DJI Mini 5 Pro: Can It Replace Your Professional Drone?

Since I ditched my DJI Air 2S and went all-in on the DJI Mini series, a lot of friends and customers have started asking me, “What happened to your big drone?” My answer is always the same: why would I make the effort to bring a bigger, heavier, and more restricted drone if I can get the same results with something smaller, lighter, and, yes, cuter?

Okay, maybe “cuter” isn’t the most professional reason to choose one drone over another. But the real reason I started using the DJI Mini 3 Pro over other drones was its ability to record natively in vertical mode, even at a glorious 4K 60fps. Then, I discovered its performance at night. For social media use, without even needing to mess with LOG profiles, the results I got were simply outstanding. Of course, 95% of my flights are during the daytime, and in those conditions, the sensor gave me an image of even better quality and sharpness.

The “Cute” Drone Stigma

Let’s be honest, flying a Mini drone on a professional set doesn’t exactly earn you bragging rights. It might even get you a few laughs and some questions about why you chose that path instead of spending the down payment for a car on your drone.

And the real answer to that question is this: I don’t need to compensate for a lack of talent with an expensive drone. As I’ve said before, new lenses and new cameras (or drones) don’t come with talent inside the box. You have to add that to the equation yourself.

When Size (and Weight) Does Matter

The Mini 5 Pro has little to envy from bigger drones like the Air 3S and the Mavic 4 Pro. However, the weight aspect becomes very important under the specific conditions that some of us face in really, really windy environments. I have to tell you, that 52-minute flight time mark is a number that dissipates into the thin air when you take off from the Pichincha mountain at 15,700 feet with registered wind speeds of 24 miles per hour.

In those specific, extreme cases, of course a 724-gram (Air 3S) or a 1063-gram (Mavic 4 Pro) drone has a massive advantage in stability and motor strength. But if you’re not flying on the top of a mountain—like a normal person—then yes, the Mini 5 Pro can and will replace your bigger drone.

The Smart Business Decision

Why? Let’s talk business here. You’re a drone pilot, you have your Part 107, and you want to get clients and deliver results. You have to think like a businessperson. What are the chances that a client will demand you deliver material in 6K or 8K resolution? You are doing far better for your business by buying a Mini 5 Pro Fly More Combo with the RC2 and saving at least two grand that you can then spend on ads.

As a matter of fact, more businesses fail because people spend money they don’t have to impress people they don’t care about. Thanks for that wisdom, Chuck Palahniuk.

DroneXL’s Take

The Mini 5 Pro has everything you and I need to start working and delivering professional results: 50MP RAW photos, beautiful color for your videos straight out of the camera (even at night), native vertical recording, waypoint programming, 360-degree sensor protection (just don’t trust the sensors more than your own common sense), and a truly fantastic battery life. If you add to this the advantages of having a Mini drone that is compact and that you can carry easily with you everywhere, I see it as an absolute steal.

And if you don’t want to believe me, then believe the work. The sample videos and pictures Im giving you here that I shot are all the proof you need.

This little bird is a giant in a tiny package.

Photo credit: Rafael Suarez