Perhaps unsurprisingly after all the leaks and rumours these past weeks, today DJI has released the DJI Mini 4 Pro to the masses. The Mini series has proven to be very popular and within the photography community, I have seen many dip their toes in the drone photography water using a DJI Mini 3 Pro. Not only because it’s one of the cheapest, yet capable, drones on the market today, it also doesn’t require you to get certification. Therefore this is the ideal drone for beginners. Does the latest iteration of this popular drone add enough for you to get the latest & greatest or is there no real improvement for drone photographers over the DJI Mini 3 Pro? Let’s find out!
Naturally, I have already updated my drone photography e-book by adding the DJI Mini 4 Pro to it. If you already own my drone e-book you get this updated version free-of-charge.
Update (30/10/2023): DJI have again updated the firmware of the DJI Mini 4 Pro. This time they have added a way to bypass the height restriction if you remove the C0 label sticker from your drone. The process asks you to upload images of the drone after removing the sticker. There are a lot of questions about this though and what consequences this may have if your drone ever gets checked.
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. All opinions in this article are my own. If you (dis)agree, I invite you to open a discussion in the comment section.
The quality you get from the sensor in the DJI Mini 3 Pro & on the 3x telephoto lens of the DJI Air 3 is great. That same quality level is being continued in the DJI Mini 4 Pro.
By using the techniques outlined in my drone photography e-book, you can get very high quality images out of even the smallest and least capable drones.
How Does The DJI Mini 4 Pro Improve Over Its Predecessor?
While still remaining below 250 grams, DJI has managed to pack even more technology into this drone. However, the biggest differences between the DJI Mini 4 Pro and its predecessor, the DJI Mini 3 Pro, are quite minimal:
- There is a new transmission system, called Ocusync 4, which improves the smoothness of the connection while also providing slightly more range. I have tested this on the DJI Air 3 and have to admit that the transmission is certainly smoother. However, I noticed no difference in range compared to Ocusync 3+ which you can find on the DJI Mavic 3 series.
- Together with that new transmission system comes an improved remote controller. The DJI RC 2 is a great improvement over the original DJI RC as it comes with external antennas, while also having improved speed.
- This drone now supports Dual Native ISO Fusion, which should reduce noise while preserving more detail in highlights and shadows although this is likely to be a minor improvement. It’s also good to note that this feature does not work with 48 megapixel photos as it’s achieved with QBC (Quad Bayer Coding) techniques that combine four pixels into one.
- The DJI Mini 4 Pro now supports 4K video with 100 frames per second.
- There is support for D-LOG M and HLG video profiles while also supporting Night Mode.
- A few smaller improvements include support for waypoints and APAS 5.0 (Advanced Pilot Assistance System).
As you can see, the DJI Mini 4 Pro (bottom) looks very similar to the Mini 3 Pro (up).
Important To Know
There are a few things I need to point out about the DJI Mini 4 Pro, which are important:
- This drone is released out of the box with a class rating of C0 for the EU. The DJI Mini 4 Pro’s height is capped at 120 metres. There is currently no possibility to fly higher with it within the EU! This severely limits your options in places with terrain changes. In most places, legislation dictates you can fly at a maximum altitude of 120 metres above the ground, while the DJI Mini 4 Pro is capped at 120 metres above the takeoff point. This is not the case with the older DJI Mini 3 Pro, DJI Mini 3 or even the DJI Mini 2.
- The DJI Mini 4 Pro is priced the same as the DJI Mini 3 Pro was when it launched. However, the DJI Mini 3 Pro can be found discounted all over today.
Update (19/10/2023): DJI have made some adjustments to the firmware in regards to the height restriction. From now on, you will get a notification that you are possibly breaking the law when changing the height over 120 metres but it is again possible to set it higher. This is good news for people wanting to use the DJI Mini 4 Pro in mountainous terrain. However, there are rumours stating that the original height restriction could be implemented again with new firmware in 2024. Update your drone with caution!
Update (30/10/2023): DJI have again updated the firmware of the DJI Mini 4 Pro. This time they have added a way to bypass the height restriction if you remove the C0 label sticker from your drone. The process asks you to upload images of the drone after removing the sticker. There are a lot of questions about this though and what consequences this may have if your drone ever gets checked.
Should You Get One As A Photographer?
The short answer is “no” in my opinion but let me elaborate…
While DJI has definitely added more functionality to its most lightweight drone, it did not add enough benefits over the DJI Mini 3 Pro from a photography standpoint. Improved obstacle avoidance capabilities and a better transmission system (Ocusync 4) are certainly nice additions, but they didn’t improve the most crucial part for photographers: the sensor or lens – other than a software enhanced way of reducing noise with Dual Native ISO Fusion. Additionally, in the EU the DJI Mini 4 Pro’s maximum altitude is hard capped to 120 metres which severely limits your options in places with terrain changes. From my point of view, the DJI Mini 3 Pro, or even the DJI Mini 3 (if you don’t need obstacle avoidance at all), is still the better value for money as it is now cheaper and has the same photographic capabilities as the DJI Mini 4 Pro.
However, if you see the extra value in improved obstacle avoidance & a better remote controller, and don’t mind the extra cash, I can definitely recommend the DJI Mini 4 Pro.
If you are curious what other drones I would recommend for photography, make sure to check out my dedicated blog about which drone to buy for photography!
Buy the DJI Mini 3: https://geni.us/jvn-djimini3
See the full specifications: https://www.dji.com/mini-3/specs
Buy the DJI Mini 3 Pro: https://geni.us/jvn-djimini3pro
See the full specifications: https://www.dji.com/mini-3-pro/specs
Buy the DJI Mini 4 Pro: https://geni.us/jvn-djimini4pro
See the full specifications: https://www.dji.com/mini-4-pro/specs
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Thank you for considering!
poorer image quality of mini4pro compared to mini2. after spending hours on this here the final conclusion – for me very sad. if you have any comments would be nice because you have this super photography expertise with drones.
i want to add that i tried all kinds of adjustments like ISO, MF, AF – drones were not even flying just sitting to avoid and motion effects. i think a f1.7 lens needs much higher quality compared to f2.8 (mini2) .
the key is that already the DNG file is not good
thanks
erhard
i did send mini2 and mini4p jpeg and DNG to DJI for evaluation. here the reply from DJI:
” According to the assessment from the DJI senior technical team, the pictures shooter by your DJI Mini 4 Pro drone are normal, which means they are good.
The deviation may be more obvious in the DJI Mini 3 Pro/DJI Mini 4 Pro lens due to the larger aperture and shallower depth of field. We recommend choosing the central position for focusing to balance the resolution of the peripheral positions of the view.”
i did use the central focus position.
so my personal conclusion: if you do mainly daylight (at least not very low light) still shooting and you do not need the fancy features of the m4p stick with mini2.
i find it still interesting that the image quality issue/comparison was not highlighted more in other reviews or postings
Hi Jeroen,
Which is more user-friendly and provides better quality video?
I am thinking of buy one Drone. which will helping me to make a high-resolution video and have a have a long-term battery backup.
I would like to buy the DJI Mini 4 Pro or the DJI Mini 3 Pro. I will go with an affordable price that is easy to use. Lastly, I have made a decision about the DJI Mini 4 Pro. But I need more information about the app’s features. And also, I have seen 3 different DJI Mini 4 Pro that is another confusing question.
Please put your kind information and assist me for real guidance.
Thanks
Hi! I think all of these drones are equally user friendly. The remotes are the same and the software on it as well. If you want to get the best video quality, within an affordable package, I would recommend getting the Mavic 3 Classic. However the Mini 3/4 Pro and Air 3 have great video too. The Air 3 is a step up from the Mini drones and has much improved battery life.
Jeroen, your insights into the nuances of drone photography are remarkable. Considering the rapid advancements in drone technology, how do you foresee drones like the DJI Mini 4 Pro evolving to further enhance the art of aerial photography, particularly in challenging environments like the rugged landscapes of Iceland?
Hi Suri, I think these drones won’t evolve much more considering the weight limit they have to adhere to. There’s only so much more you can pack into such a small body. The fact the Mini 4 Pro is such a small upgrade over the Mini 3 Pro speaks volumes to me.
Thanks for your perspective, Jeroen. It’s intriguing to consider the balance between technological advancements and physical limitations in drones. Perhaps future innovation might focus more on software enhancements or new applications in challenging environments, rather than just hardware upgrades. Looking forward to seeing how this unfolds!
Which one should I get the mini4 pro or the air 3
If you have the budget for the Air 3, I would highly recommend that one. The advantages are many: better battery life, better wind resistance, two lenses with the same image quality, …