CAMERA DRONE TEST
EXPERT OPINION ON THE LATEST KIT
It makes the case for staying light, but does it live up to the Pro tag?
www.dji.com From £689/$759
The Mini 4 Pro appears to be a refinement rather than an out-and-out replacement for DJI’s already popular Mini 3 Pro model. When launching that generation of drones, the world’s most successful drone manufacturer made clear that it considered it possible to offer three distinct tiers in the ultralight (below 250g) category.
The generational number hasn’t advanced at the same time, but it isn’t a surprise that it’s the Pro that changes first. So how can what is – or, at least, should be – DJI’s best option under 250g keep itself ahead of the pack? The drone powerhouse has decided that it’s the software and AI, rather than the camera sensor, that are worthy of attention, and that’s certainly something that chimes with not just the wider drone industry, but the world in general.
The AI, by the way, is a broad generalisation for the technology that can both avoid collisions and help track a subject for smooth shots. Collision sensors are one thing, but the way a drone uses them is quite another, so we were keen to find out whether the software is gimmicky or genuinely useful, and whether the drone truly lives up to the ‘Pro’ tag. The other crucial question for many, no doubt, is whether the Mini 4 Pro should be of interest to photographers and videographers who already own its predecessor; and for the record, that includes me, as I’ve previously chosen to spend my own money on a Mini 3 Pro.
With that my mind – and hoping the rain would hold off – I headed out with the Mini 4 Pro to see what it was made of.
Key features
DJI’s strapline for the Mini 4 Pro’s launch was ‘Mini to the max’, emphasising how the drone brought ever more flagship features into the ultralight category. Apart from a camera that’s broadly similar to one of the two on the recent DJI Air 3, the stand-out additions are the all-round obstacle sensors. These can be used not only for avoiding objects when heading sideways (unlike the Mini 3 Pro) but also to bolster subjecttracking AI in an upgrade called ActiveTrack 360°.
CAMERA DRONE TEST DJ I MINI 4 PRO
