I have been spending some decent time with the DJI Mini 5 Pro over the past couple of weeks, and it has surprised me more than I expected. The most striking thing is the weight. It is incredibly light, to the point that you almost question how something this small can handle proper outdoor conditions. I spent a considerable amount of time deciding between this and the Air 3S, but so far I am happy I went with the lighter of the two.

I got the fly more combo with the RC2 controller and though more expensive I definitely think this package is worth the price, having the extra batteries is a must and the controller has been great so far, the bag that comes with the kit is also great for carrying the drone plus one small camera.

The RC2 controller and ease of use

The RC2 controller has been a pleasure to use. The built in screen is bright and responsive, the controls feel natural, and it removes a lot of the faff that used to come with connecting your phone every time. It adds to that feeling of simply picking up the drone and flying, and when you combine that with the Mini 5 Pro powering on the moment you unfold the arms, the whole process becomes noticeably simpler and quicker.

Battery life

Battery life has also been a genuinely positive surprise. I have managed some solid flight times from a single charge even in fairly windy conditions. It gives you the freedom to be slightly more patient and more deliberate with your compositions, instead of constantly worrying about the percentage ticking down.

Comparing it to the Mavic 2 Pro

I have previously owned the Mavic 2 Pro, and inevitably that sets a benchmark in my mind. In terms of stability in wind, the Mini 5 Pro holds its own better than I expected. The Mavic 2 Pro was always a very solid machine with a reassuring weight that helped anchor it during gustier flights. The Mini 5 Pro obviously does not have that mass, but it has done well in the conditions I have thrown at it so far. It still moves a touch more in stronger winds compared to the old Mavic, but never enough to make the shot unusable. For something this small, the stability is genuinely impressive.

Where the Mavic 2 Pro still feels ahead is in the ability to adjust the aperture this gives far more control when dealing with changing light, especially for landscape work. It made it easier to maintain a specific shutter speed or avoid pushing the ISO too far. The Mini 5 Pro having a fixed aperture is the main limitation of this drone for me.

Image quality so far

The part I still need more time with is the camera. The centre of the frame is very sharp and for straightforward shots it performs well. However I have started to notice softness towards the edges. It is not dramatic, but it is enough for me to keep looking for patterns to understand whether it is a characteristic of the lens or something linked to the aperture, which I cannot directly control. More testing in varied light and at different altitudes should help clarify this.

You can see the soft corners in this image.

250 grams?

My copy of the Mini 5 Pro comes in at 252 grams. It is a little frustrating because it just tips over the 250 gram threshold, which means I have had to do the additional test required in the United Kingdom. It is not the end of the world, but it is worth noting for anyone expecting it to stay firmly under the usual limit. Even so, at 252 grams it still feels incredibly portable and easy to carry alongside my regular photography kit.

Final thoughts for now

Despite those caveats, the DJI Mini 5 Pro already feels like a very capable travel companion. It packs a surprising amount of performance into such a small and easy to carry body, and it genuinely opens up opportunities to fly in places where I would never have bothered taking a larger drone, The mini 5 pro and the RC2 controller combines weigh less than the Air 3s which was the alternative option. I can’t have seen me lugging the Air 3s and my camera gear around.

Once I have put the camera through more rigorous tests, especially in stronger side light and with more complex foregrounds, I will share a deeper look at the image quality and how it fits into my landscape workflow. For now, it is a drone I expect to reach for often, even with my memories of the Mavic 2 Pro still in mind.

Taking off with the DJI Mini 5 Pro