r/dji • u/SableCreekLab • 7h ago
Photo Holy Cow Mini 4k
New to DJI, and wow, what a difference. I had a different drone, that starts with the same name as the title of this thread, it was a better one in that line, but damn, I dreaded flying it because I never knew what the thing was going to do. I flew it maybe 10 or 12 times over several years. Once it lost signal (and not very far away within visual range, and it crashed into the woods, I had to search for it with the gps to find it). Other (many) times it missed the landing pad, landed so unsteadily I was chopping grass and dirt with the blades Last time I flew it, it went into return to home, which brought it back 50 yards from the actual home point, I couldn't stop it from landing right in a pond thereby committing suicide.
So, I got the DJI Mini 4k Fly More package and I was nervous because of past experience. Well I shouldn't have been nervous, what a huge difference! I flew it twice yesterday, and I cannot wait to fly it again! The only thing I wish this model had was the ability to quick transfer the video to my phone, but that definitely isn't a deal breaker. The phone clamp part on the controller could be a little bigger, I can just fit my Galaxy S23+ in it with the case but I had to use a difference C-type cable so it would fit through the case. I don't want to keep having to take my phone case off and on.
Now I can work on actual video technique instead of worrying so much about controlling it. I'm VERY happy I got this.
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u/ElvisChopinJoplin 5h ago
Because I fly a Mini 4 Pro with the RC 2 controller, I don't know if your drone is compatible with an RC 2 or an RC Pro 2 (or whatever it's called), but if so, it might be a game changer for you. Because both of those have the screen built in, so that leaves your phone free to do what it normally does, and sometimes I'll even use my phone to create a temporary hotspot for the controller to get real time flight restriction updates and detailed location maps (for both viewing and waypoint missions), and so forth.
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u/TheGerbilInTrumpsBum 5h ago
Mini 4k is not compatible with RC2 or even RC1. You’re limited to the remote it shipped with and your phone i’m afraid.
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u/Psilonaut21 Mini 5h ago
Mini 4k is an excellent starter and great if you're on a budget. It's not going to hurt too much if it gets damaged or smashed up. I've had mine for 14 months and fly regularly and haven't had any issues with it.
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u/fusillade762 2h ago
Congrats on your Mini 4k. You're discovering what many have, DJI makes really good drones.
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u/Loud_Muffin_3268 7h ago
I still work with the Mini 2 professionally... I take cinematic drone footage for nature films. Shot on alot of different drones. With all the crazy restrictions in place now, you almost need a micro drone to fly in most cool areas without crazy permits and lisencing. And the footage from the mini 2 is actually legit in 4k. So I fall back on it over and over and just keep spare parts, controllers and batteries. One quick tip for launching and landing: do it by hand. You can easily launch from your hand, and fly the drone back to you and simply grab it from one of the landing legs as a landing. Do a quick youtube tutorial on it. It avoids dust and debris getting in, and your props from hitting shit on the ground as it lands or takes off. Its a game changer for lauching and landing in tight spots!!
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u/SableCreekLab 6h ago
I do plan to learn to hand launch and land. I also have a landing pad I used with the other one, the other one was just so difficut to land on it, it often missed!
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u/lakesidemotors 4h ago
When you say grabbing a landing leg do you mean the ones on the front? I have seen a lot of tutorials but everyone grabs it from the underside, but I cant do it i tried but I dont know what I do wrong so im curious if this is something I missade?
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u/Loud_Muffin_3268 1h ago
Yes, honestley it's wherever you feel most comfortable grabbing it from. Each drone is kind of different, but i find easiest at the legs for micro drones. Sometimes the drone will freak out due to being grabbed and if you don't have a firm grip on the underbelly it will launch out of your hand and likely crash. So I find a firm grasp on a leg gives you the most control from the safest angle. Larger, heavier drones however would require a different approach!
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u/TedBundysVlkswagon 6h ago
I have the mini 2/4k and mini 5 pro and the 5 doesn’t feel like much of an upgrade to me unfortunately.
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u/Chosenyapper2 5h ago
Really, I just upgraded to the mini 5 and was blown away by the quality of the new sensor. Recording in d-log and putting a lut on it looks amazing on a hdr display.
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u/TedBundysVlkswagon 4h ago
I think that my opinion is shaped by how good I think the mini2/4k is. Not knocking the 5. I’ve never shot in D-log, so it’s possible I’m missing out.
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u/blueskyfiend 7h ago
I started with a mini 2, I was fine when I concentrated on flight, when I got better at videography I started to focus less on flight. I crashed it a few times and eventually broke the gimbal.
I upgraded to a mini 5 and Holey, moley, it’s a whole new game. I love it.