Drones started as a pretty niche tool, regimented only really to professional videographers or hobbyists with a deep wallet. Now? They’re not exactly free, but they have certainly been making some alternatives which are much more affordable. DJI has a miniature 4K drone that can work great as an entry-level option for folks looking to get into the hobby. Normally it sells for only $299, but Amazon actually has it right now at a pretty steep discount. The 23% off deal ends up bringing it down to just $229, saving you a good $70 for a limited time.
Beginner-Friendly Drone
The DJI Mini 4K knows full-well it will likely be someone’s very first drone, and that comes through pretty clearly in its design. The drone lets you take off and land with just a single tap of the finger. Just prese and hold the takeoff or landing icon and the Mini 4K will automatically do the rest. If you venture out a little too far as the battery gets low, it can be triggered to return back to it’s take off location on its own so it doesn’t, you know, just drop out of the air on you.
You can even take some high-quality cinematic recordings using preset shot types that also only take a button press. Dronie will pull back at an incline while keeping the subject centered. Helix lifts into the air while rotating around the subject. Rocket fires the drone straight up while angling the camera down, still holding the subject in the center of frame as it rises. Circle keeps it at a consistent altitude as it revolves around its subject. Boomerang is similar to the helix shot except it also returns as the name implies. Then panorama will capture a wide-angle view with a spherical effect that you can pan around in later when editing.
DJI has equipped the beginner drone with GNSS, downward vision, and infrared sensing systems which together ensure the Mini 4K is able to hover stably in place in the air until you move it in a direction or select a shot type. While it’s up there, it can transmit HD transmission of the video feed up to 10km away.
The DJI Mini 4K has a maximum flight time of 31 minutes using a single battery, while two batteries will get you up to 62 minutes and three at 93 minutes.
Within the DJI Fly app, you can find a number of instructional videos that can help you become a better drone pilot. Additionally, you can use it to stay informed about the best nearby fly spots in your area along with help you keep tabs on any local restrictions.