Hello there. Let’s talk about the DJI Mini 3 Pro. A drone that strives to be the perfect blend between small and affordable, while also producing high quality professional images.
Watch our Unboxing and First Impressions Video;
Let’s dive right in on my thoughts on the drone, the Pros and Cons, and who this drone is for.
Buy the DJI mini 3 Fly More Kit Plus
DJI Mini 3 Pro Review.
We’re going to begin with the Pros.
Light-Weight
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This is a ‘Mini’ drone; meaning it’s small, light-weight and portable. It is regulatory friendly as it weighs in at just 249 Grams.
Bigger Sensor
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However, the ‘Pro’ in the name suggests that despite its size, it will deliver high quality images worthy of professionals. What makes this Mini more Pro compared to previous Minis, is the bigger Sensor size.
The new gimbal design provides a 1/1.3”, a 48MP camera, 4K at 60FPS, and 1080P at 120FPS. Compare that to the Mini 2 which had a 1/2.3” Sensor, a 12MP Camera, and maxes out at 4K at 30FPS. The sensor is almost doubled in size and the Frame rate capacity has also doubled.
On the topic of image quality, the Sensor also features ‘Dual Native ISO’ which allows direct output id HDR footage. This essentially means that you have less blown out highlights and less crash shadows which aids to the overall quality of the footage. The sensor size, increased frame rates and image quality are my favorite features.
New Remote Controller
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Another feature that I love, is the option to buy the remote controller with a built-in screen.
There are less expensive options to buy the remote controller that hooks up to your phone. However, that means that you can use your phone in any other way while flying the drone. I personally feel that the extra money for the built-in screen is worth it.
Along with the new remote, is the new OS image transmission system. This upgrade includes the move from dual antennas to four antennas, bringing you a full HD live feed from up to 12 Kilometers. This however is only if there is perfect line of sight and no interference or obstructions.
Vertical Shooting Mode
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Another new feature is the true vertical shooting mode. This allows you to shoot in portrait mode for vertical videos.
Along with this, is a feature called “Quick Transfer”. It allows you to connect the drone to your phone quickly for file transfers.
Battery Life
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It also has improved battery life, giving you 34 minutes of flight time. You also have an option to buy a bigger battery, which will give you 47 minutes of flight time.
Tri-directional Obstacle Sensing
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This drone also has increased wind resistance and tri-directional obstacle sensing. The obstacle sensing worked really well in all our tests.
Other intelligent features include hyper lapses and master shots. When it comes to photos, the camera can capture 48MP stills.
Those are some of the new features and specifications that we were excited about.
Now, let’s take a look at some of the drawbacks.
Firstly, this drone does not have 10 Bit Color Depth. It is 8 Bit only. It does give you the option to shoot in a profile called D-Cinelike but we recommend shooting in the normal profile.
Secondly, the sensor is on the smaller side compared to DJI’s more professional models. This means that images will be more compressed. However, it is almost twice the size of the mini 2’s sensor.
Conclusion
If you want a starter drone that is going to give you an image that is going to be passable in professional situations, the Mini 3 is a great place to start. This is our new recommendation for the “Best Entry Level Pro Drone”.
