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Fujifilm Instax Pal review: a pocketful of fun
8:33 pm | September 29, 2023
Author: admin | Category: Cameras Computers Gadgets Instant Cameras | Tags: , , | Comments: Off

Fujifilm Instax Pal: Two-minute review

Today’s cameras are so good, and so serious, that it’s proved cathartic to review the Instax Pal, a camera that’s seriously enjoyable and no more. 

This fuss-free ball of fun – it's about the size of a golf ball, to give you an idea – is suitable for all ages, and the closest a camera can be to a digital pet; it lights up and emits a happy jingle when powered on, and a sad sound when inactivity sends it to sleep, while the compatible Instax Pal app gifts you digital rewards for your activity. Tamagotchi, eat your heart out.

As a self-respecting adult I didn’t fall for such blatant manipulation to motivate me to use the app (okay, I did). And you only have to make the Pal available to the whole family – which you can, because you don’t need to be precious about this low-cost snapper – to appreciate that it speaks to all ages. 

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Instax Pal app device pairing process on phone display, with white Fujifilm Instax Pal in the background

(Image credit: Future)
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White Fujifilm Instax Pal alongside smartphone with Instax Pal app on the display

(Image credit: Future)

This is an Instax camera that might actually be used day-to-day, and not stowed away in the cupboard once your film supply has run dry, as is so often my experience with analog Instax cameras. 

The Pal might well have the Instax name, but it’s not an instant camera as we know it. It’s a digital-only camera that fits better in the hand, printing via one of Fujifilm’s Instax Link printers, which come in ‘Mini’, ‘Square’ or ‘Wide’ formats; directly via a Bluetooth connection; or through the new Instax Pal app.

So while you don’t get the analog-only experience of traditional Instax cameras, which can be a wonderful remedy in this digital world we live in, you're more likely to take your tiny Pal with you everywhere, and you’ll also print your candid moments with one of Fujifilm’s portable Link printers more often than you would with a desktop printer. 

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White Fujifilm Instax Pal in the hand

(Image credit: Future)
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White Fujifilm Instax Pal in the hand with power button illuminated blue

(Image credit: Future)
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Underside of the White Fujifilm Instax Pal showing the tripod thread and photo mode switch

(Image credit: Future)
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White Fujifilm Instax Pal resting on the detachable ring on a wooden table

(Image credit: Future)
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White Fujifilm Instax Pal with detachable ring attached to the top

(Image credit: Future)

To me, the Pal feels like the best of both worlds; it’s a camera that’s not weighed down by a built-in a printer, while the shoot-to-print experience – either directly, or through the app – is seamless. 

You can print blind the old-school way, directly to a Link when the switch on the underside of the camera is set to ‘L’, or be selective via the convenient app, and not waste your expensive film by using the ‘F’ setting instead. That’s not the analog soul, but these days I’d rather have the control. 

I’m a big fan of Fujifilm’s Instax Link portable printers – and it was the Instax Square Link printer that really completed my Pal experience. You can also use this printer to print the higher-quality photos in your phone’s gallery using the relevant Link app.

The Pal doesn’t even have a screen on which to compose and view your ultra-wide angle snaps, like the Instax Mini Evo hybrid Instax does, and nor does it produce technically excellent image quality images – this is essentially a basic 2560 x 1920 pixel stills-only camera, clothed in cuteness.

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White Fujifilm Instax Pal in the hand with a white table in the background and harsh shadows

(Image credit: Future)
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The rear side of a white Fujifilm Instax Pal, in the hand, with a white table in the background and harsh shadows

(Image credit: Future)

As a camera, the Pal isn’t great. But what it does bring to the table is a fine-tuned experience with the app and printer, in colorful packaging for all to enjoy, and it has one or two surprises up its sleeve. 

Selfies and group shots are made easy via the self timer on the app, with the camera supported by the included detachable ring (that you’ll need as a kind of wrist strap if you don’t want to keep dropping the ball-like camera). The Pal even has a tripod thread that's compatible with small table-top tripods. 

Also, it was a real curveball to discover that the Pal is a discreet snapper; no one batted an eyelid as I took candid street photos around London with the Pal nestled into the palm of my hand (although the automatic fill-in flash caught me out a few times). 

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Digitized instant photo taken with the Fujifilm Instax SQ40 of DJ indoors in darkly lit bar

(Image credit: Future)
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Digitized instant photo taken with the Fujifilm Instax SQ40 of a London bar with person in motion blur walking past

(Image credit: Future)
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Digitized instant photo taken with the Fujifilm Instax SQ40 of DJ indoors in darkly lit bar

(Image credit: Future)
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Digitized instant photo taken with the Fujifilm Instax SQ40 of highrise buildings reflected in water

(Image credit: Future)
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Digitized instant photo taken with the Fujifilm Instax SQ40 of DJ indoors in darkly lit bar

(Image credit: Future)
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Digitized instant photo taken with the Fujifilm Instax SQ40 of selfie with two people on colorful backdrop

(Image credit: Future)
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Digitized instant photo taken with the Fujifilm Instax SQ40 of old building along a canal on sunny day

(Image credit: Future)
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Digitized instant photo taken with the Fujifilm Instax SQ40 of DJ indoors in darkly lit bar

(Image credit: Future)
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Digitized instant photo taken with the Fujifilm Instax SQ40 of London streets on a sunny day

(Image credit: Future)
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Digitized instant photo taken with the Fujifilm Instax SQ40 of old building along a canal on sunny day

(Image credit: Future)

Fujifilm has put a lot of thought into the new app, too. Automatically wiping photos from the 50-shot internal memory once they’ve been uploaded to the app is a smart move, while there’s also a micro SD card slot for those that want to double up on storing their photos. 

In-app images filters, basic edits, plus output to the various Instax Link printers cover your bases and ensure that you remain active, provided you don’t run out of paper. And the beauty is that when you do run out you can keep using your digital Pal until you top up your supply again. 

The Fujifilm Instax Pal is not one of the best instant cameras – it’s not even an instant camera, technically – and on paper it can’t compete with the Instax Mini Evo. However, sometimes you’ve just got to go with the feeling, and Pal gives all the feels. 

Ultimately, Pal isn’t a technically great camera, but it is one that I want to use more than most others, and that says a lot. 

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Blue Fujifilm Instax Pal on a white background

(Image credit: Fujifilm )
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Green Fujifilm Instax Pal on a white background

(Image credit: Fujifilm)
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White Fujifilm Instax Pal on a white background

(Image credit: Fujifilm)
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Pink Fujifilm Instax Pal on a white background

(Image credit: Fujifilm )
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Gem Black Fujifilm Instax Pal on a white background

(Image credit: Fujifilm)

Fujifilm Instax Pal: Price and release date

  • Available in the US, bundled with the Mini Link printer only, for $199.99
  • Available in the UK and Australia as the camera only, from £89.99 / AU$149

The Instax Pal is available in five exotically named colorways: Milky White, Powder Pink, Pistachio Green, Lavender Blue, and Gem Black. 

In the US the Instax Pal is bundled with the Instax Mini Link printer only, for $199, while in the UK and Australia you buy the camera separately, for £89.99 / AU$149 respectively (while the Gem Black version with a shiny, reflective surface costs £104.99 in the UK).

In the box you get a detachable ring that can act as a support to rest the Pal on, or slide onto the top as a 'viewfinder' (you don't need to do that), or, most helpfully, use as a kind of wrist strap.

As for the cost of paper, that depends on which format printer you're outputting to; Mini, Square, or Wide. Twin packs of 10 sheets of Instax Mini film start from $14.99 / £14.99 / AU$34.95

White Fujifilm Instax Pal in the hand with a white table in the background and harsh shadows

(Image credit: Future)

Fujifilm Instax Pal: Should I buy?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

White Fujifilm Instax Pal resting on the detachable ring on a wooden table

(Image credit: Future)

Fujifilm Instax Pal: also consider

If our Pal review has you interested in instant cameras, here are a couple of other options to consider...

Fujifilm Instax Pal: How I tested

  • All the family played with our new Pal
  • Printing directly to portable Link printer, and via the app

I had the Instax Pal in my pocket for over a week, and in my family home with two generations getting to grips with it. Throughout this time, I've became very familiar with the accompanying Instax Pal app, through which you can access most of the Pal’s functions. The camera device itself is super-simple, and I also operated it bypassing the app altogether and making direct-to-Link prints, for a more ‘authentic’ Instax experience. 

I’ve used the camera for family snaps, as a discreet street photography snapper, and for all-round every day moments. I played around with the in-app editor, and made lots of prints from the Instax Link Square printer, which is my favorite size of Instax print, collecting plenty of in-app rewards in the process. 

  • First reviewed September 2023
Sony FE 70-200mm F4 Macro G OSS II review: a superb multi-purpose tool
4:53 pm | September 28, 2023
Author: admin | Category: Camera Lenses Cameras Computers Gadgets | Comments: Off

Two-minute review

Sony’s 50th full-frame lens, the FE 70-200mm F4 G OSS II, is a comprehensive update of the (almost) 10-year-old Sony FE 70-200mm f/4 G OSS stalwart. It’s part of a recent wave of smaller and lighter second-gen Sony lenses, in this case, it's 15% smaller and lighter than its predecessor, weighing 794g / 28.1 oz, and measuring 149mm / 5.8in long. 

Lens size is a big deal when you shoot with Sony cameras – they are smaller than most and can feel off-balance with a big chunk of glass on the front. I paired the 70-200mm F4 II with the Sony A7C R, which is one of the best travel cameras, plus the crop-sensor Sony A6700 (with which the lens focal length is increased 1.5x), and both cameras proved an excellent fit with the lens. 

If this mark II version of the lens was only smaller and lighter it could be worth an upgrade for that reason alone, but it’s also the beneficiary of a total redesign, which has given it sharper image quality, faster autofocus and next level macro focusing. Yes, it’s smaller, lighter, sharper, quicker and more versatile than the original, and one of the best Sony lenses around.

Sony FE 70-200mm F4 Macro G OSS II lens in the hand attached to Sony A6700

(Image credit: Future)

The 70-200mm lens is already a versatile focal length – my own Nikon 70-200mm F2.8 G DSLR lens was my most-used lens for many years for portraits, weddings and events, and also proved to be an adept tool for sports, wildlife, landscape photography and more. Sony’s 70-200mm F4 II happily works in these fields, but also adds class-leading macro focusing capability, up to 0.5x magnification at any focal length, with a minimum focus distance of 0.26m / 0.86 ft at 70mm, and 0.42m / 1.38ft at 200mm.

Add the 2x teleconverter with an unchanged minimum focus distance and the macro capability is doubled to 1.0x magnification – that’s 1:1 life size. I’m generally not a fan of teleconverters; even the very best soften the image and can affect color rendering. In fact, you can see the minimum focus distance in action, plus the color shift of the same scene shot with and without Sony's 2x teleconverter, in the sample images below. In any case, the 0.5x magnification without teleconverter beats any other 70-200mm lens and adds another string to the bow of this versatile zoom lens. 

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Macro 0.5x magnification of a lego figure, made with the Sony FE 70-200mm F4 G OSS II lens

The maximum magnification is 0.5x at its minimum focus distance (Image credit: Future)
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Macro 1.0x magnification of a lego figure, made with the Sony FE 70-200mm F4 G OSS II lens and 2x teleconverter

With the 2x teleconverter attached, the maximum magnification is doubled to 1.0x (Image credit: Future)

This is also a well-made and complex lens, with customizable function buttons and no fewer than five switches covering features such as a focus range limiter (including a new macro setting), full-time direct manual focus, SteadyShot optical stabilization and a zoom-lock that fixes the lens in its closed position when not in use – otherwise the lens barrel extends when zooming. 

Sony also says its new linear XD focusing technology, comprising four ‘high-thrust’ focus motors, increases autofocus tracking precision, even while zooming, and ultimately achieves what is 20% faster focusing than in the 2014 version. 

Camera tech has moved on in the 10 years since the original 70-200mm F4, too, and when you use the 70-200mm F4 II’s new focusing skills with a Sony camera equipped with the latest Bionz X processor and AI-autofocus chip, focusing is super intelligent, quick and reliable. For this review, the 70-200mm F4 II and A7C R have given me lightning-quick and reliable autofocus for photos and smooth video autofocus. 

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Close up of Sony FE 70-200mm F4 Macro G OSS II lens zoom ring

(Image credit: Future)
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Close up of Sony FE 70-200mm F4 Macro G OSS II lens customizable AF button

(Image credit: Future)
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Close up of Sony FE 70-200mm F4 Macro G OSS II lens controls

(Image credit: Future)
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Close up of Sony FE 70-200mm F4 Macro G OSS II lens controls

(Image credit: Future)
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Close up of Sony FE 70-200mm F4 Macro G OSS II lens zoom ring

(Image credit: Future)
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Close up of Sony FE 70-200mm F4 Macro G OSS II lens controls

(Image credit: Future)
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Close up of Sony FE 70-200mm F4 Macro G OSS II lens nomencalture

(Image credit: Future)

Sony FE 70-200mm F4 Macro G OSS II: price and release date

The Sony FE 70-200mm F4 Macro G OSS II lens costs $1,699 / £1,749 / AU$2,699 and includes a lens hood and removable tripod collar. It was available from August 2023. That's an understandable price increase given the improvements in this second-gen model, somewhere between the F4 original version, and the current pro-level Sony FE 70-200mm F2.8 II version. 

Sony FE 70-200mm F4 Macro G OSS II: Image quality

An array of advanced aspherical and extra-low dispersion elements suppress lens distortion and render sharp detail, while the 9-blade aperture produces what Sony describes as ‘exquisite full-frame bokeh’. 

You can see from my self portrait below (taken remotely using the Sony Creators' app, at the lens' widest possible F4 aperture) that bokeh is smooth with no aberration or onion-ring distortion, while the shape at F4 is fairly round in the center of the frame, yet distinctly cat-eye in the corners. I’ve included cropped areas of the picture for a better look. 

If I were to take the exact same picture under identical conditions with Sony's 70-200mm F2.8 lens instead, or a prime lens with an even wider aperture, then bokeh would appear larger, and most likely even rounder. For an F4 lens, bokeh is actually very pleasant, but portrait specialists would choose an F2.8 or wider for that 'exquisite' bokeh.

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Outdoors telephoto portrait at the widest F4 aperture and 200mm focal length of the Sony FE 70-200mm F4 G OSS II lens

Portrait made with 200mm F4 lens settings, eye AF and using the Sony Creators' app remote shooting (Image credit: Future)
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Close crop to show bokeh in outdoors telephoto portrait at the widest F4 aperture and 200mm focal length of the Sony FE 70-200mm F4 G OSS II lens

Closeup of bokeh, cat-eye shaped in the corners, relatively circular in the middle (Image credit: Future)
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Close crop to show sharpnress in outdoors telephoto portrait at the widest F4 aperture and 200mm focal length of the Sony FE 70-200mm F4 G OSS II lens

Close up revealing sharp detail in the portait, at the F4 aperture (Image credit: Future)
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Backlit close up of a spider and web made with the Sony FE 70-200mm F4 G OSS II lens

(Image credit: Future)

Flare is also really well controlled in this backlit scene, and I’ve included a different macro photo of a spider and its web (in the same gallery) with stronger backlighting, and flare is mostly absent in that example, too. The included lens hood helps to reduce flare in these kind of scenarios.

A close look at the detail in the eye of the same self portrait reveals super-sharp detail, right where it matters. This single portrait photo alone displays many excellent attributes of what is an impressive telephoto zoom, paired with a reliable autofocus system in the latest Sony mirrorless camera.

Cast your eye over a wide range of photos, some of which are included in the gallery below to show the breadth of subjects you can capture, and it's clear the 70-200mm F4 II is a highly capable all-rounder. Image sharpness is maintained from the center to the edges of the frame, there's virtually no barrel or curvilinear distortion (the 70-200mm lens isn't known for either), and even in the corner of woodland photos with bright background light punctuating the tree cover, there's virtually no chromatic aberration. Put simply, there's very little fault to pick at in this excellent lens.

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Telephoto portrait in a crowd at an event made with the Sony FE 70-200mm F4 G OSS II lens

The 70-200mm lens is ideal for events photography especially at its telephoto setting (Image credit: Future)
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Telephoto wildlife photo of a duck in a canal, made with the Sony FE 70-200mm F4 G OSS II lens

You can get close enough to various wildlife at 200mm (Image credit: Future)
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Street vendor waiting for customers in multi-color food van, made with the Sony FE 70-200mm F4 G OSS II lens

(Image credit: Future)
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Flowers close up made with the Sony FE 70-200mm F4 G OSS II lens

The 70-200mm F4 G OSS II lens is great for closeup photography (Image credit: Future)
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Outdoors portrait made with the Sony FE 70-200mm F4 G OSS II lens

At 200mm, F4 provides an extremely shallow depth of field on a full-frame camera (Image credit: Future)
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Street photo in a grey modern London, made with the Sony FE 70-200mm F4 G OSS II lens

(Image credit: Future)
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Flowers close up, made with the Sony FE 70-200mm F4 G OSS II lens

The 70-200mm F4 G OSS II lens is great for closeup photography (Image credit: Future)

The image quality disparity between the pricier and heavier Sony FE 70-200mm F2.8 pro lens and this second-gen F4 model has diminished somewhat and arguably the choice isn’t about overall image quality anymore – or even depth of field, because the F4 aperture gives an extremely shallow depth of field with a full-frame camera. Instead, it comes down to whether or not you need the extra stop of light, or particularly big bokeh.

Personally, I regularly rely on the wider F2.8 aperture for events and wedding photography in particular, where light is often dim. However, that Sony F2.8 lens is much heavier, and if you mainly shoot in daylight and would prefer a travel-friendly lens, then the F4 II is a no brainer.

Overall, the second-gen 70-200mm F4 lens is notably better - and more versatile - than its predecessor in almost every regard. The sting is the costlier list price, although it’s worth the extra money if you want a lighter lens better balanced with your Sony camera, together with its refined image quality and closer focusing. 

Sony FE 70-200mm F4 Macro G OSS II lens in the hand attached to Sony A6700

(Image credit: Future)

Should I buy the Sony FE 70-200mm F4 Macro G OSS II lens?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

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Sony FE 70-200mm F4 Macro G OSS II lens in the hand attached to Sony A6700

(Image credit: Future)
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Sony FE 70-200mm F4 Macro G OSS II lens in the hand attached to Sony A6700

(Image credit: Future)
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Sony FE 70-200mm F4 Macro G OSS II lens attached to a Sony A6700

(Image credit: Future)

How I tested the Sony FE 70-200mm F4 Macro G OSS II lens

I've had my hands-on the Sony FE 70-200mm F4 lens on several occasions, for short and extended periods of time. I used it extensively while I was writing my Sony A7C R review, in a generous variety of scenarios that allowed me to fully test its capabilities. 

At a pre-launch event I was able to test its close-up photography opportunities with the 2x teleconverter that increases its maximum 0.5x magnification to 1.0x. I've also happily used the lens for macro shots without the teleconverter at my own leisure. 

It's been attached to the travel-friendly A7C R and A6700 cameras, making for an ideal size-match, and I've shot everything from portraits to landscapes with it, plus low light sequences that push the lens' AF motors. I've also used it for general travel photography, for which this lens is a lovely companion. 

First reviewed September 2023

DJI Mini 4 Pro review: minor update or serious upgrade?
4:01 pm | September 25, 2023
Author: admin | Category: Cameras Computers Drones Gadgets | Comments: Off

One-minute review

The arrival of the DJI Mini 3 Pro in May 2022 was a game-changer in the drone world, bringing more professional-friendly features to a sub-250g model that made it the best drone in its class by far. When I reviewed the DJI Mini 3 Pro, I was so impressed with its image quality, small size, light weight and features that I bought one myself. The DJI Mini 4 Pro builds on those qualities to become the new benchmark for what sub-250g drones can deliver.

One aspect of the Mini 4 Pro that can’t be ignored, though, is that despite being the closest Mini-series drone to the DJI Mavic 3 models and the DJI Air 3 in terms of flight and safety features, and some camera functionality, it’s more of an incremental update over the Mini 3 Pro than a radical upgrade; it looks remarkably similar, performs pretty much identically in flight, and even uses the same impressive 1/1.3-inch sensor. And for current Mini 3 Pro owners there could be a sense of frustration, as many of the camera upgrades could likely have been delivered via firmware updates.

This begs the question: if you’re a Mini 3 Pro owner, should you upgrade? And the simple if unhelpful answer is that only you can decide. The Mini 3 Pro remains a fantastic drone, despite not being quite as robustly featured as the Mini 4 Pro. But if you’re upgrading from an older model, or coming to the Mini series for the first time, the Mini 4 Pro is an excellent choice. Whether you’re a professional drone pilot using the Mini 4 Pro as a second drone who can benefit from the D-Log M video color consistency with your Mavic 3, or an enthusiast looking for something small and lightweight, the Mini 4 Pro is undoubtedly the best sub-250 g drone available.

DJI Mini 4 Pro: Release date and price

  • Available now, priced from $759 / £689 / AU$1,119
  • Two kits to choose from
  • Fly More Bundle offers value for money

The DJI Mini 4 Pro was announced on 25 September 2023, and is available to buy from the DJI Store and authorized retailers. It's available in two kit options, with the smart controller option also offered in a Fly More Bundle. And despite the impressive features on offer that set this new model apart from its predecessor, pricing is almost identical to the Mini 3 Pro at launch.

The DJI Mini 4 Pro (DJI RC-N2) kit costs $759 / £689 / AU$1,119, while the DJI Mini 4 Pro (DJI RC 2) kit costs $959 / £869 / AU$1,419. These kits include the drone, the relevant controller, one Intelligent Flight Battery, a pair of propellers, a Screwdriver, a DJI Mini 4 Pro Gimbal Protector, a DJI Mini 4 Pro Propeller Holder, and a Type-C to Type-C PD Cable. 

If you’d prefer better value and a host of useful accessories, a Fly More Bundle is available for the Mini 4 Pro (DJI RC 2). Although the obvious caveat here is that you have to opt for the more expensive controller. This kit option costs $1,099 / £1,149 / AU$1,699. In addition to the above, you also get two extra Intelligent Flight Batteries, two additional sets of propellers, a DJI Mini Shoulder Bag and the DJI Mini 4 Pro/Mini 3 Series Two-Way Charging Hub.

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DJI Mini 4 Pro folded showing top of drone

(Image credit: James Abbott)
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DJI Mini 4 Pro folded showing bottom

(Image credit: James Abbott)
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DJI Mini 4 Pro DJI RC 2 smart controller

(Image credit: James Abbott)
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DJI Mini 4 Pro DJI RC 2 smart controller

(Image credit: James Abbott)
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DJI Mini 4 Pro DJI RC 2 smart controller

(Image credit: James Abbott)
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DJI Mini 4 Pro rear of the DJI RC 2 smart controller

(Image credit: James Abbott)

DJI Mini 4 Pro: Design and controller

  • Small and lightweight folding design
  • Looks extremely similar to the Mini 3 Pro
  • Two controller options

DJI Mini-series drones need little introduction in terms of design these days. Alongside its highly portable and regulator-friendly diminutive size and weight, and folding design, the Mini 4 Pro looks very similar to the Mini 3 Pro, the main visual difference being the additional Omnidirectional Collision Avoidance sensors on the top of the airframe and an Auxiliary Light on the bottom.

Most of the upgrades are under the hood, so to speak, in the form of software and feature enhancements. Even the 12/48MP 1/1.3-inch sensor is the same as the Mini 3 Pro's, albeit with image processing upgrades, but that’s no bad thing, because it’s a fantastic sensor that's capable of producing excellent image quality despite its small size when compared to the sensors in flagship Mavic 3 prosumer models.

The new features on offer, which we’ll go into much more detail about later, make the Mini 4 Pro much closer to Mavic 3 models in terms of flight and video features. This is fantastic news for professional drone pilots looking for greater consistency in their workflow, while enthusiasts can simply enjoy an improved Mini Pro model.

Depending on your budget and needs, the Mini 4 Pro is available with two controller options: the DJI RC-N2, which features a telescopic phone holder and no screen, so you have to use a smartphone with it, and the DJI RC 2 smart controller. The DJI RC 2 features a 5.5-inch screen with 700-nit brightness, and provides a much more convenient flight experience with faster set-up times.

DJI Mini 4 Pro: Features and flight

  • Omnidirectional Collision Avoidance
  • ActiveTrack 360°
  • Advanced Return to Home

The Mini 4 Pro's flight times are almost identical to its predecessor's, with the same flight time that’s advertised at up to 34 minutes with the standard Intelligent Flight Battery; flight times typically come in at around 20-25 minutes until Return to Home is initiated at 20% battery, depending on how vigorously the drone is flown and environmental factors such as wind and temperature. There's also an Intelligent Flight Battery Plus, available separately, that increases flight times to an advertised duration of 46 minutes, but this takes the weight of the drone above 250g and isn’t available in Europe.

The most significant feature to arrive with the Mini 4 Pro is Omnidirectional Vision Sensing, which is Omnidirectional collision avoidance to you and me. This uses four fisheye vision sensors, downward binocular vision sensors, and a 3D ToF sensor that aid flight safety in complex environments. 

This system works well, and together with the Advanced Pilot Assistance Systems (APAS), it certainly provides confidence; the Bypass/Nifty mode allows you to fly through trees and even indoors, but you still have to take great care, and the DJI Fly app does warn of the risk. More confident and experienced pilots may find that flight is ultimately smoother with collision avoidance switched off, but this comes at the expense of a much greater risk of collision.

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DJI Mini 4 Pro from above

(Image credit: James Abbott)
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DJI Mini 4 Pro close up of camera

(Image credit: James Abbott)
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DJI Mini 4 Pro close up of camera and propeller arm

(Image credit: James Abbott)
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DJI Mini 4 Pro close up of collision avoidance sensor

(Image credit: James Abbott)
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DJI Mini 4 Pro close up of gimbal and bottom sensors

(Image credit: James Abbott)
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DJI Mini 4 Pro close up of battery inserted into the drone

(Image credit: James Abbott)
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DJI Mini 4 Pro carry bag

(Image credit: James Abbott)

Omnidirectional Vision Sensing also delivers a series of additional advanced features including ActiveTrack 360,° which is more reliable from a safety point of view and more effective than ActiveTrack on the Mini 3 Pro. Another feature is Advanced Return to Home, which incorporates Obstacle Avoidance into plotting the most efficient route back to the take-off point. So, from a safety and autonomous flight point of view, the Mini 4 Pro beats the Mini 3 Pro hands down.

Other features include Hyperlapse, MasterShots, Quickshots, Digital Zoom and QuickTransfer (of files to a phone without having to switch on the controller). Then there’s the LightCut app, which can be used to create AI-edited videos at the touch of a button. This is perfect for quick and easy video creation, although it's certainly not a professional tool. There’s also a Cruise Control feature, as on higher-end DJI drones, which can lock the drone in flight so that you don’t have to continue pushing the control sticks when performing a long maneuver.

DJI Mini 4 Pro: Image quality

  • Same sensor as the Mini 3 Pro
  • D-Log M color profile
  • New image processing technologies

The image quality produced by the Mini 4 Pro is impressive overall, and extremely similar – practically identical in most shooting modes – to the Mini 3 Pro. Both drones use the same 12/48MP 1/1.3-inch quad bayer sensor with large 2.4μm pixels that produces excellent 12MP results in low light, and up to 48MP high-resolution photos when the light is good – a similar approach to the iPhone 15. 

The camera itself can still be rotated 90 degrees for vertical shooting, and the gimbal can be tilted between -90 degrees and 60 degrees. There’s also a DJI ND filter pack for controlling shutter speed and a wide-angle lens attachment available to extend the field of view of the 24mm equivalent f/1.7 lens from 82.1 degrees to 100 degrees. There is some barrel distortion with this lens when shooting close-up, which naturally reduces with more distant subjects and scenes.

This all sounds extremely familiar; so what sets the Mini 4 Pro apart from its predecessor? Well, alongside the features we’ve already discussed, the camera upgrades appear to be software rather than hardware-based. While some do enhance and improve image quality in some modes, others focus purely on functionality, which has been extended. One such feature is the Night Mode, which optimizes noise handling when shooting video in low light.

Image 1 of 10

Photo of a river sluice taken with the DJI Mini 4 Pro

(Image credit: James Abbott)
Image 2 of 10

Photo of a river taken with the DJI Mini 4 Pro

(Image credit: James Abbott)
Image 3 of 10

Photo of the interior of a derelict building taken with the DJI Mini 4 Pro

(Image credit: James Abbott)
Image 4 of 10

Photo of a BMX track taken with the DJI Mini 4 Pro

(Image credit: James Abbott)
Image 5 of 10

Photo of a bridge and trees taken with the DJI Mini 4 Pro

(Image credit: James Abbott)
Image 6 of 10

Photo of an urban scene taken with the DJI Mini 4 Pro

(Image credit: James Abbott)
Image 7 of 10

Photo of graffiti under a bridge taken with the DJI Mini 4 Pro

(Image credit: James Abbott)
Image 8 of 10

Photo of the interior of a derelict building taken with the DJI Mini 4 Pro

(Image credit: James Abbott)
Image 9 of 10

Photo of farmland taken with the DJI Mini 4 Pro

(Image credit: James Abbott)
Image 10 of 10

Photo of the interior of a derelict building taken with the DJI Mini 4 Pro and the wide-angle lens attachment

(Image credit: James Abbott)

Video capture has been improved in several areas, with the introduction of 4K shooting up to 100fps for slow motion, while 1080p can be captured at up to 200fps. Video can be captured in Normal, HLG (HDR) and the flat D-Log M profile rather than D-Cinelike. D-Log M is available on Mavic 3 drones, and its inclusion in the Mini 4 Pro will undoubtedly provide greater consistency in professional workflows when a sub-250g drone is required. You can also now control the sharpness and noise reduction in video, which is a handy feature for more advanced users aiming for more cinematic-looking footage.

But even if you’re an enthusiast, having all of this functionality at your fingertips is fantastic, because it means you can grow into the drone rather than growing out of it when features are more limited. Photo functionality remains much the same as the Mini 3 Pro, but that’s no bad thing because it can’t be faulted. SmartPhoto is claimed to greatly improve on previous-generation HDR capture, although for advanced users, shooting in Raw and using Auto Exposure Bracketing is the best route to take in high dynamic range situations.

DJI Mini 4 Pro Video in 4K at 30 fps

Should I buy the DJI Mini 4 Pro?

DJI Mini 4 Pro in flight in front of trees

(Image credit: James Abbott)

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

How I tested the DJI Mini 4 Pro

I tested the Mini 4 Pro over a week of flying in a range of locations, environments and weather conditions (excluding rain) to test flight performance, flight features, overall handling and image quality for both photo and video capture. All testing was conducted in a way that meets local aviation laws and restrictions to ensure that all flights were safe and legal.

Drones are always tested using manual flight patterns for video that are typical of professional aerial video capture to shoot visually interesting footage. This also provides the opportunity to test aspects such as the connection between the drone and controller, latency between the two, and the accuracy of the controls and flight in general. Automated flight features are also tested to assess their accuracy and overall performance.

With nearly 30 years of photographic experience and 15 years working as a photography journalist, I’ve been covering drones in terms of shooting and editing techniques, alongside writing drone reviews, for a number of years. As well as flying most consumer and prosumer models, I’ve previously held a PfCO (Permission for Commercial Operations) issued by the Civil Aviation Authority in the UK, and now fly under an A2 CofC (A2 Certificate of Competency).

First reviewed September 2023

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