Beijing-based PowerVision announced a new cinematography drone, the 600mm-class PowerEye, with video recording modes including 4K (4096×2160) at 24p and UHD (3840×2160) at up to 30p.

The 8.7 lb. (with battery and propellers) PowerEye looks good on paper, where it boasts maximum flight time of more than 29 minutes, control/HD streaming range of up to 3.1 miles and a maximum flight speed of 18 meters/sec. It has object-detection built-in, sounding an alert to detected obstacles within 10 meters. For $3,988, the drone comes standard with a Panasonic Lumix G 14mm F2.5 ASPH micro-four-thirds lens. Four Olympus M.Zuiko lenses are being offered as options, including 17mm, 25mm, and 45mm f1.8 lenses as well as a 14–42mm f/3.5-5.6 EZ zoom, and it has a maximum payload of 6.6 lbs.

Pricing has not been disclosed for an alternate version of the PowerEye that packs an alternate sensor with the ability to switch between thermal imaging and natural light in the control app.

The PowerEye has a "Dual Viewing" mode that delivers both a first-person flight view and a camera view simultaneously. The first-person view is generated by a dedicated camera in the UAV's nose, while the camera view is originated by the camera mounted on the gimbal. The two views can be monitored simultaneously in split-screen mode on a single mobile device, or on two separate mobile devices, the company said.

The PowerEye is designed to collapse for increased portability despite its general heft.

The PowerEye is also designed to conform to the current trend of portability, collapsing to 340mm x 285mm x 296mm from in-flight dimensions of 513mm x 513mm x 310mm. However, both its size and price put it in a category well above recent mass-market targeted drone introductions such as the forthcoming GoPro Karma and the DJI Mavic Pro. Included in the package is a rollying carrying case, a remote control, an extra pair of propellers, a base station, battery and charger.

Previous UAVs from PowerVision have included the PowerQuad, PowerCopter and PowerSeeker drones, which are geared toward agriculture, power, surveillance and other markets. The company announced its first consumer-level drone, the whimsically shaped PowerEgg ($1,288), earlier this year, although it's unclear whether that product has actually made it into the market. (The PowerVision website's e-store currently lists shipments of the PowerEgg as eight to 10 weeks away.)

PowerVision reps say the PowerEye will ship in December.