DJI Mini 4 Pro: A Great Upgrade with One Problem

The DJI Mini 4 Pro drone has made significant strides in the world of compact travel drones. It offers a range of features and capabilities that appeal to both hobbyists and professional photographers alike.

Despite its lightweight structure, this versatile device truly comes into its own when used in hiking or outdoor environments. It provides stunning imagery and reliable performance in various conditions.

With advanced features like the new 10-bit D-log M color profile, 360° obstacle avoidance, waypoints, and improved tracking modes, the Mini 4 Pro could very well hold the title for the best sub-250g travel drone on the market.

However, it’s not without its shortcomings. Due to its lightweight design, the Mini 4 Pro’s wind resistance has its limitations. It can potentially cause noticeable movement in the footage when filming close to a subject.

Despite this, it remains a powerful tool for adventurers and content creators. It offers unparalleled portability without compromising on image quality, night mode capabilities, and creative shooting options.

The drone’s obstacle avoidance feature, though reliable in good lighting, should be used with caution in challenging environments, such as dimly lit caves or thick foliage.

Key Takeaways

• The Mini 4 Pro offers a range of features that make it an ideal travel drone with exceptional image quality.
• The drone’s lightweight design does make it more sensitive to wind, potentially affecting footage stability.
• Advanced features like waypoints and night mode broaden the creative possibilities for aerial photography and videography.

DJI Mini 4 Pro Overview

Strengths and Weaknesses

The Mini 4 Pro’s greatest strength and weakness lies in its lightweight design. While being under the 250g limit makes it a fantastic travel drone, it makes handling wind more challenging.

When confronted with substantial wind, the Mini 4 Pro can still fly, but it is vital to maintain adequate distance from the subject to minimize noticeable movement in the footage.

Key Features

Some key features of the Mini 4 Pro include:

• New 10-bit D-log-M color profile
• 360° obstacle avoidance
• Waypoints
• Improved tracking mode
• Night mode

The 10-bit D-log-M produces excellent image quality and can be extensively graded. However, when shooting in night mode, you’ll be locked into the standard color profile, restricting color manipulation.

ISO should be limited to 3200 in night mode to prevent image degradation.

The Mini 4 Pro also offers vertical video shooting with the gimbal rotating 90°. Meanwhile, the drone can shoot 4K at 100 fps or 1080p and 200 fps for slow-motion footage.

Weight Advantage

One of the main advantages of the Mini 4 Pro is its weight, which is below the 250g limit, making it ideal for travel and hiking. The reduced weight minimizes the burden on hikers, enabling them to capture stunning footage of their adventures.

Performance Testing

The Mini 4 Pro offers various features and upgrades that may make it the best travel drone on the market, especially given its weight under the 250g limit. Some key aspects of its performance have been tested through hiking, evaluating image quality, wind resistance, and more.

Image Quality

10-bit D-log-M color profile provides stunning image quality, enabling users to push colors quite far before breaking up, resulting in beautiful, natural imagery.

• Night mode: Offers good performance in low light conditions, but locks users into the normal color profile, which limits color manipulation
• D-log-M: Works well up to 1600 ISO, but when shooting in night mode, it’s advised to stay around 3200 ISO

Unique Features

• Vertical video: Gimbal rotates 90° for true vertical format with full sensor resolution
• Gimbal tilt: Tilts up to 60° for creative shots
• Slow motion: 4K 100 FPS and 1080p at 200 FPS for slowing down fast-moving subjects

Photo Capabilities

• 48-megapixel sensor: Provides more detail, but 48-megapixel stills may lack quality and only offer minimal extra detail
• 12-megapixel stills: Preferred by some users for their editability and resulting imagery

Tracking and Waypoints

• Waypoints: Allows for more interesting and creative shots, elevating self-filmed content
• Active Track: Offers smooth tracking from different distances and directions, resulting in dynamic shots

Obstacle Avoidance

• 360° obstacle avoidance: Works well, but sensors are dependent on good lighting for optimal functionality
• Durability: Drone can withstand minor impacts and accidents, but users should consider insurance like the DJI Care Refresh plan

Wind Resistance is Limited

Though lightweight, the Mini 4 Pro can handle light to substantial winds. However, excessive wind can cause movement in the footage. In windy conditions, it is advisable to maintain a greater distance from the subject to minimize movement in the footage. The drone can still handle substantial winds remarkably well.

Image and Video Quality

D-log-M Color Profile

The 10-bit D-log-M color profile in the DJI Mini 4 Pro offers excellent image quality. Colors can be pushed quite far without breaking up, producing spectacular results with beautiful, natural imagery.

Low Light Capability

The Mini 4 Pro features a new night mode, which provides good performance in low-light conditions. However, this mode locks users into shooting with the normal color profile, limiting color grading options.

D-log-M performs well up to about 1600 ISO, but for night mode filming, it is best to limit ISO to around 3200 to avoid image deterioration.

Vertical Video and Creative Shots

The DJI Mini 4 Pro allows for vertical video shooting, with the gimbal rotating 90° for a true vertical format utilizing the full resolution of the sensor.

Additionally, the gimbal can tilt up to 60° for more creative and unique shots.

Slow Motion Capabilities

The Mini 4 Pro can shoot in 4K at 100 frames per second. It can also shoot in 1080p at 200 frames per second for slow-motion capture. This feature enables slowing down fast-moving subjects, adding an extra dimension to the footage.

The Mini 4 Pro’s image and video quality are impressive. This is particularly given the drone’s small size and light weight. Even with its limitations in low-light shooting and wind resistance, the Mini 4 Pro remains a top contender in the drone market for travel and adventure enthusiasts.