![]() At just over £500, it represents a great deal for the drone newcomer. ![]() While there are definite downsides to the Mini 3 in comparison to its Pro cousin, the upside – a near-£200 saving – is a major one. These samples were shot in RAW and quickly tweaked in Lightroom, but otherwise are unedited. There’s also some softness around the corners of the frame, but in general the quality is more than acceptable for a budget drone. Photos can be shot in DNG RAW or JPEG (or both simultaneously) and come out fairly well too, although the low resolution means there isn’t much room to crop in from the original frame without the lack of detail becoming too obvious. The Mini 3 also doesn’t include a slow-motion video capture mode, support the H.265 codec and offer access to D-Log or D-Cinelike picture profiles for easier colour correction and grading, so there’s plenty of blue sky between it and the Pro model when it comes to the camera capabilities. The Mini 3, understandably given its entry-level status, has a much less powerful imaging setup: it can take 12MP photos (the Pro takes 48MP photos) and capture 4K video at 24/25/30fps (the Pro does so at up to 60fps). The Mini 3 and Mini 3 Pro both have 1/1.3in CMOS sensors in their gimbal-mounted, auto-stabilised cameras, but that’s where the similarities largely end. With no sensors, there’s also no Active Track automated follow-me mode, which means you can’t have the drone autonomously film you while you’re cycling, climbing or performing another activity – a feature we really liked on the Mini 3 Pro.Īs with all DJI drones, if the Mini 3 loses transmission signal with the controller (or if you just want it to fly back on its own), a return-to-home mode will autopilot it back to its take-off location and land, all without you having to lift a finger. With the Mini 3 there’s no safety net against collisions, so you need to be more aware of the drone’s surroundings when flying. One big difference – and potential disappointment – from the Mini 3 Pro model is the lack of front- and back-facing sensors for obstacle avoidance. Top speed in Sport mode can hit a brisk 16m/s (about 35mph) in calm conditions, and when the breeze does pick up it still flies steadily, using its downward-facing sensors and GPS to hover in place in winds of up to 10.7m/s (about 24mph). You can get it off the ground (and land it later) by tapping a button within the app if you wish, but once you actually take control it feels intuitive enough for even novices to quickly get to grips with. That’s excellent for a cheap drone (it’s four minutes more than the Mini 3 Pro in fact) and as a consequence when flying we never felt rushed or panicky about running out of power. The Mini 3 has an astonishing battery life that gives it 38 minutes of flight time on a single charge. The latter is the better option, certainly (it’s less fiddly to set up each time you fly, and leaves your phone free), but the former works absolutely fine while being more budget conscious. You can purchase the Mini 3 for £519 with DJI’s standard RC-N1 controller (which connects to your smartphone with a cable, and lets you control the drone through the DJI Fly app), or for £669 with the premium RC controller, which includes its own bright 5.5in touchscreen and built-in software. ![]() The other physical part is the twin stick remote. The most delicate part that you should be wary of – the camera and gimbal – can be protected with a clip-on plastic cover, which comes in the box. Despite the lightweight build, the drone is sturdily constructed and, when folded, will happily sit in a backpack or bag without you needing to worry too much about it getting damaged.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |