Mavic Mini?
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dirkclod
Well-Known Member
I have a Phantom 3 Adv, Mavic Mini, Mini 2 and Mavic 2 Pro and I like the Mavic Mini.
True it's not great in wind and not as good in wind as the Mini 2 but if you bear in mind this limitation and fly accordingly it's good value for money especially if you get it second hand.
I would only buy it second hand through the likes of ebay and only if your ebay etc. offers buyer protection etc..
If you are looking for tracking and obstacle avoidance..... forget it, it's a basic flying camera with few frills.
I have 700 flights on my Mavic Mini and the only fancy automated flight mode I have used is the circle and I have only used that once or twice.
One other thing, compared to the Mini 2 the Mavic Mini is likely to have a smaller control range BUT it can still easily go beyond the range of my eyesight VLOS and VLOS is your legal limit I think.
To me its biggest disadvantage is the FLY control app, it's a child's play thing compared to its predecessors but you are stuck with it unless you go with one of the after market control apps.
True it's not great in wind and not as good in wind as the Mini 2 but if you bear in mind this limitation and fly accordingly it's good value for money especially if you get it second hand.
I would only buy it second hand through the likes of ebay and only if your ebay etc. offers buyer protection etc..
If you are looking for tracking and obstacle avoidance..... forget it, it's a basic flying camera with few frills.
I have 700 flights on my Mavic Mini and the only fancy automated flight mode I have used is the circle and I have only used that once or twice.
One other thing, compared to the Mini 2 the Mavic Mini is likely to have a smaller control range BUT it can still easily go beyond the range of my eyesight VLOS and VLOS is your legal limit I think.
To me its biggest disadvantage is the FLY control app, it's a child's play thing compared to its predecessors but you are stuck with it unless you go with one of the after market control apps.
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Rchawks
Well-Known Member
I have both the MM and the MA2 and each has it's place. I bought the mm to learn the basics, it just made sense to me to spend a modest amount to see if I liked it or not. I also like the fact that it draws little to no attention from passerbys. I also didn't want something with all the bells and whistles to start with.
dirkclod
Well-Known Member
Hear ya and hate the Fly App. But it’s what they went with
I like the Mini but only got it to see if all I was reading was true.
i only fly it to cycle the batteries. Can’t get nothing for it so just gonna keep it.
When I get another if I do it will be a 3 or hopefully a new inspire
if I was to be lucky and have the bucks.
Nothing else I would stay with M2p’s.
Blue Thunder Pilot
Member
I don't know how much research you've done on the mini, but the mini family first and foremost is a <250g drone. That category has lighter flying---licensing/restriction/red tape.
The mini is discontinued and the mini 2 is a much more competent performer.
My mini is my first and only drone. I got it because the price of it with Fly More kit was half the price of the mini 2 Fly More kit. It's a very basic drone with no anti-collision sensors. For the money it's great bang for the buck.
Budget was and is a consideration for me since I don't know if I'll ever advance to an Air 2 or 3. So I can play around and work on piloting skills on the cheap while deciding if eventual upgrading is for me.
I think establishing your budget is the first thing you need to do. It may help others narrow the scope of your very broad question.
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MarkusAtHome
Well-Known Member
I have a Mini 2, a Mavic 2 Pro, and a smart controller organized in a small backpack. For me this is the ideal UAV arrangement since it allows me to do just about everything. Primarily I use the M2P and if there are restrictions at a specific location, I use the M2. For outdoors up to 4’500 m, I pack the M2. I am not a photo/video professional but I am very happy with the results.
what are you looking for in a drone? lets start with the requirement and expectation then we can probably fit a drone to it.
@mini_pilot14 i have a MM and despite its shortcomings,which others have mentioned ,if you accept those ,then for the money it is a very capable drone ,i have had mine since it was released ,and for what i use it for it is perfectly adequate
but as a first drone and an introduction into the hobby ,had i not had a MM, then today i would definitely purchase the Mini 2 ,as the enhanced flight envelope and slightly better Camera ,and the Occusync transmission protocol make it a much better buy ,you have to remember that the original MM was a massive departure by DJI to capture the market in the sub 250g category,and on that basis it was far superior to any of the low cost drones in that sector before it appeared
and since then several competitors have joined the party with their own versions
but as a first drone and an introduction into the hobby ,had i not had a MM, then today i would definitely purchase the Mini 2 ,as the enhanced flight envelope and slightly better Camera ,and the Occusync transmission protocol make it a much better buy ,you have to remember that the original MM was a massive departure by DJI to capture the market in the sub 250g category,and on that basis it was far superior to any of the low cost drones in that sector before it appeared
and since then several competitors have joined the party with their own versions
I bought a used Mini-1, and flew it for the first time yesterday. I currently fly Mini-2s.Having one and having a M2P, 2 MP’s as well as other DJI drones over 7 years I would say it is what it is. Lousy.
JMO.
Not good in any wind if you’ve never had any experience but will
say if you read before you fly it and learn it’s limitation’s you
pay for what you get.
I was blessed with light winds yesterday, but not zero winds. Under 5 mph, no strong gusts. I didn't go very high or very far, but the flight characteristics were almost indistinguishable from the Mini-2 in those conditions, other than being a tad bit less stable in the light wind. I'll incrementally test in higher winds as they become available.
I never got above 90 ft or beyond 120 ft, because I hit some kind of lock that I have to unlock. Do any of you remember what that is off the top of your head? I've read about it, but I don't recall the details.
It wanted to update the firmware, so I let it do that. It wanted me to calibrate the compass, so I did that. It flashed some warning on the screen when I hit the limits, but I didn't want to try to de-bug it in flight.
Unlocking solutions?
Thx,
TCS
I bought my used Mini-1 Fly More Combo from a private party on this list, directly. I used the PayPal "commercial" option, which provides sufficient protection, IMHO. The seller paid for the shipping, I paid for the extra cost to use the "commercial" option.
I've never bought a used drone before, but now I suspect I will again. The drone arrived in perfect condition, in the original box, exactly as advertised. It flew perfectly.
Now, if I can just figure out how to thread the needle to get the cable to run correctly from the phone in the holder to the RC, life will be good...anyone have any tips about how to do that? Im a klutz when it comes to fine finger work, so that doesn't help. To do the flight test, I left the phone loose, outside the holder, which was seriously awkward, but worked.
Suggestions?
Thx,
MM
I just paid $230 for my used Mini-1 Fly More Combo. Just prior to that, I had lost an eBay auction for the same Fly More Combo with a bid of $230, which I lost to a bid of $232.50.
If you want to sell it, and it's in good condition, you can indeed get something for it.
Just sayin'...
MM
it could be that the drone is in beginner mode ,you need to switch that setting off in the screen menu, and also make sure it does not have the payload mode activated ,both these features will severely restrict height and distance that can be flown
also just to make you aware if you do fit prop-guards to the drone then the payload mode is automatically engaged ,
also just to make you aware if you do fit prop-guards to the drone then the payload mode is automatically engaged ,
OK, I'll check that out.
It did have the payload mode activated, although I never turned it on. Perhaps residual from the previous owner. Which would make sense if he flew with the prop guards on, which I think he did.
Are these settings in some obvious place in the screen menus?
I also got a warning something like, "Warning! Flying at high elevation. Fly with caution." That warning never went off. I'm at right about a mile high, 5200 - 5300 ft.
I have the prop guards, but I haven't tried putting them on yet.
Thx!
MM
If you're new to drones and your budget doesn't allow going with a more expensive drone, I'd say go for the Mini. Yes, it has limitations compared to more expensive drones. But you'll be absolutely dazzled by what it can do. It's a flying video and still camera with GPS! It's an absolutely amazing bundle of technology. It's a huge bang for the buck.
The Mavic Mini controller-to-phone cable runs along the groove in the side of the controller, 'under' the 'front' part of the swing-out-arm of the phone holder and into the recess of that holder. It actually works very well if you have one of the cable sliders used with the controller of the Mavic 2 Pro and perhaps other models of drone. With out such a cable slider it is a bit of a putz to connect the phone.
@Chaosrider i believe they are under safety and in advanced setting when you scroll down
just disable payload mode dont bother with the prop guards if you are flying outside ,they are more for indoor flying, to compensate for the lack of collision avoidance sensors ,and they do quite a good job of saving the props from damage ,as well as the surroundings if it hits something ,outdoors they act more like sails ,and the poor old drone will get blown away in any sort of wind with them on
just disable payload mode dont bother with the prop guards if you are flying outside ,they are more for indoor flying, to compensate for the lack of collision avoidance sensors ,and they do quite a good job of saving the props from damage ,as well as the surroundings if it hits something ,outdoors they act more like sails ,and the poor old drone will get blown away in any sort of wind with them on
Coskier
Well-Known Member
Based on my restricted one flight with the Mini-1, I completely agree with you. In the restricted range that I flew...no higher than 90 ft ATO, no farther than 120 ft away...the flight characteristics are virtually indistinguishable from the Mini-2s I've been flying. It shook a bit more in the wind, but I still would have been in awe of it's ability to hover, if it had been my first drone.
When I get some warmer and windless weather, I'll do some more far ranging tests, once I get that lock unlocked that's keeping me fenced in.
Thx,
MM
Full-on putz, if you're a klutz!
Like I am...
I did my Mini-1 and Mini-SE test flights with the phone detached from the controller holder, but attached via the cable. It was vey awkward, but it worked fine from a control standpoint.
The Mini-SE seems to have the same set up, but late yesterday I saw that the proper configuration is shown on the outside of the Mini-SE box. Now that I know what it should look like when it's done, I have a chance!
From just my initial experience, it's clear that the Mini-SE is an upgraded Mini-1, and not a downgraded Mini-2. The Mini-1 controller and the Mini-SE controller are indistinguishable externally, and both are vastly inferior to the Mini-2 controller. There's not a single thing about the Mini-2 controller that isn't better than the other two, IMNSHO.
The Mini-1 and the Mini-SE both have some common DNA in terms of their firmware/software. They both show a warning, for the entire flight, that I'm flying at high elevation, and that I should be careful because of that. I'm at just about a mile high. None of my three Mini-2s ever displayed any such warning.
Drones are impacted by density altitude just like any other propeller driven aircraft. Higher and hotter means lower performance. There was one drone I was testing for my Drone Lending Library, a Holy Stone HS-260, that was just an abomination in that regard. The specs looked fine for the slot that I was looking to fill, but it literally didn't have enough power to get out of it's own way. It may be a great kid's drone at sea level, but it was worthless at a mile high.
I expect to learn a lot more interesting and cool Mini-stuff in the next few months!
MM
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