DJI - Mavic Mini

None! Don’t sell! Still have my sparks, mini mavics, mini 2, all the way to current. And they still all fly great! And better than most “updated” non name brand drones available today. *Not Financial Advice

man i started with a mavic air 2 which was pretty wonderful, but family and life got in the way and sold it, got a mavic mini (the original) like a month ago with the fly more package for like $190. It's older but still produces plenty of great shots for kayaking and cycling videos. I'd imagine today's have amazing video but even one that is 5 years old still does amazing footage when compared to a lot of other drone brands around the same $250-300 threshold

I strongly disagree I flew my 4 pro into the water. I didn't deserve it at that time. Shouldn't have upgraded from my Mavic mini

Nah, dji is fucking ruthless compared to most companies. The Mini 3 pro vs the mini 4 pro. I've seen so many disgruntled people posting a year after the 3 pro came out, because the 4 pro was just so much better. Don't get me started on the og mini **I can't get a replacement drone for** - I have 5 batteries and everything needed for the og, but can't get a drone.

I've basically stopped using my Mavic and use my Mini 3 Pro for most things now. Wind resistance isn't quite as good, but image quality is more than good enough and being under 250 g makes flying a lot easier (in Canada, might be different where you are). Some people assume 'bigger is better'. I've seen that in photography, where my Nikon D800 with huge lens gets more respect than a smaller camera. (So sometimes I'll being the bigger camera for show, use it for a few pictures while mostly using a smaller camera, and let people assume that the best pictures were taken with the bigger camera when in reality all the pictures came from the smaller easier-to-carry camera.)

Stewart & Alina tested out the Mini 3 Pro in some really nasty winds and it coped surprisingly well. No way I'd risk *my* drone like they did, but I'm not as good a pilot as Stewart. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3nOB8Pr4Hg](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3nOB8Pr4Hg) I've got the original Mavic Mini as well as a Mini 3 Pro. The Mavic Mini does not to well in wind. I've heard the Neo is similar in not handling winds very well, but can't confirm personally. [https://skykam.co.uk/dji-neo-wind-resistance/](https://skykam.co.uk/dji-neo-wind-resistance/)

Damn, Im impressed with what they seem to be able to pack in at these weights. Last mini series drone I had was the original, though Ive flown a 2 a few times. Both felt kind of like flimsy toys, despite the decent capabilities they had. These are physically larger and pack more actual hardware in, dont really get how its possible.

You can get an older used mavic mini for not much over $100 I'd guess and you'll get a very capable drone for that which can fly great, produces great videos and pictures... and most importantly, lets you decide if it's worth you spending more or not. Modern decent camera drones like the DJI Mavic lines don't require skill to fly. They still require some skill to get good footage or take good pictures, but if you're sensible they're incredibly easy to not crash.

It really depends on your **rates** and **specialties**, since cinematic FPV fly-throughs and aerial videography/photography give very different looks. Either way, it’s going to be a bit pricey, especially in the U.S. now with the new tariffs in effect (as of May 1st). The **Avata 2** is solid but honestly a bit too big for tight fly-throughs. The **Avata 1** is a better size, but if you’re serious about fly-throughs, I’d suggest looking into a **Cinewhoop** — something like a 2", 3.5", micro, or tiny whoop with an O3 or O4 unit. You can pull off cool, unique shots that ground cameras just can’t match. Just a heads-up though: it’s an expensive hobby. You’ll need the right gear, and I really recommend practicing acro mode on a simulator before flying a real Cinewhoop. Crashes happen, and repairs can add up fast. For aerial photography, the **Mini series** is a good place to start — I started with the first-gen Mini myself and later moved up to the **Mavic 3** when my work picked up. And of course, make sure you’re following the local rules and regs if you’re planning to do any commercial projects!

Hm yes. Ok I get it. I will say it this way: You can achieve nice videos with FPV and DJI drones. The difference is that DJI is like Playstation. It works out of the box, it is easy to use and results are great. FPV is more like a custom built PC. You need to know how to put it together, you need to know what equipment to buy and in the long run it is more expensive. And DJI has sensors that will help you a lot. And gyro camera. I would recommend DJI but if you really want FPV then go for it. PS: for like 500€ you can get a Mavic Mini and it is an awesome drone. HD video, stabilization, sensors, return to home, ... In FPV I don't think you can get equivalent equipment for this money. A tiny whoop or maybe cinelog that is just a camera on motors. No stabilization, no sensors, no return to home.

Thanks for the mention. Thanks for being patient with my slow response. My best advice is to get some version of the DJI Mavic Mini. [https://www.dji.com/products/camera-drones#mini-series](https://www.dji.com/products/camera-drones#mini-series) They are super easy to fly. They weigh under 250 grams, so there is no requirement to register them with the FAA. You can usually find them at Costco for a good price. DJI also has good refurbished prices. The biggest obstacle to filming tournaments is battery life. Batteries are expensive, and they take a long time to charge. When I film tournaments I come with 10+ batteries (which cost significantly more $$ than the drone itself) + a battery pack to keep the controller charged. Also keep in mind that many sports complexes are near airports due to land use zoning. So it's important to get familiar with FAA regulations, and get comfortable using Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability (LAANC) [https://www.faa.gov/uas/getting\_started/laanc](https://www.faa.gov/uas/getting_started/laanc) LAANC apps provide good up-to-date information about controlled airspace and current conditions. As well as easy access to phone numbers of nearby air traffic control towers that you might need to contact for approval. I film from an altitude of 10 meters, at a downward angle of 18 degrees. I film in 4k @ 60fps. My goal is to keep all 14 players in frame, but when something exciting happens, I usually follow the action at the expense of losing sight of some active players. Other drone operators balance this differently. Those are my initial thoughts!