Drone Review: DJI Mini 3
Why I wanted to buy a drone?
Drones have always been on the radar for me as the footage you can achive with them is something that many companys desire, especially if they have a large amount of land or a park to show off. It can also spark some personal creativity and increase the value of the content we're able to provide.
Why the DJI Mini 3?
As I had never flown a drone before, I needed something that is simple enough to fly and have good enough camera quality for client work whilst being within a reasonable budget (in case I hit a tree!). Many cheaper drones don't have the flight features nor the camera quality to be used professionally. The DJI Mini 3 has smart flight features such as Return to Home, so if the connection is lost between the drone and the remoted control, it will automatically flight back to the location that it began it's flight. The camera can record 4k footage which is perfect for the high quality video we love to produce and the built in gimbal keeps the camera stable while it's flying so I can get super smooth shots. It's extremely lightweight at only 249 grams, making it exempt from many UK flying regulations, therefore I'm not required to have a full drone license in order to use it. It has the Quickshots feature which are pre-programmed flight paths to get unique shots that would be difficult to fly manually as a beginner drone pilot, so you can get those interesting shots without having to put in the flight hours!
My experience with the drone?
Since receiving the DJI Mini 3, my experience has been nothing but great! For a beginner drone, it's perfect, the price point is very reasonable for a drone with it's features. I was incredibly nervous for my first flight and I think Jas was just as nervous as I was! I flew it over the top of our house and across our garden, moving it as slowly as I possibly could out of fear of messing something up. After a few flights however, my confidence began to grow, flying became easier and the shots that came out of it were smoother. Flying the drone is now much more enjoyable as the nerves of using it have died down and I can focus on getting an interesting shot, instead of worrying I'm going to hit something.
Will I upgrade in the future?
Absolutely, whilst the Mini 3 is great, there are still some features missing that I would quite like, such as 4k 60fps. the Mini 3 can only shoot 4k 30fps. More flight features and obstacle avoidance would always be welcomed, better battery life, increased wind resistance, larger camera sensor etc. But as someone who hadn't piloted a drone before, I couldn't go wrong with the price and features of the Mini 3. If I was to upgrade, I would remain with DJI as they are the best in the business when it comes to consumer drones. I think I would go with something in the Mavic range, they have all the features I currently desire in a drone, maybe a Mavic Pro, once I can justify it!
Conclusion
The DJI Mini 3 is a fantastic little drone for beginners. If you're looking to get into flying drones for professional work or just for fun then it's a great place to start without breaking the bank. It's combination of high-quality camera capabilities, portability and user-friendly features makes it stand out in its class.