Camera drones are no longer just something reserved for professional photographers. The smallest drones can be flown without having to pass an official test – and so cheap that most people can afford to become hobby pilots.
DJI Mini 3 Pro is the most advanced mini drone to date from Chinese DJI. And although it is so small that it fits in a jacket pocket, it has features that have hitherto been reserved for larger, semi-professional drones.
The DJI Mini 3 Pro weighs only 249 grams, which brings it below the magic limit of 250 grams, where no drone test is required to be allowed to fly. And where the drone can be used almost anywhere at the same time. Also in urban areas.
New gimbal can film vertically
The third generation of the DJI Mini is similar to its predecessors. The most visible difference is the gimbal, in which the 4K camera is now suspended. It can tilt the camera up to 90 degrees downwards and 60 degrees upwards in relation to the direction of flight. The camera angle can be controlled steplessly via the remote control.
You can thus film all the way down to the ground during the flight, and then pan up to horizontal. Should you for some reason feel like filming in high format, the camera can also be tilted 90 degrees. It’s still a bad idea – but you do not lose the camera resolution.
Like the DJI Mini 2, the video resolution is 4K (3840 x 2160 pixels), but the maximum frame rate is increased to 60 frames per second. The camera can also capture still images with up to 48 Mp resolution (as opposed to 12 Mp on its predecessor).
The drone can be purchased in two versions. A basic package with the drone alone, for control from the mobile, and a version with its own remote control, called DJI RC, with 5.5 ”touch screen and two joysticks. We tested the version including remote control.
Secured against collision – almost
DJI Mini 3 Pro has been upgraded on the intelligence with automatic collision protection during normal flight (in the fast Sport Mode the safety is switched off). This is a great advantage when the drone is to be flown in close surroundings – or in the hands of untrained pilots.
You can fly very close to people (remember to ask them first!) Or steer straight towards a tree. The drone automatically stops about half a meter away, and stands still in the air until the obstacle moves, or the drone is steered around.
The drone is equipped with sensors all the way around, as well as on the underside. But not on the top. Something I got confirmed when I started the drone under a tree – and it immediately crashed to the ground!
Beginner friendly
Despite small beginner accidents, the DJI Mini 3 Pro is so easy to control that even completely untrained pilots like the undersigned can fly with it. And thanks to a sharp 6 ”color screen, it was relatively easy to follow the video feed from the drone.
The small pocket helicopter was surprisingly manoeuvrable and responded patiently to the untrained pilot’s commands. With the obstacle sensors, the flight was relatively safe.
DJI Mini 3 Pro is stated for a range of up to 12 kilometers in open terrain. In urban areas, the signal range falls to 1.5–3 km according to DJI. But since the drone rules prescribe that one must have eye contact with the drone, it is a theoretical question, unless one is very farsighted. In practice, I experienced signal loss at a distance of about half a kilometer.
Actionscener
But the Mini 3 Pro is also not created for long-haul flights, but for filming from angles you do not see from the ground. It is also perfect for action shots of sports and other activities, where you can point out a person or vehicle on the screen and ask the drone to follow.
The flight time is limited to a little over half an hour on a standard battery, and the drone keeps track when the battery power is so low that it has to return home. You can also call the drone back at any time with the push of a button on the screen. When that happens, it flies back to the starting point and lands automatically. Unless it is prevented from it…
The ability to fly anywhere gives access to new angles and motifs. (Photo: John Alex Hvidlykke, L&B)
Do not fly in bad weather
DJI Mini 3 Pro is perfect for “helicopter shooting” on a nice sunny day. But the tiny little drone is not weatherproof, and with its low weight it is also a throwing ball for the wind.
I noticed this when I wanted to record in the country. After flying the drone a few hundred meters over forest and land, it began to brew up to rain. In order not to risk anything, I pressed the “fly home” button. This caused the drone to rise to a height of 100 meters, which is the “safe” flight altitude used when flying on autopilot.
But instead of returning home, the drone was taken by the wind, which at a height of 100 meters was over the 15 meters per second that the drone’s small engines can handle. And where the remote control announced that the drone would land immediately, somewhere in the forest – where the probability of finding it again would be small!
It managed to refuse landing, force the drone down to a height it could be controlled from, and fly it back in manual control. But it gave respect to the weather!
The eye in the sky
DJI Mini 3 Pro can shoot in 4K resolution and at 60 frames per second. Which is plentiful for any use. What is more important is that the images under normal light conditions are sharp and free of image noise and artifacts. And when the drone is stationary in the air, it is a stable and solid camera platform. In fact, the speed of the microSD card and the pilot’s maneuver with the joysticks pose the biggest challenge in getting stable images.
Although video is fun, the camera can also take really good still pictures. The resolution is up to 48 megapixels. And even if it does not beat the SLR camera on optical quality, you get images that impress by virtue of the subject. It’s like having a 25 meter high camera tripod!
DJI Mini 3 Pro can record still images in 48 Mp quality. It’s like having a camera tripod 25 meters high. (Photo: John Alex Hvidlykke, L&B)
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Fly considerately
That the drone according to the aviation rules able to flying anywhere is not necessarily the same as that should fly anywhere. With the DJI Mini 3 Pro you have a camera that is able to film people where they least expect it. It can easily stand still in the air and film a window on the 25th floor, or film people sunbathing in villa gardens. Here it is important to have common sense on the trip.
On the other hand, it is a wonderful tool for recording sports (or live role-playing games), where the participants have given permission in advance.
Conclusion
Although the DJI Mini 3 Pro looks like a toy, the pocket drone is as advanced as most drones that weigh twice as much and are twice as big. Compared to the previous generation, you get far better cameras and intelligent safety features, which do not guarantee, but at least give a better chance that even an amateur pilot gets the drone back home in good condition. And with professional looking video on the memory card.
The gimbal makes it possible to make vertical pans or film directly down. Unfortunately, the price has risen to almost double, and that means that the Mini 3 Pro gets our deserved recommendations, but has to settle for the second highest rating.
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