DJI Mavic 4 Pro First Full ActiveTrack Flight – Way Too Cautious!

Today, we’re conducting our first Active Track flight with the DJI Mavic 4 Pro at my usual testing area for drones I review. Although I haven’t used Active Track yet, I already have thoughts about how this drone will perform.

Initial Setup and Impressions

Let’s start with the screen recording. The drone’s subject focus tracking locks onto my face, ensuring proper exposure and focus, which is impressive. To enable Active Track, I drag a box around myself, tap Active Track, and we’re set. The drone now follows me autonomously.

I have a love-hate relationship with my OneWheel—hate comes first because riding it can be challenging, though airing up the tire has improved its performance. As we begin, the drone navigates a challenging obstacle course with trees it must dodge, making this a good test flight.

DJI Mavic 4 Pro Active Track Performance

The first thing I notice is that the drone lags far behind me. By pushing the right stick forward, I can bring it closer, and I can also maneuver it to frame myself as desired. However, it’s surprising how distant it remains. The Mavic 4 Pro’s 28mm equivalent focal length creates a tighter field of view compared to drones like the Air 2S (20mm) or others with a 24mm focal length. This tighter view causes the drone to stay farther away to keep me in frame, which may not be ideal for close-up tracking.

For scenarios where I want the drone close, flying low under trees, the Mavic 4 Pro might not be the best choice. At around $5,000, it’s an expensive drone to risk in tight spaces. I’d feel more comfortable using a Mini 4 Pro ($700) or an Air 3S ($1,300) for such tasks. The Mavic 4 Pro seems better suited for tracking larger subjects, like a car in an open desert, where it can fly high and fast.

Challenges in Tight Spaces

The drone tends to stay high, even when I use the left stick to lower it. Its tight focal length makes it appear far away, though the camera view shows it closer. In a particularly tough spot with low trees and tight turns, the drone loses me. Speeding up, I push it to its limits, and it gets stuck in trees, likely due to its cautious distance and focal length. Switching to Sport Mode, I take manual control to free it, then resume Active Track.

Despite its advanced sensors and low-light capabilities, the drone struggles in tight scenarios. It favors higher altitudes, unlike the Mini 4 Pro or older Skydio drones, which stay closer during action sports. The Mavic 4 Pro’s superior technology shines in bright sunlight, and its new forward-facing LIDAR sensor helps with obstacle detection.

Adjusting Tracking Settings

After noticing the drone’s cautious distance, I adjust the Touch Trace interface to follow me more closely. However, it still lags, even at the closer setting. Compared to the Air 3S, Mini 4 Pro, or Mavic 3, which track much closer, the Mavic 4 Pro’s performance feels underwhelming in tight spaces. I experiment with having it follow from the front, which works better in open areas due to the drone’s power and speed. It adeptly navigates around trees, showcasing improved tracking software.

Final Thoughts

The Mavic 4 Pro excels at identifying and reacquiring me when lost, and its obstacle detection is robust, with no crashes during this test. However, its larger size and tighter 28mm focal length make it less ideal for tracking in confined areas. It’s better suited for tracking larger, faster subjects in open spaces, like a car in the Pine Barrens.

This preliminary test highlights the drone’s strengths and limitations. I’m relieved it didn’t crash, given its high cost. I plan to test Active Track in more open environments to leverage the Mavic 4 Pro’s power. Let me know your thoughts on Active Track below. Would you use an expensive drone like this for autonomous flying? Thanks for watching, and I’ll catch you in the next video!