How is the camera on the DJI Mini 4 Pro better than that on the Mini 3 Pro

The DJI Mini 3 Pro has proven to be an incredible little drone, which means the new Mini 4 Pro has to work very hard to justify why it's worth upgrading.

The most obvious reason to buy DJI's latest sub-250g camera drone is its omnidirectional obstacle sensing, which can detect obstacles from all directions.

Furthermore, the new drone is equipped with the DJI O4 FHD digital video transmission system, which offers an impressive maximum transmission distance of up to 20km.

Mini 4 Pro also boasts recently updated ActiveTrack 360°, Waypoint Flight, Advanced RTH, Cruise Control and other smart features.

But how can you justify the fact that the new drone is equipped with the same camera sensor as its predecessor?

While it's true that both the Mini 3 Pro and the Mini 4 Pro, and even the much more affordable Mini 3, feature a 1/1.3-inch CMOS sensor that offers an image resolution of 48 MP, the The Mini 4 Pro takes significantly better photos and videos than its predecessor. And here's why…

DJI has used a new image processing platform to improve the overall imaging performance of the Mini 4 Pro. Combined with native dual ISO fusion, an f/1.7 aperture and 2.4μm 4-in-1 pixels, the drone offers cinema-quality results.

Subsequently, the HDR video specs were updated from 4K/30fps to 4K/60fps. And DJI has also updated the Slow Motion specification from 1080p to 4K/100fps, so you can capture moments in breathtaking detail.

Another key improvement comes in the form of new 10-bit D-Log M and HLG color modes that record colors and details with high dynamic range. Essentially, the Mini 4 Pro lets you get professional-level post-production control with 10-bit D-Log M recording. And no matter where you publish your content, HLG ensures that natural colors and brightness remain true to life without changes or format conversions thanks to its high dynamic range.

It's not all. A next-generation SmartPhoto algorithm has been adopted to effectively improve photo quality. The ingenious fusion of this SmartPhoto and 48MP RAW technology has worked wonders to harmonize the HDR image, scene recognition and more, resulting in truly captivating images, like the one below:

The Mini 4 Pro's camera system also supports a new night video mode (Night Shots) to offer better low-light performance than its predecessors.

Another notable improvement comes in the form of a simulated long exposure (shutter speeds up to 8 seconds) which unlocks further creative possibilities. Finally, on the new drone the resolution of panoramic photos is higher.

The bottom line is that the Mini 4 Pro is a classic example of how the same hardware can be optimized to deliver better performance. Along with its improved safety features, new intuitive ways to capture shots, and better image quality, the drone offers plenty of reasons to upgrade, especially since DJI launched it at the same price as the Mini 3 Pro.