The DJI Mini 4 Pro: A Comprehensive Review
Introduction
The DJI Mini 4 Pro is the latest addition to the Mini series of drones from DJI, a renowned leader in the drone manufacturing industry. This ultra-lightweight and foldable drone weighs less than 249g, making it easily transportable and regulation-friendly. In this article, we will take a closer look at the top 10 features of the DJI Mini 4 Pro, including its upgraded camera system, intelligent features, advanced safety features, and more.
1. Size
The DJI Mini 4 Pro lives up to its name, being tiny in size. Its compact and streamlined frame makes it the perfect travel companion, allowing users to capture quality content on the go. Weighing less than 249g, it falls into the safest weight category for drone operation. This lightweight design not only makes it easily portable but also ensures compliance with regulations in many countries.
2. Upgraded Camera
One of the standout features of the DJI Mini 4 Pro is its upgraded camera system. Equipped with a 1/1.3-inch CMOS sensor, Dual Native ISO Fusion, and f/1.7 aperture, the Mini 4 Pro can capture stunning images and videos. It has the capability to shoot 4K/60fps HDR video, allowing users to preserve the natural beauty and details of any moment. The slow-motion 4K/100fps and Night Shots video features further enhance its versatility, enabling users to capture breathtaking footage even in low-light conditions.
True Vertical Shooting
The Mini 4 Pro’s rotating gimbal enables users to shoot vertically, making it ideal for sharing content on social media platforms. With vertical shooting, users can capture vertical scenes such as skyscrapers and waterfalls without cropping the image, ensuring the original image quality is retained.
10-bit D-Log M Colour Mode
The Mini 4 Pro supports 10-bit D-Log M and HLG colour profiling, allowing users to capture a stunning range of colours and providing more flexibility while editing and sharing. 10-bit D-Log M enables users to capture more than one billion colours and retain highlight and shadow details. It unlocks pro-level post-production control and expert-level creative editing flexibility. HLG ensures natural colours and brightness remain true-to-life without the need for adjustment or format conversion.
3. Enhanced Safety Features
Safety is a top priority when flying drones, and the DJI Mini 4 Pro excels in this aspect. It is the first sub-249g drone to feature omnidirec tional vision sensing. Equipped with four fisheye vision sensors, downward binocular vision sensors, a 3D ToF sensor, and an auxiliary light, the Mini 4 Pro can detect obstacles from all angles, reducing the risk of collisions. However, it’s important to note that omnidirectional obstacle sensing may not identify small objects such as tree branches and electric wires and may not be available at night.
The Mini 4 Pro also features Advanced Pilot Assistance Systems (APAS) 5.0, which enables automatic braking and bypassing obstacles in all directions during flight. This ensures additional safety and helps pilots navigate complex environments with ease.
4. Flagship DJI O4 Video Transmission
The DJI Mini 4 Pro is equipped with DJI’s flagship O4 video transmission, providing a live view quality of up to 1080p/60fps and a maximum video transmission distance of 10km (CE) or 20km (FCC). This advanced transmission system delivers stable signals even in urban environments with substantial signal interference, reducing frame drops and providing a smoother live view experience. The lower latency ensures faster and more responsive operation.
Controllers
To support the O4 transmission system, the Mini 4 Pro is compatible with two controllers: the DJI RC 2 smart controller with a built-in screen and the DJI RC-N2, which integrates with a separate mobile device. These controllers provide ease of use and intuitive control over the drone’s flight and camera functions.
5. Waypoints
One of the standout intelligent features of the DJI Mini 4 Pro is Waypoint flight. This feature allows users to pre-set several points on a map, and the drone will automatically fly along the designated route. Waypoint flight is perfect for capturing cinematic footage and can be utilized for both recreational and commercial purposes. Users can save flight routes for repeated flights, ensuring repeatability and consistency in their content creation.
6. Advanced Tracking
The Mini 4 Pro features ActiveTrack 360° with enhanced subject tracking capabilities. This upgraded tracking feature enables users to set the drone to follow a certain flight route during the tracking process, providing more diverse tracking options. Whether it’s capturing a biking adventure, a skateboard trick, or a scenic car ride, the Mini 4 Pro’s advanced tracking capabilities ensure stable and customizable tracking routes.
Cruise Control
The Mini 4 Pro also offers Cruise Control, which reduces operation fatigue during long-distance, steady-state flights. By locking the speed and direction of the drone, pilots can achieve smoother camera movement and reduce camera shake, resulting in professional-looking footage.
Advanced Return To Home
The DJI Mini 4 Pro’s Advanced Return To Home (RTH) feature ensures a safe flight route back to its home point and easily bypasses obstacles. This feature is especially useful when the battery level is low, as the drone can plan an optimal route back to its home point, considering factors such as power-saving and safety. It also avoids the problem of the drone stopping when encountering Altitude Zones during a straight-line RTH.
7. Streamlined Content Creation
The DJI Mini 4 Pro offers a range of intelligent shooting options to simplify the process of creating aerial content. Features such as Hyperlapse, MasterShots, QuickShots, Panorama, and QuickTransfer provide users with creative options and streamlined editing capabilities. These features enable users to capture stunning visuals and quickly transfer them to their smartphones for sharing on social media platforms.
8. Multiple Combos
To cater to users’ varying needs, the DJI Mini 4 Pro is available in three packages: the DJI Mini 4 Pro, the DJI Mini 4 Pro with DJI RC-N2, and the DJI Mini 4 Pro Fly More Combo with DJI RC 2. These packages offer different combinations of accessories, allowing users to choose the best option for their specific requirements. The Fly More Combos, in particular, are popular as they include extra accessories at a lower cost compared to purchasing them separately.
Conclusion
The DJI Mini 4 Pro is an impressive drone that combines advanced features with a lightweight and portable design. Its upgraded camera system, enhanced safety features, intelligent flight capabilities, and streamlined content creation options make it an excellent choice for both recreational and commercial drone operators. With its compact size and regulation-friendly weight, the Mini 4 Pro offers a wide range of possibilities for aerial content creation. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned drone pilot, the DJI Mini 4 Pro is worth considering for capturing stunning aerial footage.
<< photo by Pok Rie >>
The image is for illustrative purposes only and does not depict the actual situation.
