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Due to popular demand, I decided to make a RAW file comparison between the DJI Mini 5 Pro and DJI Mini 4 Pro. I did this before with the DJI Mavic 4 Pro and people seemed to enjoy my more analytical approach to comparing the image quality. Therefore, I have again produced a side-by-side comparison, by taking the same images in the same conditions. This time I did it in my home office, so there is a more control over the results.

As always, it is important to get one thing out of the way: I am not a pixel-peeper. I generally don’t go and zoom in on an image at 400% to see whether or not something is ever so slightly sharper. I don’t think it matters all that much. And you know why? It’s because a new drone, or a new camera, is not solely defined by whether or not it produces significantly better images. There are many factors to take into consideration whether the Mini 5 Pro is a significant step up compared to the Mini 4 Pro such as battery life, transmission technology, controllers, ease-of-use, …

So what did I find by putting the DJI Mini 5 Pro and DJI Mini 4 Pro next to each other? Let’s find out!

 

In case you missed it, I published a complete photography-focused review of the new Mini 5 Pro on my blog.

 

Disclaimer: This article is not sponsored in any way. However, when you make a purchase using the link in this article, I may earn a small commission.

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Comparing the new 1 inch sensor on Mini 5 Pro with the older Mini 4 Pro shows expected improvements all across the board.

Things You Should Know About The Mini 5 Pro/Mini 4 Pro RAW Files

Since the release of my Mini 5 Pro review, I have been getting a lot of requests for files so I decided to do it properly and make a full set of files of both the Mini 4 Pro & Mini 5 Pro. Today, I spent some time on capturing all kinds of RAW files in order to make a good comparison. Some of the differences are considerable and I am sure you will be curious about them too.

If you sign up below, you will get a link sent to download the files. However, there are a few things I want to point out first…

Good To Know

While I tried creating these images in a more controlled environment in my home office, it is impossible to do a true 1:1 comparison, with the same view, between the Mini 5 Pro and Mini 4 Pro for a variety of reasons:

  • The camera module on both drones is different. Even though the focal length is similar, it is not 100% the same. I am not sure why there is a slight difference, whether it is the sensor size or resolution.
  • The camera gimbal has a different design which puts the cameras themselves at different heights in the drone. This skews the perspective slightly.

The two drones have considerably different sensors, which becomes apparent when comparing RAW files.

What Can You Find In The Downloadable Files?

Here is a list of all the RAW files I have made available in the download:

  • DJI Mini 5 Pro:
    • 1x Camera (12 megapixel): all ISO’s
    • 1x Camera (50 megapixel): all ISO’s (ISO 6400 is not available in this mode)
    • 2x Camera: all ISO’s
  • DJI Mini 4 Pro:
    • 1x Camera (12 megapixel): all ISO’s
    • 1x Camera (48 megapixel): all ISO’s (ISO 6400 is not available in this mode)

Everything is divided up neatly into folders so you can do your own investigating and research.

Get Access To The RAW Files

Sign up below to get a download link to access the RAW files.


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A Few Comparisons I Wanted To Highlight

There are a few comparisons I want to show you in the imaging department.

Disclaimer: it is by far the best to download the files yourself and have a look. The images you see here are also in some way compressed because you are viewing them on my website.

200% Crop at ISO6400 On Mini 4 Pro (1x) and Mini 5 Pro (1x)

This comparison shows how much better the noise performance is on the Mini 5 Pro compared to Mini 4 Pro at high ISO.

DJI Mini 4 Pro

DJI Mini 5 Pro

ISO100 Versus ISO6400 On Mini 5 Pro (1x)

This comparison shows how well ISO 6400 (left) stacks up against ISO 100 (right) on the Mini 5 Pro.

Alternatives To DJI Mini 5 Pro

If you are looking at alternatives to the DJI Mini 5 Pro, I can point you into the direction of my updated drone buyer’s guide.

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Jeroen Van Nieuwenhove

Jeroen is an award-winning Belgian photographer based in Iceland. The past years, he dedicated his photography to the Central Highlands & volcanic eruptions. Most recently, he received international attention for his work at the Fagradalsfjall volcano.


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