Snaptain SP 650 – Good and very affordable Full HD drone
The Snaptain SP 650 is an affordable Full HD camera drone for beginners. The compact drone has the possibility of FPV live image transmission, can be used indoors and outdoors and comes with 2 batteries for up to 24 minutes of flight time.
Desgin and Weight
Externally, the Snaptain SP 650 is reminiscent of the Phantom 4, even though it is much more compact and, of course, much cheaper than the DJI quadcopter.
In terms of color, it comes in all black. The drone’s build quality is good, and thanks to the optional propeller guards, it almost always survives a crash or two unscathed. People in the vicinity are also protected in this way, so the copter is also recommended as a drone for children.
Green and red LEDs on the drone make it easy to tell the front and rear apart in the sky.
The Snaptain SP 650 is quick and easy to assemble. Before the first takeoff, all you have to do is click on the landing gear, tighten the rotors and insert one of the two batteries – and you’re ready to go.
With dimensions of 27 x 27 x 11 cm and a weight of about 140 grams, the quadcopter is relatively compact and lightweight. On the one hand, this is an advantage, but on the other hand, the low weight also ensures that the drone is relatively susceptible to wind. We therefore recommend that you only fly outside when there is no wind. Also, make sure the weather is dry, as the drone does not tolerate rain or dense fog.
Features and flight characteristics
The Snaptain SP 650 can be controlled either with the included remote control or only with the user’s own smartphone. However, the range when using the cell phone exclusively is less than when using the controller.
If you attach your smartphone to the remote control, you can view the drone’s camera image in real time. However, photos and videos can also be taken when not using a smartphone.
To view the camera’s live image, you must first download and install the “SNAPTAIN Nova” app. This is available for free from the App Store and Google Play and works on mobile devices from iOs 7.0 or Android 4.4.
You still need 4 AA batteries for the remote control.
Two other ways to control the drone are gesture control and voice control. However, neither control method is a full replacement for using a smartphone and controller. For example, gesture control can only be used to command the capture of photos and videos. A simple hand gesture is sufficient for this.
Takeoff and landing are child’s play at the push of a button. Speaking of children, they should be at least 14 years old to use the drone if they want to fly alone. Under supervision, the little ones can also take their first flight attempts at around 10 years old. We also recommend using the propeller guards to protect all bystanders from the rapidly spinning rotors. The drone itself also benefits from the prop guards should it ever collide with obstacles.
Once in the air, the Snaptain SP 650 will automatically hold its current altitude (Altitude Hold) without you having to constantly press the thrust control.
If the drone drifts in one direction while in the air, you can easily “trim” it. For this purpose, there are extra four buttons on the bottom right of the remote control.
The multicopter is generally very easy to control. Depending on your skills, you have a total of three speeds to choose from for this, which can be selected via the remote control.
It is best to land the drone manually. The drone also has a so-called one key return button, but since it does not have GPS, this is not really reliable.
Flight time and range
The flight time of the Snaptain SP 650 is about 12 minutes per battery. Since the drone comes with two batteries from the factory, you can fly up to 24 minutes in total before the 1000 mAh batteries need to be recharged.
By the way, you are warned of a low battery level by a beep, so you still have enough time for a safe landing. Charging time is about 80 to 120 minutes, depending on what kind of power adapter you use for charging. Simply connect the included USB charging cable to a smartphone power adapter or a PC or laptop.
The control range is approximately 87 yards (80 meters). The range of the FPV live image transmission works up to distances of approx. 66 yards (60 meters).
The camera of the Snaptain SP 650
The camera of the Snaptain SP 650 takes photos and videos in Full HD (1920 x 1080) at 25 fps.
The FOV (Field of View) of the camera is 120°. This means that the built-in lens is a wide-angle lens, as is the case with almost all drone cameras.
To be able to capture different perspectives while filming and taking photos, the camera can be tilted vertically by up to 90° before the flight.
Photos and videos are stored on a microSD card of up to 64 GB (not included).
The quality of the recordings is more than okay for an 80 dollars drone. However, since the drone does not have a gimbal for image stabilization, the shots will always be a bit shaky. If you are looking for a drone for professional camera shots, you should buy a different camera drone, but the shots are quite usable for starters and give you a first impression of what is possible with a drone with a camera.
Automatic flight modes
Especially beginners will be happy about the so-called Headless mode. If you activate this mode, it does not matter how the drone is currently oriented in the sky when you give control commands to the left, right, front or back. The drone will always fly in the direction you want it to, and the otherwise necessary rethinking due to the drone’s orientation is eliminated in this mode.
However, we recommend that you don’t fly in headless mode for too long and also learn how to control the drone normally, as not all drones have this mode by a long shot.
A nice extra of the Snaptain SP 650 is the built-in voice control. The following commands can be tried out: Forward, Backward, Left, Right, Take off, Land and Stop.
A gesture control is also available, which can be used to take photos and record videos. To trigger a photo, form your hand into the Victory sign. After 3 seconds, the drone will take a photo. To start and stop videos, simply extend your outstretched hand towards the camera.
Another nice gimmick is the 360° flip mode. To make the drone perform flips in different directions, you simply press the 3D Flip button and then move the right control stick in a desired direction. By the way, for this function, the drone needs to fly at least 6 feet (2 meters) high.
Another stunt function is the High Speed Rotation. At the push of a button, the Snaptain SP 650 rotates around its own axis at breakneck speed.
Scope of delivery
- Drone
- Remote control
- 2 batteries
- 2 USB charging cables for the batteries
- 4 x propeller guards
- 2 x landing feet
- 4 x spare rotors
- Screws and screwdriver
- Instruction manual
Conclusion
The Snaptain SP 650 is an inexpensive camera drone for beginners that comes with all kinds of features for a price of less than 100 dollars. Equipped with 2 batteries at once, you can enjoy up to 24 minutes of flying fun with the drone before the batteries need to be recharged.
The drone’s adjustable Full HD camera takes decent shots, although the videos will always be a bit shaky due to the lack of a gimbal. The drone is capable of 360° overshoots, has voice and gesture control, and is also recommended for children over the age of about 10 under supervision thanks to propeller guards.
The range is about 87 yards (80 meters) and the transmission of the live image from the drone camera works up to distances of about 66 yards (60 meters).
We think the Snaptain SP 650 is an excellent entry-level drone with a very good price-performance ratio and ideally suited for first experiences with multicopters!