As a working towards skilled photographer, I consider my gear on occasion and make mandatory upgrades to enhance the effectivity of my workflow. After my latest crashing expertise with the DJI Mini 4 Professional, I’ve determined to take a step again once more to reevaluate whether or not this ultra-light drone is actually appropriate for skilled use or if I ought to simply take the chance to get one other drone.
To me, the DJI Mini 4 Professional is that uncommon mix of ultra-portability with semi high-end performance, packing a 1/1.3″ 48 MP digital camera, 4K120 video capturing, and 34 minutes of flight time right into a sub-250 g type. Its small footprint means I can journey lighter, usually carrying one much less bag, which makes an enormous distinction on lengthy days or throughout tight shoots when I’m working solo. On paper, it is a dream: mild sufficient for stealthy flyovers and feature-rich sufficient for inventive exploration. However like every gear that pushes boundaries, it all the time finally ends up forcing you to decide on your compromises. Can its small dimension hold tempo with skilled calls for? On this article, I can be exploring whether or not this tiny drone can actually maintain its moniker in an expert photographer’s workflow—or if its compromises will begin to outweigh its conveniences.
Construct High quality
The Mini 4 Professional feels extremely light-weight in hand, to the purpose that it is virtually unbelievably toy-like—however that’s the entire level. Its sub-250 g construct makes it best for flying underneath most authorized thresholds with out a lot crimson tape. That stated, its greatest benefit—being a small-sized drone—can be its greatest weak point. When flying in a windy state of affairs, the footage stability noticeably takes a success, particularly with nearer topics within the body. The sway is quite apparent when in comparison with flying a bigger drone, because it merely doesn’t have the heft to carry its place that nicely. However I’ve to say its gimbal is doing an unimaginable job in countering the undesirable motion, because the bodily drone seems to be a lot worse than the footage.
To additional hold the load of the drone low, DJI has determined to make use of very mild plastic materials to assemble the drone, together with its propellers, which do really feel fairly fragile. And since the best way the propellers are constructed is simply too skinny and mushy, it requires a propeller guard to carry them in place for safer transporting. It’s not probably the most intuitive when you have to take a fast flight, as you may be fumbling to unlatch it underneath stress, and it might probably decelerate the workflow considerably.
Regardless of all of the drawbacks, there are clear advantages to having such a small type issue. Flying in troublesome places does change into simpler as you might be extra stealthy in comparison with working with bigger drones which may find yourself drawing undesirable consideration. In some tight skilled jobs, getting the shot by some means is what issues, and the flexibleness of flying the DJI Mini 4 Professional helps rather a lot.
Options and Actual-World Utilization Expertise
Regardless of being such a small, petite dimension, the DJI Mini 4 Professional provides a surprisingly wealthy set of options, a lot of which have been solely out there on higher-tier drones previous to this drone. However not all of them totally ship in demanding circumstances with out compromises. For starters, the digital camera boasts the 1/1.3-inch CMOS sensor with 48 MP decision discovered within the DJI Air 3. On paper, that sounds spectacular for such a compact drone to have, and I can vouch that it might probably produce lovely, detailed pictures underneath first rate lighting circumstances. I’d even go so far as saying it is a main step up from DJI’s first-generation foldable drone—DJI Mavic Professional. Nonetheless, as soon as the sunshine stage falls or while you begin pixel peeping at 100% crop, the constraints of the small sensor change into apparent. Noise creeps in simply, particularly within the decrease midtone and shadow areas. When in comparison with the DJI Air 2S’s 1-inch sensor, the picture high quality right here is solely not on the identical stage. That stated, for fast-paced or discreet shoots the place flexibility trumps perfection, the Mini 4 Professional nonetheless holds its personal distinctive benefit.
One characteristic I discover significantly helpful is the f/1.7 lens, which does a good job in low-light circumstances comparable to early morning or late night shoots. Then again, due to this, the picture sharpness does undergo a bit of, particularly on the edges. The depth of area may also be inconsistent at occasions because of the shallower depth of area. The controllable vary of the drone’s gimbal tilt axis—as much as 60°—is genuinely unbelievable for capturing photographs with dynamic angles—assume low drone place with its digital camera tilted upwards. I discover this characteristic very helpful, particularly when filming a constructing’s exterior to present the footage a grandiose really feel, particularly when mixed with the drone’s cine mode, which permits ultra-slow motion all the way down to 1 m/s. The cine mode can be a considerate inclusion for cinematic photographs, particularly throughout reveals or close-subject tight monitoring.
On the flip aspect, though it is a very considerate gesture to incorporate 2 GB inside storage, it’s completely inadequate within the area for at this time’s high-resolution information. For instance, a single 48 MP uncooked picture from the Mini 4 Professional can simply strategy 100 MB, so one can find your self filling up that house with only a handful of photographs except you shoot in 12 MP mode or JPEG format. Subsequently, a high-speed exterior microSD card is extremely really useful. Regardless of its massive file dimension, transferring information out of the drone is quite intuitive because of DJI’s inclusion of USB-C direct file switch that works even with out powering on the drone. This can be a big plus for professionals who want to dump the footage simply with out a card reader.
From my flying expertise, the sign transmission is usually secure with the DJI RC2 controller, although I’ve skilled the occasional weak sign or dropout in advanced environments the place the road of sight will not be clear. Compatibility with the Clever Flight Plus battery is one other standout characteristic that I recognize rather a lot when capturing within the area. Do be aware that the Clever Flight Battery Plus will not be bought in Europe, as utilizing it is going to enhance the load above 250 g, eradicating it from the category 0 drone class. I’ve comfortably flown from golden hour by blue hour on a single Flight Plus battery, which is a luxurious when working underneath time stress, as we now not must land for battery swaps. Nonetheless, the charging can be slower than I’d hope. It takes as much as 78 minutes for every Plus battery to cost utilizing the Two-Approach Charging Hub with the 30 W USB-C Charger. In sensible phrases, which means that all three Plus batteries will add the charging time as much as virtually 4 hours, and but now we have not added within the charging time for the RC2 distant, which takes one other 1.5 hours to cost. This can be a full night time of charging earlier than you might be again in motion as soon as all of the batteries are drained.
For video, the Mini 4 Professional can file as much as 4K at 120 fps, which is superb on paper. Nonetheless, I discover it much less helpful, as I often fly my drone quite slowly, so the excessive body price isn’t one thing I depend on—however having the choice is all the time appreciated. Along with the 4K 120 fps, DJI has additionally included a D-Log M video profile within the DJI Mini 4 Professional. This format holds 10-bit shade info and grades very nicely in publish, giving flexibility for skilled supply codecs. Nonetheless, I can’t assist however want DJI had managed to squeeze in a telephoto lens or bumped up the sensor dimension only a bit. These two additions would elevate the Mini 4 Professional from a dependable device to a near-perfect compact resolution for professionals on the transfer.
I must also give sufficient credit score to the DJI Mini 4 Professional’s omnidirectional impediment avoidance system, which elevates the protection of flying, particularly in tight or visually advanced areas. As somebody who usually flies near constructions or pure components, having real-time black-and-white video feeds from the imaginative and prescient sensors displayed throughout flight is extremely useful. It provides a a lot clearer sense of spatial consciousness past what the principle digital camera or map can supply, making safer and extra exact flights potential. This technique isn’t only a consumer-friendly add-on—it’s one thing that professionals can depend on when the margin for error is slim.
Actual-World Examples
On certainly one of my most up-to-date structure photograph and video shoots, I made a decision to place the Mini 4 Professional to the take a look at, filming aspect by aspect with my Canon R5. And I’ve to say, regardless of the smaller sensor dimension, the footage from the Mini 4 Professional nonetheless seems to be fairly spectacular underneath the suitable lighting circumstances, with loads of dynamic vary restoration and shade depth to edit from to match my Canon R5 footage. The quiet operation and compact type additionally enable me to navigate comfortably in residential areas with out attracting an excessive amount of consideration from close by residents to trigger hassle. The picture high quality can be fairly usable, however don’t count on it to match the mirrorless digital camera’s stage of element, as there can be noise coming from its sensor dimension limitation and likewise atmospheric mud.
Abstract
So, is the Mini 4 Professional too small for skilled use? I’d say this drone is greater than able to delivering good outcomes. However in the case of pushing the previous couple of percentages of picture high quality, its limitations will begin to present.
What I Favored:
Extremely-portability
Glorious battery life with Clever Flight Plus battery
Handy USB-C file switch
Nice tilt vary and first rate picture high quality for its dimension
D-Log M shade profile
4K recording as much as 120 fps for flexibility
What May Be Improved:
Having a 1″ sensor could be nice
Gyro sensors and motor energy to enhance stability in sturdy winds
Embody greater than 2 GB inside storage
Enhance the charging time
Propeller guard design might be extra user-friendly
Embody a telephoto lens
Picture sharpness might be inconsistent with f/1.7
Incorporate auto turn-on as soon as unfolded
Last Closing Ideas
I’ve to confess that the DJI Mini 4 Professional provides a exceptional bundle in a tiny physique, pushing the bounds of what a sub-250 g drone (if you’re flying with the non-Plus battery) can do. So long as you may cope with its set compromises and work round its limitations, it’s a strong drone that delivers outcomes.
