Samuel, I've been a Part 107 operator for 5 years and have watched way too many videos about every DJI drone. However, you sir, are so on topic with what is essential and you add a different take on how drone reviews should go. I look forward to your future reviews. I really enjoyed it.
Hi. Can either of you please recommend a couple options for apps that show restricted airspace (12:30) for the US ?? Would appreciate it immensely. Thanks!
This is my first drone and I bought it 2-3 months ago and I absolutely love it. I did a little research to begin with but only looked at DJI. I was originally looking to buy a Mini 2 but it was a friend who told me about the Mini 3 Pro. Everything I watched about it told me it was the right drone. I seldom record video footage as I primarily bought it as an extension to my camera, allowing me to take photos from places my arms are unable to reach. The photo quality is incredible and the signal strength has made me a little wary. Out in the middle of the countryside I sent it out about 650m and it started to "stick" with the controls so I brought it back a bit and it behaved. I was out on the beach and I had it only about 80m away from me and the RC complained of low signal so something was nearby that was affecting it yet I've been out in the city at night, been about 100m away from me and I've had a perfect signal. I am however looking to buy the RC Pro shortly as I'd much rather have a lot more confidence in signal quality when out and about. Extras I bought are a pack of ND filters (mainly for CPL), UV filter, lanyard, screen protector, Firehouse night strobe, Fly More pack, IP67 rated carry case, strap to hold the props in when not flying, red controller knobs (dropped a grey one on the floor on a road and struggled to find it!) and finally a 65W plug to charge with. I've also printed my Flyer ID and Operator ID with a Dymo LetraTag as well as "REWARD IF FOUND" with my phone number and numbered my batteries for ease of use when out. The "reward if found" label on my drone already came in handy as I crashed it at night and something happened to the battery meaning it lost connection and I was unable to find it. Love your video, going to watch some more of them while waiting for my batteries to charge back up...
So cool! Glad you are as happy as pretty much everyone else that had a mini 3 pro, including me. You might watch my last video, you might find what I show for the mini 3 pro very, very interesting…
I am just getting into drones myself here and I'm looking at the M3 Pro. Been watching a lot of video reviews to do my homework on the subject. I'm in the US and my next question is what is a Flyer and Operator ID and what does it entail for you.
@@jamesm.1467 it is a very easy and simple thing to do. You basically need to register the drone with your local authority adn get the most basic qualification to fly this drone. It is the least you need to do, super easy to get. Please check with the FAA for details. I am based in the UK and over here it is called CAA, so rules ands regulations might be slightly different, although they are pretty much the same in most parts of the world....I hope you get to have loads of fun!
@@SamuelSotiega thanks for the advice, appreciate that. I'll look into that for certain. Thanks again and Happy New Years to you and yours. BTW, great video too, very informative and glad you emphasize the do's and dont's of where to fly as that's one of my main concerns as I am a suburbanite and not much countryside nearby... Thanks again...👍👍
I got my drone 5 days ago after a failed attempt trying to get a Holy Stone drone for my trip out of the country. I went with this drone because it had what i needed although it was much more expensive than the Holy Stone HS720G. VERY informative video! Thank you
Never shut your drone down like that buddy. It stresses your ESC’s and can burn them out way before their time. That feature is for emergencies in case of a crash and it ends upside down. Will shut of motors automatically. Nice video!
The reason for me doing that is that on that particular day I had the police rock up to me and also a neighbour who didn’t know about regulations and was complaining illogically. I wanted to deal with the cops right away as I had everything in place and I had even informed the police of my flying. The wink was a cheeky moment when I knew I was about to confront the police but I was holding all the winning cards. It looked a bit too cool to never use that shot, hence it made it into this video.. 😊😄 But I agree with you, never one should land the drone that way.
You covered essential questions most folks want to know. I switch to this little gem when Mavic 3 is too aggressive, too loud. 10 bit D-Cinelike, smooth hyperlapses and tracking. If it had variable aperture, I might just sell my other drones... bah! I would never!
Thanks! My next video out in a couple of days or so is the M6 vs the Smooth 5S, if interested. Stay tuned! I think a lot of people will find it very interesting and helpful…
Thanks for making this video Samual, well made, informative and relevant content. I am increasingly considering this drone as it will fill a gap for me, mainly the because of its weight category but also because of the functionality. 👏👍👍
A few points that were left out. First is, to be classified as a Category 1 UA, allowing it to fly over people, it must be under 250 grams AND have protection against rotating blades, meaning prop guards. Adding prop guards is going to put it over 250 grams and into Category 2. Also flying over open air assemblies, not only does it have to have prop guards, it must have STANDARD radio identification and specified on the Certificate of Registration. To date, there are no UAs that meet these requirements. So basically, the weight advantages of the M3 Pro for those purposes go right out the window.
Very interesting. Almost everyone prises this drone so it is refreshing to see someone giving an honest view on some of the limitations. Love the aerials of London, look amazing! Very interesting the point you raised about insurance. I bet not many people stop and think about that.
The insurance side of things is something very few people ever think about, until you find yourself needing to make a claim and then you realise it is void because something you did….
The Mavic-3 is worth paying the difference. 1. It is bigger, which is important for seeing and finding your drone in the air. 2. You can hear it, which is important when locating your drone. 3. The camera quality is so good, that I use it as my video camera, even though I have a Sony A7R3. 4. The Mavic-3 also handles light flares much better. The uncontrollable bad side is air restrictions. I went to Washington DC and found out that you can't fly a drone within 7 miles of the entire Washington DC area.
I agree that the mavic 3 is a better drone, but having a drone that falls under the 250g range has its advantages. I fly in congested city centre and it would be much, much more difficult for me to film. Now, if I am on a comemrcial job that I can plan for weeks, or even months and get all the relevant permits, then I would totally go for the better quality of a larger drone, but for quick and easy drone flying, the mini 3 pro gives you such a bang for your buck, in my opinion. the mini 3 is far from perfect, but it is not mean to be!
Samuel, Excellent review! 🎉You have a more holistic narrative that is very helpful. My first drone will be this Mini 3 Pro. I have tons of great areas to film in Portugal.
Thanks for the feedback! You’re gonna love it.. i have a video in less than 2 weeks for an accessory for the mini3 that I think it’s essential so stay tuned!!
Had a 1 and 2 and this is one of the best reviews out there for the 3 for sure, giving me the confidence and encouragement to get the drone soon. Thanks 👍
I bought the DJI Mini 3 Pro a short time ago, and it's my first drone. I've only flown a bit so far, but have been impressed with how well it works- the software, camera, RC controller and drone itself. Excellent quality and super quiet. As soon as I started shopping, it became clear that it would have many uses for my art work- both in travel vlogs and gathering images as source material for painting. Thank you for your candid and thorough review and confirmation of the Mini 3- your footage is beautiful, by the way! I've subscribed!
If the app "Team viewer" could be installed in the RC controller, this would probably be an indirect solution for transmission of drone's view towards the spotter person.
Unfortunaely, as far as I know, the software in the RC controller is locked, so not possible. But yes, that could also be an option if allowed.... Let's hope one day they allow either video out via the USBC port or the installation of 3rd party apps...
@Samuel Sotiega looking forward to watching that and hopefully you won't convince me as I've just received a Mini 3 Pro as a gift for Christmas and I'm loving the footage I've filmed with it ahahah😂
I knew you’d be honest about this 😮I was thinking of getting a used mini 2 but for 3x the price this seems like it would last me 3x longer 😅 I don’t think I’d want to upgrade ❤
Once you use the mini 3 you realise there is no way back to the mini 2. It is, in my opinion, a well worth investment that will easily last a few years. And then it will probably return enough value to sell as second hand and put some of that money towards a new version. But as it is, it is really, really good.
Let’s hope those improvements make it to the mini4 when it comes out. For now, even if it takes 2 years for the mini4 to come out, the mini3 is such a leap forward that nobody is going to be screaming about it…
For the US, you can not fly beyond visual line of site. You can not see a mini pro 3 at 2km. You can not fly in controlled or restricted airspace without appropriate permission
I would be happy if the SD card slot was inside the battery compartment and the power button UNDER the drone. And as much geometry as possible to deflect incidental rain water. Currently it seems like it has a perfect path into the electronics.
You know what? I was thinking exactly that on Friday when I was flying filming a sunrise in freezing cold London for my next video. That is definitely an area with room for improvement…
I’m a new drone owner and have enjoyed the versatility and video/photo quality of the mini 3 pro. So far my only complaint has been the range. I’m in the US so my drone is in FCC mode but in my limited experience I’m only able to fly about 800m before I get dropouts and the drone returning to home.
@@SamuelSotiega and by the way not only for a spotter, although that's huge as well. Also do I can see fine details. Again and again I can't find what I'm looking for on the small screen but it's super obvious when I watch it back on a larger monitor.
@@wrybread yes, I noticed now long time ago. The smalll screen on the Rc controller won’t allow you to spot issue for instance with focus. One is focused on flying and it is hard to be on top of pin sharp focus when dealing with difficult or challenging conditions. I totally agree, an ipad is the best option, although might be not ideal in all situations!! 👍
@@SamuelSotiega I'm hoping I can switch back and forth between controllers somewhat easily. I might have to build a custom holder for the iPad since mine is a 12.9" (huge) iPad. I'll post when I make it.
The Mini 3 really is a great little sub 250g drone. What I don't understand is why DJI opted to make it Remote ID enable without the option of turning it off when it isn't required for recreational flying in the USA. This is a major problem.
That is a fair point to rise. I have never experienced that but I do check each battery before flying to make sure it is securely attached, something everyone should also do!
I definitely enjoyed your video, footage, and opinions about the Mini 3 Pro... I'm looking to eventually buy one myself, and yes I'm new to this hobby... In YOUR opinion, since I haven't purchased yet, Should I wait a little while to see if DJI will put out the Mini 4??? then compare the 2? Thanks again!
You can always wait for the next best thing. It all comes down to when you want to start including drone footage in your videos, and more importantly, if you have the workflow for it. The world is not going to come to an end because you wait until the mini4, but that might or might not come in 2023, nobody knows. I certainly hope it does not come until 2024 but mine is just as good as anyone’s guess. If you buy the mini3 now and the mini4 comes out in 7-8 months, it will hold resell value and you can probably recover 60-80% of what you pay to put towards the mini4. Only you can decide! Whatever you decide it has to be something that financially is not going to be a strain in your life! 👍
I haven't had too many issues with this drone. I did fly it at super high winds and it did cause me issues. However, I was flying at 80km/hr wind. The camera is good and I love the fact this I can shoot D-cinelike whenever.
I haven’t had any issues at all with it either. It is a solid package. Everything just works. It’s just that there are a fee nagging issues in terms of workflow, that I hope I have explained well… Ultimately this is just my opinion and it might be totally different than anybody else… but as you say. Love the fact you can shoot 10 bit in dcine. Brilliant quality.
@@SamuelSotiega yup, it's the quirks that every thing has that's sometimes annoying you're right. For example sometimes I find that take out the micro SD is very annoying lol
I can totally imagine why you know this!! I was gonna put a laughing emoji but then I realised it might not be appropriate… You are right, branches are too small for the sensors to fully comprehend what it is in front of the drone. However, in my experience, my mini3 stopped and stood by when confronted with a tree… However, it was summer and full of leaves. In winter with no leaves, might be a different story…
Hey, man, didn’t know you were into drones there are fun aren’t they . But I haven’t had mine up in the air for several months apart from my infected spine, I lost my mother, my best friend you could probably say she was my soulmate as well. We did everything together. I was diagnosed with type, one diabetic at the age of five, and she made my life just that little bit better now it fucking sucks. Really not looking forward to Christmas this year but it is a good day to get the drone out maybe I’ll fly every one of my three that I have now LOL yeah last year I needed something to occupy my mind and I kept buying drones. I have a mini 2 mini 3 pro and air 2s doesn’t DJI just love me. I loved your tutorial for da Vinci, but I have changed to lumaFusion. It is a lot easier for me because I love just mucking around on my iPad. Anyway, man have a good Christmas. I’m sure I won’t 😢
Hey buddy, good to hear from you after so long. I am so sorry to hear this year has been so bad. I am in no position to give any advice, but I have had a couple of years very, very rough and very dark in the past too and all I can say is that light always shines brightest in the dark. The wonderful thing about time is that it heals everything, and I know that it is probably something hard to consider and accept now, but in time, everything swings back to normal. Again, I am in no position to judge how badly both mentally and physically it has affected you having such bad period, but when you hit the bottom, the only way is up. It’s great that you got something to focus on, trust me, it helped me to have an activity to hold on to that helped me getting out of bed and eventually dragged me onto a more positive mindset. From then on it was a steady improvement. I just hope 2023 will be a better year for you, I am sure it will be!! Remember, just as you are what you eat, the same applies to everything in life. Surround yourself with positive people, positive activities, and so on and it will be a massive help, I tell you this from experience!
Really good video and very informative. I use the Mini 2 but I realise it’s limitations compared to the Mini 3 Pro. However, I also use the Pocket 2 and really enjoyed your video tips on using that. I’m holding out and hoping the Pocket 3 appears soon! Do you intend getting it and making some videos on using it? That would be great!
100% that I will get the pocket 3 when it comes out and will do a series of videos about it. I love the pocket 2 and I really hope DJI does something nice and special with the P3…
what's the point of antenna, FCC or video for the spotter if in europe you should fly in LOS?? you should have always direct line of sight with the drone and as you mentioned at 100m distance is already not visible (and should have not gone so far as it is illegal)
Thank you for a great review Samuel. I do have a few DJI drones as I use them for commercial work but never owned a DJI Mini so this was helpful to watch. Just wanted to point out about the Portrait feature, as this was also available on the original Mavic Pro but was later removed on the newer Mavic drones.
Thanks for the feedback and glad you found it helpful! I think the mini3 pro is a drone that will keep people from wanting or needing an upgrade every year. It is such a good drone (not perfect though) that even if it takes DJI 2 years to release a mini4 pro, nobody is going to scream about, I think…
I live in Canada and the reason I sold this toy is that is exactly what it is .. the wind here tossed this drone around all the time the sensor small so your video and photos dont hold up unless its just a hobby for u ..I have tested the rth fuction over 30 times and its rare it can land at the home point... and the big one loss of transmiswsion signal happens alot ...for a beginner this drone is good because you need no license and have very few restrictions ....but again less restrictions more problems withj newbie pilots ...hopefully dji will fix the bugs and the vlos law with include mini3 pro safety first ...cheers
Mini3 Pro is a good drone but it is no where near DJI AIR 2S. If you are afraid of you will break regulations, then get Mini3 Pro. But if you want performance and robust connection that never fails, go for AIR 2S. Wind resistance, fast climb rate and decent, 1 inch sensor and Master Shots and much more, Air 2S is a beast. Mini3 Pro is over priced for what it can offer. The biggest drawback is its poor connection with the controller. Connection drops if you go slightly far. Air 2s has too better obstacle avoidance too!
True, but the Air2s falls in over 250g regulations and there is a reason why an under 250g is a very popular rA ge of drones, because as you know, they have different requirements and regulations….
City rivers, I’m afraid… but a lot of that is to do with the reflection of the mud underwater. The Thames isn’t the deepest river, so it is a mix of dirt and mud. But I agree, far from the ideal image we all have of a clean river. For example. It is a health hazard to swim in the Thames. That should give you an indication… 🫤
Not all of it. Most of the very centre es restricted air space but you can apply for permission to fly to the relevant organisation (NATS) and inform port authority if you plan to fly over the Thames river. However, there are a lot of areas that are not restricted air space and you can totally fly without the need to apply. You always need to report to port authority if you plan to fly over the Thames though. I would recommend you download the app called “drone assist” as that is what I and many people use and will give you all the info you need, preflight reports and so on.
East of Tower bridge up to Canary Wharf is not restricted airspace. West of Tower Bridge is restricted air space and you need permission from NATS to fly. And then inform ports and also the police, which you should do anyway whether in or outside restricted airspace.
well there are still rules that tells you cannot fly in city, over people etc not matter the sub 250g, the only difference is that you dont need to register... it might be different where you live
Thanks for the video. For me personally, I have had the mini 2 since it came out. The upgrade from the original mini was worth the cost. The benefits of upgrading to the mini 3 from the 2 are not. I'll stick with what I have.
Same for me. I use Litchi for control when I need Waypoints, etc. on my MINI II. I don't see any need for an upgrade as the MINI 2 has all the same capabiilities....and thus far Litchi can't be used with MINI 3 until DJI releases the info needed for Litchi to add it to the list of drones they can control. The addition of the MINI 2 happened very recently so expect it will take at least a year 1/2 before that capability is added. Other than that the obstacle avoidance is useless to me.
I still fly with mini2 but may upgrade eventually have you checked out new rules in pipeline, You have to be able to see yourself not with the controller which way your drone is facing even in the dark without strobe lights.
Yes, I am aware of the new clarification on VLOS. For any experienced pilot it is all the same. They just finally clarified what they mean by VLOS. I don’t usually fly too far off from where I am so I know at all times where the drone is, where is pointing at. So even if someone was to ask me right then and there ai would be able to tell them. Or you can just press RTH and say it is pointing in your direction, as it does when it is heading back to you. In my opinion, as long as you use common sense, follow regulations and don’t do anything stupid, nothing changes.
@@SamuelSotiega Like idea of just pressing rth and saying yes its pointing to me nice, Altough when I fly on deserted beaches well that's a different matter if you know what I mean?
@@tonyrobinson362 true, but I can guarantee you’re not gonna have a copper to rock up from behind your back to demand that info right then and there. You get where I’m going? 😊😉
People would talk about how quiet the mini 2 was aswell. People would say 50 feet up and you can't hear it 😅. When i got it and tested i could hear it 5 to 600 feet up and 1000 feet away. I dont beleive claims of how quiet these drones are now but this one does seem like it has a lower pitch sound so it prob sounds a bit less like a giant bee.
I have noticed that the lights on this drone turn off when you are filming. I looked for a way to keep them on but have not found it. There should be a way to keep them on. Please let me know if you know how to keep the color lights on while filming. Thanks for sharing.
I would love to know a way to do that too!! Having lights is so important… I can understand they are off while flying if they mess up with the camera and create glaring/flaring, but when not filming, they should be bright and easy to spot…
only thing is i wish ...wish it would go back to to the 35mm type lenses of the older drones i feel 24mm is OK but would be far more cinimatic to do 35mm i think a nice balance but oh well i mean you get more in the frame and all but yeah :-p
Or if they could release a longer lens adaptor, just as they do with the ultra-wide. But in all fairness, most drone shots at this level are wide establishing (not all, but the majority) so it kinda makes sense to have a wider field of view...
trust me, the mini 3 pro is the business and you won't regret it. Buy cheap buy twice. Get this and you will be happy for years. Best droine for a beginner, absolutely.
I wish the DJI RC would preform better. I tested it couple of times and so far i got max distance 1.7km away from me before i strted losing video signal.
For restricted airspace, you need to apply to NATS and also if flying over the thames river, inform port authority and the police on the day of filming. London has many parts which are not restricted so you just need to follow regulations for under 250g drones when in those areas, and also, this is optional but highly recommended, inform the police of your flying, time and area, as well as inform port authority if flying over the thames river. It requires a bit of planning and thinking…
I recently bought my first us$160 drone to learn how to fly. You get what you pay for and of course I crashed a few times and burnt a couple of motors and stripped the plastic reduction gears. My question is, can you buy spare parts for the DJI? Is not a cheap product and you don't want to throw it away because a burnt motor or stuff like that.
The question you need to ask yourself, is the investment in a vastly better drone and camera worth it for you. Because this is how you need to look at this. It is an investment in your video, content creation, filmmaking career, whatever that is. This is a great drone and in the under 250g range, it is the best there is. Only you can decide if this is enough justification to buy it. You can always wait for the mini4 but that could be this year or next year, who knows. If it gets damaged you can send it to DJI for repairs or a local drone shop. I am not skilled to that level so if I ever get a drone damaged, I send it back to DJI, just for peace of mind. But that is just me, you might have a different set of skills and know more about that than me. Ultimately you need to look at it not just as a purchase, but as an investment, and decide based on that. Again, this is just my opinion…
I started out with less than DJI drones, probably $2000 spent on fly always & such.calibration was always new challenges too.when you go DJI you won't regret it bc they nearly fly themselves by comparison!
@@keithstewart7514 I guess all depends on what is your interest. For me, buying all the components, putting the whole thing together and learning all the programming and stuff like that is more interesting than buying a nice drone.
My experience is, yes, smooth. But I am filming tomorrow with it and will double check again for you. I don’t usually do zooming though in a shot, so reach out to me in a couple of days if I haven’t got back to you on this, please.
Optical zooming might be something you’ll never see in this line of dji drones. You need really good lenses and also larger to do that and because it needs to stay below 250g, that might just be too much to handle… But you never know these days!!
Great video. I notice, you are flying in central London a lot. Do you require any extra permissions to fly in the areas you have? Or does this drone fall within the regulations of it?
London has restricted and non-restricted airspace. Most of the iconic sites and central, central London falls within restricted airspace. You need to request permission here nsf.nats.aero/ and allow for 10-14 days for a reply and any back and forth in case they need further clarification. So planning is essential. You need to decide which of the 3 main restricted zones you want to fly in R157, R158 or R159. If you plan to fly over the Thames river you need to inform ports authority and provide a risk assesment. Link here www.pla.co.uk/Safety/Use-of-drones/unmanned-aerial-vehicles-UAVs. But outside those zones you can fly, still need to inform ports if flying over the Thames. Other than that, inform the police when and where you plan to fly. You don't want to start a scare because someone confuses a friendly drone with something less friendly....I hope this is helpful! Maybe I should do a video about this one day...
To fly within the 3 zones classed as restricted airspace in London, you need to apply to NATS and also if flying over the thames river, inform port authority and the police on the day of filming. Do not dare flying without permission because you can get into serious trouble and central London is full of CCTV cameras and signal scanners. London has many parts which are not restricted so you just need to follow regulations for under 250g drones when in those areas, and also, this is optional but highly recommended, inform the police of your flying, time and area, as well as inform port authority if flying over the thames river. It requires a bit of planning and thinking…
@@SwitzeroRider download an app called drone assist and it will show you all the areas that are and aren’t restricted. That’s what I use. Bear in mind there is an area that covers all of London, the whole thing, but it is for helicopters. You need to look at the smaller areas.
Gosh, it is not as simple as that. There is merit for each drone. For me, flying in London as a congested urban city landscape, having an under 250g drone is very important because with an over 250g regulations are very different and what you can do and how is very different. If this is not relevant to you. Maybe the air 2S is a better option. Camera wise is slightly better, but you don’t get the benefits of an under 250g drone. You need to do the research and decide what works for you, what you plan to do with it and so on. Only you can arrive to that conclusion….
Hello Samuel, great video! Just one question... I am a beginner looking forward to purchase my first drone.. is dji mini 2 enough for recreational use and simple social media posts or shall I still prefer dji mini 3 especially for its obstacle avoidance or the portrait mode.. because the range is not something that i really care about anything else that's should be a deal breaker for me..? I've heard the old RC support 3rd party apps as well using which i can use features like active track on dji mini 2 as well.. Also, any other things to consider?
Having used both mini2 and mini3, I can tell you the mini3 runs circles around the mini2 in every aspect. Image quality is also a huge upgrade from 8bit to 10bit in the mini3 and you can see that in low light situations. If you can stretch it, get the mini3, trust me you won’t be disappointed, I am so certain of that. It will last you for years and you will be very happy. The obstacle avoidance front and back sensors are a massive improvement too. So many things really. The perfect drone doesn’t exist and you could spend years waiting for a drone that has it all, and by then you might not want it. If you won’t be using or needing a spotter, as I do, the combo with the RC controller is amazing. But in the UK you won’t be able to fly under FCC because the RC controller is a closed package where you can’t install anything unless DJI allows it. With the RC1N you use your phone so you get more flexibility, but you lose the comfort of the RC controller screen and built-in combo solution. Unless you need those two things, I’d recommend the RC controller combo, you will be so, so happy.
Nice video. I have the drone since it came out and although all the recent firmware updates are great (controlling sharpness and noise reduction is awesome), I have a very frustrating experience with it. I'm in Europe and the range is atrocious ! In cities, don't even think about it. You lose signal so quickly it is unuseable. In countryside it's a bit better but nothing to write home about. Not even as good as the mini 2. The wind resistance is oubviously not as good (but that's inherent to the weight of the drone, so i dont blame it) as the dji air 2s. You feel more confident with a bigger drone. And last but not least, my biggest gripe maybe and nobody talks about it : the colors. The d cinelike profile has a major orange tint issue. Oranges are nuclear (beaches, roofs...) and are polluting every other colors. It's very hard to correct. I tried with a color chart in da vinci and still it is very difficult to get accurate colors and to remove this orange tint all over the image. The colors seem not as rich as with the air 2s. Something weird's going on here. Dji should fix it. It's like they tried to implement the obnoxious orange teal look as the base look of the drone.
I also feel the range in city landscape is atrocious. I can hardly ever get more thn 500-600m and that is at a push, which is frustrating because sometimes that great shot means you need to fly away a bit more, or fly around and suddenly you lose connectiona and off it goes.... It drives me nuts.
@@keithstewart7514 oh I'd never thought of that ! Thanks so much, can't wait to try it out ! I'm out on the sea side during holiday and I took my color chart to give the drone another chance. Sadly I still have major range issues, even past 200 meters sometimes... and there isn't much to block the signal (just a few houses and a relatively low altitude flight is enough). I tried to take a few photos and the colors are a lot richer I feel which makes it frustrating video wise (i almost only take videos usually). And for the range I'll try to check on the internet if there are workarounds. Maybe play with 2.4 or 5 ghz... anyway, first thing tomorrow, try antiflicker off !
I will stick to my amazing mini 2 which I really love. For me if you take care it is the ultimate drone. I can't think of a thing I would change on it. But I treat it like a baby it has it's own case and is checked before and after every flight. It does everything it say's on the tin.
And that is great. I really mean that. If some equipment just works. There is no need to rush for an upgrade every year. It sounds like you know what you’re doing and that, ultimately, is all that matter.
1:03: When you said "You can fly over people" I had to pause and let you know that I instantly thought: Did this guy just say that? No way you are a licensed operator. And if you are, with such a light attitude about it, your license should probably be revoked.
Thanks for chipping in. I did leave a pinned comment about this but you probably didn't see it. Flying regulations in the UK (and in most countries) for
Well, it is and it isn't. Davinci Resolve picks it up as 10 bit and you could be fooled to think it is proper 10 bit but it is 10-bit H265 or H264 codec, depending what you choose. You'll probably say, naah, that is not 10 bit (if you expect proress 422 HQ or similar). But it is definitely better tha 8 bit H265 or H264 of you record in normal color space. I hope this makes sense....
Thanks for the comment. Well, if you go to DJI’s website, it is advertised as the same wind resistance as the air 2S. I know it is hard to believe but it is there in black and white…
@@SamuelSotiega they lied to you - her eis what nobody tells you about Mini 3 pro (i agree it is a very nice drone - but not in wind) Air 2s Wind Resistance 30-38 mph (Level 8) Mini 3 23.9 mph (Level 5) Air 2s Max Speed (Sport Mode) 42 mph (68.4 km/h ) Mini 3 35.8 mph (57.6 km/h )
It all depends on the area or city you film. In Central London I get 600-800m max and that’s about it. The further you go from densely populated areas, obviously the longer/bigger the range. Basically I try to get my shots (City centre/ central London) within a 500m distance range. Now, if you fly over a river you might get a bit more range but you also need to consider the massive amount of signal scrambling around due to the large populated areas, and also, some areas or spots have signal jamming or scramblers (military/ police/ secret service/ security zones). Basically, 500-600m usually is stable and reliable, from there on is a bit of a lottery based on many factors…
If you fly in areas where you feel like one of the characteristics is missing (you say restricted areas with multiple team members involved), I'd say you need to upgrade to a more suitable drone. The mini 3 is still a consumer, leisure drone, not pro equipment.
The whole review and criticism is based on the inadequacy of your use for the material. It's not a pro/certified aircraft. It's aimed at the hobby market who is not allowed/supposed to fly blos, at night, in restricted areas. It's like a car towing company criticising a hatchback for not being good at towing 3 ton cars...
Please see pinned comment and also i clearly say you need to follow rules and regulations. But yes, you are right, unless authorise to do so, prior permit request (which is very, very difficult to get approved if not impossible)
@@SamuelSotiega I'm using the apps in both and android device and a firestick, I have no way of seeing comments on the firestick, and in the android app I have no idea how to view a pinned comment.
Urban I can get 2.5KM and rurally I've got 7K, that was on old old firmware so I will hopefully get even more now. I wonder how you are flying, are you increasing alt to keep signal, and you pointing at drone, high vantage point etc etc? I've tried a few mini3 pro's now (as I had fogging on 2 so they were placed. Every one of them got the ranges I am talking about. Ps, and this is on the weaker CE. You didn't mention still image photography in this RV, or did I miss it?
I was filming for my next video out today or tomorrrow over the weekend at the river Thames. Controller pointing to the drone, I was at ground level, I could hardly get 600m or there about before the drone became unresponsive or lost signal. What do you mean by urban? I film in London, that is what I class as urban. Big city with loads of signals and interfereances. Maybe urban to you means something else? Please let me know.,,, If you get that raneg on CE, I am buffled as to how you can get them , but there is always an exception to every rules, I guess... You must be a lucky one or your drone is on steroids!! 😄...
@Samuel Sotiega urban I mean city...but smaller than London. The height of London vuildings will cause huge interference. You'd have to fly at 500m to get a good signal which I'd illegal of course. Luckily I am more concerned about rural...because I have no real interest photographing buildings in cities etc
@@stevenrobinsonpictures I live in a smaller city in the UK, so if the drone only gets 600m I'm laughing as most of the architecture I would want would be within that range, but I would also be going out into the country side as well.
@UHDGamers 2015 fair play. Remember RC is very sensitive to position. Literally tilting the controller slightly can give you a full signal back. Also flying slower when further out improves signal as the drone isn't as tilted on its axis.
Just don’t fly it out of direct line of sight! I got signal loss at less than 100metres away because the signal was blocked by trees 🌲. The drone is suppose to either return home or hover and a third thing no one mentions, it can land. Well mine did the latter which it thought was grass but the grass was bordered by a low cactus shrub and the propeller got caught in the 6 inch high cactus succulent and it ripped it’s arm from the socket/body.
Trees and radio waves/ signals donlt go hand in hand. If you are surrounded by tress the range will be severely diminished. I am so sorry to hear that you had such a nasty incident....
@@SamuelSotiega I was a Day 5 novice who got a little bit over confident in my garden! Thank you for your reply and also this informative video review. I am looking forward to receiving my new replacement and once bitten twice shy 🙈 I will never do that again!
Worrying about spending $700 on a drone as if it is a life or death decision is a major waste of your time. Either do it or don't and move on with your life.
That is a fair comment if you have plenty to spare, but not everybody will fiund themselves in your situation, so $700-900 can be a fair investment if you have a family, dependants, etc. The only thing I can say and keep repeating is that the mini 3 pro, as an investment, is worth it, dear but worth it.
@@graphguy you don’t know that. I do respect your opinion and to some extent you have a very valid argument but at the same time, I think you might be projecting your own circumstances to every man or woman out there. You can never assume you know the million and one possibilities. Bottom line is, if someone buys this drone aiming to up their game, improve on what they have (or don’t have) or whatever other angle, it will be worth the money they pay for. And that, ultimately, is what really matters, in my opinion 🙂. But I also agree with you on the fact that if you need to overstretch to get this, best not to do so. There will always be version 4, 5 and so on…
I can't see a reason why you would need them if you fly using common sense. I think they give you a false sense of security. I guess if you fly indoors they can be helpful, certainly would, but you need to be fully aware they will push the weight over 250g, if that matters to you....
That you cannot upgrade the antennae on the transmitter says much. First, it says DJI and the insurance companies are in bed together. Second, it says that you don't own your transmitter outright; you don't have DJI's permission to mod it - they can even brick it at their whim. This is a big issue for a lot of people. Do you really own your tech or are the companies merely leasing it to you without your knowledge or approval?
Well… Think this from the insurance company’s point of view. They insure equipment as sold. On the basis of trust with a manufacturer and their safety checks, based on legal regulations in place. That layer of trust goes a bit murky when you open up the equipment and decide to make “improvements” yourself. Because the insurance trusts the manufacturer to do these mods, not the end user. To me that makes perfect sense. Now, imagine there is an accident, the insurance company has then all the right in the world to question whether it happened because the user tampered with the controller. Would that accident happen if the user hadn’t tampered with the controller, etc. Those are perfectly legit questions, in my opinion. At that point it is down to the insurance company to decide whether you broke their terms and conditions of their policy cover. I am sure no insurance company promote, encourage or even allow the end user to modify equipment, especially equipment that flies and can cause bodily harm or even death in an extreme situation. Does it make sense? The insurance company is also a business, just like any other. They have their terms and conditions, just like any other business, and if you break them, well, they are in their right to withdraw their policy. That is also perfectly logical. Unfortunately most people only find this out at the time of making a claim, and obviously it is a nasty surprise, but just as you don’t second guess any other business enforcing their T&Cs, you should also apply the same standard to an insurance company. That’s why it pays to read the small print, whether you or even I do it, that’s another matter! 😄
@@SamuelSotiega I've heard what you're saying, many many times, but I still find that I think that stance is much too corporate, and it reads more as an apologetic than an explanation. That's my take. You may differ. Happy skies to you regardless.
@@billmcdonald4335 I can see your angle. The thing is that many years ago I worked for a rental company for film and TV at a senior level for a good few years and was in charge, among many other things, of doing and handling insurance claims. I must have done over 25-30 over the years, some small, some large, some very large and a couple outrageously large. Ranging from breakages, theft, accidents, you name it. I have some experience dealing with insurance companies in relation to film/ video equipment. I just shared my views based on my own experience... My experience is that they follow the small print to the letter. I might be wrong, maybe my experience and opinion is skewed, but I also believe that it is best to be safe than sorry... But at the end of the day, in the grand scheme of things I am nobody. Who cares about what I say, people will always do whatever they feel like and deal with the consequences if/ when they happen. Personally, because of what I have experienced, i tend to be on the cutious side of the fence 🧐
@@SamuelSotiega I tend to be cautious by nature, as are many, many other qualified people who lack 'certification.' It's a racket; I can be certified in one region, yet not in another - in the same country. This applies to many 'specialties.' Just coz you got your ticket and you're using issue kit means nothing. You can run it perfectly and something will eff up, regardless. It's the nature of anything. Insurance companies go too far, as do some industries. It chokes innovation, among other things. I see what you say, but my angle is more about corporate control of the individuals' ability to take properly-calculated risks. Anyone who would hire someone who appears slap-dash is an idiot in the first place; a con will bilk you anyways. It's balanced too much in favour of the companies, in my left-wing, but humble, opinion. There's plenty of people who can work micro-electronics quite competently without DJI or anyone else holding their hand. It irks me that the corporate bean-counters assume we're all incompetent, irresponsible hazards to navigation. We're bloody well not. Just a thought. . .
You don't need ND filters at all that is nonsense. You aren't filming for the big screen and the average person can't tell the difference between slow and high shutter speeds in a video but even more important you can't grab stills from the video if the shutter speed is too low. This is bad advice I see all the time on these youtube videos all copying each other. There is nothing wrong with the SD slot, it is the same type as virtually every other drone and RC item on the market. The only issue I've got with the Mini 3 Pro is that you can't load Litchi on the controller. I agree about the range. I fly a Mini 3 Pro every single day the weather allows and I've never gotten over 2km with it except once on a perfect day from a high hill I got 3km but it was very dodgy with signal fading in and out.
The thing is that what works for me might not necessarily work for someone else so it is always good to hear other people’s views. Thanks for chipping in. I agree, not being able to install 3rd party apps in a bummer…
"Don't do anything stupid." This sounds easy and obvious, but roughly half of all people are genuinely, pathologically stupid. Stupid things are all one should realistically expect from them. On top of the pathologically stupid, add the inconsiderate, the distracted, and artists. That's most people doing incredibly stupid things, most of the time they're awake! Those silica gel drying packets labelled "NOT FOOD" say more about people than they do about anything else. "Hot coffee is served hot." Nice review, btw.
If you look on DJI’s website, you’ll notice they advertise both drones to have the same wind resistance… But ultimately what matters is that this drone is great handling wind. This is not a pissing contest, if you feel or believe the Air2S is better, then great. If you fly a mini3 pro, you’ll be impressed how well it handles wind.
I agree on the price, but it is what it is and if you use it regularly, overtime, it will pay by itself. If you get just one single paying job you’ll make the money back. Quality as a whole is brilliant. Don’t get me wrong, I wish it was $300, but sometimes things are just not meant to be and you’ve got to bite your lips and go for it. At a personal level, it has been a brilliant addition to my kit.
@@SamuelSotiega I’m a videographer. I do mostly weddings, and funerals. Aerial accounts for about 10%, mostly establishing and ending shots. The Mini 2 at 4K 30 fps is doing just fine, with absolutely no complaints from my boss, and/or customers. It has well paid itself off, and continues to make profits. Thanks for your advice, but until the Mini 2 becomes obsolete, I will continue to use it, or wait for the Mini 4, by then it will not only pay for itself and the 4, but at the same time make a huge profit. Thanks again.
It has been flagged to me that I made an innacurate or confusing estatement at 1:03. Flying regulations for
Samuel, I've been a Part 107 operator for 5 years and have watched way too many videos about every DJI drone. However, you sir, are so on topic with what is essential and you add a different take on how drone reviews should go. I look forward to your future reviews. I really enjoyed it.
Thanks so much for the positive feedback! More cool videos about the mini3 coming up.
Hi. Can either of you please recommend a couple options for apps that show restricted airspace (12:30) for the US ??
Would appreciate it immensely. Thanks!
“Don’t do anything stupid.”
I really like your no BS presentation style.
Hehe… 😄😊
This is my first drone and I bought it 2-3 months ago and I absolutely love it. I did a little research to begin with but only looked at DJI. I was originally looking to buy a Mini 2 but it was a friend who told me about the Mini 3 Pro. Everything I watched about it told me it was the right drone. I seldom record video footage as I primarily bought it as an extension to my camera, allowing me to take photos from places my arms are unable to reach.
The photo quality is incredible and the signal strength has made me a little wary. Out in the middle of the countryside I sent it out about 650m and it started to "stick" with the controls so I brought it back a bit and it behaved. I was out on the beach and I had it only about 80m away from me and the RC complained of low signal so something was nearby that was affecting it yet I've been out in the city at night, been about 100m away from me and I've had a perfect signal. I am however looking to buy the RC Pro shortly as I'd much rather have a lot more confidence in signal quality when out and about.
Extras I bought are a pack of ND filters (mainly for CPL), UV filter, lanyard, screen protector, Firehouse night strobe, Fly More pack, IP67 rated carry case, strap to hold the props in when not flying, red controller knobs (dropped a grey one on the floor on a road and struggled to find it!) and finally a 65W plug to charge with. I've also printed my Flyer ID and Operator ID with a Dymo LetraTag as well as "REWARD IF FOUND" with my phone number and numbered my batteries for ease of use when out. The "reward if found" label on my drone already came in handy as I crashed it at night and something happened to the battery meaning it lost connection and I was unable to find it.
Love your video, going to watch some more of them while waiting for my batteries to charge back up...
So cool! Glad you are as happy as pretty much everyone else that had a mini 3 pro, including me. You might watch my last video, you might find what I show for the mini 3 pro very, very interesting…
I am just getting into drones myself here and I'm looking at the M3 Pro. Been watching a lot of video reviews to do my homework on the subject.
I'm in the US and my next question is what is a Flyer and Operator ID and what does it entail for you.
@@jamesm.1467 it is a very easy and simple thing to do. You basically need to register the drone with your local authority adn get the most basic qualification to fly this drone. It is the least you need to do, super easy to get. Please check with the FAA for details. I am based in the UK and over here it is called CAA, so rules ands regulations might be slightly different, although they are pretty much the same in most parts of the world....I hope you get to have loads of fun!
@@SamuelSotiega thanks for the advice, appreciate that. I'll look into that for certain. Thanks again and Happy New Years to you and yours.
BTW, great video too, very informative and glad you emphasize the do's and dont's of where to fly as that's one of my main concerns as I am a suburbanite and not much countryside nearby...
Thanks again...👍👍
@@jamesm.1467 glad you enjoy it and happy New Year!!
You do the best reviews man! So honest
Thanks! Glad you find them helpful! Let’s hope that many people think the same way and my channel keeps growing! 😉
I got my drone 5 days ago after a failed attempt trying to get a Holy Stone drone for my trip out of the country. I went with this drone because it had what i needed although it was much more expensive than the Holy Stone HS720G. VERY informative video! Thank you
Glad you feel it was worth your time! 👍
I've seen other reviews, yours is truly one of the best on this drone.
Thanks for the feedback! And glad you enjoyed it!
@@SamuelSotiega You're welcome, thanks for the response. :)
Great review, even better; he answers questions thoroughly!
Thanks! Glad you found it helpful!
Never shut your drone down like that buddy. It stresses your ESC’s and can burn them out way before their time. That feature is for emergencies in case of a crash and it ends upside down. Will shut of motors automatically. Nice video!
The reason for me doing that is that on that particular day I had the police rock up to me and also a neighbour who didn’t know about regulations and was complaining illogically. I wanted to deal with the cops right away as I had everything in place and I had even informed the police of my flying. The wink was a cheeky moment when I knew I was about to confront the police but I was holding all the winning cards. It looked a bit too cool to never use that shot, hence it made it into this video.. 😊😄 But I agree with you, never one should land the drone that way.
Great channel and great work my friend
Thank you very much for the feedback!
Thank you I am now into my second month of flying my DJI mini pro.
Glad you enjoyed the video. Still enjoying the drone?
@@SamuelSotiega take it out as much as I can however I live in Massachusetts gets windy and cold ❄ ❄
@@joelegg ummmmm, probably not the best combination for a drone... But I am sure there are plenty of spectacular views to film, weather permiting...
You covered essential questions most folks want to know. I switch to this little gem when Mavic 3 is too aggressive, too loud. 10 bit D-Cinelike, smooth hyperlapses and tracking. If it had variable aperture, I might just sell my other drones... bah! I would never!
I couldn’t agree more..
Another great video Samuel. Thanks🙂
Thanks! My next video out in a couple of days or so is the M6 vs the Smooth 5S, if interested. Stay tuned! I think a lot of people will find it very interesting and helpful…
Great review, enjoyed every topic you've covered. 👍
Much appreciated! Glad you enjoyed it! My next video is also about the mini 3 pro so stay tuned!
Thanks for making this video Samual, well made, informative and relevant content. I am increasingly considering this drone as it will fill a gap for me, mainly the because of its weight category but also because of the functionality. 👏👍👍
Glad it was helpful! You are thinking the same way I was when considering an under 250g drone… And I am not disappointed in the slightest…
Perfect mini 3 Pro,flies well,fantastic camera,and under 250g unrestricted category,what's not to like,best drone I ever bought
I agree 100%!!
A few points that were left out. First is, to be classified as a Category 1 UA, allowing it to fly over people, it must be under 250 grams AND have protection against rotating blades, meaning prop guards. Adding prop guards is going to put it over 250 grams and into Category 2. Also flying over open air assemblies, not only does it have to have prop guards, it must have STANDARD radio identification and specified on the Certificate of Registration. To date, there are no UAs that meet these requirements. So basically, the weight advantages of the M3 Pro for those purposes go right out the window.
That is such technical and useful information for anyone reading comments… Thanks for chipping in..
I read all the rules and regulations and saw nothing about prop guards !!! 🤔
@@realitywave UK.
Prop guards are not mentioned.
I'm in the UK, have not seen anything about prop guards here.
Very interesting. Almost everyone prises this drone so it is refreshing to see someone giving an honest view on some of the limitations. Love the aerials of London, look amazing! Very interesting the point you raised about insurance. I bet not many people stop and think about that.
The insurance side of things is something very few people ever think about, until you find yourself needing to make a claim and then you realise it is void because something you did….
The Mavic-3 is worth paying the difference. 1. It is bigger, which is important for seeing and finding your drone in the air. 2. You can hear it, which is important when locating your drone. 3. The camera quality is so good, that I use it as my video camera, even though I have a Sony A7R3. 4. The Mavic-3 also handles light flares much better. The uncontrollable bad side is air restrictions. I went to Washington DC and found out that you can't fly a drone within 7 miles of the entire Washington DC area.
I agree that the mavic 3 is a better drone, but having a drone that falls under the 250g range has its advantages. I fly in congested city centre and it would be much, much more difficult for me to film. Now, if I am on a comemrcial job that I can plan for weeks, or even months and get all the relevant permits, then I would totally go for the better quality of a larger drone, but for quick and easy drone flying, the mini 3 pro gives you such a bang for your buck, in my opinion. the mini 3 is far from perfect, but it is not mean to be!
This information was SOOOO helpful! Thank you!
Thanks! More good content coming!! 👍👍
Excellent review. I thank you sir. 🇨🇦
Glad you found it helpful!! 👍
Excellent review, Samuel. I'm subbing. Best Season's Greetings from Montreal, Canada.
Awesome, thank you! And welcome to the club!
Great video. Thanks for hard work!
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it!
Samuel, Excellent review! 🎉You have a more holistic narrative that is very helpful. My first drone will be this Mini 3 Pro. I have tons of great areas to film in Portugal.
Thanks for the feedback! You’re gonna love it.. i have a video in less than 2 weeks for an accessory for the mini3 that I think it’s essential so stay tuned!!
@@SamuelSotiega awesome! I look forward to seeing it.
@@MichaelJDay i feel the pressure now!! 😀😀
Had a 1 and 2 and this is one of the best reviews out there for the 3 for sure, giving me the confidence and encouragement to get the drone soon. Thanks 👍
Wow, so glad you found it helpful! 👍
Great review and awesome footage! Subbed
Thanks for the sub and glad you liked it! Welcome to the club!!
Wow that was a great review.
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it
I bought the DJI Mini 3 Pro a short time ago, and it's my first drone. I've only flown a bit so far, but have been impressed with how well it works- the software, camera, RC controller and drone itself. Excellent quality and super quiet. As soon as I started shopping, it became clear that it would have many uses for my art work- both in travel vlogs and gathering images as source material for painting. Thank you for your candid and thorough review and confirmation of the Mini 3- your footage is beautiful, by the way! I've subscribed!
Amazing! Glad you are also enjoying it and thanks for the sub! Welcome to the club!!
@@SamuelSotiega Thank you- it's a new world!
@@ktkt1825 it is, indeed!
Great video and good information
Thanks, glad you enjoyed nit!
If the app "Team viewer" could be installed in the RC controller, this would probably be an indirect solution for transmission of drone's view towards the spotter person.
Unfortunaely, as far as I know, the software in the RC controller is locked, so not possible. But yes, that could also be an option if allowed.... Let's hope one day they allow either video out via the USBC port or the installation of 3rd party apps...
Nice review Samuel. There will never be the perfect drone, but I feel this one is pretty close. Like # 25!!!
Spot on my friend!!
Thanks a lot Samuel, very accurate and learned few things I didn't know :)
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it! I am soon doing one about the mini 3 and why it doesn’t make sense to buy it, so stay tuned!
@Samuel Sotiega looking forward to watching that and hopefully you won't convince me as I've just received a Mini 3 Pro as a gift for Christmas and I'm loving the footage I've filmed with it ahahah😂
@@ClaudioDesideriFilms mini 3 pro, yes, amazing drone. Mini 3, not so good..
Great video. Thank you for sharing 👍😎
Glad you found it helpful!!
nice, no bs review, thnx.-
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it! 👍
I knew you’d be honest about this 😮I was thinking of getting a used mini 2 but for 3x the price this seems like it would last me 3x longer 😅 I don’t think I’d want to upgrade ❤
Once you use the mini 3 you realise there is no way back to the mini 2. It is, in my opinion, a well worth investment that will easily last a few years. And then it will probably return enough value to sell as second hand and put some of that money towards a new version. But as it is, it is really, really good.
The non screen controller should have a greater range. The metal clips securing the phone are antennas I believe !
Amen!!!
This drone is close to perfection for the price. Tripod mode, sensors on all sides, slightly bigger sensor and perfection will be achieved!
Let’s hope those improvements make it to the mini4 when it comes out. For now, even if it takes 2 years for the mini4 to come out, the mini3 is such a leap forward that nobody is going to be screaming about it…
@@SamuelSotiega 🫰
For the US, you can not fly beyond visual line of site. You can not see a mini pro 3 at 2km. You can not fly in controlled or restricted airspace without appropriate permission
It is the same in the UK.
I would be happy if the SD card slot was inside the battery compartment and the power button UNDER the drone. And as much geometry as possible to deflect incidental rain water. Currently it seems like it has a perfect path into the electronics.
You know what? I was thinking exactly that on Friday when I was flying filming a sunrise in freezing cold London for my next video. That is definitely an area with room for improvement…
@@SamuelSotiega I've considered hydrophobic sprays but unsure if that counts as a coating for the insurance on it.
@@jackshett i would not do that. I would not do anything that the insurance company might consider tampering with the unit
Good review and good pointers. Greetings from Denmark
Glad you found it helpful! 👍
best video ive seen on the drone so far
Thanks buddy! Glad you enjoyed it! I have a couple more coming up in the coming weeks, interesting stuff for it so stay tuned!
@@SamuelSotiega gh
I’m a new drone owner and have enjoyed the versatility and video/photo quality of the mini 3 pro. So far my only complaint has been the range. I’m in the US so my drone is in FCC mode but in my limited experience I’m only able to fly about 800m before I get dropouts and the drone returning to home.
Range seems to be a bit of a lottery, you’re not alone in terms of frustration!!
You. An get a mod in the uk that allows you to fly in fcc
@@-lowdown-4698 do you have a link to it that you can share?
@@SamuelSotiega just Google drone tweaks is £24 for the year iv used it for two years , it's just the DJI fly app but in fcc
youtube.com/@dronetweaks1429
Great review thank you!
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed the video!
Great video. Agree 1000% about the controller needing a video out. I have the nc1 on order to use with an iPad for this reason.
I totally agree!!! 👍
@@SamuelSotiega and by the way not only for a spotter, although that's huge as well. Also do I can see fine details. Again and again I can't find what I'm looking for on the small screen but it's super obvious when I watch it back on a larger monitor.
@@wrybread yes, I noticed now long time ago. The smalll screen on the Rc controller won’t allow you to spot issue for instance with focus. One is focused on flying and it is hard to be on top of pin sharp focus when dealing with difficult or challenging conditions. I totally agree, an ipad is the best option, although might be not ideal in all situations!! 👍
@@SamuelSotiega I'm hoping I can switch back and forth between controllers somewhat easily. I might have to build a custom holder for the iPad since mine is a 12.9" (huge) iPad. I'll post when I make it.
@@wrybread that is a massive screen. Maybe an ipad mini could be a better option… But in life you gotta roll with you got…
The Mini 3 really is a great little sub 250g drone. What I don't understand is why DJI opted to make it Remote ID enable without the option of turning it off when it isn't required for recreational flying in the USA. This is a major problem.
I agree!!
Because they have to cartel to their masters (the ccp). Hate or love it the dji has a healthy relationship with its govt(China)
The battery lock tabs can crack allowing the battery to slide out, check them before every flight.
That is a fair point to rise. I have never experienced that but I do check each battery before flying to make sure it is securely attached, something everyone should also do!
I definitely enjoyed your video, footage, and opinions about the Mini 3 Pro... I'm looking to eventually buy one myself, and yes I'm new to this hobby... In YOUR opinion, since I haven't purchased yet, Should I wait a little while to see if DJI will put out the Mini 4??? then compare the 2? Thanks again!
You can always wait for the next best thing. It all comes down to when you want to start including drone footage in your videos, and more importantly, if you have the workflow for it. The world is not going to come to an end because you wait until the mini4, but that might or might not come in 2023, nobody knows. I certainly hope it does not come until 2024 but mine is just as good as anyone’s guess. If you buy the mini3 now and the mini4 comes out in 7-8 months, it will hold resell value and you can probably recover 60-80% of what you pay to put towards the mini4. Only you can decide! Whatever you decide it has to be something that financially is not going to be a strain in your life! 👍
@@SamuelSotiega Thanks, Makes sense...
I haven't had too many issues with this drone. I did fly it at super high winds and it did cause me issues. However, I was flying at 80km/hr wind. The camera is good and I love the fact this I can shoot D-cinelike whenever.
I haven’t had any issues at all with it either. It is a solid package. Everything just works. It’s just that there are a fee nagging issues in terms of workflow, that I hope I have explained well… Ultimately this is just my opinion and it might be totally different than anybody else… but as you say. Love the fact you can shoot 10 bit in dcine. Brilliant quality.
@@SamuelSotiega yup, it's the quirks that every thing has that's sometimes annoying you're right. For example sometimes I find that take out the micro SD is very annoying lol
@@xiondFirst i can totally relate to that too! 😊
Fantastic video 🤙🏼
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it!
My phantom 3 regularly lost signal in woodsy areas 50-100 feet away from me LOL 😂 Range today is much better.
Still not as good as you would wish!! 😄😄
Collision sensors don't work with wires or small tree branches, especially in winter. Don't ask me how I know.
I can totally imagine why you know this!! I was gonna put a laughing emoji but then I realised it might not be appropriate… You are right, branches are too small for the sensors to fully comprehend what it is in front of the drone. However, in my experience, my mini3 stopped and stood by when confronted with a tree… However, it was summer and full of leaves. In winter with no leaves, might be a different story…
Hey, man, didn’t know you were into drones there are fun aren’t they . But I haven’t had mine up in the air for several months apart from my infected spine, I lost my mother, my best friend you could probably say she was my soulmate as well. We did everything together. I was diagnosed with type, one diabetic at the age of five, and she made my life just that little bit better now it fucking sucks. Really not looking forward to Christmas this year but it is a good day to get the drone out maybe I’ll fly every one of my three that I have now LOL yeah last year I needed something to occupy my mind and I kept buying drones. I have a mini 2 mini 3 pro and air 2s doesn’t DJI just love me. I loved your tutorial for da Vinci, but I have changed to lumaFusion. It is a lot easier for me because I love just mucking around on my iPad. Anyway, man have a good Christmas. I’m sure I won’t 😢
Hey buddy, good to hear from you after so long. I am so sorry to hear this year has been so bad. I am in no position to give any advice, but I have had a couple of years very, very rough and very dark in the past too and all I can say is that light always shines brightest in the dark. The wonderful thing about time is that it heals everything, and I know that it is probably something hard to consider and accept now, but in time, everything swings back to normal. Again, I am in no position to judge how badly both mentally and physically it has affected you having such bad period, but when you hit the bottom, the only way is up. It’s great that you got something to focus on, trust me, it helped me to have an activity to hold on to that helped me getting out of bed and eventually dragged me onto a more positive mindset. From then on it was a steady improvement. I just hope 2023 will be a better year for you, I am sure it will be!! Remember, just as you are what you eat, the same applies to everything in life. Surround yourself with positive people, positive activities, and so on and it will be a massive help, I tell you this from experience!
GOD be with you!
Really good video and very informative. I use the Mini 2 but I realise it’s limitations compared to the Mini 3 Pro. However, I also use the Pocket 2 and really enjoyed your video tips on using that. I’m holding out and hoping the Pocket 3 appears soon! Do you intend getting it and making some videos on using it? That would be great!
100% that I will get the pocket 3 when it comes out and will do a series of videos about it. I love the pocket 2 and I really hope DJI does something nice and special with the P3…
what's the point of antenna, FCC or video for the spotter if in europe you should fly in LOS?? you should have always direct line of sight with the drone and as you mentioned at 100m distance is already not visible (and should have not gone so far as it is illegal)
I wonder about that too…
Thank you for a great review Samuel. I do have a few DJI drones as I use them for commercial work but never owned a DJI Mini so this was helpful to watch. Just wanted to point out about the Portrait feature, as this was also available on the original Mavic Pro but was later removed on the newer Mavic drones.
Thanks for the feedback and glad you found it helpful! I think the mini3 pro is a drone that will keep people from wanting or needing an upgrade every year. It is such a good drone (not perfect though) that even if it takes DJI 2 years to release a mini4 pro, nobody is going to scream about, I think…
I live in Canada and the reason I sold this toy is that is exactly what it is .. the wind here tossed this drone around all the time the sensor small so your video and photos dont hold up unless its just a hobby for u ..I have tested the rth fuction over 30 times and its rare it can land at the home point... and the big one loss of transmiswsion signal happens alot ...for a beginner this drone is good because you need no license and have very few restrictions ....but again less restrictions more problems withj newbie pilots ...hopefully dji will fix the bugs and the vlos law with include mini3 pro safety first ...cheers
Sounds like your area is not ideal at all for a mini3 small size…
Mini3 Pro is a good drone but it is no where near DJI AIR 2S. If you are afraid of you will break regulations, then get Mini3 Pro. But if you want performance and robust connection that never fails, go for AIR 2S. Wind resistance, fast climb rate and decent, 1 inch sensor and Master Shots and much more, Air 2S is a beast. Mini3 Pro is over priced for what it can offer. The biggest drawback is its poor connection with the controller. Connection drops if you go slightly far.
Air 2s has too better obstacle avoidance too!
True, but the Air2s falls in over 250g regulations and there is a reason why an under 250g is a very popular rA ge of drones, because as you know, they have different requirements and regulations….
Look at the river water! How dirty it is.
City rivers, I’m afraid… but a lot of that is to do with the reflection of the mud underwater. The Thames isn’t the deepest river, so it is a mix of dirt and mud. But I agree, far from the ideal image we all have of a clean river. For example. It is a health hazard to swim in the Thames. That should give you an indication… 🫤
You are inspiring me! ScenicVideosByDave
Thanks for such a nice comment! Trying my best!!
I was a bit puzzled by this video. I would love to do drone shots around Tower Bridge but I thought Central London was all restricted airspace?
Not all of it. Most of the very centre es restricted air space but you can apply for permission to fly to the relevant organisation (NATS) and inform port authority if you plan to fly over the Thames river. However, there are a lot of areas that are not restricted air space and you can totally fly without the need to apply. You always need to report to port authority if you plan to fly over the Thames though. I would recommend you download the app called “drone assist” as that is what I and many people use and will give you all the info you need, preflight reports and so on.
East of Tower bridge up to Canary Wharf is not restricted airspace. West of Tower Bridge is restricted air space and you need permission from NATS to fly. And then inform ports and also the police, which you should do anyway whether in or outside restricted airspace.
well there are still rules that tells you cannot fly in city, over people etc not matter the sub 250g, the only difference is that you dont need to register... it might be different where you live
Here regulations are different than where you live. It would be nice if it was worldwide standard, wouldn’t it?
@@SamuelSotiega sure would... :)
Thanks for the video. For me personally, I have had the mini 2 since it came out. The upgrade from the original mini was worth the cost. The benefits of upgrading to the mini 3 from the 2 are not. I'll stick with what I have.
The mini2 is still a great drone too! Let’s hope the mini 4 when it comes out next year or the following will live up to the expectations!!
Same for me. I use Litchi for control when I need Waypoints, etc. on my MINI II. I don't see any need for an upgrade as the MINI 2 has all the same capabiilities....and thus far Litchi can't be used with MINI 3 until DJI releases the info needed for Litchi to add it to the list of drones they can control. The addition of the MINI 2 happened very recently so expect it will take at least a year 1/2 before that capability is added. Other than that the obstacle avoidance is useless to me.
I still fly with mini2 but may upgrade eventually have you checked out new rules in pipeline, You have to be able to see yourself not with the controller which way your drone is facing even in the dark without strobe lights.
Yes, I am aware of the new clarification on VLOS. For any experienced pilot it is all the same. They just finally clarified what they mean by VLOS. I don’t usually fly too far off from where I am so I know at all times where the drone is, where is pointing at. So even if someone was to ask me right then and there ai would be able to tell them. Or you can just press RTH and say it is pointing in your direction, as it does when it is heading back to you. In my opinion, as long as you use common sense, follow regulations and don’t do anything stupid, nothing changes.
@@SamuelSotiega Like idea of just pressing rth and saying yes its pointing to me nice, Altough when I fly on deserted beaches well that's a different matter if you know what I mean?
@@tonyrobinson362 true, but I can guarantee you’re not gonna have a copper to rock up from behind your back to demand that info right then and there. You get where I’m going? 😊😉
People would talk about how quiet the mini 2 was aswell. People would say 50 feet up and you can't hear it 😅. When i got it and tested i could hear it 5 to 600 feet up and 1000 feet away. I dont beleive claims of how quiet these drones are now but this one does seem like it has a lower pitch sound so it prob sounds a bit less like a giant bee.
I don't know about other models but trust me on this, it's not silent, but dramatically lower pitch than the average drone, for sure.
I have noticed that the lights on this drone turn off when you are filming. I looked for a way to keep them on but have not found it. There should be a way to keep them on. Please let me know if you know how to keep the color lights on while filming. Thanks for sharing.
I would love to know a way to do that too!! Having lights is so important… I can understand they are off while flying if they mess up with the camera and create glaring/flaring, but when not filming, they should be bright and easy to spot…
I have a strobe for both my upgraded batteries & helps daytime flights also
only thing is i wish ...wish it would go back to to the 35mm type lenses of the older drones i feel 24mm is OK but would be far more cinimatic to do 35mm i think a nice balance but oh well i mean you get more in the frame and all but yeah :-p
Or if they could release a longer lens adaptor, just as they do with the ultra-wide. But in all fairness, most drone shots at this level are wide establishing (not all, but the majority) so it kinda makes sense to have a wider field of view...
I'm new thinking about my first, is the mini 3 pro a good place to start? I was looking at a 3 but I'm reading the pro is worth upgrading to.
trust me, the mini 3 pro is the business and you won't regret it. Buy cheap buy twice. Get this and you will be happy for years. Best droine for a beginner, absolutely.
I wish the DJI RC would preform better.
I tested it couple of times and so far i got max distance 1.7km away from me before i strted losing video signal.
Range is pretty bad in populated areas
Can I ask how you got permission to fly in London?
For restricted airspace, you need to apply to NATS and also if flying over the thames river, inform port authority and the police on the day of filming. London has many parts which are not restricted so you just need to follow regulations for under 250g drones when in those areas, and also, this is optional but highly recommended, inform the police of your flying, time and area, as well as inform port authority if flying over the thames river. It requires a bit of planning and thinking…
@@SamuelSotiega thanks for that , I didn’t try to fly in London because of the regulations but this is helpful to know how it can be done.
I recently bought my first us$160 drone to learn how to fly. You get what you pay for and of course I crashed a few times and burnt a couple of motors and stripped the plastic reduction gears. My question is, can you buy spare parts for the DJI? Is not a cheap product and you don't want to throw it away because a burnt motor or stuff like that.
The question you need to ask yourself, is the investment in a vastly better drone and camera worth it for you. Because this is how you need to look at this. It is an investment in your video, content creation, filmmaking career, whatever that is. This is a great drone and in the under 250g range, it is the best there is. Only you can decide if this is enough justification to buy it. You can always wait for the mini4 but that could be this year or next year, who knows. If it gets damaged you can send it to DJI for repairs or a local drone shop. I am not skilled to that level so if I ever get a drone damaged, I send it back to DJI, just for peace of mind. But that is just me, you might have a different set of skills and know more about that than me. Ultimately you need to look at it not just as a purchase, but as an investment, and decide based on that. Again, this is just my opinion…
I started out with less than DJI drones, probably $2000 spent on fly always & such.calibration was always new challenges too.when you go DJI you won't regret it bc they nearly fly themselves by comparison!
I always get fly more with Care Refresh
@@keithstewart7514 you can say it louder but not clearer! 👍🙂
@@keithstewart7514 I guess all depends on what is your interest. For me, buying all the components, putting the whole thing together and learning all the programming and stuff like that is more interesting than buying a nice drone.
Can you do continuous Zooming with the Right Scroll Wheel with the RC controller. I can NOT with the Mavic 3 classic and the RC controller.
My experience is, yes, smooth. But I am filming tomorrow with it and will double check again for you. I don’t usually do zooming though in a shot, so reach out to me in a couple of days if I haven’t got back to you on this, please.
@@SamuelSotiega Thanks, I am thinking whether that scroll wheel works or not depends on what drone your using.
How do you get better zoom. Guess it needs a new camera.
Optical zooming might be something you’ll never see in this line of dji drones. You need really good lenses and also larger to do that and because it needs to stay below 250g, that might just be too much to handle… But you never know these days!!
Great video. I notice, you are flying in central London a lot. Do you require any extra permissions to fly in the areas you have? Or does this drone fall within the regulations of it?
London has restricted and non-restricted airspace. Most of the iconic sites and central, central London falls within restricted airspace. You need to request permission here nsf.nats.aero/ and allow for 10-14 days for a reply and any back and forth in case they need further clarification. So planning is essential. You need to decide which of the 3 main restricted zones you want to fly in R157, R158 or R159. If you plan to fly over the Thames river you need to inform ports authority and provide a risk assesment. Link here www.pla.co.uk/Safety/Use-of-drones/unmanned-aerial-vehicles-UAVs. But outside those zones you can fly, still need to inform ports if flying over the Thames. Other than that, inform the police when and where you plan to fly. You don't want to start a scare because someone confuses a friendly drone with something less friendly....I hope this is helpful! Maybe I should do a video about this one day...
Corrubedo!!!
Viva Corrubedo!!
Hi Samuel, how did you manage to fly in London?
To fly within the 3 zones classed as restricted airspace in London, you need to apply to NATS and also if flying over the thames river, inform port authority and the police on the day of filming. Do not dare flying without permission because you can get into serious trouble and central London is full of CCTV cameras and signal scanners. London has many parts which are not restricted so you just need to follow regulations for under 250g drones when in those areas, and also, this is optional but highly recommended, inform the police of your flying, time and area, as well as inform port authority if flying over the thames river. It requires a bit of planning and thinking…
@@SamuelSotiega ok great, thank you 👍
@@SwitzeroRider download an app called drone assist and it will show you all the areas that are and aren’t restricted. That’s what I use. Bear in mind there is an area that covers all of London, the whole thing, but it is for helicopters. You need to look at the smaller areas.
pls reply bro
which is better air 2s vs mini 3 pro in performance and worthiness
Gosh, it is not as simple as that. There is merit for each drone. For me, flying in London as a congested urban city landscape, having an under 250g drone is very important because with an over 250g regulations are very different and what you can do and how is very different. If this is not relevant to you. Maybe the air 2S is a better option. Camera wise is slightly better, but you don’t get the benefits of an under 250g drone. You need to do the research and decide what works for you, what you plan to do with it and so on. Only you can arrive to that conclusion….
Hello Samuel, great video! Just one question... I am a beginner looking forward to purchase my first drone.. is dji mini 2 enough for recreational use and simple social media posts or shall I still prefer dji mini 3 especially for its obstacle avoidance or the portrait mode.. because the range is not something that i really care about anything else that's should be a deal breaker for me..?
I've heard the old RC support 3rd party apps as well using which i can use features like active track on dji mini 2 as well..
Also, any other things to consider?
Having used both mini2 and mini3, I can tell you the mini3 runs circles around the mini2 in every aspect. Image quality is also a huge upgrade from 8bit to 10bit in the mini3 and you can see that in low light situations. If you can stretch it, get the mini3, trust me you won’t be disappointed, I am so certain of that. It will last you for years and you will be very happy. The obstacle avoidance front and back sensors are a massive improvement too. So many things really. The perfect drone doesn’t exist and you could spend years waiting for a drone that has it all, and by then you might not want it. If you won’t be using or needing a spotter, as I do, the combo with the RC controller is amazing. But in the UK you won’t be able to fly under FCC because the RC controller is a closed package where you can’t install anything unless DJI allows it. With the RC1N you use your phone so you get more flexibility, but you lose the comfort of the RC controller screen and built-in combo solution. Unless you need those two things, I’d recommend the RC controller combo, you will be so, so happy.
Nice video. I have the drone since it came out and although all the recent firmware updates are great (controlling sharpness and noise reduction is awesome), I have a very frustrating experience with it. I'm in Europe and the range is atrocious ! In cities, don't even think about it. You lose signal so quickly it is unuseable. In countryside it's a bit better but nothing to write home about. Not even as good as the mini 2. The wind resistance is oubviously not as good (but that's inherent to the weight of the drone, so i dont blame it) as the dji air 2s. You feel more confident with a bigger drone.
And last but not least, my biggest gripe maybe and nobody talks about it : the colors. The d cinelike profile has a major orange tint issue. Oranges are nuclear (beaches, roofs...) and are polluting every other colors. It's very hard to correct. I tried with a color chart in da vinci and still it is very difficult to get accurate colors and to remove this orange tint all over the image. The colors seem not as rich as with the air 2s. Something weird's going on here. Dji should fix it. It's like they tried to implement the obnoxious orange teal look as the base look of the drone.
I also feel the range in city landscape is atrocious. I can hardly ever get more thn 500-600m and that is at a push, which is frustrating because sometimes that great shot means you need to fly away a bit more, or fly around and suddenly you lose connectiona and off it goes.... It drives me nuts.
I'm which country are the both of you that you can fly outside of vlos?
When my m3pro had orange issues I turned anti-flicker to Off or low. Low at sundown sure highlights the glow of the nights light...
@@keithstewart7514 oh I'd never thought of that ! Thanks so much, can't wait to try it out ! I'm out on the sea side during holiday and I took my color chart to give the drone another chance. Sadly I still have major range issues, even past 200 meters sometimes... and there isn't much to block the signal (just a few houses and a relatively low altitude flight is enough). I tried to take a few photos and the colors are a lot richer I feel which makes it frustrating video wise (i almost only take videos usually). And for the range I'll try to check on the internet if there are workarounds. Maybe play with 2.4 or 5 ghz... anyway, first thing tomorrow, try antiflicker off !
@@Exarion251 France
I will stick to my amazing mini 2 which I really love. For me if you take care it is the ultimate drone. I can't think of a thing I would change on it. But I treat it like a baby it has it's own case and is checked before and after every flight. It does everything it say's on the tin.
And that is great. I really mean that. If some equipment just works. There is no need to rush for an upgrade every year. It sounds like you know what you’re doing and that, ultimately, is all that matter.
1:03: When you said "You can fly over people" I had to pause and let you know that I instantly thought: Did this guy just say that? No way you are a licensed operator. And if you are, with such a light attitude about it, your license should probably be revoked.
Thanks for chipping in. I did leave a pinned comment about this but you probably didn't see it. Flying regulations in the UK (and in most countries) for
Is it confirmed it records at 10 bit color? I've seen other videos where they complain about it being 8bit only
Well, it is and it isn't. Davinci Resolve picks it up as 10 bit and you could be fooled to think it is proper 10 bit but it is 10-bit H265 or H264 codec, depending what you choose. You'll probably say, naah, that is not 10 bit (if you expect proress 422 HQ or similar). But it is definitely better tha 8 bit H265 or H264 of you record in normal color space. I hope this makes sense....
@@SamuelSotiega It does, thanks for the clarification
air 2s wind comment - not correct. I do love the quiet factor though - that is huge!
Thanks for the comment. Well, if you go to DJI’s website, it is advertised as the same wind resistance as the air 2S. I know it is hard to believe but it is there in black and white…
@@SamuelSotiega they lied to you - her eis what nobody tells you about Mini 3 pro (i agree it is a very nice drone - but not in wind)
Air 2s Wind Resistance 30-38 mph (Level 8) Mini 3 23.9 mph (Level 5)
Air 2s Max Speed (Sport Mode) 42 mph (68.4 km/h ) Mini 3 35.8 mph (57.6 km/h )
Lowlight is a plus over the mini 2 😮
Massive plus, among many other thing! 👍
What flight range do you get within the city? in Europe. in ce mode?
It all depends on the area or city you film. In Central London I get 600-800m max and that’s about it. The further you go from densely populated areas, obviously the longer/bigger the range. Basically I try to get my shots (City centre/ central London) within a 500m distance range. Now, if you fly over a river you might get a bit more range but you also need to consider the massive amount of signal scrambling around due to the large populated areas, and also, some areas or spots have signal jamming or scramblers (military/ police/ secret service/ security zones). Basically, 500-600m usually is stable and reliable, from there on is a bit of a lottery based on many factors…
If you fly in areas where you feel like one of the characteristics is missing (you say restricted areas with multiple team members involved), I'd say you need to upgrade to a more suitable drone. The mini 3 is still a consumer, leisure drone, not pro equipment.
The whole review and criticism is based on the inadequacy of your use for the material. It's not a pro/certified aircraft. It's aimed at the hobby market who is not allowed/supposed to fly blos, at night, in restricted areas. It's like a car towing company criticising a hatchback for not being good at towing 3 ton cars...
You have a valid point but I would also add that a lot of professionals use it becUse of its
Great video… its sounds to me like i made a great decision buying that drone
you have indeed!!! It is a great drone.
Just to be clear, you are Not allowed to fly over crowds even with a sub 250g drone.
Please see pinned comment and also i clearly say you need to follow rules and regulations. But yes, you are right, unless authorise to do so, prior permit request (which is very, very difficult to get approved if not impossible)
@@SamuelSotiega you clearly say in the video you can fly over crowds. Which is not the case.
@@stevepuddifoot8117 I did, I am not saying I didn’t. Like I said in my previous comment, read the pinned comment I left about this.
@@SamuelSotiega I'm using the apps in both and android device and a firestick, I have no way of seeing comments on the firestick, and in the android app I have no idea how to view a pinned comment.
@@realitywave he's in the UK
Urban I can get 2.5KM and rurally I've got 7K, that was on old old firmware so I will hopefully get even more now. I wonder how you are flying, are you increasing alt to keep signal, and you pointing at drone, high vantage point etc etc? I've tried a few mini3 pro's now (as I had fogging on 2 so they were placed. Every one of them got the ranges I am talking about. Ps, and this is on the weaker CE. You didn't mention still image photography in this RV, or did I miss it?
I was filming for my next video out today or tomorrrow over the weekend at the river Thames. Controller pointing to the drone, I was at ground level, I could hardly get 600m or there about before the drone became unresponsive or lost signal. What do you mean by urban? I film in London, that is what I class as urban. Big city with loads of signals and interfereances. Maybe urban to you means something else? Please let me know.,,, If you get that raneg on CE, I am buffled as to how you can get them , but there is always an exception to every rules, I guess... You must be a lucky one or your drone is on steroids!! 😄...
@Samuel Sotiega urban I mean city...but smaller than London. The height of London vuildings will cause huge interference. You'd have to fly at 500m to get a good signal which I'd illegal of course. Luckily I am more concerned about rural...because I have no real interest photographing buildings in cities etc
@@stevenrobinsonpictures then yes, it makes sense that you get a much stronger and wider range….
@@stevenrobinsonpictures I live in a smaller city in the UK, so if the drone only gets 600m I'm laughing as most of the architecture I would want would be within that range, but I would also be going out into the country side as well.
@UHDGamers 2015 fair play. Remember RC is very sensitive to position. Literally tilting the controller slightly can give you a full signal back. Also flying slower when further out improves signal as the drone isn't as tilted on its axis.
In Europe check drone tweaks for fcc there’s no problems
I am aware of them. But their “tweak” get overwritten every time DJI pushes through a firmware update, doesn’t it?
@@SamuelSotiega DJI pushes the firmware thru which Google play mess up, on iOS theres no any probs atall
Just don’t fly it out of direct line of sight! I got signal loss at less than 100metres away because the signal was blocked by trees 🌲. The drone is suppose to either return home or hover and a third thing no one mentions, it can land. Well mine did the latter which it thought was grass but the grass was bordered by a low cactus shrub and the propeller got caught in the 6 inch high cactus succulent and it ripped it’s arm from the socket/body.
Trees and radio waves/ signals donlt go hand in hand. If you are surrounded by tress the range will be severely diminished. I am so sorry to hear that you had such a nasty incident....
@@SamuelSotiega I was a Day 5 novice who got a little bit over confident in my garden! Thank you for your reply and also this informative video review. I am looking forward to receiving my new replacement and once bitten twice shy 🙈 I will never do that again!
muito bom
Thanks! 🙏
Worrying about spending $700 on a drone as if it is a life or death decision is a major waste of your time.
Either do it or don't and move on with your life.
That is a fair comment if you have plenty to spare, but not everybody will fiund themselves in your situation, so $700-900 can be a fair investment if you have a family, dependants, etc. The only thing I can say and keep repeating is that the mini 3 pro, as an investment, is worth it, dear but worth it.
@Samuel Sotiega then they should not consider blowing any money on something that contributes nothing to their primary responsibilities. 😀
@@graphguy you don’t know that. I do respect your opinion and to some extent you have a very valid argument but at the same time, I think you might be projecting your own circumstances to every man or woman out there. You can never assume you know the million and one possibilities. Bottom line is, if someone buys this drone aiming to up their game, improve on what they have (or don’t have) or whatever other angle, it will be worth the money they pay for. And that, ultimately, is what really matters, in my opinion 🙂. But I also agree with you on the fact that if you need to overstretch to get this, best not to do so. There will always be version 4, 5 and so on…
Do people recommend and use propeller guards??
I can't see a reason why you would need them if you fly using common sense. I think they give you a false sense of security. I guess if you fly indoors they can be helpful, certainly would, but you need to be fully aware they will push the weight over 250g, if that matters to you....
@@SamuelSotiega thank you makes sense!
That you cannot upgrade the antennae on the transmitter says much. First, it says DJI and the insurance companies are in bed together. Second, it says that you don't own your transmitter outright; you don't have DJI's permission to mod it - they can even brick it at their whim. This is a big issue for a lot of people. Do you really own your tech or are the companies merely leasing it to you without your knowledge or approval?
Well… Think this from the insurance company’s point of view. They insure equipment as sold. On the basis of trust with a manufacturer and their safety checks, based on legal regulations in place. That layer of trust goes a bit murky when you open up the equipment and decide to make “improvements” yourself. Because the insurance trusts the manufacturer to do these mods, not the end user. To me that makes perfect sense. Now, imagine there is an accident, the insurance company has then all the right in the world to question whether it happened because the user tampered with the controller. Would that accident happen if the user hadn’t tampered with the controller, etc. Those are perfectly legit questions, in my opinion. At that point it is down to the insurance company to decide whether you broke their terms and conditions of their policy cover. I am sure no insurance company promote, encourage or even allow the end user to modify equipment, especially equipment that flies and can cause bodily harm or even death in an extreme situation. Does it make sense? The insurance company is also a business, just like any other. They have their terms and conditions, just like any other business, and if you break them, well, they are in their right to withdraw their policy. That is also perfectly logical. Unfortunately most people only find this out at the time of making a claim, and obviously it is a nasty surprise, but just as you don’t second guess any other business enforcing their T&Cs, you should also apply the same standard to an insurance company. That’s why it pays to read the small print, whether you or even I do it, that’s another matter! 😄
@@SamuelSotiega I've heard what you're saying, many many times, but I still find that I think that stance is much too corporate, and it reads more as an apologetic than an explanation. That's my take. You may differ. Happy skies to you regardless.
@@billmcdonald4335 I can see your angle. The thing is that many years ago I worked for a rental company for film and TV at a senior level for a good few years and was in charge, among many other things, of doing and handling insurance claims. I must have done over 25-30 over the years, some small, some large, some very large and a couple outrageously large. Ranging from breakages, theft, accidents, you name it. I have some experience dealing with insurance companies in relation to film/ video equipment. I just shared my views based on my own experience... My experience is that they follow the small print to the letter. I might be wrong, maybe my experience and opinion is skewed, but I also believe that it is best to be safe than sorry... But at the end of the day, in the grand scheme of things I am nobody. Who cares about what I say, people will always do whatever they feel like and deal with the consequences if/ when they happen. Personally, because of what I have experienced, i tend to be on the cutious side of the fence 🧐
@@SamuelSotiega I tend to be cautious by nature, as are many, many other qualified people who lack 'certification.' It's a racket; I can be certified in one region, yet not in another - in the same country. This applies to many 'specialties.' Just coz you got your ticket and you're using issue kit means nothing. You can run it perfectly and something will eff up, regardless. It's the nature of anything. Insurance companies go too far, as do some industries. It chokes innovation, among other things. I see what you say, but my angle is more about corporate control of the individuals' ability to take properly-calculated risks. Anyone who would hire someone who appears slap-dash is an idiot in the first place; a con will bilk you anyways. It's balanced too much in favour of the companies, in my left-wing, but humble, opinion. There's plenty of people who can work micro-electronics quite competently without DJI or anyone else holding their hand. It irks me that the corporate bean-counters assume we're all incompetent, irresponsible hazards to navigation. We're bloody well not. Just a thought. . .
@@billmcdonald4335 deep thinking dude! You have a very valid point…
You don't need ND filters at all that is nonsense. You aren't filming for the big screen and the average person can't tell the difference between slow and high shutter speeds in a video but even more important you can't grab stills from the video if the shutter speed is too low. This is bad advice I see all the time on these youtube videos all copying each other.
There is nothing wrong with the SD slot, it is the same type as virtually every other drone and RC item on the market. The only issue I've got with the Mini 3 Pro is that you can't load Litchi on the controller. I agree about the range. I fly a Mini 3 Pro every single day the weather allows and I've never gotten over 2km with it except once on a perfect day from a high hill I got 3km but it was very dodgy with signal fading in and out.
The thing is that what works for me might not necessarily work for someone else so it is always good to hear other people’s views. Thanks for chipping in. I agree, not being able to install 3rd party apps in a bummer…
"Don't do anything stupid." This sounds easy and obvious, but roughly half of all people are genuinely, pathologically stupid. Stupid things are all one should realistically expect from them. On top of the pathologically stupid, add the inconsiderate, the distracted, and artists. That's most people doing incredibly stupid things, most of the time they're awake! Those silica gel drying packets labelled "NOT FOOD" say more about people than they do about anything else. "Hot coffee is served hot." Nice review, btw.
Thanks for the feedback and glad you enjoyed it! So much in life would be avoided if we just stopped and think for just 10 seconds…
Air2s is far superior in the wind you’re crazy if you think differently
If you look on DJI’s website, you’ll notice they advertise both drones to have the same wind resistance… But ultimately what matters is that this drone is great handling wind. This is not a pissing contest, if you feel or believe the Air2S is better, then great. If you fly a mini3 pro, you’ll be impressed how well it handles wind.
800 m is a good distance I think
In my opinion, more than enough!! In all fairness, you hardly ever need to go that far….
@@SamuelSotiega I’m 58 and have no vlos at that distance. Unless it was a deer. Lol
@@thomasgodfrey2014 nobody has a VLOs at that distance, specially with such tiny drone!
Way too expensive. From $500 (min 2) to well over double the price. The batteries itself is crazy expensive.
I agree on the price, but it is what it is and if you use it regularly, overtime, it will pay by itself. If you get just one single paying job you’ll make the money back. Quality as a whole is brilliant. Don’t get me wrong, I wish it was $300, but sometimes things are just not meant to be and you’ve got to bite your lips and go for it. At a personal level, it has been a brilliant addition to my kit.
@@SamuelSotiega I’m a videographer. I do mostly weddings, and funerals. Aerial accounts for about 10%, mostly establishing and ending shots. The Mini 2 at 4K 30 fps is doing just fine, with absolutely no complaints from my boss, and/or customers. It has well paid itself off, and continues to make profits. Thanks for your advice, but until the Mini 2 becomes obsolete, I will continue to use it, or wait for the Mini 4, by then it will not only pay for itself and the 4, but at the same time make a huge profit. Thanks again.
Really....you can fly over people without propeller guards?
In the UK regulations do not require them.