by Dr Drone September 25, 2023
It’s the time we’ve all been waiting for– DJI has just released the new Mini 4 Pro, a significant improvement over its previous line of micro drones. For the first time ever, the Mini 4 will include omnidirectional obstacle sensing, an OcuSync 4 transmission system, and 4K slow-motion video capabilities up to 100 fps. The extended battery life, powerful imaging capabilities, and inclusion of more intelligent features than ever make the Mini 4 Pro a drone to be reckoned with.
Like the previous mini DJI drones before it, the DJI Mini 4 Pro is a powerhouse of a drone weighing less than 249g, giving you the freedom to fly without restriction. The drone’s light weight means there’s no need for training or registration in most countries and regions. This is great for both pros and beginners alike, allowing you to take off whenever the inspiration strikes.
Not only does the Mini 4’s weight give you freedom from restrictions and regulations, but it also gives you freedom over where you fly. You won’t have to worry about lugging around a heavy backpack anytime you want to take the drone for a spin–the Mini 4 Pro can easily fit in a pocket or small bag for convenient transport. Whether you’re headed for a day at the beach or a hike in the mountains, the Mini 4 was designed for convenience on the go.
When designing a micro drone, you have to make a few compromises. Powerful features usually mean heavier weight and greater space. With the Mini 4, however, DJI has managed to fit more features than ever before. Its powerful camera is powered by a 1/1.3-inch CMOS sensor capable of capturing more complex details with ease. The camera features Dual Native ISO Fusion, f/1.7 aperture, and 2.4μm 4-in-1 pixels to give you crystal clear details. The camera’s high dynamic range means more highlight and shadow details, giving you uncompromising results in every frame.
The camera on the Mini 4 Pro is equipped with numerous features that give vibrant scenes the details they deserve. With 4K/60fps HDR, you can preserve the natural wonder of any moment. From the nuances of sunset or sunrise to the majesty of an ocean landscape, you’ll capture every detail in true-to-life quality.
Take the time to immerse the audience in every frame with Slo-Mo 4K/100fps. This unique feature gives you slow motion video in 4K clarity, as you capture the action in the jungle, on the beach, or even in your own backyard at 100fps.
The Mini 4 Pro’s Night Shots video comes with an improved noise reduction algorithm to effectively suppress noise and facilitate clearer, cleaner footage in low-light scenarios. With 10-bit D-Log M, you’ll capture over one billion colors to create stunning, true-to-life footage. The natural color gradations and precise full-spectrum details allow you greater control and flexibility over post-production and creative editing.
Thanks to HLG, you’ll be sure to keep the natural colors and brightness of every photo no matter where you publish your content. The camera’s high dynamic range ensures that the colors and brightness remain true-to-life without the need for adjustment or format conversion. And with 48MP Raw and next-gen SmartPhoto, you can preserve every intricate detail. The combination of features like HDR imaging and scene recognition ensure every image will pop on the screen.
Photos and videos were made to be seen. That’s why the Mini 4 Pro has been designed to make shooting and sharing photos as seamless as possible. The True Vertical Shooting function enables vertical recording that’s perfect for social media and smartphone playback.
With Large-Angle Tilt, you’ll achieve ultra-smooth camera motion with a 60° max tile angle, unlocking greater cinematic potential with every shot. Finally, the Digital Zoom function allows you to capture photos with up to 2x zoom and videos with 4x zoom. Whether you’re zooming in on a bit of wildlife or filming the remote wilderness, the remote will become reachable.
Flight safety is paramount when flying a drone. Despite its small size, DJI has managed to fit the Mini 4 with an omnidirectional obstacle sensing system that makes the Mini 4 mighty safe. The micro drone includes four wide-angle vision sensors and a pair of downward vision sensors, detecting obstacles from any and all angles. The drone is also fitted with Advance Pilot Assistance Systems (APAS 5.0) that enables automatic braking and bypassing during flight. No matter what kind of environment you’re flying in, the Mini 4 is designed for safety.
For such a tiny drone, the Mini 4 Pro can really go go go. The Mini 4 Pro’s Intelligent Flight Battery powers the drone for up to 34 minutes of flight time, allowing you to leave battery concerns behind and stay focused on creation. If you want to extend flight time even further, you can upgrade to the optional Intelligent Flight Battery Plus for a staggering 45 minutes of flight time. Either way, you’ll be sure to have plenty of time to explore and find that perfect shot before you need to recharge.
Europe Version
In Europe, the DJI Mini 4 Pro has achieved C0 certification and can fly almost anywhere. However, this means that the Intelligent Flight Battery Plus is not available in Europe, as it would put the drone into the C1 class, adding more restrictions on the use of the drones. With the standard Intelligent Flight Battery, you’ll still get up to 34 minutes of flight time, more than enough to explore the snowy mountains of the Alps or the beaches of Ibiza.
The Mini 4 Pro is the first micro drone to feature DJI’s O4 video transmission system. This ensures ultra-responsive control and smooth 1080p/60fps FHD live feeds from distances of up to 20 km. Whether you’re flying high above the jungle or exploring the coastline of the beach, you’ll be able to explore freely without worrying about losing the signal or going too far out of range.
The Mini 4 Pro has a few features that not only enhance shooting efficiency, but help make flying the drone a breeze for even the newest of pilots. With WayPoint Flight, you can set automatic routes to repeat the same path again and again. This allows you to capture the same video each time, a useful feature for reshoots and hyperlapse videos.
The Cruise Control feature helps reduce operation fatigue during long-distance, steady state flight. Not only will you keep from getting tired, but you won’t have to worry about camera shake interrupting your video, as the camera movement stays smooth throughout the flight. Lastly, the Advanced RTH function will automatically plan a safe flight route back to the Mini 4’s home point in the event of lost signal or low battery. The drone will automatically bypass obstacles and return straight back to its starting point, giving you more confident control during return flights.
The Mini 4 Pro comes with a few different features specifically designed to help you get the shot that you want. Spotlight, Point of Interest, and the new ActiveTrack 360° function use enhanced subject tracking capabilities to keep the subject in frame while you focus on filming instead of flying. Just swipe a path on the trace wheel interface to capture seamless cinematic shots with ease.
The DJI Mini 4 also comes with several filming options, including:
MasterShots
This powerful function delivers dynamic camera movement templates specifically tailored for portrait, close-up, and long-range shots. With the tap of a button, you can nail every shot and churn out a cinematic masterpiece.
QuickShots
With options like Dronie, Circle, Helix, Rocket, Boomerang, and Asteroid, you’ll be sure to wow your friends on social media with stylish results. One button can send the drone flying through the sky in a predetermined motion, delivering a gravity-defying video that is ready-made for social media.
Hyperlapse
The Hyperlapse function provides Free, Waypoint, Circle, and Course Lock modes with unlimited shooting time, giving you the ability to shoot a moving time-lapse video in any number of ways. The Hyperlapse function supports compositing while shooting, which means you can get started on creating your masterpiece before the drone is even out of the sky.
Panorama
The Panorama function supports shooting 180°, Wide Angle, Vertical, and Sphere panoramic photos to capture a variety of magnificent landscapes. If you’re itching to capture a wider shot of the beauty of nature, Panorama will ensure that nothing gets left out.
QuickTransfer
QuickTransfer is a handy function that allows you to rapidly transfer photos and videos to your smartphone without linking to the remote controller. With QuickTransfer your creations will be ready to share in an instant.
LightCut supports wireless connection and intelligent recognition of composition and flight routes, allowing you to quickly edit and create eye-catching videos with a single tap. This powerful app blends imported footage from ActiveTrack, MasterShots, and QuickShots to automatically match sound effects and exclusive templates. You can perform high-quality video production in minutes, with no need to download footage during the editing process.
One-Tap Editing
LightCut uses AI technology to identify content types and themes. It selects highlight moments with smooth camera movement and excellent composition to create a beautifully cinematic video. You can also create your own masterpieces using tailored settings for ActiveTrack, MasterShots, and QuickShots, doing your shooting and editing all at once.
Intelligent Sound Effects
LightCut uses AI technology to identify content types and themes. It selects highlight moments with smooth camera movement and excellent composition to create a beautifully cinematic video. You can also create your own masterpieces using tailored settings for ActiveTrack, MasterShots, and QuickShots, doing your shooting and editing all at once.
Intelligent Sound Effects
LightCut generates immersive sound effects based on your video content in real-time. With vibrant sound effects tailored to your unique video, you can bring your aerial creation to life.
Aerial Shot Templates
LightCut offers an array of aerial shot templates, including nature, cityscape, and tilt-shift effect. Just import your aerial footage and create captivating videos with minimal effort.
To get more out of the DJI Mini 4 Pro, there are a variety of optional accessories. The DJI RC 3 is a lightweight and easy-to-use remote controller that comes with the built-in DJI Fly app, replacing the need for a smartphone. With a high-definition screen delivering crystal clear views even in direct sunlight, you’ll get the most out of your Mini 4 Pro experience.
With the Intelligent Flight Battery Plus, you’ll enjoy a max flight time of 45 minutes. Keep your flight smooth and worry-free as you explore the skies.
This is the same Two-Way Charging Hub used for the Mini 3 series. The hub can charge a remote controller and 3 batteries sequentially, as well as function as a mobile power source to charge multiple devices at once.
The super-wide 100° FOV lens allows you to capture sweeping landscapes, further expanding the view your photos capture of the world.
The ND16/64/256 filters allow you to adapt to strong lighting conditions, ensuring you’re always ready for the perfect shot.
This guard fully covers the propellers and is easy to attach and detach, adding to the safety and efficiency of your flight.
There’s no doubt that the Mini 4 Pro is a powerful micro drone. Unlike previous DJI mini drones, the Mini 4 includes omnidirectional obstacle sensing and a 20 km range to let you fly farther and safer than ever before. The combination of powerful imaging capabilities, intelligent features, and miniature size bring even more things to love for pros and beginners alike. Whether you’re a proud owner of one of the previous DJI mini drones or you’ve never flown a drone in your life, the Mini 4 Pro is a worthy upgrade.
by Dr Drone October 07, 2024
Dr Drone
Author
DrDrone is Canada's leading provider of drone technical services, with over a decade of experience and the distinction of being the first company in the country to offer drone servicing and repairs. As the largest drone vendor in Canada, we are also the primary supplier of Remotely Piloted Air Systems (RPAS) to the Canadian government. Our team members possess extensive knowledge of each drone's technical specifications and have a wealth of hands-on experience. For more than ten years, we have been dismantling and reconstructing drones, ensuring a deep understanding of these systems.