Looking for a camera drone. Heard the Mini 4 Pro is a solid option for beginners. I’m in Western Canada, so I need something that can handle wind and cold but is still easy to travel with. Mostly, I want good battery life, a decent camera, and solid range without spending a fortune. Budget is around $1500 CAD, but I can stretch it a bit if needed.
Make sure to check out Canada’s drone laws. Anything 250g or heavier needs a stricter license. The Mini 4 Pro would be a great choice. But if you’re okay with getting the proper license, the Air 3S is worth considering.
@Presley
Yeah, I work in law. Canada has so much red tape for everything. Wanted to mention it in my post, but the bot flagged ‘law’ as a political term. Ridiculous.
Hartley said:
@Presley
Yeah, I work in law. Canada has so much red tape for everything. Wanted to mention it in my post, but the bot flagged ‘law’ as a political term. Ridiculous.
The Air 3S with the Fly More kit (RC2 included) is a great deal. Good weight for wind resistance and around 35 minutes of flight time. Have fun flying!
Might get downvoted for this, but despite what YouTube reviewers say, the Flip is actually amazing.
Marin said:
Might get downvoted for this, but despite what YouTube reviewers say, the Flip is actually amazing.
I wouldn’t downvote the Flip… but for $1500, he could probably get a NEO and a Mini 4 Pro. If not, he could go with a NEO and a 4K with a nice controller and have the best of both worlds! 
Plus, he could travel with both easily.
Mini 4 Pro checks all your boxes perfectly.
Aubrey said:
Mini 4 Pro checks all your boxes perfectly.
Honestly, the Mini 4 Pro is a great recommendation for pretty much anyone. Super solid drone.
I bought the Mini 4 Pro last summer. It’s great for beginners, but battery life could be better, and it struggles in high winds. You might want to get a combo pack with extra batteries. It’s really compact, which is both a pro and a con. Handles cold weather well since it uses induction cooling instead of fans.
@Skylar
Yeah, for $1500, he’d get three batteries, each lasting about 31 minutes. That’s a solid amount of flight time for someone who just wants to capture vacation shots. My Mini 4 Pro packs just as easily as my NEO.
I’d go with the Mini 4 Pro because it has full obstacle avoidance. Mavic and Air series are better, but they come with more rules. I think the Mini 4 Pro is rated for around 25mph winds (not sure on metric), and a lot of YouTubers have tested it in rougher conditions, and it still held up.
The Mini 4 Pro is hands down the best beginner drone.
Mini 4 Pro is a great all-around drone. Not the most powerful, but it does everything well. The best part? It’s under 250g, so you avoid a ton of registration and certification hassles.
I started with the Mini 3 Pro three years ago, and it’s still going strong. Handles ice fishing conditions and high winds. Being under 250g lets me use it in the city for roof inspections. If you get the Mini 4 Pro, it’ll last a long time. Always buy the newest model you can afford so you’re not upgrading too soon.
Get the DJI Air 3S. Awesome drone. Just got mine as my first, and I love it 
I wasn’t sure what I needed, so I started cheap. Got a NEO, had fun, then upgraded to a Mini 4K. Thought I’d want something fancier, but the 4K does everything I need. Maybe I’ll get something bigger later, but for now, I’m happy.
Screen controller and position light. That’s all I care about now.
The Air 2S is a hidden gem. Solid camera, handles wind better than the Mini 4 Pro, and you can get it pretty cheap now.
I live in Saskatchewan. The Mini 4 Pro gives a cold warning after a while in our winters. Wind and bad weather make it tough to fly here. Love the drone, but I don’t get much flying time. Hoping that changes in the summer.
I flew a Mini 2 in -43°C for 20 minutes with no issues, just some ice on the props. The Mini 4 Pro’s extra sensors and wires might not handle extreme cold as well.
For winter flying: Keep your batteries warm (around body temp) to extend their life. After flying, put the drone in its bag so it warms up slowly, avoiding moisture buildup in the lens.
I live in Spain, and it’s really windy where I am. I tested the Mini 4 Pro, and it struggled. Here, you need an online exam to fly drones in the C1 category. After passing it, I got the Air 3S. Great resistance, solid battery, and amazing cameras. Worth considering.