Significant upgrade for beginners: We tested the new DJI skimmer

Excellent photo quality, long flight time and a smart remote that saves the need for a smartphone: DJI's new compact glider comes with a technological package that does not embarrass even professional gliders.

We took it for review - and were surprised

Yinon Ben Shoshan

03/06/2022

Friday, 03 June 2022, 10:00 Updated: 10:14

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Photography with the DJI Mini 3 Pro (Yinon Ben Shoshan)

The world's largest glider maker DJI recently launched the DJI Mini 3 Pro (RC), its compact glider - and we've been privileged to fly it for the past two weeks, just before it hits the shelves.

The DJI Mini 3 Pro (RC) is equipped with quite a few advanced capabilities of its big brothers, and provides good value for money (NIS 3,899 imported by Banda) - including a built-in 5.5-inch screen that saves the need to use a smartphone.

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Equipped with quite a few advanced capabilities of its big brothers.

DJI Mini 3 Pro (Photo: Walla! Technology, Yinon Ben-Shoshan)

ID

The DJI Mini 3 Pro (RC) is positioned below the Mavic Air, the basic folding glider for beginners, and priced accordingly.

When folded, it fits snugly in any bag, and is easy to move around.

Weighing 249 grams makes it particularly comfortable to carry and does not require a license or registration in most countries.

It has a declared flight range of up to 3 km, flight time of up to 47 minutes (under laboratory conditions and optimal conditions). The reason for the relatively limited range of Air is its transmission method: it is controlled by WiFi connectivity instead of frequencies. Traditional radio, like its big brothers.The

model we tested, the Mini 3 Pro (RC), unlike the cheap models, comes with a remote control that includes a 5.5-inch integral screen with Full HD resolution that reaches an average brightness of 1000 nits. Outside the house when shaded details are automatically brightened even under direct sunlight.

Weighing 249 grams, it makes it especially comfortable to carry and does not require a license or registration in most countries (Photo: Walla! Technology, Yinon Ben-Shoshan)

Essay

The initial connection process is a bit long and will require you to activate the skimmer's smart control controller (the joystick), update the software (which includes updating maps and flight areas) - plus a few clicks on the skimmer.

In short, do not rely on opening the box and start flying immediately and allow the process to take at least 10 minutes.

What else should you know?

In areas where flying is prohibited, the map will not allow you to fly the glider more than 50-60 meters above the ground, and before the initial flight you should learn the buttons, the menus in the user interface and the various shooting modes.

From experience: it will save you time and worry when the glider is at high altitude.

Further details on the website can be found on the website of the Civil Aviation Authority (here).

Weighing 249 grams, it makes it especially comfortable to carry and does not require a license (Photo: Walla! Technology, Yinon Ben-Shoshan)

Photo

We came to the most surprising point in DJI's compact glider: when I reviewed the first generation of the glider about two and a half years ago, and was then called the DJI Mavic Mini, the individual that most disappointed me was the poor photo quality.

Promised 2K and I got burnt and slightly grained videos.

, but first some dry details: the sensor itself takes 48-megapixel images with support for 4K video shooting at 60 frames per second.

In the slow motion shooting option, he shoots at Full HD resolution at 120 frames per second.

As with all other expensive Chinese glider skimmers, the DJI Mini Pro 3 is equipped with a 3-axis image stabilizer (gimbal), which as expected manages to provide a particularly stable video - even in strong winds at high altitudes.

In addition, you can shoot videos lengthwise - for reels, story or ticking - by rotating the camera lens.

So the quality of photography?

Given its price and size the results are phenomenal - except in cases of poor lighting, the videos came out in excellent quality with no jitter, deficits or involuntary displacements.

The sensor also coped great with direct sunlight and did not burn the areas that suffered from overexposure.

However, the still images look like more photos taken from a standard smartphone.

Not amazing, but also not disappointing: Photo with the DJI Mini 3 Pro (Photo: Walla! Technology, Yinon Ben-Shoshan)

The stills look like more photos taken from a standard smartphone.

Tel Aviv from above (Photo: Walla! Technology, Yinon Ben-Shoshan)

You can also shoot along:

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A post shared by Inon Ben Shushan (@inon_ben_shushan)

Battery control and time

Despite its tiny size, the Mini Pro 3 comes with a variety of features that do not embarrass even more professional and expensive skimmers, with the ability to handle wind gusts: it has larger propellers, aerodynamic body tilt, advanced obstacle avoidance sensors and the FocusTrack - Allows you to track the object.

With the release of the glider into the air it hums like a flock of wasps, and despite its small size it maintains stability even in relatively strong winds.

In normal mode it flies at a speed of about 25-30 km / h, while in sport mode it is able to reach a speed of about 65 km / h - but is not suitable for beginner pilots and higher battery consumption.

Another flight mode is called Cinema, and maintains a smoother and gentler movement of the lens, while flying more relaxed.

Another button worth getting to know is Home, which will return the glider automatically using the built-in GPS.

Equipped with a 3-axis image stabilizer, which as expected manages to provide a particularly stable video.

The DJI Mini 3 Pro (Photo: Walla! Technology, Yinon Ben-Shoshan)

As mentioned, the tiny glider is equipped with obstacle sensors that are supposed to prevent a painful collision (in the pocket, mostly) - and do a decent job.

During our test, the glider elegantly and easily bypassed trees, light poles and power cables, and "threw" itself aside in a rather thoughtful way, even in a traffic-tracking mode (FocusTrack) that works in a simply phenomenal way.

As we wrote above, the flight time of the new glider was significantly extended to 47 minutes instead of 34 minutes in the second generation.

However, in practice I was able to get to just over half an hour of flying in optimal conditions, with very little wind.

The solution for those who want more flying time - buy more batteries.

The glider's flight time was significantly extended to 47 minutes instead of 34 minutes in the second generation (Photo: Walla! Technology, Yinon Ben-Shoshan)

Smart sign - and huge

Unlike the other remote controls in the category that hold a smartphone, the smart remote comes with a large and clear built-in screen (5.5 inches) that allows you to watch perfectly what the glider's camera captures.

Another feature we liked is the shutter button (yes, that sounds silly but definitely requested) which is located at the top right of the remote and upgrades the user experience.

The grip on the remote is comfortable and the buttons are quite clear (it takes a bit to get used to the directions, as with any product).

We also liked the option of disassembling the joystick sticks and storing them in a designated place in the body of the remote control, along with the option of programming two buttons, C1 and C2, which are located on the back of the remote control, and choosing which operation to perform.

5.5-inch large, clear built-in screen (Photo: Walla! Technology, Yinon Ben-Shoshan)

Another feature we liked is the photo button (Photo: Walla! Technology, Yinon Ben-Shoshan)

Bottom line

The DJI Mini 3 Pro (RC) offers a great package for amateur pilots who want to get into the field, and are tired of cheap gliders from AliExpress that provide reasonable photo quality at best - and crash suddenly at worst.

It provides excellent photo quality, great control and a more than wonderful experience.

On the other hand, the slightly expensive price (NIS 3,900) does not suit every pocket, and it may be possible to settle for a version with the standard sign for NIS 3,400.

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