Tomzon D30 – Solid entry-level drone with 4K camera and 5G
The Tomzon D30 is an affordable drone with a 4K camera that can record videos in 2K and photos in 4K. The drone is especially suitable for beginners who want to gain their first experience with a drone with a camera and live image transmission to their smartphone.
Design and flight requirements
The Tomzon D30 is a foldable drone where the arms can be folded for space-saving transport. The drone is not particularly large and can therefore be transported in a space-saving manner.
It is completely black and has a sporty look. Two red LEDs can be found at the front, and a green LED is present at the center of the back.
Equipment and flight characteristics
The Tomzon D30 is equipped with a GPS module so that the drone can independently maintain its position in the air when outdoors.
In addition, the GPS also enables the automatic return of the drone (Return to Home) at the touch of a button. By the way, the drone independently returns to the launch position even in case of signal loss or critical battery level.
The Return to Home altitude can be freely set in the app. This is especially handy when there are obstacles around you, such as trees. Then simply set an altitude that is higher than the trees, avoiding a collision on the flight home.
The drone has brushed motors, which are slightly louder than the more expensive brushless motors. During the flight, you have three different speeds to choose from. So you can slowly get used to handling the drone and gradually increase the speed.
The Tomzon D30 is relatively steady in the air and can be controlled precisely. For the best possible control, you should recalibrate the internal gyroscope before each flight. To do this, you must first turn on the drone and then rotate it a few times. First around the horizontal axis, then around the vertical axis. After that, you can take off.
By the way, thanks to the built-in Optical Flow Sensor on the bottom of the drone, you can easily fly indoors with the Tomzon D30. Since GPS is not available indoors, some drones do not even take off indoors – but the Tomzon D30 does. The ground sensor permanently scans the ground, which helps stabilize the drone’s position.
Remote control and app
Besides the two obligatory control sticks, the controller has a few more easily accessible buttons to trigger Return to Home functions or the Follow Me mode. Photos and videos can be triggered via the two right shoulder buttons.
You can also attach your smartphone to the top of the remote control to view the live image of the drone on the display. There are also two antennas on the top that can be folded out. However, only the right antenna is really functional, the left one has been mounted more for optical reasons.
We really like the fact that the controller has a built-in battery (1200 mAh, 3.7 V), so no extra batteries are needed. The battery is charged with an included USB-C charging cable.
The app, in which you can adjust various settings, is available for free download in the respective app stores for Android and iOS devices. Many important flight parameters are displayed in the app during the flight. For example, you get information about the current altitude, speed and the number of connected GPS satellites.
Flight duration and range
The flight time of the Tomzon D30 is up to 17 minutes. The relatively long flight time is possible thanks to a 1500 mAh battery (2S), which can be recharged with the included USB charging cable. Four LEDs on the battery itself provide information about the charging status.
Since no separate power adapter is included, simply use the one on your smartphone or connect the cable to PC or laptop.
The range at which you can control the Tomzon D30 is up to 330 yards (300 meters). Please note, however, that drones in many countries may only be controlled within visual range.
The Tomzon D30 camera
The camera of the Tomzon D30 records videos in 2K (2048 x 1152 pixels) and photos in 4K (4096 × 2304 pixels).
Unfortunately, the quadcopter does not have a full-fledged gimbal for image stabilization, but the camera is cushioned by a flexible suspension that absorbs some of the drone’s own movements, thus stabilizing the image somewhat. A mechanical gimbal is generally only found on more expensive drones with cameras.
What we like is that the camera can be adjusted vertically during flight. The shooting angle can be adjusted continuously from horizontally forward to 90° downward via a small wheel on the remote control.
The quality of the photo and video recordings is appropriate for the price. Admittedly, you shouldn’t expect miracles here. However, the recordings are sufficient for first experiences with a camera drone and deliver decent photos and videos.
Photos and videos are stored on a 4 to 64 gigabyte microSD card, which is not included.
The live image of the drone camera is transmitted in 720p via the 5 GHz frequency band. Generally, this frequency offers a more stable transmission for the video image than the 2.4 GHz frequency. However, 5G does not have to do with the new mobile network here, but refers to a Wi-Fi standard that almost all of today’s smartphones support without problems.
The range of the video feed is about 110 to 164 yards (100 to 150 meters), which is not quite as far as the overall control range of the drone.
Autonomous flight modes
The Tomzon D30 has a total of two automatic flight or recording modes.
Follow Me: In Follow Me mode, the drone follows the GPS signal of the remote control. The mode works, but not as well as a high-end drone. The drone follows the pilot, but the camera does not always keep a correct view of him.
360° Surround Flight (Circle): In this mode, the drone flies in a circle around the pilot, while a video can be recorded at the same time. The radius of the circle can be adjusted manually.
Scope of delivery
- 1 x Tomzon D30 drone
- 1 x remote control
- 1 x 7.4 V, 1500 mAh battery pack
- 1 x USB charger
- 2 x Additional propellers
- 1 x User manual
Conclusion
The Tomzon D30 is a solid camera drone and the possibility of live image transmission. It is best suited for beginners who want to gain their first experience with camera drones. The quality of the photos and videos is not outstanding, but it is more than sufficient for first flights.
Up to 17 minutes of flight time at a range of about 330 yards (300 meters) are very good values for a drone for under 200 dollars. For even more flying fun, however, it is always recommended to order a second battery at the same time.
Overall, the Tomzon D30 is an excellent entry-level drone that is great fun. It has all the important features to get started in the hobby drone and to gain first experiences. We can therefore highly recommend the Tomzon D30!