I've flown larger drones for years and have enjoyed aerial photography. I've limited my flying to calm days as landing the high-chassis drones in a wind is challenging. They are also noisy and attract attention. I happened to hear about the Potensic Atom 3-Axis Gimbal drone and looked into it. After watching dozens of videos on YouTube and reading many reviews here on Amazon I was mildly surprised at all the positive reviews and almost no negatives. I joined Potensic's Facebook group and was similarly impressed with the positive helpful nature of the feedback there. Since this drone was in the affordability-zone, I went ahead and ordered it.
The Atom 3-Axis was rapidly delivered. My first order was for the complete setup with 3 batteries, carrying case, etc. It was well-packed and not damaged in transit at all. When I opened it up, I immediately felt very pleased. However, it was so small I coudl just imagine how effected it would be by gusty winds.
I read the instructions (one big gripe: the manual is in such small type when printed out it is very hard to read). There was an on-line version that I spent time perusing. Everything makes sense in the manual - just need to learn the procedures for their features.
The drone flys so easily. I totally ignore wind effects as the drone handles positioning quite fine. I've flown in 20mph winds with no difficulty. The drone will ask to come home if the winds are too gusty and I'm too far away.
Video and photographic quality are excellent. I can produce satisfying 8x10" prints from photographs on my ink jet printer with no maniuplation. Video is recorded in 1.7Gb chunks on the included SD card which I download and reassemble on my desktop. Video is crisp and clear even to the point of resolving twigs on trees just beginning to leaf out!
Setup and flying is a joy. I fly in "normal" mode all the time now. I can go fast when needed yet still have control for slow movement needed for video. Range and connectivity are excellent. I don't fly to terribly far away and I have zero issues with video breakup or loss of control.
I use a Google Pixel 5 as my flight phone. It works very nicely with the Potensic controller. I wish the screen was brighter though as viewing the screen in sunlight is challenging. I'm thinking about using an 8" tablet instead but one I got was even dimmer than my Pixel. I wish Potensic would sell a 6" tablet with a sunlight viewable screen! Oh... one gripe... The USB cable between the controller and your phone/tablet is not a standard cable. Only an actual cable from Potensic will work.
Bottom line, I'm just delighted with this drone. The first one I got landed in a tree due to operator error. I was frantic and ordered a replacement right away. Two days later, the drone fell out of a 40 foot tree and hit the ground below. I retrieved it and to my amazement, there was no damage at all! It survived the fall. Only issue was a bit of tree sap on the top of the drone! I'm still flying the original today and have this second one on hot-standby if ever needed. I love this drone!!
| Brand | Potensic |
|---|---|
| Model Name | ATOM |
| Special Feature | 4K/30FPS QuickShots, 12MP Photo, 32 Mins Flight；Max 6KM Long Range Transmission, 3 Axis Gimbal; SONY CMOS Sensor, Under 249g; No need of FAA or Remote ID Registration, Visual Tracking |
| Age Range (Description) | Adult |
| Video Capture Resolution | 4K @30fps；4K @25fps；4K @24fps； 2.7K @30fps；2.7K @25fps；2.7K @24fps； 1080P@60fps；1080P@50fps；1080P@30fps；1080P@25fps；1080P@24fps |
| Connectivity Technology | Wi-Fi |
| Included Components | Intelligent Batteries x 1, Remote Control x 1, 4 Spare Pair of Propellers; Camera Protector x 1; Screwdriver x 1; 8 Specific Screws of Blades, Cable(Micro/Type C/Lightning), Potensic ATOM Drone x 1 |
| Skill Level | All |
| Item Weight | 241 Grams |
| Battery Capacity | 2230 Milliamp Hours |
| Control Type | Remote Control |
| Media Type | SD, Micro SD |
| Maximum Range | 6 Kilometers |
| Wireless Communication Technology | Wi-Fi |
| Battery Cell Composition | Lithium Ion |
| Are Batteries Included | Yes |
| Remote Control Included? | Yes |
| Product Dimensions | 9.53"L x 11.81"W x 2.28"H |
| Manufacturer | Potensic |
| Item Weight | 8.5 ounces |
| Batteries | 1 Lithium Polymer batteries required. (included) |
| Manufacturer Part Number | ATOM |
| Special Features | 4K/30FPS QuickShots, 12MP Photo, 32 Mins Flight；Max 6KM Long Range Transmission, 3 Axis Gimbal; SONY CMOS Sensor, Under 249g; No need of FAA or Remote ID Registration, Visual Tracking |
