Just a quick heads up that I’ve posted a full DJI Mini 4 Pro Beginners Guide, that takes you from start to finish with the drone, including virtually all the features and how they work in real life. The previous edition of this beginners guide, for the Mini 3 Pro, has garnered some 1.3 million views – one of the most popular videos I’ve done on YouTube to date.
The video has YouTube chapters in it, making it easy to find the section you’re most interested in. You can access those chapters along the bottom of the video player, or using all the links below:
0:00 Quick Overview & Intro
0:54 Remote Controller & Battery Options
4:16 Drone Hardware (Gimbal, Sensors, Basics)
6:17 Pre-Takeoff Critical Items
9:38 Taking off & Flying Basics
14:44 Obstacle Avoidance Explainer
16:30 Video Modes Explainer
17:56 Slow-Mo Options
19:01 Gimbal Usage
20:33 Custom Video Settings
21:40 Vertical Video/Photo Options
22:55 Zoom Options
24:14 Photo Modes – Part 1
25:12 Low Battery Warnings/RTH
27:13 Photo Modes – Part 2
29:22 QuickShots Usage
30:37 MasterShots
32:34 Hyperlapse Feature
35:47 Waypoints
39:46 Spotlight & POI Modes
41:04 Durability Demonstration
42:40 Active Track 360 (Follow-Me)
48:13 Sport Mode (Fast Flying)
49:35 Hand-Catching A Drone
50:50 Gallery and Downloading
53:40 Wrap-Up
With that – thanks for watching.
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I was waiting for this video…
Thank You!!
Is there a trick to these batteries. I have the fly more kit and if I charge overnight and place the battery right into the drone I get a full charge, but if I let them sit in the case for a few days the best I get out of any of the 3 is 3/4.
DJI Mini batteries (and similar for larger drones) discharge INTENTIONALLY to 96% after idle one day and to approximately 60% within 9 days to protect the battery life, evidently holding a full charge for a length period of time can damage the batteries.
Do you think it is worth going for this over the Mini 3 pro?
Generally yes, if for no other reason that you’re less likely to kill it, given the obstacle avoidance sensors.
How much would you discount? The mini 3 pro is discounted to 699 EUR in France (with the fancy remote with the screen) which is a lot less than mini pro 4. (I think around 999 EUR with the screen although the fly more option comes to “only 1149”.
Not really expecting an answer. Love the blog. Long time reader (10+years back to forerunner610 days) first time commenting.
Are you talking Mini 3 or Mini 3 Pro? For $300, and if you only have a passing interest in drones, the Mini 3 Pro is fantastic. But I wouldn’t save $300 for the Mini 3 (which lacks much of the Mini 3 Pro’s best features).
@DC Rainmaker
Hey Ray!
Thanks for the guide! I got a final question and you may be one of the only persons to know this:
Can the drone follow me (active track?) me when I ride uphill on my MTB/Roadbike?
On the one hand I suggest no, because with the C0 classification it only can reach 120m above my starting point (so filming a 3.5k, 300m of elevation gain uphill) will not work? On the other hand I found 2 posts on the DJI Forum that said with active track the drone will follow me uphill and keep a certain height over ground….
Thanks
Bastian
So it’s funny, DJI has tweaked things a bit (a few times now), when it comes to the 120m above the starting point situation.
When the limitation was first introduced, it was a legit problem. Then they changed it. And then I believe they changed it again. I haven’t tried it again since October (when I was in Spain, and did indeed run into the issues then, but that was in the midst of the see-saw changes).
I’ll have to do some digging the next time I’m somewhere with hills (sadly, I don’t have any hill that I can gain the required 120m of elevation anywhere within many hours of driving from Amsterdam).
Sorry!
Thx for the quick reply.
I could test it : will fly to the Algarve next week (that’s a really nice alternative to Spain! I really can recommend!)
Sadly I don’t have the drone and I don’t wanna buy one too test.
So I’ll have to wait for your test then 😀
Thank you for the video! Just to double check, can the mini 4 pro follow me downwards in altitude during a decsent when skiing? Given that speed and obstacles are fine. I understand that upwards during an ascend is now fine to 500m, correct? Many thanks for clarifying. /Pontus
What a great, easy to follow guide. Being a new drone user, I would have struggled for a long long time without this.
Thank you.
A fantastic, easy to follow site.
As a new drone user I would have struggled without it.
Thank you.
Dear DCR.
I am very grateful for your beginners guide to the DJI Mini 4 Pro.
Thank you!
I have watched the youtube video, in full and parts, a number of times to learn how to do things with my drone.
I would definitely have struggled without your tutorial because it was much easier to follow and understand than most other on-line content, particularly when you are closer to 80 than 70.
Furthermore, members of my family have joined in with watching aspects of your video such as the “drone run-over incident with the bike”. Everyone thinks you handled it brilliantly, and we were all very impressed that you remained so calm when half of your expensive gear rolled towards the canal!
We also respected your approach to making sure that the drone did not interfere with the privacy of other people such as the boat skipper.
I wish I could say that I have watched the videos attached to your youtube but that’s the power of DuckDuckGo – it strips out the adverts!
Also, I’m very unlikely to buy anything via Amazon with the link from your video because I’m actually about three times older than you, if not more, and there’s not much more that I need in life!
However, your kind efforts cannot go without some form of reciprocal arrangement, otherwise I’m likely to feel a bit guilty!
So quid pro quo, here’s what I can offer in exchange for your kind efforts on the Mini 4 Pro:
1. My wife makes a very mean celery soup. The recipe is yours for the asking.
2. I know you’re a bit physical but if you are in any way interested in music I can provide a really easy transposition chart.
3. I know a lot about motorhomes/campingcars/campers and would be delighted to sare my experience.
In the meantime, thank you so much for your information and entertainment.
Keep up the good work!
T