Drone choices

Author
Discussion

BabySharkDooDooDooDooDooDoo

Original Poster:

15,078 posts

175 months

Saturday 7th May 2022
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Hi everyone. I’m thinking of getting back into drone videography (just basic stuff) and I’m considering the DJI Mavic Air (original) or Mini 2 (both combo).

Main differences seem to be the weight categories and the Mini 2 can fly for an extra 10 minutes. Is there much else to consider?

Cheers!

Tycho

11,823 posts

279 months

Saturday 7th May 2022
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I have the original Mavic Mini and love it but be aware that there is a new one due out soon which looks very good.

https://www.pocket-lint.com/drones/news/dji/161029...


This might affect the current values of the mini 2.

BabySharkDooDooDooDooDooDoo

Original Poster:

15,078 posts

175 months

Sunday 8th May 2022
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I don’t think it’ll affect prices too much as the new mini 3 will be about £800 eek

slopes

39,871 posts

193 months

Monday 9th May 2022
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Stepson has the mini 2 and it’s great but he wants the Mini 3 Pro and if you go for the one with the bigger controller, it’s around the £1000 mark.
He gets some good pictures with his Mini 2 though and for me, the weight or lack of it, makes the Mini 2 the one to get and i’m looking at getting one later this month.

nigelpugh7

6,137 posts

196 months

Saturday 14th May 2022
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As commercial drone operators we are lucky that we have a wide variety of drone platforms to use, but they are all large units that can never be flown easily where there are lots of people or congested areas.

Sometimes a drone that is as small as the DJI mini series has a great advantage in just being able to really use it easily in most places.

It’s for that reason that we have ordered two of the new DJI mini 3 models, which we are hoping will be delivered next Tuesday.

It’s been a massively hyped and leaked launch, we all pretty much knew the exact specifications months ago.

For such a lightweight drone it has a fantastic wide range of features, but as with all DJI products the price has crept up alarmingly, we still can’t bring ourselves to spend over £4K on the new Mavic 3 Cine, a £4k budget goes a long way to fund a very advanced payload for one of our M300 drones, which will pay for it self in just a few jobs, so the budget is better spent on that type of investment.

I will do a quick review of the mini 3 when we get them, so have a look out, I will post my initial thoughts here too!

Byker28i

65,914 posts

223 months

Saturday 14th May 2022
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I've got a mini 2, brilliant and bought so I can fly it anywhere. Easy to carry, I often slip in into the backpack when ever we're walking as an additional option for photos.
The new Mini 3 with collision avoidance and tracking looks great

nigelpugh7

6,137 posts

196 months

Tuesday 17th May 2022
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So my Mini 3 will be delivered today from The great team at Drone Safe Store.

Mini 3 seems to be selling like hot cakes, and sold out everywhere now too.

These are the pics of the hundreds of units being loaded onto a van that the DSR guys had to hire in order to ship so many units to the DPD distribution centre!





Despite owning many many other drones we are excited to receive this new little addition to the fleet today !

nigelpugh7

6,137 posts

196 months

Tuesday 17th May 2022
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Here’s our DJI Mini 3 delivered today.





Not had chance to fly it yet though!

GetCarter

29,552 posts

285 months

Wednesday 18th May 2022
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Hey Nigel, does it take stills in RAW?

Ta.

nigelpugh7

6,137 posts

196 months

Wednesday 18th May 2022
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GetCarter said:
Hey Nigel, does it take stills in RAW?

Ta.
It sure does Steve, I’ve not tried them yet, only did the first flight this morning at 06:00 before heading to london on the train.

This is just a jpg straight out of the drone.

Sorry won’t upload on this poor train Wi-Fi, will try later!

Davie_GLA

6,643 posts

205 months

Saturday 21st May 2022
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I’m hovering over buying. It’s the same price from DJI direct albeit without the free SD card.

nigelpugh7

6,137 posts

196 months

Saturday 21st May 2022
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Davie_GLA said:
I’m hovering over buying. It’s the same price from DJI direct albeit without the free SD card.
I think the DJI direct deliveries are now going to be end of June.

DSR are saying that they have a next big batch coming soon, so if you want one I would recommend DSR.


Bacardi

2,235 posts

282 months

Saturday 21st May 2022
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Hi Nigel, so according to your pics you went for the RC controller, but didn’t you have some problem getting it to work with the drone (I think you posted something on the MP3 FB group)?

Also, I know it’s early days, but have you had any disconnects, range anxiety issues?

Simpo Two

86,682 posts

271 months

Saturday 21st May 2022
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Davie_GLA said:
I’m hovering over buying
Very good!

Davie_GLA

6,643 posts

205 months

Saturday 21st May 2022
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Simpo Two said:
Very good!
getmecoat

nigelpugh7

6,137 posts

196 months

Sunday 22nd May 2022
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Bacardi said:
Hi Nigel, so according to your pics you went for the RC controller, but didn’t you have some problem getting it to work with the drone (I think you posted something on the MP3 FB group)?

Also, I know it’s early days, but have you had any disconnects, range anxiety issues?
Yes chap I did indeed get the one with the RC controller and it’s fabulous too!

And yes you are correct ( you psycho stalker!) my post on the groups was actually about the issues with the quick transfer mode from drone to IPhone and or Android phones.

We have sorted it now though, it’s an undocumented issue with DJI not updating their apps on the Google play store.

All sorted and working now.


nigelpugh7

6,137 posts

196 months

Sunday 22nd May 2022
quotequote all
Bacardi said:
Hi Nigel, so according to your pics you went for the RC controller, but didn’t you have some problem getting it to work with the drone (I think you posted something on the MP3 FB group)?

Also, I know it’s early days, but have you had any disconnects, range anxiety issues?
And to answer your question re range issues, no not had any so far but only used it a handful of times and have not been more than a few hundred metres out as far as distance is concerned with no signal issues at all.

The only thing we have noticed is it does get very hot if you leave it turned on and sat on the Floor not flying.

The temp issue seems to go away when flying though, probably due to airflow over the drone intake and outake Vents.

Davie_GLA

6,643 posts

205 months

Sunday 22nd May 2022
quotequote all
nigelpugh7 said:
Yes chap I did indeed get the one with the RC controller and it’s fabulous too!

And yes you are correct ( you psycho stalker!) my post on the groups was actually about the issues with the quick transfer mode from drone to IPhone and or Android phones.

We have sorted it now though, it’s an undocumented issue with DJI not updating their apps on the Google play store.

All sorted and working now.

You think that is stalking. Take part in the secret Santa. This lot are scary!!

Davie_GLA

6,643 posts

205 months

Sunday 22nd May 2022
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What’s the FB group? I looked but they are all,American, scammers, Russian or Russian scammers pretending to be American.

nigelpugh7

6,137 posts

196 months

Monday 23rd May 2022
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Davie_GLA said:
What’s the FB group? I looked but they are all,American, scammers, Russian or Russian scammers pretending to be American.
It’s the DJI Mini 3 Facebook Group.

Look for the name jasper ellens, then you have got the correct one.