Unique situation, need some guidance

[sailor112]

Good Morning Everyone,

I need some advice. I currently have a DJI mini 2 SE. I have flown it for years and enjoyed the heck out of it. That being said it is time to upgrade.

A little background on myself, I am a Captain on American Flagged Oil Tankers that mostly operate in Alaska and often go to some incredible places where not many people ever go. My company will let me stay onboard when I am relieved by the other captain, so I can fly my drone and get footage to send to our marketing department. When I am home, I live in the Rocky Mountains and enjoy riding my dirtbikes, snowmobiles, mountain bikes, going camping with my wife, backpacking, hiking, and skiing. My drone goes and does all these things with us. I have my part 107, and all my flying is done within the United States.

For my editing platform I have a Macbook Pro with the M4 Pro chip. I use Adobe Premier Pro for my editing software. (this changes a lot, but I enjoy learning new things.)

The following is what my drone will be utilized for and are my must haves:

1. I do a lot of flying over water, and often take off/land while moving. (I know it is risky, but I have done this for years now) A lot of this flying is done in a decent amount of wind.
2. Must have Active Track
3. I would like the highest video/picture quality I can get

All this being said, I am very sold on the Mavic 3 Pro with the DJI RCPro Controller. It seems to have the size I need to fly in the elements, as well as the quality I am seeking. My only qualm about it is the size and the ability to bring it with me when I go ride my dirtbike, or go hiking etc...

Does anyone have any insight as to this or any advice? It seems almost impossible to get the Air3S, and I need to get a new drone within the month as I have some really cool trips coming up.

 

[Dronecation]

Good Morning Everyone,

I need some advice. I currently have a DJI mini 2 SE. I have flown it for years and enjoyed the heck out of it. That being said it is time to upgrade.

A little background on myself, I am a Captain on American Flagged Oil Tankers that mostly operate in Alaska and often go to some incredible places where not many people ever go. My company will let me stay onboard when I am relieved by the other captain, so I can fly my drone and get footage to send to our marketing department. When I am home, I live in the Rocky Mountains and enjoy riding my dirtbikes, snowmobiles, mountain bikes, going camping with my wife, backpacking, hiking, and skiing. My drone goes and does all these things with us. I have my part 107, and all my flying is done within the United States.

For my editing platform I have a Macbook Pro with the M4 Pro chip. I use Adobe Premier Pro for my editing software. (this changes a lot, but I enjoy learning new things.)

The following is what my drone will be utilized for and are my must haves:

1. I do a lot of flying over water, and often take off/land while moving. (I know it is risky, but I have done this for years now) A lot of this flying is done in a decent amount of wind.
2. Must have Active Track
3. I would like the highest video/picture quality I can get

All this being said, I am very sold on the Mavic 3 Pro with the DJI RCPro Controller. It seems to have the size I need to fly in the elements, as well as the quality I am seeking. My only qualm about it is the size and the ability to bring it with me when I go ride my dirtbike, or go hiking etc...

Does anyone have any insight as to this or any advice? It seems almost impossible to get the Air3S, and I need to get a new drone within the month as I have some really cool trips coming up.

Sounds like you need two separate drones. Very fortunate that you have these opportunities. Don't restrict yourself with one drone...

 

[MS Coast]

Good Morning Everyone,

I need some advice. I currently have a DJI mini 2 SE. I have flown it for years and enjoyed the heck out of it. That being said it is time to upgrade.

A little background on myself, I am a Captain on American Flagged Oil Tankers that mostly operate in Alaska and often go to some incredible places where not many people ever go. My company will let me stay onboard when I am relieved by the other captain, so I can fly my drone and get footage to send to our marketing department. When I am home, I live in the Rocky Mountains and enjoy riding my dirtbikes, snowmobiles, mountain bikes, going camping with my wife, backpacking, hiking, and skiing. My drone goes and does all these things with us. I have my part 107, and all my flying is done within the United States.

For my editing platform I have a Macbook Pro with the M4 Pro chip. I use Adobe Premier Pro for my editing software. (this changes a lot, but I enjoy learning new things.)

The following is what my drone will be utilized for and are my must haves:

1. I do a lot of flying over water, and often take off/land while moving. (I know it is risky, but I have done this for years now) A lot of this flying is done in a decent amount of wind.
2. Must have Active Track
3. I would like the highest video/picture quality I can get

All this being said, I am very sold on the Mavic 3 Pro with the DJI RCPro Controller. It seems to have the size I need to fly in the elements, as well as the quality I am seeking. My only qualm about it is the size and the ability to bring it with me when I go ride my dirtbike, or go hiking etc...

Does anyone have any insight as to this or any advice? It seems almost impossible to get the Air3S, and I need to get a new drone within the month as I have some really cool trips coming up.

Consider a Mavic 3 Pro and a Flip.

 

[360 Guy]

All good pointers above Captain.
You've been a busy person in your endeavors, I envy you.
A tip-o-the hat sir.
Have you considered the Mini 2, has a 4K camera and takes sharp videos and pics.
Just saying.
Carry on Captain.

 

[Dale D]

Good Morning Everyone,

I need some advice. I currently have a DJI mini 2 SE. I have flown it for years and enjoyed the heck out of it. That being said it is time to upgrade.

A little background on myself, I am a Captain on American Flagged Oil Tankers that mostly operate in Alaska and often go to some incredible places where not many people ever go. My company will let me stay onboard when I am relieved by the other captain, so I can fly my drone and get footage to send to our marketing department. When I am home, I live in the Rocky Mountains and enjoy riding my dirtbikes, snowmobiles, mountain bikes, going camping with my wife, backpacking, hiking, and skiing. My drone goes and does all these things with us. I have my part 107, and all my flying is done within the United States.

For my editing platform I have a Macbook Pro with the M4 Pro chip. I use Adobe Premier Pro for my editing software. (this changes a lot, but I enjoy learning new things.)

The following is what my drone will be utilized for and are my must haves:

1. I do a lot of flying over water, and often take off/land while moving. (I know it is risky, but I have done this for years now) A lot of this flying is done in a decent amount of wind.
2. Must have Active Track
3. I would like the highest video/picture quality I can get

All this being said, I am very sold on the Mavic 3 Pro with the DJI RCPro Controller. It seems to have the size I need to fly in the elements, as well as the quality I am seeking. My only qualm about it is the size and the ability to bring it with me when I go ride my dirtbike, or go hiking etc...

Does anyone have any insight as to this or any advice? It seems almost impossible to get the Air3S, and I need to get a new drone within the month as I have some really cool trips coming up.

First of all, you lead the life I would have dreamt about when I was younger. We have a lot in common. I have an Mavic 3 that is now 3 years old and I love it, but its days are numbered because of the newer M4. I've done 5 fishing trips, including fly in/fly out float planes, to high end lodges in SE Alaska. Gorgeous places to fly.

Because of that, I upgraded from the Mavic Mini 2 to the Mavic Mini 4 Pro and I love that drone too, There is a great difference in the weight and capabilities. The Mini 4 Pro fits well in a back pack, not too heavy, and has great features.

I also enjoy the Mac Book, and iMAC , both with M2 or M3 chip, and Premiere Pro. You could probably just get by with the Mavic Mini 4 Pro. The Mini 4 Pro has Active Track, and shoots 4K and I think 12 MB photos, which is good enough for me.

Dale
Miami

 

[DARKSeifer]

The Mavic 4 is about to be released, around April at most, it will basically replace the Mavic 3, else, you can go for a Mini 4.

The best image quality on foldable drones comes from the 4/3 of the M3, nothing else come close. The M3E with the mechanical shutter should be the best option quality wise.

For taking pictures on the go you can takeoff from the hand with a <900g, but it's easier to do with a <250g and also easier to carry around; although folded and inside the bag their volume is not that different, any gram counts when you are carrying it on the backpack.

Once you pick a <900g you never go back to smaller drones.

 

[moldorf]

wait a minute: you stay on the ship after being relieved by another captain....meaning you don't immediately go home to the wife? That's exponential relief; I wish I was a relieved captain

anyway, as others have said, the Mavic 3 Pro seems like it should be your go-to drone most of the time. I have a Mavic 3 and I almost never use the 7X camera. I have read that the 3X camera on the Mavic 3 Pro is pretty good. For myself, if I want a photo I will simple do a screenshot from video. And yes, I know the avid photographers here just lost all respect for me.

so, if photos are equally important as video to you,, and you can imagine all sorts of situations you'd use the 3X and 7X lenses, again, it sounds like the Mavic 3 Pro is your best bet. If you woud rarely use those two lenses, then maybe the Mavic 3 classic is a good bet. Obviously, the Mavic 4 Pro will be out sometime this year, but with the tariff war it's unknown how long it will be before those become readily available. And they are certain to be expensive. It could be by the time you finally receive the Mavic 4 we'll be hearing rumors about a Mavic 5

as for your weight/size concern, I'm not sure how big of an issue that is. They do make smaller travel packs for the Mavic 3 that can carry the drone, controller, and an extra battery. Obviously those will be bigger and heavier than a travel pack for a Mini 4 pro or Mini 3. But what is the difference and how impactful is it? Less than 2 pounds?

as someone mentioned, you may need 2 drones, a Mavic X and a Mini X. You'd use the Mavic X most of the time...probably

the issue there is if you have the RC Pro and want it for the controller for both drones, you'll need to find a refurbished Mini 3 Pro. The last I heard, the RC Pro wasn't compatible with the Mini 4 Pro. Maybe that's changed. (IIRC, it was compatible with the Air 2S as well)

the issue with that (maybe this has changed too) is that you may have to bind/unbind your drones as you move from one to the other

 

[EJs Mini down under.]

Good Morning Everyone,

I need some advice. I currently have a DJI mini 2 SE. I have flown it for years and enjoyed the heck out of it. That being said it is time to upgrade.

A little background on myself, I am a Captain on American Flagged Oil Tankers that mostly operate in Alaska and often go to some incredible places where not many people ever go. My company will let me stay onboard when I am relieved by the other captain, so I can fly my drone and get footage to send to our marketing department. When I am home, I live in the Rocky Mountains and enjoy riding my dirtbikes, snowmobiles, mountain bikes, going camping with my wife, backpacking, hiking, and skiing. My drone goes and does all these things with us. I have my part 107, and all my flying is done within the United States.

For my editing platform I have a Macbook Pro with the M4 Pro chip. I use Adobe Premier Pro for my editing software. (this changes a lot, but I enjoy learning new things.)

The following is what my drone will be utilized for and are my must haves:

1. I do a lot of flying over water, and often take off/land while moving. (I know it is risky, but I have done this for years now) A lot of this flying is done in a decent amount of wind.
2. Must have Active Track
3. I would like the highest video/picture quality I can get

All this being said, I am very sold on the Mavic 3 Pro with the DJI RCPro Controller. It seems to have the size I need to fly in the elements, as well as the quality I am seeking. My only qualm about it is the size and the ability to bring it with me when I go ride my dirtbike, or go hiking etc...

Does anyone have any insight as to this or any advice? It seems almost impossible to get the Air3S, and I need to get a new drone within the month as I have some really cool trips coming up.

you could consider an Air 3s with RC2 as well as something small like mini 4 pro or some thing else. here are some specs on them both

1. DJI Mini 4 Pro - Specs - DJI
(Mini 4 Pro please note that the mini 4 pro can be used with RC2 as well)

2.Air 3s DJI Air 3S - Specs - DJI

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