Author Topic: Drones - Is the DJI Pro Mini 3 any good for stock? (Read 6158 times)

kuriouskat · « **on:** January 15, 2023, 07:45 »

I have the DJI Mavic Pro 2, which takes great pictures but, due to the weight and registration issues for travel to foreign countries, I'm thinking about getting the DJI Pro Mini 3, as it's under 250g.

Does anyone have any experience of how the image quality compares? Is anyone using the Mini 3 for stock images or is it more just for fun?

mike123 · « **Reply #1 on:** January 15, 2023, 08:58 »

Mini 3 should be more than enough for microstock quality. Even smartphone photos get easily accepted for microstock, and they mostly have the same sensor size (and worse optics) than the Mini 3. But it also depends on light - if you want to shoot low light scenes (for example blue hour), the image quality will not be great. In that case you would be better of using your Mavic 2 Pro

kuriouskat · « **Reply #2 on:** January 15, 2023, 09:13 »

Quote from: mike123 on January 15, 2023, 08:58

Mini 3 should be more than enough for microstock quality. Even smartphone photos get easily accepted for microstock, and they mostly have the same sensor size (and worse optics) than the Mini 3. But it also depends on light - if you want to shoot low light scenes (for example blue hour), the image quality will not be great. In that case you would be better of using your Mavic 2 Pro

Thanks Mike, I won't be taking the Mavic Pro 2 with me, as I've run into complications trying to register it for use with the local authority I'm visiting - hence the interest in the Mini, as it doesn't need registering. I'm just trying to decide whether it's worth splashing out on a second drone or not. It transpires that my current controller won't work with the Mini 3, so it's quite an additional outlay all round.

mike123 · « **Reply #3 on:** January 15, 2023, 17:41 »

Could Mavic 3 be an alternative for both drones? It depends where you want to travel to, but for example here in Europe it just got the C1 certification label and you don't need to keep distance from people any more, which makes flying much simpler. But it still has to be registered..

Pacesetter · « **Reply #4 on:** January 15, 2023, 20:26 »

Yes.

SuperPhoto · « **Reply #5 on:** January 15, 2023, 22:34 »

i've had stuff accepted with the mavic mini 1 - although I had to do some editing sometimes (because it was 'super shaky' at times... apparently they fixed that in the newer models).

kuriouskat · « **Reply #6 on:** January 16, 2023, 03:31 »

Quote from: mike123 on January 15, 2023, 17:41

Could Mavic 3 be an alternative for both drones? It depends where you want to travel to, but for example here in Europe it just got the C1 certification label and you don't need to keep distance from people any more, which makes flying much simpler. But it still has to be registered..

It's the registration that's causing the issue for my upcoming trip. The Australian Aviation website won't let me register in advance, and also insists that uploaded ID has to be certified by a solicitor before upload or that I get my ID certified on arrival. The Mini is small enough that it doesn't require registration, so makes travelling with a drone much easier, (provided the quality is there).

kuriouskat · « **Reply #7 on:** January 16, 2023, 03:35 »

Quote from: mike123 on January 15, 2023, 17:41

Could Mavic 3 be an alternative for both drones? It depends where you want to travel to, but for example here in Europe it just got the C1 certification label and you don't need to keep distance from people any more, which makes flying much simpler. But it still has to be registered..

I am licensed and registered in my own country - I'm just trying to avoid jumping through hoops when travelling. A drone under 250g just makes things a lot more simple in this regard.

kuriouskat · « **Reply #8 on:** January 16, 2023, 03:35 »

Quote from: Pacesetter on January 15, 2023, 20:26

Yes.

Thanks!

kuriouskat · « **Reply #9 on:** January 16, 2023, 03:42 »

Quote from: SuperPhoto on January 15, 2023, 22:34

i've had stuff accepted with the mavic mini 1 - although I had to do some editing sometimes (because it was 'super shaky' at times... apparently they fixed that in the newer models).

I believe this is much improved in the 3, as is the object detection. Having gotten used to the images from the Mavic Pro 2, I just don't want to step back too far on quality. I know the images on the Mini are 12mp and, in theory plenty big enough for stock, but I've read that the edges are pretty soft. I just wondered whether, in the real world of uploading, the images are mostly getting approved or whether they only become acceptable after considerable post-processing.

Visualab · « **Reply #10 on:** January 16, 2023, 12:32 »

Quote from: KuriousKat on January 16, 2023, 03:31

Quote from: mike123 on January 15, 2023, 17:41
Could Mavic 3 be an alternative for both drones? It depends where you want to travel to, but for example here in Europe it just got the C1 certification label and you don't need to keep distance from people any more, which makes flying much simpler. But it still has to be registered..

It's the registration that's causing the issue for my upcoming trip. The Australian Aviation website won't let me register in advance, and also insists that uploaded ID has to be certified by a solicitor before upload or that I get my ID certified on arrival. The Mini is small enough that it doesn't require registration, so makes travelling with a drone much easier, (provided the quality is there).

actually even drones under 250g has to be registred because of the camera....

fotoroad · « **Reply #11 on:** January 16, 2023, 13:33 »

Quote from: Visualab on January 16, 2023, 12:32

Quote from: KuriousKat on January 16, 2023, 03:31
Quote from: mike123 on January 15, 2023, 17:41
Could Mavic 3 be an alternative for both drones? It depends where you want to travel to, but for example here in Europe it just got the C1 certification label and you don't need to keep distance from people any more, which makes flying much simpler. But it still has to be registered..

It's the registration that's causing the issue for my upcoming trip. The Australian Aviation website won't let me register in advance, and also insists that uploaded ID has to be certified by a solicitor before upload or that I get my ID certified on arrival. The Mini is small enough that it doesn't require registration, so makes travelling with a drone much easier, (provided the quality is there).

actually even drones under 250g has to be registred because of the camera....

Yes, If you want sold footage or photo you must be registered in USA I am not sure if in every state because is commercial use. For personal purposes probably no.

kuriouskat · « **Reply #12 on:** January 16, 2023, 14:36 »

OK, thanks, so the smaller drone doesn't achieve me anything then, so not worth buying. I thought I might make my life a bit easier, but it seems there is no way round the registration if I travel to other countries. Australia do appear to make it difficult, at least certainly much harder than registering in my home country.

Thanks everyone - all your input has been really appreciated.

f8 · « **Reply #13 on:** January 16, 2023, 18:27 »

Every country has different rules in regards to drones. Rarely does the actual weight of the drone make a difference and at times it does.

Quoted from FAA. "You will need to get a Remote Pilot Certificate ( RPC ) issued by FAA to fly your drone as the pilot in command ( PIC ) . The FAA does not currently recognize any foreign RPC or equivalent."

I am registered and certified in my country (Canada) but can't fly in America. I am currently travelling and got certified where I am, but the next country I am travelling to is a root canal to get a permit. I have noticed some countries make it more difficult for foreigners to fly.

In my view it's not worth the additional expense cause it's an either you can fly or you can't fly scenario.

kuriouskat · « **Reply #14 on:** January 17, 2023, 05:35 »

Quote from: f8 on January 16, 2023, 18:27

Every country has different rules in regards to drones. Rarely does the actual weight of the drone make a difference and at times it does.

Quoted from FAA. "You will need to get a Remote Pilot Certificate ( RPC ) issued by FAA to fly your drone as the pilot in command ( PIC ) . The FAA does not currently recognize any foreign RPC or equivalent."

I am registered and certified in my country (Canada) but can't fly in America. I am currently travelling and got certified where I am, but the next country I am travelling to is a root canal to get a permit. I have noticed some countries make it more difficult for foreigners to fly.

In my view it's not worth the additional expense cause it's an either you can fly or you can't fly scenario.

Thanks - with the help of everyone here, I've come to the same conclusion. I will just fly in my home country, or in countries that make it easy for me to register online.

Shuttershock · « **Reply #15 on:** January 17, 2023, 07:45 »

I had a look at the Mini 3 and Air 2S to replace my aging Mavic Pro 2 but decided on keeping the older tech but bigger sensor. Even the Mavic Pro 2 raw files have a fair amount of noise in the shadows - I find processing the raw files using DXO 6 and its noise reduction Deep Prime XD does an excellent job to make files look great free of noise (takes around 15mins to process per file on a 2020 macbook pro).

kuriouskat · « **Reply #16 on:** January 17, 2023, 12:23 »

Quote from: Richard Johnson on January 17, 2023, 07:45

I had a look at the Mini 3 and Air 2S to replace my aging Mavic Pro 2 but decided on keeping the older tech but bigger sensor. Even the Mavic Pro 2 raw files have a fair amount of noise in the shadows - I find processing the raw files using DXO 6 and its noise reduction Deep Prime XD does an excellent job to make files look great free of noise (takes around 15mins to process per file on a 2020 macbook pro).

Thanks, Richard. I have to say I'm also pretty happy with the image quality out of the Mavic Pro 2, when the camera size is taken into account. A bit in post and some Topaz Denoise, and everything I've submitted so far has been approved. That said, I haven't done much video, mainly stills.

mike123 · « **Reply #17 on:** January 17, 2023, 13:35 »

Quote from: Richard Johnson on January 17, 2023, 07:45

I had a look at the Mini 3 and Air 2S to replace my aging Mavic Pro 2 but decided on keeping the older tech but bigger sensor. Even the Mavic Pro 2 raw files have a fair amount of noise in the shadows - I find processing the raw files using DXO 6 and its noise reduction Deep Prime XD does an excellent job to make files look great free of noise (takes around 15mins to process per file on a 2020 macbook pro).

Have you tried noise stacking on your Mavic 2 Pro (taking a burst of photos and then averaging them in PS)? It did wonders on my Mavic 2 Pro files - the noise went away almost completely

kuriouskat · « **Reply #18 on:** January 18, 2023, 03:28 »

Quote from: mike123 on January 17, 2023, 13:35

Quote from: Richard Johnson on January 17, 2023, 07:45
I had a look at the Mini 3 and Air 2S to replace my aging Mavic Pro 2 but decided on keeping the older tech but bigger sensor. Even the Mavic Pro 2 raw files have a fair amount of noise in the shadows - I find processing the raw files using DXO 6 and its noise reduction Deep Prime XD does an excellent job to make files look great free of noise (takes around 15mins to process per file on a 2020 macbook pro).
Have you tried noise stacking on your Mavic 2 Pro (taking a burst of photos and then averaging them in PS)? It did wonders on my Mavic 2 Pro files - the noise went away almost completely

No, I haven't, but thanks for the tip. So far I've not experienced that much noise, and the little there has been has been easily dealt with by Topaz. I usually shoot in decent light conditions though, and haven't had to deal with low light issues in post yet.

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Author Topic: Drones - Is the DJI Pro Mini 3 any good for stock? (Read 6158 times)

kuriouskat

mike123

kuriouskat

mike123

Pacesetter

SuperPhoto

kuriouskat

kuriouskat

kuriouskat

kuriouskat

Visualab

fotoroad

kuriouskat

f8

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Shuttershock

kuriouskat

mike123

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