Another of the Anafi's more unique features is that the camera can point directly down and directly up. I can totally see how this could be used to create some interesting shots, even if I haven't executed any personally. Filming a plane flying directly overhead, for example -- maybe with some treetops in the shot for added texture.

The Anafi also boasts a digital zoom feature that doesn't have you sacrificing clarity. Thanks to some oversampling trickery, you can zoom in up to 1.4x at 4K and 2.8x at 1080p without losing pixels. The Anafi's 21MP sensor actually shoots at 5,344 x 4,016, which is where the buffer comes from. This feature works exactly as described, but it's worth noting the speed at which the camera zooms in (read: but not out) is very slow -- around 0.1x per second, which limits its utility somewhat.

Aside from these features, you can see why the Anafi sits around the $700 mark: The build quality, the robust controller, the carrying case, the spare propellers that come with it. It's really light, portable and maneuverable. The drone's design is based on the anatomy of flying insects, the folding arms looking almost like limbs and wings. These extremities feel like they strike a good balance between rigidity and flexibility, but I imagine the Mavic Air's squatter frame and shorter arms make it more robust where serious crashes are concerned.

Parrot also calls it the "quietest drone in its class," but it's by no means silent. At lower altitudes, you can hear its low, consistent hum. This is going to sound strange, but the frequency attracts bees. At least the bees in my neck of the woods. Whether in interest or aggression, bees congregate around it and, unfortunately, one by one, they get shredded by the Anafi's propellers. Weird (and messy).

The Anafi's flight time clocks in at 25 minutes, according to Parrot -- that's four minutes more than the Mavic Air (and two less than the Mavic Pro). I haven't timed it exactly, but I'm pretty sure I've had it in the air longer than 25 minutes total. Probably because I've been poking around in the app, and it's more efficient when it's just hovering. It takes a good few hours to recharge the battery via USB-C, but you can buy extra batteries for $100 a piece should you need any.

There are several things to like about Parrot's Anafi, but plenty of shortcomings, also -- and I'm not just talking about the grainy HDR footage. It lacks any onboard storage, for example, though you do get a 16GB microSD card in the box. The microSD card tray that sits under the battery is really flimsy, too. It's one of those slide-and-lock affairs with a little hood on a hinge. I pulled the battery out once, and the bit of metal that secures the card went flying. I managed to find it in the grass around my feet, but had I lost it, I would've been fairly screwed.

Also, if you forget a Lightning or USB cable to plug your phone into the Skycontroller, you just have to make do. Your phone's touchscreen doesn't have anywhere near enough real estate to replicate all the sticks and buttons of the controller, and you're working with a significantly reduced range that means you have to be within literal spitting distance to pilot it manually. You can't just use the Skycontroller, by the way. Your phone is a necessary part of the equation.

I've had the drone fail to start up correctly a few times, as well as a few connectivity issues. The FreeFlight 6 app for iOS was still technically in beta until a few days ago, however, so I'm not too bothered about having to delete and reinstall it just the once to resolve a pairing problem.

If there's one thing that's really rubbed me up the wrong way, it's that you have to buy a couple of features through in-app purchases. Both the follow-me mode and flight-plan mode, which lets you create flying routes the drone will follow autonomously, are $18 each. Spending $700 on a drone and having to pay another $36 to unlock all its features is nickel-and-diming, plain and simple.