DJI - Mini 4 Pro

I have a Neo and a m4p and I feel like had I waited a month I’d have gotten this instead of both of them..ultimately though I’m beyond happy with my m4p and the Neo was cool as my first drone

The Neo’s camera was underwhelming which is the main reason why I upgraded to the m4p but the flips camera is very similar to the m4p and the price is what would have sold me on the flip..you got that fly more combo for an incredible price

Use my mini 4 pro and my neo depending on the situation but it’s always best to get boots on the roof in addition to the drone shots..hard to see hail damage especially and then impossible to inspect the deck without standing on it.

I highly suggest picking up a mini 4 pro to add to your fleet..the picture quality on before and after pics is night and day compared to the Neo..love my Neo too but damn the m4p is nice

dji mini 4 pro. 3 does it too but doesn't have full 360 avoidance. they max out at like 25mph when following though. I use it dirt biking slow stuff

yeah but it seems like its almost crashing constantly and getting lucky. search youtube for dji mini 4 pro obstacle avoidance for examples. skydio used to have a drone that did this pretty well but I think it's discontinued. basically a select couple dji drones are the only option. any of the cheap ones advertising obstacle avoidance are just gonna crash another thing to note is DJI wont let you take off in certain no fly areas like a national park, or require you to request permission via cell phone link to take off in other areas. i've experienced this in the middle of BLM land in the desert

DJI Mini3 Pro and Mini4 Pro will both do this, and both are 249g drones. So as you’re not distributing or selling your video, you should not need to get an FCC Part107 license. I don’t know if you’ll find and brand new Mini3 Pro models for sale as DJI may be discontinuing it. As I understand it, what gives you the full “follow me” capability is the fore and aft collision avoidance sensors. My Mini2 cannot do that at it only has downward-facing sensors. The Mini3 Pro and Mini4 Pro drones do all that. Your 90-minute flight-time won’t be possible with these drones— unless you’re ok with landing and swapping batteries twice.

If you want collision-avoidance sensors the Mini4 Pro or Mini3 Pro are best in the sub-250g realm. Otherwise the Mini4k is a great value. Before 2025 tariffs went into effect, they could be found at around $250. I paid $430 for my Mini2 4 years ago. Essentially the same drone. I love my Mini2 (not the SE). I have taken it to Europe and UK 3 times now.

My niece is learning on a neo with rc2, and now my m4p. She has only been flying for less than a week, and she says the mini 4 pro is easier to fly. Can’t go wrong with either.

Check out the DJI Flip fly more combo. It was released January 2025 so its new. It shoots 4k/60fps, flies for 31 minutes, has active track, can go 36 mph(which is pretty fast for a boat), and video transmission is 13km. You can also fly it without a controller. You just press a button, point it at yourself so it picks you up as a target, and then it takes off and follows you. You can also check out the Mini 4 Pro or Air 3s(this one is top notch)

I've done this a number of times with various DJI drones, most recently my Mini 4 Pro. It works fine. Here's a simple and boring example of vehicle following: [https://youtu.be/IPlnlFAL7Fc](https://youtu.be/IPlnlFAL7Fc) Works great with a dirt bike and mountain bike too. You just can't go much more than about 25-30 mph, or so.

No issues really, just had fun learning the ropes. For the same budget, there really wasn't anything else like it, but for a starter drone, it won't disappoint. I was hesitant because there's always a risk you will get bored or just crap at piloting. But its worked out really well. I have the mini 4 pro now.

>Hard pass on the Mini 4K unless it was dirt cheap. It is dirt cheap, it's £209 on Amazon right now. It's a good beginner drone for that price. Even though everything about it is inferior to its bigger brothers, it's still capable of producing good results if you have a creative mind. But if it gets somebody into the hobby, then they have plenty of good upgrade options in the future, with the M4P being a great choice if someone wants to stay in the sub 250 category.

This is why I decided on the 3s. I originally bought the m4P but returned it. I’m planning on doing real estate photography (I’m in central Florida, so the market is insane). I was worried about stability in wind, especially near houses

I would reccomend the Avata 2 than! BUT Check some youtube vids first!! because the Avata 2 is not really beginner friendly, but than again... its way more fun and ALOT more fun to watch movies from you created with it... But yeah first, watch some youtube clips about The avata 2, or the other drones like mini 4 pro. You cant go wrong with a mini 4 pro though !

I was personally looking at the DJI Mini 4 Pro and a payload dropper. Works for up to 100g. There is no better drone tech out there than DJI.

It sure is! DJI Mini 4 Pro. RAW, ISO 3200, 5 seconds. https://preview.redd.it/whaqz4s1lexd1.jpeg?width=1536&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=369c0e90c462ba991f0542654910439f73079ecc

Mini 4 Pro fits your requirements perfectly

agree with this guy, myself im coming from a dji avata 2, outgrew it within a month. ended up getting a geprc mark 5, absolutely love it so far. I also have a mini 4 pro, I will not upgrade that anytime soon since dji drones really are the best with consumer cinema drones, but fpv is not their specialty. You will want to upgrade from dji fpv drones really quick after getting into it, making it just not worth it overall. Cheers.

I own multiples of both the Air 3S and Mini 4 Pro, and two Air 3 units as well. What do you intend to shoot? How do you intend to shoot it? What lighting/time of day? What output do you expect to use? What wind conditions? What class/weight done can you fly regularly? The Air 3S has FAR better obstacle avoidance in low light on its normal obstacle avoidance sensors vs the Air 3 and Mini 4 Pro, plus it also has front facing Lidar, which has also been impressively good. On top of that, the Air 3S has D-log-M at extended ISO ranges, which happen to be the same ISO range the Air 3 and Mini 4 Pro only have shitty 8bit 'night mode' that SUCKS. I was NEVER impressed by the 'low light' capabilities of the Mini 4 Pro and Air 3, nor their Obatacle Avoidance tech even in what i would consider to be 'good lighting', sunset/dusk is too dark, Air 3S the sensors are fine even when its darker than im comfortable flying. The Air 3S exceeded my expectations in low light, both in terms of obstacle avoidance sensors (which are about 10x more light sensitive than the Air 3 and Mini 4 Pro) as well as 10 bit D-log-M performance vs shitty 8-bit 'night mode' on the Air 3 and Mini 4 Pro. Lidar works with zero light up front. The Mini 4 Pro is great if its calm weather and bright enough outside. Air 3 and Air 3S are FAR FAR FAR more stable in wind or gusty situations. The Mini 4 Pro is also quite small and handy if youre after something compact; its a killer piece of kit that punches WAY above its weight for what it is. We keep a Mini 4 Pro or an Air 3 in deployment as 'risky shot' drones for client work, the footage in proper lighting is GREAT! That said, i'd go Air 3S over a Mini 4 Pro, but we use both cams and low light/wind resistance matters for us.

The M4P is a little beast and just perfected upon the previous generations. It's like buying a base model car it's good and does the job but the top trim gives you some features that you didn't realize you wanted till you used them. The M4P having a downward light that's auto or manually turned on was like the chef's kiss IMO. I tell family and friends buy the Mini 3 to start and test the waters if drones are for you and you want more upgrade to the M4P if you have budget constraints grab a used M3P w/RC or save for the M4P because the Mini 3 is still so great lol.

Mini 4K is in my opinion the best budget beginner drone, if you have more money get the mini 3 Fly more combo, in my opinion the RC isn’t worth $300, if you have way more money then the mini 4 pro Fly more is the best drone.

actually you dont need that many batteries, 2 chargers and 4 batteries can keep mini 4 pro up indefinitely (of course with interruptions to swap battery) - in ideal conditions even with 3 batteries (and 2 chargers) for full non stop flight at least 2 drones would be necesary

My mini 3 pro was this for me 3 years ago, still going strong. Holds up to ice fishing conditions and pretty high winds. It's also sub 250g so I can use it in the city to inspect roofs of 3 story+ buildings. I'd say the mini 4 pro will past you a long time but the newest one you can afford so you don't need to upgrade after a few years.

Mini 4pro here it’s incredible. I initially got a insta360 x4 to try and do 360 for my motorcycle, huge mistake. Terrible camera and software. I now use my dji action 4 on my helmet and dji mini4pro drone.

For that price range, you’re not going to fit thermal into your budget. The cheapest thermal capable drone would probably be a DJI Mavic 2 Enterprise Advanced (~$2,300). For ~$1,000, I’d recommend a DJI Mini 4 Pro with Fly More kit.

I am exactly where you are with starting with a Neo then snagged a m4p fly more combo for $650 but why do you feel like you would have gotten the flip instead?

I have a Neo, a mini 4K, and a mini 4 pro. Would definitely recommend the mini 4K on your budget, unless your primary use is for taking videos of yourself and friends. A mini 4K with controller is the same price as a neo with controller, and the mini 4K flies much better, just doesn’t have some of the cool smart modes.

I am thoroughly enjoying my mini 4 pro, but I am really glad I had a mini 4K first to see how much I enjoyed the hobby. 4K is probably 80% of 4 pro for a lot less money. Camera is not quite as good, doesn’t have obstacle avoidance, but flies great. I also have a neo, which is a whole other thing. The Neo is pretty inferior when it comes to flying using sticks, it’s good for using its AI to take photos of groups, people walking, that kind of thing.

Mini 4k it's ad much a toy that's stable as for photography. The 300 cameras are good but usually like something with a better camera. I started fortune with the Mini 2 se. I found I like some of the pictures I got, which steered me into light cut and quick edits. I then bought a Mini 4 pro just for the extra Obstacle avoidance and increased camera. Learning how to fly even thoughbit sounds counter intuitive. Learning on the Mini 4k with stable readable connection with growing room built in if he's super young. I passed off my mini 4 to a 5 year old at my family get together and he got it instantly even some of the angles he understood for g lining up good shots in camera he got those basics and was part of why he wanted one. That's my advice if you buy anything else maybe a Specta or Potensic atom but I can't guarantee you'll get the same level of service with DJI. If your even considering DJI I'm future year I'd move now because once the Tariffs are in place that drone will be 500.

I started on a RUKO this same model. I flew for a year first before I upgraded to the mini 4 pro then onto the mavic 3 pro. That RUKO was a great stepping stone to this adventure.

The mavic 3 pro is incredible in its ability to photograph. I love it. But yes very expensive. The mini pro 4 is a nice little drone. Great clarity.

I use a Neo which serves me well but would like a mini 4 pro. The better camera quality would be great

Go for the mini 4 pro. The sharpness can be reduced in the settings page and you can also use ND filters to decrease shutter speed to help make it look more natural. The convenience of having a drone weight <250g esp. when travelling overseas is unmatched. If the weight and needing a higher certification is not an issue, then go with the air 3/3s or Mavic 3 for better cameras.

You're looking at either DJI mini 3 pro, 4 pro or Flip. Find used ones on eBay or FB marketplace for your budget. All have tracking features. 4Pro is obviously the best with obstacle avoidance. DJI neo also has follow me feature but it is very small so you might not like it.

Mini pro 4 is good but will lose you if a tree or anything covers you from view

There is no drone that can hold over 40 minutes realistically on one bat. The mini is really fast to change, but at the same time thats way too much content to even care about. You dont want to parse through 60gb of film for one run. Just film the cool looking parts of the run and intersperse with gopro or iphone clips.

The Mini4 Pro would be fine, it's the deliverables that count. You can also explain to people how the size of the drone is a safety feature that makes it so you can fly around people much easier. If you want something with a bit more 'oomph' and visual appeal, the Air 3/3S would be a perfect fit for your needs. I'd even say that the Mavic series would be overkill, really.

It's a tough call. I have a M4P and man is it a great drone. Its a real workhorse and mine has been utterly reliable. I am probably going to get a Flip too though. I do a lot of indoor and selfie content and I think it might be really good for that type of work and still have some great camera drone abilities. Eager to see more real world reviews with flights and how it handles obstacles, night flying etc. DJI is just peppering us with interesting drones. We could have worse problems!

I’m a trail runner, YouTuber and casual drone pilot. The best drone for what you’re looking to do is probably a DJI Mini Pro 4, which will give you maybe 30 mins flight time per battery depending on wind conditions etc… On a related note: Quite apart from the logistics of the thing, if you’re doing this for a YouTube channel you’re probably going to want to learn how to run and gun with an action cam (GoPro, DJI Osmo, InstaGo etc…) because it’s about connecting with people as much as it is about the activity of running. Two hours of drone footage is most likely going to be boring as hell; ten minutes of a really nice run, some commentary about how the experience felt, with a few nice drone shots here and there is likely to be much more engaging.

I picked up the Mini 4 Pro last summer and it’s user and beginner friendly. Battery life is a downside and it does not perform the best in high winds. You could pick up a combo bundle with more batteries. It’s small and compact which has its ups and downs. I haven’t had issues with it in colder weather, especially since the drone uses induction cooling and doesn’t have fans to cool the battery.

Mini 4 pro, and you're not questioning the future.

I have an Air 3s and a M4P (and a Neo). The M4P / RC-2 / batteries pack down into a small light case, the 3 batteries charge quickly (on my 100w charger), it takes great video, it's sub250 so doesn't need registering if that's a thing where you are, and it's very inconspicuous - once it gets 3-4 metres away from people they don't hear it unless they're trying to and if it's up in the sky doing its thing rather than zooming up and down through a park people just don't notice it. It gets tossed around a little bit in the wind but the picture is stable and so long as the drone is moving rather than trying to hover it looks after itself. It's my goto drone for day to day stuff. The Air3s feels a lot more solid and powerful and substantial and doesn't seem to notice winds that would make the M4P complain. The batteries are physically about 3 times the size of the M4P ones and take about 3 times as long to charge, the bag it all lives in is about twice the size and weight of the M4P bag. It has to be a lot further away before people can't hear it, it needs to be registered, and I've heard that the 3 batteries of the flymore combo are just under the limit of how much LiPo battery you're allowed to take on a plane. It's my goto drone for chasing cars at our local dirt track because it doesn't get distracted and it's fast - an Air3s in sport mode is not only faster than the M4P in sport mode, it's faster than an Avata 2 in sport mode. Flying them the same way doing the same thing on the same day at the track It feels like I get more time out of the M4P batteries. I see you bought the same kit I did - you'll love it :) The Neo just for comparison comes with goggles and 3 batteries and the motion controller but not with a case and it REALLY doesn't like windy days. It's my goto drone for chilling and having fun but it's a PITA to take it anywhere because goggles and no case and low wind tolerance, and everyone knows it's there because it sounds like an angry mosquito so you have to stay away from people. I've seen a couple of people say that as it is a ducted propeller drone like the Avata 2 if you rotate it 180 degrees while it's moving then try to go back where you came from through the air it just disturbed it will stall a propellor and drop out of the sky just like an A2 (the yaw spin that people talk about), but I haven't found any videos of a Neo doing it (tbh I haven't looked).

It feels like the M4P batteries last longer. I haven't flown the 3s enough to say for sure, but from what I have done there's not a lot in it either way.

I should mention I have the bigger batteries for the M3P :)

If you want a super simple one. The neo is easy to use but if I were you I would go for the mini 4 pro

M4P is my go to

the A3s and M4P are the same tech internally. The A3s is better in windy since it's heavier. I do like M4P(fly more +) on long hikes since it weighs less (around 500g less). Depends on what you want to do both are solid if you want to drive and fly go A3s if you like to hike and fly M4P

Mini 4 in

For weight reduction any mini lineup yes the 4 is hands down the best at the moment since it has so much software to it and Omni. Yes, it's 1100 for the fly more but worth it for the screen controller. Weight is not an issue you can get the Air 3 with fly more and screen for the same price on DJI specials day or refurbished from DJI.

Tbh m4p is just about the best suggestion for almost anyone. Is such a solid drone

Mini 4 pro /thread

I shoot a lot of large scale panoramas. I have a Mavic 3 that produces excellent results. I use to travel with it but it's just a lot to carry in the already bulked up gear bag. [Example](https://www.flickr.com/photos/tattrat/52411846639/in/album-72177720295759984) Now I only use it when I'm staying local. [Example](https://www.flickr.com/photos/tattrat/51796938182/in/album-72177720295759984) For travel, I have a Mini 4 Pro. I have been consistently impressed with the footage and photos I can get with it. Amazing little piece of kit. [Example](https://www.flickr.com/photos/tattrat/54255392468/in/dateposted-public/) Unless you're really pixel peeping, I think the Mini 4 Pro really holds it's own.

DJI Mini Pro 4. Fantastic little platform and with the mini 5 coming soon, it's prices will come down a little making it even more of an affordable platform to start with. Great features. Great battery life. Great form factor for travel. If you're not pixel peeping, the camera does a great job and video output if fine for friends/family/socials.

I live in saskatchewan, the M4P will give you a cold warning after some time flying in our cold winters. Hardly is there a good day in the winter to go fly due to the wind, weather etc. It is a great drone, I love it, but I hardly ever get a chance to go fly around these days with work and poor weather. Hope that changes in the summer time. I have however flown a mini 2 in -43⁰C for about 20 minutes and it faired very well, no warnings, just icing on the props. I think the sensors and extra wires in the M4P don't take the cold very well. Before flying in the winter: keep your batteries in a warm spot, not too warm, maybe body temperature. This will allow the batteries to last longer. When your done flying, put the drone into the bag, the bag will slowly bring the drone back up to room temperature, and won't cause moisture to build up behind the lense due to heating up too quick

If it’s simply Just photos, stick with the mini. Less regulations and less of a hassle. Mini 3 pro or mini 4 pro just for the obstacle avoidance

You don't mention budget, but honestly my usual answer for anyone looking for a good start is the DJI Mini 4k, which is normally $300, but is on sale for Black Friday. I do recommend getting a Fly More combo with extra batteries, but that will add around $150 to the price. A lot of people will recommend the DJI Neo, but I don't for your purpose. The Neo is more for selfies and vlogging, while the Mini is better for flying and photography (and has better camera). The Neo doesn't come with a remote and if wanted, needs to be purchased separately (you can use phone/tablet but it isn't as good). The Mini 4k is the same drone as the Mini 2 SE, just with a better (4k) camera. I recommend paying the few extra bucks for the better camera. If you want more, feel free to step up to the Mini 3/4 Pro or Air 3 / 3S. The Mini and the Mini Pro are very different drones. The Pro models have better cameras and obstacle avoidance, but the price jumps (Costco has a good deal right now on the Mini 4 Pro for $750).  The Air 3 is like the Mini Pro 4 except adds a 3x telephoto camera and has way more power (it is also way bigger, harder to travel with, and must be registered as it is over 249g weight). The 3S is a newer model that just came out, has an improved camera and lidar for better night flying (which requires a Part 107 license) and obstacle avoidance. Do note, that any use that isn't recreational flying requires a Part 107 license. Additionally, many states have rules against using a drone for hunting (not sure about TX specifically), even with a license. The range on the DJI Mini 4k should be plenty. It is illegal to operate the drone beyond line of sight anyways (without a waiver), so range beyond that won't do you much. That said, the Mini 4 Pro and Air 3 / 3S have longer range transmission than the Mini 4k / Mini 2 SE. Hope that helps!

Get the Mini4Pro

That being said, for some shots you might have to disable it. But I also think in a professional scenario you want to avoid the drone crashing and not being able to deliver your customers requests would be too risky. Also with the 4 Pro you can add the wide angle lens if you want

No one can tell you which is best suited imo. I have a mini 4 pro that I use for travel but is mostly useless at home. Today, the wind gusts are 29mph. An air 3s would be better for my home use but not for travelling. I wanted it for travelling, so I went with the mini 4 pro with the option to get a drone only air later from Ebay if I want. Take some time and think about what you plan on doing most and make a decision for yourself. Have fun with your new toy.

Hi, I'm deciding between a few drones right now. (Mini 3 mini 4 pro, air 3, mavic 3 classic ) \~$1000 budget and good footage is a priority. I'll mostly use it for video, so 10-bit and log profiles are important . I'm already pretty experienced with flying drones. My main issue with the Mini 4 Pro is that some of the footage looks a bit over-sharpened. , I want something that can get close to matching the look of my Sony mirrorless . (bigger sensor in air and classic?) I’ve also been considering just going with the Mini 3 and calling it a day—then using it with a 04 FPV setup and gopro (I’ve flown FPV a lot) I'm trying to get a better sense of the image quality and portability of these drones. I’ll also be in Japan later this year, so having something under 249g would be nice. thanks!

I would recommend the mini 4 pro. I bought one 10 months ago and I love it. It was my first drone and was really easy to start with and took it with me on holiday last summer. I feel like I am learning to fly better every time I use it and I'm already thinking about buying an FPV drone (such as the Avata) in the future to get even nicer shots.

I’ve got the Mini 4 pro and you’re right it’s definitely a tool not a toy. I use it to capture photos I can’t get from eye level or my location. If someone isn’t seriously into the photography aspect of drone flying then anything over a Mini 4 is a hard pass unless they’re into fpv

I started with the mini 4k and now move up to the mini pro 4 with the lenses for ligth pollution.

I fly the coastal creeks of Fl panhandle using a minipro 4 and waypoints using litchi software. I have a redfish school I have been watching for thew last 12 months. Sometimes their physical numbers will exceed 700 fish based upon tide, feed cycle and moon. I also catch a ton of speckled trout attacking the finger mullet. I also live on the wakulla river(Tarzan filmed here in the 1950's). I have several manatees I watch daily. Anything I can help you with let me know, glad to help out.

Yo vivo en España, y en la zona donde vivo hace bastante viento. He probado el Mini 4 pro y me daba pena verlo peleando con el viento de esa manera. Aqui para la calce C1 hace falta un examen online para esa clase de drones, una vez aprobado he comprado el Air 3S y estoy encantado con la resistencia, la batería y las camaras, es una opción a estudiar.

Honestly, to the eyes of the public, the Mavic isn't much more impressive than the mini. If you want to look serious, you need an Inspire or an M300. But that's 500% overkill for OP's use cases.

Very different budget, very different cameras. The only reason to get the mini if both are in budget is that it's under 250g, which in some contexts makes the regulations easier to deal with.

I have a Mini 4 Pro and a Air 3S. I wouldn't call the Mini 4 Pro robust. It feels very light, almost cheap when unfolding it and such. The Air 3S feels much more sturdy, it's obviously like 3x as heavy but, that's because once DJI made it past the 249g limit, it's whatever, they will do what they need to make it sturdy. I feel like the Mini 4 Pro, definitly had weight savings in mind when developing it so, the plastic just feels thinner, the little arms feel like I'm going to break them when I'm unfolding it and such. That said - I love both! Don't get me wrong, the Mini 4 Pro is an excellent machine, just looking at your comment that you want something robust. I would not say the Mini 4 Pro is robust. It can fly in moderate wind, but anything more than 40 kph seems like it's pushing it. But it checks all of your other boxes. Whatever you go with, you'd probably want the RC2 imo and the Fly More combo. It is more money, but it's well worth it compared to buying everything seperately down the road.

Gotta spend money to make money. I’d feel kinda silly pulling out a Mini 4 Pro in front of clients. Yea, we know it’s packed with features and isn’t a cheap drone but, the size makes it look like a toy from Target. Plus in the wind or anything it’s going to get blown around. I’d invest in an Air 3S at least. When you set that big boy up your clients are going to get excited just seeing it. Add the better night or low light photos you’ll be able to provide, it’d be well worth it. You can do what I did and get the minimalist package with the RC-N3 and then get the RC2 and extra batteries down the road. You’ll end up paying more for the full Fly More that way but you don’t have to come up with almost $2k (with Refresh) right out of the gate either.

Maybe. I have a Mini 4 Pro and Air 3S and imo the A3s is a much more impressive looking machine and from what I’ve seen so far, the quality of video and photos output is fairly noticeable. Everything is opinion based, but if I was going to charge people money for content, I would feel better about providing content from an A3S.

I'm gonna say that's probably overkill. I haven't done any roof inspections professionally, but I've done casual ones of my own and my neighbor's roofs with a mini 2. I could likely do them a lot more confidently with my M4P with its obstacle avoidance, since by the nature of flying over a roof you're getting out of VLOS. That said, if you have other means of justifying the purchase go ahead.

Mini 4 pro, air 3 s if you can splurge. Mini 4 is good but doesn’t go too fast. Both have obstacle avoidance so you can do cool flybys. Neo is a toy, FPV is good if you have a pilot with you. If you have money get air but be aware of flight restrictions, if you are quick and stealthily you will be fine. Get mini 4 for allrounder

Mini 4 pro, air 3 s if you can splurge. Mini 4 is good but doesn’t go too fast. Both have obstacle avoidance so you can do cool flybys. Neo is a toy, FPV is good if you have a pilot with you. If you have money get air but be aware of flight restrictions, if you are quick and stealthily you will be fine. Get mini 4 for allrounder

Mini 4 pro is the best starter drone in my opinion.

Hey, I shoot a lot of gardens and homes. I use a combination of the Sony Airpeak, DJI Mavic 3 Pro Cine, and the DJI Mini 3 Pro. If you’re just getting started out, probably the Mini 4 Pro. But the new Air 3s would probably be the best if you are prioritizing image quality. The longer lenses in the Air 3s and the Mavic 3 pro really make a big difference. If you have any questions, feel free to DM me. Also, you’ll need a Part 107.

How you gonna call a product flip but not have FPV capabilities. I hope they add it 😩 apart from that it looks stunning to be honest the video quality looks just like my mini 4 pro, I’m buying. I love indoor filming and the neos sensors are unreliable and it often just flips (lol) out.

I recommend the m4p

Mini 4 pro, 4 512 ultra fast micro sd cards, nd filters, pro flight batteries (the mini 4 is light enough that you can fly without a license but not with those extra flights batteries but who the heck would know that, lol) nice case, extra blades, then use the change to do the same thing with a pocket 3, extra cards, nd case. Now you have a kit for shooting every scenario . A roll with the pocket, establishing shots b roll with the drone, all in crisp 4k. I have beefier cameras and this is all I use anymore.

I wouldn't be down voting the Flip... I just think for 1500 dollars he could probably get a NEO and a M4P but if he couldn't manage that he could get a NEO and a 4K with nice RC and have the best of both worlds!! 😂 And he could take them both on vacation for sure

Yeah for 1500 bucks he would have three batteries with 31 minutes on each one. Which is a good amount of flying time for someone just wanting to fly around on vacation and snap shots. I feel like my M4P packs just as easy as my NEO

I got an open box mini 2 SE for really cheap it may have been 250.. It wasn't my first one but once I got that one it changed my thoughts about spending money on drones. I believe 2 days later I purchased the Mini 4 pro brand new and a couple weeks later I think I got Mav 3.. And now I have a bunch of DJI drones new/used and whole bunch that were open boxed drones. They all have the care package on them and started the day I got them. Really a good deal. But I do think it was a mistake for me to keep purchasing drones that were 40 to 230 that were not DJI. Atom and Loheer and maybe Contixo would be okay first drones because you can fly pretty good with those. But nothing like any DJI drones and the photo/video is hands down 100X better with DJI

The minis are cool but I would keep that Mavic. Even for work unless you're in a windy place or need thermal, londer flight time they are the way to go. But get the Mini 4 Pro or the Mini 2SE. I have an 2SE that is a beast I can't get rid of it. I have tried it went in the pool a week ago and I thought for sure that was it...nope I flew it this morning. When I got new drones I really put it to the test 😂 it's a good drone

I have a DJI Mini 4 pro, and a Fimi Mini 3. In my area, flight is restricted via GPS on the DJI, which sucks. I flew it on vacation, inside my house, and drive to areas close by that are not restricted. However, I got the Fimi Mini 3 for use around my house. I applied for permission to inspect my roof multiple times with DJI-no luck. While the Fimi is less sophisticated, I have a blast flying it around my property. While I wish it had a reliable "follow me" feature like the DJI, I can still use it on walks in the woods, etc. I worry about it less. The controller I got needs a mobile phone to pair with the controller/app, but I had an old Android laying around, and I use that. It's well-worth the price. If you have no flight restrictions in your area, get the DJI, but otherwise the Fimi Mini 3 is a great value

Mini 4 Pro. You have the sensors and a super good camera. Why choose something you can crash easily if you can have something that help you avoid it? I know, the price. But the more you pay, the less you pay.

Not even close to a Mini 4P. Plus pour build quality. The gimble is a major flaw.

Second this. Flip is what I would go for. Mini 4 pro would be the next step up but for OP need the flip is perfect

Mini 4 Pro was my first real drone, and while she is a bit old now, she is still flying... not due to my piloting skills, but due to the collision avoidance systems which have dodged many a joshua tree. I highly recommend learning with such a drone, the little thing is very forgiving of early mistakes.

I brought my autistic son who's 17 a neo, you can use it with or without a controller and use a DJI controller or your phones wifi as the controller. He loves it, and gets about 20 mins of flight per battery and has 3 of them. Typically he will run 2 dead and by the 3rd he's getting tired. I have a DJI mini 4 pro, which has a 45 min life, twice the ability, but it's a $1200 price tag compared to the neo for about $300 and the optional controller for about $150

It depends entirely on your requirements. While there are some advantages to the better camera on the maverick, unless your client is going to run the video on large screens there may be no practical difference. Your skill as a videographer and editor will make much more of a difference than the camera. As others have pointed out, the Air is a great compromise, but depending on where you need to fly, the Mini 4 Pro may have advantages. One of the challenges in an urban environment is operating over people. Unless you have a category UAV or a waiver, you can’t legally fly over uninvolved people. In an urban setting that can be a challenge. A category 1 drone needs to be under 250g with prop guards and remote ID. The only current option to get there in the DJI lineup is a Neo with an external RID module, but the photo/video quality isn’t as good as the air or mini, and that’s a bit of a limitation for pro photographers. (On a related note, if someone from DJI is reading this, please poke your product management with a sharp stick and wake them up. The new DJI Flip is one firmware change away from being an awesome option that 107 pilots like me — who already own a M4P and Neo — would buy in a heartbeat. Please add the option to turn on Remote ID in the USA so we can fly it as a Category 1 UAV.) Category 2 essentially requires a parachute which right now is stupid expensive. Your other option is to apply for a waiver. I won’t go into all the details in case OOP isn’t important to you. But if it is, an M4P with extended battery, prop guards, and an anti-collision light is still light enough to operate over people and moving vehicles under a 107 waiver without requiring a parachute. Flight times and wind handling will decrease, but in an urban area that might make the difference between being able to legally get your shots or not. Just buy the extended batteries because they turn RID on. On the other hand, if OOP isn’t an issue, then in the USA under 107 an Air is probably a better choice. And, if you have any interest in popping north of the border, do yourself a favour and take an M4P with standard batteries. Being under 250g in Canada will make your life much, much easier. Remember that the best camera in the world isn’t going to help if you can’t get it where you need it.

It depends entirely on your requirements. While there are some advantages to the better camera on the maverick, unless your client is going to run the video on large screens there may be no practical difference. Your skill as a videographer and editor will make much more of a difference than the camera. As others have pointed out, the Air is a great compromise, but depending on where you need to fly, the Mini 4 Pro may have advantages. One of the challenges in an urban environment is operating over people. Unless you have a category UAV or a waiver, you can’t legally fly over uninvolved people. In an urban setting that can be a challenge. A category 1 drone needs to be under 250g with prop guards and remote ID. The only current option to get there in the DJI lineup is a Neo with an external RID module, but the photo/video quality isn’t as good as the air or mini, and that’s a bit of a limitation for pro photographers. (On a related note, if someone from DJI is reading this, please poke your product management with a sharp stick and wake them up. The new DJI Flip is one firmware change away from being an awesome option that 107 pilots like me — who already own a M4P and Neo — would buy in a heartbeat. Please add the option to turn on Remote ID in the USA so we can fly it as a Category 1 UAV.) Category 2 essentially requires a parachute which right now is stupid expensive. Your other option is to apply for a waiver. I won’t go into all the details in case OOP isn’t important to you. But if it is, an M4P with extended battery, prop guards, and an anti-collision light is still light enough to operate over people and moving vehicles under a 107 waiver without requiring a parachute. Flight times and wind handling will decrease, but in an urban area that might make the difference between being able to legally get your shots or not. Just buy the extended batteries because they turn RID on. On the other hand, if OOP isn’t an issue, then in the USA under 107 an Air is probably a better choice. And, if you have any interest in popping north of the border, do yourself a favour and take an M4P with standard batteries. Being under 250g in Canada will make your life much, much easier. Remember that the best camera in the world isn’t going to help if you can’t get it where you need it.

Personally I use a DJI mini 4 pro and absolutely love the quality of photos and videos that it produces, if that is route you are going for I would get the fly more package which includes 3 total batteries instead of one, which makes all the difference. Also if you are going down that route, I would get some camera filters for the drone depending on the environment you are trying to take photos in.

Definitely mini 4 pro, I have one and it is amazing at auto tracking, and if you have the extra money, get fly more pack, because one battery is not enough.

This was on a mini 4 pro by the way

I had one before upgrading to a Mini 4 Pro, shoot at 2160 and you get 60 FPS and those videos came out great.

mini 4 pro would be a good start, but you'll have to get the Plus batteries that put the drone over 250g, because all Part 107 commercial flights require the aircraft to transmit RID. mini 4 pro only transmits RID when using the Plus batteries. tbh you'll also need a backup drone. having one is like having none. 2 is 1, 1 is none.

Air3S is halfway between the two Get what you need for your use case The Mini 3/4 Pro should be fine I do love my Air3S though! :)

Mini 3 and 4 are brilliant little devices, and are under 249g - if that's a legal requirement for you - Air 3 is heavier and has more restrictions on them (Im in Scotland - i use mini 3 in city's - carefully) get some great shots with it, if your out in the country side alot not near uninvolved participants the Air3 would be the best choice

Basic Mini 3 or 4 is all you need.

Depends on your budget. If you’re using it for social media, marketing purposes, capturing quality content, then the Mini 4 or the DJI Air 3 or 3s will do that for you. The Mini 4 is cheaper & smaller, but doesn’t offer the 3x zoom, camera, and wind resistance capabilities that the Air 3 series offers. I love my DJI Air 3 so I’m biased towards it, but it strictly depends on your budget and how much you’re gonna be using it. Either will get the job done.

I’d definitely go with the mini 4 myself for the simple fact that it has the sensors all the way around to prevent crashing. Yes a Mavic or Air series would be better but as stated bigger drones come with red tape. I think the mini 4 is rated to handle about 25mph winds btw (sorry I don’t know the metric conversion) but a bunch of YouTubers that given drones to test have had it out in conditions not recommended by DJI and it still flew ok

Mini 4 is great for 107 ops

Any of the DJi Mini drones 2, 3, or 4 are what you're looking for. You could probably get a used DJI mini 2 on eBay for pretty cheap nowadays.

I started with a used Mini 2. If I crashed it, I’m not out a lot of money. Once I got comfortable, THEN I spent more money on a Mini 4. I intended on eventually selling the Mini 2, but now I like having both.

DJI anything is more or less the answer. They have their quirks, but everything else comes with less support and more caveats. If you’re just starting out, a Mini is perfect.

You are smart to stay away from all of the drones that have sponsored reviews. Buying a drone is fairly easy: 1. Disregard anyone who tells you to buy a cheap drone first "to learn on". That's a complete waste of money. 2. In the U.S., buy DJI or Autel. I have specimens of both and find that Autel is just a little behind the curve, but not by much. DJI typically has much, much better after sales support than Autel. 3. Spend as much as you are comfortable spending. Don't hold back. 4. You can get a brand-new DJI Mini 4K for about $300... but that won't have extra batteries or a remote control with a screen (you'll have to use a smart phone or a tablet as your screen). Even though the battery claim may be 40 minute flight per battery charge, you're really only going to get 20 to 30 minutes. Get at least 3 batteries with your purchase. Adding an RC with a screen to the this package will get you close to $1K, new. 5. DJI MIni (or Autel Nano, or any drone under 250 grams) will allow you to travel to more international destinations and fly legally. That small weight also helps limit fatigue or space for carrying. 6. If you do not plan to travel outside the US, no need to limit your drone to the less than 250 gram category. VERY generally speaking, the heavier, the less affected by winds. That is, a Mavic 3 Pro at nearly 900 grams will handle higher winds and will handle better in winds than a 249 gram mini. 7. Right now the best drone over 250 grams is probably the DJI Air3s. Others will have differing opinions with this and all of the above. 8. These are not exhaustive guidelines but will provide you a start. We haven't even begun to talk about the need for Remote ID capability, for example. 9. So many options, so little time. Enjoy!

Until you've flown a DJI...you haven't flown. Get a Mini. Any generation. That's where you start.

They are very easy to fly and so the prop guards shouldn't be an issue. I'd go for at least the mini - if you can stretch to it the Mavic 3 (a used original Mavic 3 isn't massively more than a Mini 4 new). Though also, it sounds like just getting APS-C or even full frame camera and doing it by hand/cheap wire kit might produce even better results.

Start with a DJI Mini, you won’t regret it

Pay attention to weight class restrictions, especially with the mini. Usually standard batteries are fine but when you use the plus batteries it may put you over to a new weight class and require registration, classes and certification. Check your laws, especially if you're making money with the drones.

That camera will be really low quality, barely usable, and the range will be very short. And despite all the advertising, it will still be difficult to fly, so he’ll probably end up crashing it pretty quickly. I would recommend getting a really cheap indoor drown he can play around with without a camera you do t have to worry if he crashes, or a more expensive drone like a DJI Neo, which is actually kind of useful but you can’t control, or a DJI Mini which I would suggest supervising while he flies.

Your budget would not allow for a camera system with non digital zoom capabilities That said a DJI mini would provide everything else you are looking for. However with a quick google, Canada does require special licensure for flying a drone out side of visual line of sight. Mini's will give you a real time visual of what the drone sees either on the controller directly or on a phone connected to the controller, depending on controller model you get with the drone.

DJI mini "whatever is in the budget".

I’d pick the Avata 2 for close inspection (within inches), and with head tracking it’s easy to look up under the soffits or down a chimney. I was actually doing this yesterday with the Neo, could get right up to there with on the 3rd floor and look in, bumping not a problem because propeller guards. I looked at a previous valet patch repair closely, saw a couple shingles that are possibly starting to slide. Went up the roof, probably with a clearance of 3”, and after going over the peak went to the chimney and looked down. Bumped another part of the roof and it crashed in the box gutter, but luckily I could take off again. With DJI Care, replacement for the Neo is only $29, so I don’t have to worry much. (Avata would only cost $49, but I’ve already used 2/4, and would prefer to not be without it for a week.) If you don’t want to get close and are okay with being feet away, then a mini is probably okay. Propeller guards might be good for cases where there are nearby trees or cables. Here’s an example of getting close, with head tracking, and being able to look up or down, or turn your head while you fly past - https://youtu.be/D2ygkUlsemQ?si=kswV-c1XyN1lYi-h

Agree with posts , DJI is market leader at this time based on consumer models. After budget then the choice is camera or FPV model. If your budget is huge and camera focused then it’s the full sized mavic or Inspire models, however its more likely you want a 249g or less weight class to maximize convenience so a mini. I would recommend the refurbished DJI units regardless of budget then you can spend the savings on extra batteries and/or DJIcare (insurance replacement).