Give your leisure videos a little altitude? With its new Mini 3, the firm DJI wants to help us take care of our images and offers a rather accessible drone, easy to use, which allows, without necessarily being a skilled pilot, to immortalize photos and videos of “pro” quality seen of the sky. Available in different versions*, with or without radio control, the Mini 3 handed us the blades, we who dreamed of gaining a little height at the start of the year…
Not Tom Cruise yet, but we’re working on it…
Let it be said: it is as pure amateurs that we tested the new DJI Mini 3 drone! Although having taken control of various small quadcopters on several occasions, we are not (or not yet) part of the family Top Gun: Maverick at the controls of this kind of machine! Failing to take us for Tom Cruise, this lack of practice has an asset. Without total control of our machine, we are able to know if the device that DJI claims as addressing the greatest number keeps its promises. We tested the Mini 3 in its so-called “Fly More” version. Sold for 938 euros, it includes the drone, its radio control with DJI RC screen, three batteries and their charger. But the Mini 3 is also available alone (to be controlled from a smartphone) and sold from 489 euros.
Well-accompanied flights
Resembling the Mini 3 Pro, the Mini 3 gets used to after a few minutes. For our tests, we took care to fly without taking the slightest risk in open spaces, in open fields and by the sea. Weighing only 249 grams, the device escapes the restrictive European regulations imposed on heavier drones (from 800 g). Thus, a tolerance exists if it has to fly over people (with the exception of groups).
Immediate observation: the device is very quiet. For their part, the proposed automations help to get started quickly and convincingly. In addition to taking off with a simple press of the radio control screen, DJI supports the user with modes called QuickShots, to be triggered in flight. Functions Dronie (flight backwards and upwards with the objective fixed on the pilot); Spiral (camera spirals around subject); Rocket (the device mounts the camera facing down), or Boomrang (the drone flies around a subject with an oval trajectory) instantly help to achieve very beautiful images. Too bad there is no SlowMotion mode, like on the Mavic 3 Pro!
Please note, the Mini 3 does not have internal memory to store photos and videos. We recommend that you pair it with a microSD card of at least 128 GB. It will allow you to film freely and widely: the first steps of a drone pilot generate a lot of rushes that must then be sorted!
Up to 57 km/h in Sport mode
Filming up to 4K at 30 frames/second with the possibility of 2x digital zoom (4x in Full HD), and taking photos in 12 megapixels, the Mini 3 quickly imposes its relative ease of use. The three movement speeds (Normal, Cinema, Sport) will be modulated according to the user’s insurance. Displaying 57 km/h on the clock, the Sport mode thus makes it possible to record quite breathtaking videos, but it is better to have acquired a few hours of driving before challenging yourself! We noted during our tests by the sea a rather good resistance of the drone to the wind (up to 38 km/h).
Filming for Tik Tok
The images delivered, with automatic HDR and f/1.7 fixed focal length, do not suffer from any real flaws, except in low light where the sharpness is quickly lacking. The stabilization is really impeccable! Do not abuse the digital zoom which degrades the rendering a little. With its Mini 3, DJI also offers a new function thanks to which the camera can be oriented in Landscape mode but also Portrait. Fans of Tik Tok and its vertical videos (in 9:16 format) will appreciate.
Storage on microSD card requires, the rushes made can be simply transferred to a computer. Alternative: a wireless download, from the radio control to a smartphone, thanks to the DJI Fly application. This then offers various possibilities for automated assembly. By choosing your model, you can thus obtain clips of 10 to 30 seconds weighted with perfect sequences and ideal soundtracks (the Mini 3 films, but does not record any sound). And you can share them instantly on social networks!
On landing, there is enough to be quickly satisfied with the results obtained. With the Mini 3, it is thus possible to immortalize quite impressive sequences. Enough to make videos of weekends in the countryside or unforgettable holidays… But by regularly scaring yourself when you start. Fear of making a wrong move and crash. Fear of losing the device by going too far (it can fly up to 6 km away!), etc. An RTH (Return To Home) button nevertheless makes it possible at any time to automate the return of the drone to its starting point. But the Mini 3 clearly lacks an obstacle detector to fly while being really serene. Still, the DJI Mini is a good investment if you want to have fun and create great video content. But on one condition: practice again and again to perfectly master your mount!
* 489 euros (drone only); 579 euros (with radio control without DJI RC-N1 screen); 749 euros (with radio control with DJI RC screen); 768 euros (with DJI RC-N1, bag, two additional batteries and charging station); 938 euros (with DJI RC, bag, two additional batteries and charging station).