GPS and GLONASS satellites for positioning, so it always knows where it is.
When used indoors, where GPS reception is not available, an Optical Flow Positioning System helps the drone maintain its position precisely. The system consists of a 720p camera on the underside of the drone, which is used to permanently scan the ground.
Thanks to the Altitude Hold feature, the drone independently maintains the current altitude without you having to use the thrust controller to do so – a feature that almost all current drones are capable of, but is sometimes missing on some inexpensive drones.
For a safe return of the drone to the take-off position or landing platform, a Return to Home mode ensures that the copter returns to the take-off position at the push of a button.
Flight time and range
According to the manufacturer, the flight time of the le idea IDEA 39 is up to 30 minutes. Depending on the use of the camera, however, flying times of 20 to 25 minutes are more realistic based on experience, although these are still very good values for a quadcopter in this price segment.
The 7.4 V, 2200 mAh LiPo battery is charged with a USB charging cable, which still needs to be connected to an existing power supply. Your smartphone charger or even a PC or laptop is particularly suitable here. The charging time is about 120 minutes.
By the way, the remote control also has a rechargeable battery (3.7 V, 300 mAh), so no extra batteries are needed. The range of the remote control is about 547 yards (500 meters), which is again a very good value for a drone for under 200 dollars.
The camera of the le idea IDEA 39
The 4K camera of the le idea IDEA 39 takes photos in 4096 x 3072 pixels and videos in 1920 x 1080 pixels. The Field of View (FOV) is 120°, which makes it very wide-angled.
We really like the fact that the camera’s tilt angle can be changed on the controller during flight. With many comparably expensive models, this is only possible manually between flights. An angle of -90° (vertically downwards) to 0° (horizontally forwards) can be set.
If you attach your smartphone to the remote control and download the free le idea app, you can view the live image of the drone camera (FPV) in real time on your phone’s display. Furthermore, the app offers the option of adding background music and filters to videos, which you can then immediately share on social networks.
Since the image transmission takes place on the 5.8 GHz frequency, this works up to distances of 547 yards (500 meters) – just as far as the control signals reach.
The designation 5G found in the product description thus refers to a specific WiFi frequency and not to the new cell phone standard. Your smartphone therefore only has to support the IEEE 802.11ac protocol, which is the case for almost all current models.
Autonomous flight modes
Due to the built-in GPS module, the le idea IDEA 39 is capable of several automatic flight modes that will assist you in making exciting video sequences.
In Follow Me mode, the drone follows the signal of the remote control and thus you as the pilot, while simultaneously recording a video of you.
In Point of Interest (POI) mode, the drone circles an object or person while recording a video.
Another interesting mode is flight routing. Just set a few waypoints on a map in the app before the flight and the multicopter will fly the markers independently afterwards.
Another nice extra is the built-in gesture control, which you can use to control the capture of photos and videos. To take a photo, simply form your fingers into a “Victory sign”. To start a video recording, hold your open palm towards the drone.
Scope of delivery
- 1 x IDEA 39
- 1 x 7.4 V, 2200 mAh LiPo battery
- 1 x remote control (3.7 V, 300 mAh battery)
- 4 x spare propellers
- 1 x screwdriver
- 1 x USB charging cable
- 1 x instruction manual
- 1 x bag
Conclusion
The le idea IDEA 39 is an affordable yet well-equipped drone with camera that is best suited for beginners and advanced drone pilots.
It has a GPS module, masters Return to Home, Altitude Hold and has an Optical Flow Sensor for precise indoor navigation.
The camera takes photos in 4K and videos in Full HD. Unfortunately, it does not have a gimbal, so videos will always be a bit shaky. If you are looking for a drone for professional recordings, you should better buy a more expensive drone, but the quality is always sufficient for first experiences and hobby videos.