Hey everyone, I’m new to DJI drones and looking for a reasonably priced one to use for Part 107 gigs. A lot of recommendations point to the Mini 4 Pro, but I don’t know if I can realistically come up with $2,500…
Is there a solid, more affordable option that still offers good video quality? Would it be suitable for filming real estate footage without any issues?
Also, is buying used from Facebook Marketplace or eBay a good idea?
Oh, and one more thing (sorry )—FPV drones look like they might be easier to control. Is it worth looking into?
It really depends on what you consider ‘affordable’ and what features you actually need. Cheaper drones will always have trade-offs—it’s just a matter of what you’re willing to give up.
Lately, there have been deals for the Mini 3 at around $200, which is an amazing price. But if you’re doing commercial work, it might be worth spending a little more.
@Pace
The Mini 3 is a solid drone for most people. I got one a few months ago, but honestly, I kind of wish I had gone for the Mini 4 Pro or the Air 3 instead. I originally bought it just for fun, but now I’m starting to want more features… plus my friend got me interested in FPV drones.
Now I’m debating between a Mavic 3 Pro, an Air 3, or just diving into FPV for fun.
@Cypress
What features are you looking for? Some third-party apps like DroneLink or Litchi might be able to give your Mini 3 some of the functions you want.
@Cypress
Honestly, if you’re considering the Mavic 3 Pro, I’d rethink that. The Mavic 3 Classic or the Air 3 would be a better debate, especially if you’re budget-conscious.
I’ve been flying the Mavic 3 Classic for over a year now, and I’ve only wished I had the Pro version maybe five times. Both drones are amazing, but the Mavic 3 Pro is probably overkill unless you really need those extra features.
Funny enough, out of all my drones, my Mini 3 is the only one that has actually made me money—it’s not as high-quality as the others, but it gets the job done.
If I were you, I’d get the Mini 4 Pro, some 512GB micro SD cards, ND filters, and the pro flight batteries.
Technically, the Mini 4 is under the weight limit where you’d need a license, but the bigger batteries push it over… though, let’s be real, no one’s checking that, lol.
I’d also grab a DJI Pocket 3 for ground footage. With both of these, you’d have everything you need for solid 4K video—drone for wide establishing shots, Pocket 3 for handheld b-roll. I have bigger cameras, but honestly, this is what I use most now.
I’d recommend the Mini 4 Pro for beginners. I started with a Mini 3, but the feature gaps made me upgrade to a Mavic 3, and I haven’t looked back. If I had started with the Mini 4 Pro, I probably wouldn’t have even needed to upgrade.
As for FPV, I love my Avata 2.
Both the Mini 4 Pro and Avata 2 have solid video quality, no complaints there. If your budget is around $2,500, you could probably get a Fly More combo for both, or at least get pretty close.
Kim said: @Emerson
There’s no such thing as a ‘Mini 4K Pro.’ You’re either talking about the Mini 4K or the Mini 4 Pro—two completely different drones.
)—FPV drones look like they might be easier to control. Is it worth looking into?