Drone pilots! Today is one of those days when you start to get that tingling in your belly, when you can almost smell that new drone scent in the air.
The DJI Mini series is, without a doubt, one of the best ideas the folks at DJI ever had.
I remember when I bought the first one. I had been flying a technological marvel: the legendary Mavic 2 Pro. Now that was a piece of a drone. I bought the original DJI Mini mostly out of curiosity (my other drone at the time was an Inspire 1, so you can guess how much I cared for tiny drones). When I flew it for the first time, one thing immediately came to mind: flying this thing is FUN. The pure, simple fun of flying came back. The second thing that came to my mind, of course, was how much I hated the new DJI Fly App. But we’ll get to that.
From a Fun Toy Drone to a Shaky Tool
The original Mini was, as we all know, for fun. I remember taking it as a “B drone” on a job and having the brilliant idea of actually using it. Maybe it was the fierce winds here in Quito, or maybe it was the terrible Wi-Fi transmission system it used, but I just remember flying about 600 feet away and almost immediately losing the signal. I brought it back as fast as I could and relegated it to a toy. I used it for a couple of months and sold it at the first opportunity.
Then, the DJI Mini 2 came out. It had a nearly-decent OcuSync connection, but for my professional work, it was still lacking in the camera department. Still, the Mini 2 was the entry drone for a lot of people and remains a fantastic seller around the world. It got people flying.
The Third Time’s the Charm: The DJI Mini 3 Pro
Then, through a series of unfortunate events, I found myself droneless. Just a week after I had sold my DJI Air 2, I crashed my DJI Air 2S, and the repair was just too expensive. At that exact moment, the DJI Mini 3 Pro had just been released. And I said, “Why not?”
In that exact moment, everything just clicked.
One Fly More Combo later, I was going home with what would become one of the best drones I have ever owned. And trust me, I’ve had a few. “Captain Rafa,” as he was named, flew all over Ecuador in every kind of condition, logging over 1,000 miles a year. The batteries? Over 500 cycles on each one. That drone paid for itself ten times over. And I loved every second of it. It had 4K/60fps video (not even the DJI Air 3S has it, just 2.7K/60), true vertical shooting, and 48MP RAW photos. With the Mini 3 Pro, DJI cemented the Mini’s evolution from a fun toy into a serious work tool.
You Don’t Need Size to Do Big Things
I was so in love with my DJI Mini 3 Pro that even when the DJI Mini 4 Pro came out, I didn’t feel the need to upgrade. I flew it a few times and liked the new waypoint system, but I was so happy with the 3 that I stayed put. And now, here we are. Just a few days separate us from the fifth iteration of what I believe is DJI’s best drone in the price-to-quality ratio.
The rumors are swirling, and they are exciting. Not only are they keeping that critical 249-gram weight limit, but they are apparently upgrading to a 1-inch sensor! And new, more efficient batteries! This is huge. Let’s not talk (yet) about being the first mini drone using LiDar sensors…
DroneXL’s Take on the DJI Mini 5 Pro drone
I am not the kind of droner who believes that buying a $4,000 drone will automatically make you a better creator. Sadly, not one drone has ever included “talent” in the box. The DJI Mini series is, for me, the perfect combination of lightweight freedom, incredible quality, and an excellent price. This little bird has everything a new pilot needs to practice and get top-quality material, or for a seasoned professional to have a reliable, powerful tool in their bag.
And this is something I can say with confidence. Some of my best work for clients like Porsche, BMW, and Mini Cooper was shot entirely with my trusty Mini 3 Pro. It proved that you don’t need a giant, intimidating drone to produce giant, impressive results.
So, are you ready for the DJI Mini 5 Pro? I am. I am ready, locked, and loaded for what is shaping up to be the next best thing since sliced bread.
