I’m really stuck between three main DJI models: Mini Pro 4, Air 3S, and Mavic Pro. The Mini 4 is appealing because of its price, but its low-light performance is not great and it only has one camera. Plus, I live in a very windy area (Ireland), so that doesn’t help my decision. The Air 3S seems like a good balance – two cameras, better wind resistance, and a mid-range price. But it’s bigger and harder to carry around. Finally, the Mavic Pro has great camera quality with excellent dynamic range, and the price isn’t too bad on eBay. But the software seems outdated, which makes me hesitate. What would you recommend for someone like me who’s weighing these three? Price isn’t the main factor; it’s more about video quality, portability, and features. I also don’t live in the UK, so there are extra regulations to think about for flying here.
This is a common question on this forum! You might want to check out the weekly thread where people share their drone recommendations. I’m sure you’ll find some helpful insights there.
If you’re flying in areas where the 250g legal limit matters, that could be a big factor to think about. You might want to consider the original Mavic 3, which has a great wide and telephoto camera at a similar price to the Air 3S. But if you’re not too concerned about that, the Mini 4 Pro could give you flexibility, especially if you’re okay with carrying a little more weight. If budget’s not an issue, I’d probably go for the Mini 4 Pro and then upgrade to a Mavic 4 when it’s released. The Mavic 4 should be coming out soon.
If you’re into production work, you might want to look at the Inspire 3. It’s a beast for filming!
I use a Mini 2 for fun shots, an Air 2S for general media and smaller mapping jobs, and a Mavic 3 Enterprise RTK for commercial work. I would recommend the Air 3S because it’s likely to get a software update soon, which will open up more features like mapping. This is why I picked the Air 2S over the Mini 3 Pro a while back, and I’ve been happy with that choice.
I love my Mavic 3 Pro because of the 3x telephoto camera and the wind resistance. But if I were to buy again, I’d probably get the Air 3 or 3S instead. The Air 3 has mostly the same camera and it’s much cheaper. Plus, the Air 3S supports OcuSync 4, so the controller won’t become outdated as quickly. I also like my Mini 3 Pro for portability, but honestly, that’s not something I use often enough to make it my go-to choice.
I don’t really have one go-to model. Each drone I have serves a different purpose. My Mavic 2 Pro is for stable shots, I use a Neo for category 1 flights, I’ve got an FPV for high-performance acrobatics, and the Avata 2 is great for regular acrobatic flights.
@Olin
The Mavic 2 Pro is still a solid choice, even with all the newer Mavic 3 models out now. I use mine for riskier shots, like flying near water, vegetation, or places with a lot of birds. For more precise work, the Mavic 3 Enterprise is great. It’s the best in its price range for close-up work. For big industrial stuff, the M350 is unbeatable – it’s built to handle heavier winds and is even somewhat waterproof. For pro-level work, nothing beats the Inspire 3. The Mavic 3 Cine does ProRes, but it’s just not the same quality. Plus, clients will notice the difference when you show up with an Inspire 3!
If you’re in a windy area, you should consider the Ruko F11GIM2. It’s built for handling wind better than most drones. Check it out here: https://www.extremefliers.com/drone-for-windy-conditions/.