Right here we now have it. One of many most cost-effective DJI drones, an entry-level method that appears wonderful for many individuals who need to get into this passion.
As a result of the query is, why not? You’ll hardly discover something higher round this worth level by way of efficiency and even picture high quality.
And DJI is broadly often called one of many high drone corporations on the planet for creating high-quality and long-lasting drones; you’re off to an amazing begin.
Thus far, so good, however the principle motive anybody would need to purchase a drone, together with the DJI Mini 2 SE, is to {photograph} or movie with it. So, how does this drone maintain up on this space?
Let me take you on a journey via the Florida vibes with a collection of images taken by considered one of our fellow writers and knowledgeable photographer, Dan Bayne, with the DJI Mini 2 SE.
DJI Mini 2 SE digicam sensor
The DJI Mini 2 SE comes with a 1/2.3-inch CMOS digicam mounted on a 3-axis gimbal.
When it comes to the sensor measurement, the Mini 2 SE’s sensor is equal to the one present in DJI FPV and the older model of this drone, the DJI Mini 2.
On this situation, we are able to see an improved CMOS attributable to developments in drone know-how and digicam high quality, so, in actual phrases, the digicam present in Mini 2 SE is healthier than the older one present in Mini 2.
However by at this time’s requirements, 1/2.3-inch CMOS is just too little for any sort of skilled pictures.
Don’t anticipate a lot of it. Should you’re aiming for a professional-level digicam, look for at least a drone with 1/1.3-inch CMOS however ideally 1-inch or the Mavic 3 Professional‘s Hasselblad 4/3-inch.
Observe: A 1-inch sensor is greater than 4 occasions larger than a 1/2.3-inch one.
To grasp it higher, a sensor measurement will immediately contribute to how a lot mild the sensor can register in a brief time frame, which immediately impacts the dynamic vary and high quality of the picture (distinction between the highlights and the shadows)
With bigger sensors, we get extra pure photos, clearer and with a lot better dynamic vary, so even photographing in daylight, the shadows gained’t be too darkish, and the brights gained’t overexpose all the picture.
However what we get with the DJI Mini 2 SE is a bit low. That’s what we now have with an entry-level drone, and but, it’s not that unhealthy if you happen to simply need to get into the passion, particularly in pictures.
You’ll merely need to remember that the Mini 2 SE’s sensor will fall behind if you happen to’re aiming for low-light pictures.
When it comes to pixel density, this digicam sensor has 12 million. Briefly phrases, it could {photograph} at a decision of 12 Megapixels, which is under at this time’s requirements, however not too far.
In actuality, if we publish images on social media or take some trip pictures, 12 Megapixels is greater than sufficient.
Let’s take a look in any respect the specs behind the DJI Mini 2 SE digicam and its true high quality.
| Specs | DJI Mini 2 SE Digicam |
|---|---|
| Sensor Dimension | 1/2.3-inch CMOS |
| Efficient Pixels | 12 Million (12MP) |
| Aperture | f/2.8 |
| Subject of View | 83 levels |
| ISO Vary | 100-3200 for each pictures and movies |
| Digital Shutter Pace | Between 4 sec and 1/8000 |
| Picture Dimension | 4000×3000 |
| Picture Format | JPEG & RAW |
| Video Decision | Max 2.7k at 30 fps or FHD at 60 fps |
| Max Video Bitrate | 40 Mbps |
| Video Shade Mode | Regular |
| Gimbal | 3-axis |
» MORE: Digicam Know-how in Drones (Defined)
DJI Mini 2 SE for pictures
Strictly by way of pictures, the DJI Mini 2 SE is first rate. Actually, it’s greater than first rate for on a regular basis sorts of pictures, however if you happen to’re aiming towards skilled captures, it falls brief.
The digicam aperture of f2/8 is common for many drones available on the market. Nevertheless, with a bigger aperture, we’d be capable of take higher low-light and night time images, together with long-exposure photos.
Similar with a bigger sensor.
However you’ll see that the DJI Mini 2 SE can’t do a lot of that.
On the opposite facet, we now have an higher restrict of ISO to 3200. The ISO is the digicam sensor’s sensitivity to mild, the place the picture sensor will increase its sensitivity in an effort to expose the picture correctly in low-light eventualities at the price of inducing picture noise.
Nonetheless, this can immediately contribute to the standard of low-light images.
What we now have as a bonus with the DJI Mini 2 SE is that it could {photograph} in RAW.
Because of this you’ll be capable of post-process your photos additional in packages like Lightroom to regulate the shadows and highlights, publicity, colours, temperature, and far more.
Behind each nice {photograph}, there’s numerous post-processing to enhance the standard of the picture.
As a disclaimer, all the pictures you see listed below are post-processed, so the sky’s the restrict. And that’s regular. However if you happen to’re seeking to see what sort of picture high quality you’ll be able to take with the DJI Mini 2 SE immediately with out modifying (nonetheless RAW model), right here we now have two photos to match.
Not so spectacular, proper? That’s nice as a result of even if you happen to seize images with knowledgeable DSLR digicam or high-end drone, the pictures will nonetheless endure a bit until improved by way of post-processing strategies.
However now let’s see how this drone does at totally different occasions of the day.
» MORE: Is the DJI Mini 2 SE Value It?
Daylight pictures
That is the place the DJI Mini 2 SE shines essentially the most, with photos taken in full daylight.
- Your ISO doesn’t have to extend its worth to compensate for mild to show the picture correctly, so the pictures can be at their peak high quality.
- The digicam’s aperture (lens opening) is ideal for photographing in daylight and doesn’t have any adverse impression on it.
- The white stability does an amazing job of offering the right ambient colours in full sunny daylight.
- Shutter pace can also be inside vary, so there isn’t a fuss round right here.
All these circumstances are met to seize one of the best images you are able to do with this drone.
Though many different drones could be higher at pictures than the Mini 2 SE, for this worth, it does excel, particularly once we examine it with the Holy Stone HS720E or every other related drones.
Your finest digicam settings for good photos in daylight could be as follows:
- ISO: Locked at 100
- White Steadiness: Auto or 5600K
- Shutter Pace: Auto
» MORE: Drone Pictures Planning (Defined for Newbies)
Low-light pictures
The DJI Mini 2 SE’s picture high quality falls behind drones with bigger sensors.
That is the place the Mini 2 SE digicam begins to not shine, nevertheless it nonetheless can do okay.
Let’s take a look on the above picture comparability taken in the course of the morning, with each the edited and non-edited variations.
For such photos to look higher, you should apply some post-processing to extend shadows and possibly modify the colour temperature, cut back the picture noise, and presumably improve the sharpening a bit.
With out some changes, particularly if you wish to {photograph} the dawn, there can be an excessive amount of of a distinction between the highlights and shadows.
If photographing in full solar at dawn, the ISO can be decrease. But when not, you’ll in all probability have to extend it to be accurately uncovered (if not on auto mode)
On this situation, to take one of the best low-light photos, whether or not dawn, sundown, or an overcast afternoon (and even to a storm), we’ll need to manually give attention to locking the ISO at a selected worth.
That’s provided that we can’t take any pictures with the ISO100 with out counting on a long-exposure course of.
So, listed below are some settings I like to recommend:
- ISO: Lock it between 100 and 400, but when wanted, go as much as 800.
- Shutter Pace: Depart it to auto
- White Steadiness: 3500K to 4500K for dawn or 5600K for an overcast day. Or depart it on auto and additional modify it in post-process.
» MORE: Drone Pictures: Newbie’s Information to Getting Began
Evening pictures
The DJI Mini 2 SE just isn’t meant for night time pictures.
The picture sensor is just too small to seize any night time images. On this case, the ISO must be pushed to its higher limits, and numerous picture noise can be launched within the photos.
To not point out, the ISO max worth may be very low in comparison with different drone cameras.
On the identical time, the Mini 2 SE digicam will try to compensate with longer exposures to get sufficient mild to the digicam sensor for better-exposed photos. However with drones, we don’t have a lot of that.
With the Mini 2 SE, we are able to expose the picture for a most of 4 seconds.
The DJI Mini 2 SE is not going to do unhealthy if you happen to’re making an attempt to {photograph} an illuminated downtown or areas at night time with numerous synthetic mild. Nevertheless it doesn’t do a wonderful job both.
You’ll even have to recollect the drone legal guidelines of capturing night time images with a drone and flying the DJI Mini 2 SE at night time.
Due to this fact, the Mini 2 SE is NOT my suggestion for night time pictures.
» MORE: Finest Drones for Evening Time Use (Pictures & Video)
Recording movies with DJI Mini 2 SE
With recording movies, we’ll reap the benefits of the identical digicam specs as with pictures.
The Mini 2 SE sensor measurement can have essentially the most impression on video high quality, and, as with daylight, low-light, or night time pictures, filming can be principally the identical however will endure much more.
Earlier than that, we should keep in mind that the DJI Mini 2 SE can movie solely in 2.7k at 30 frames per second or FHD at 60 fps.
When filming at 30 fps, extra mild will come into the digicam sensor, which is ideal while you’re recording in decrease mild circumstances. However at 60 fps, you are able to do it solely in full daylight with out shedding picture high quality, inflicting movies to be underexposed or inflicting an excessive amount of picture noise within the movies.
Skilled videographers will all the time attempt to set the shutter pace to double the framerate for easy and cinematic movies. Which will require ND filters if you happen to’re filming in full daylight.
So, for example, in case your DJI Mini 2 SE is about to movie in 2.7k at 30 frames per second, the shutter pace needs to be manually set at 1/60sec and the ISO to the worth the place you get a correctly uncovered video.
If the video is overexposed even at ISO 100, then you definitely want an ND filter or to drop the decision to FHD at 60fps and set the shutter pace at 1/120fps.
These are some settings if you happen to’re aiming to get one of the best movies you’ll be able to from the Mini 2 SE digicam.
However auto mode is all the time acceptable for a mean drone pilot simply desirous to take a couple of images or movies of touring or in nature.
Nevertheless, you continue to need to keep in mind that the DJI Mini 2 SE’s small sensor measurement does have an enormous adverse impression on each photographing and filming in low-light eventualities.
Yet another point out. The DJI Mini 2 SE does NOT profit from D-Cinelike or related flat profiles, so you’ll be able to’t do a lot video modifying in post-process software program. It solely has the traditional shade mode.
Nevertheless it does profit from the improbable 3-axis mechanical gimbal that’s generally discovered throughout (nearly) all DJI drones. This implies your video can be extraordinarily easy even when recorded in high-wind circumstances.
» MORE: 3 Tricks to Market Your Enterprise With Drone Pictures and Videography
Edited vs. non-edited Mini 2 SE photos
In pictures, to get one of the best photos we are able to with any drone, not solely the DJI Mini 2 SE, we now have to edit them.
However in an effort to do this, you need to set your Mini 2 SE to seize images in RAW format. This fashion, the pictures usually are not processed, and also you’re freely capable of do it your self.
Nevertheless, if you happen to’re not aiming for any semi-professional degree photos, then taking pictures in JPEG is nice sufficient.
However when you {photograph} in JPEG, your photos will already be processed with data, so enhancing such pictures is advanced and with restricted outcomes.
It’s no shock we edit all the pictures we take not solely with this drone but additionally with any DSLR digicam. That’s what photographers do, and most of the people do, to get first rate outcomes.
So, photos captured together with your DJI Mini 2 SE with out modifying are okay, particularly if you happen to shoot in full daylight.
However as a result of we now have this selection to shoot in RAW, we must always all the time purpose to edit a lot of these images to get one of the best outcomes we are able to out of this small sensor drone.
» MORE: How you can Edit Drone Images for Social Media Utilizing Lightroom (Information)
Is that this drone ok to begin studying drone pictures?
To start out studying aerial pictures? Completely sure. For any kind {of professional} pictures? No.
All of us took step one into aerial pictures, and as a photographer, I do advocate utilizing this drone for a number of causes.
Once I began my journey in aerial pictures, I did it with the DJI Mavic Air. Then I obtained my Mavic 2, and the journey continued.
The Mavic Air picture high quality was manner under that of this drone. It’s an historical drone with an outdated digicam and know-how. So, as per at this time’s requirements, the Mini 2 SE does higher.
You don’t want a elaborate drone to begin studying drone pictures.
Actually, the DJI Mini 2 SE could be excellent, and right here’s why.
It’s low-cost, small and moveable. It weighs lower than 250 grams, so it would profit from relaxed drone legal guidelines. Fewer complications for newcomers in that space.
Furthermore, you might be able to fly the Mini 2 SE in locations the place you legally can’t with different drones.
That can open new alternatives to take all sorts of aerial photographs, from nature to cityscapes and landscapes, and the place the creativeness can take you.
Get this drone. Seize a couple of thousand aerial photos, and after you’ve got superior sufficient on this area of interest, you’ll be able to improve to a extra skilled kind of drone.
What kind of pictures can you’re taking with DJI Mini 2 SE?
There are not any limits to how you should utilize this drone within the pictures area. Really, there are a couple of limits, so what do I do know?
Should you’re searching for a selected space in pictures and even video taking, as coming from knowledgeable photographer, right here’s how we are able to classify this drone’s digicam capabilities with totally different eventualities.
- ✅ Panorama: Good
- ✅ Overcast Panorama: Common
- ✅ Cityscape: Good
- ✅ Morning Images: Common
- ❌ Evening Images: Insufficient
- ✅ Actual Property Pictures: Good
- ✅ Selfie & Household Images: Good
- ✅ Journey Pictures: Good
- ❌ Fireworks: Under common
- ❌ Evening Cityscapes: Under common
- ❌ Wildlife Pictures: Insufficient
- ❌ Mapping: Insufficient
Remember the fact that this classification can rely on many elements, akin to the present lighting circumstances, wind pace, location, and different points.
All these photos may be additional improved if captured in RAW and post-processed. So, the sky’s the restrict.
