In this article, I will show several ways to store photos and footage taken with the DJI Flip, Neo, Mini 4 Pro, Mini 3 or Mini 4k, according to the device, a computer, a smartphone, or a tablet. I will also cover how to save screen recordings and screenshots
I will focus on the DJI Flip, but I will also show the differences compared to the other current DJI lightweight models
Other related articles you may find interesting:
- DJI Flip photography
- DJI Flip footage quality
- DJI Flip hyperlapse
- DJI Flip panorama
- DJI Flip mastershots
From SD Card to PC
The most effective way to store footage and photos is by using a Micro SD card inserted into the aircraft
This method applies to all lightweight DJI models except the NEO, which is the only one without a micro SD slot. This model has 22GB of internal storage that can be transferred to a PC or remote device using the method shown in the following chapter
In the Camera tab of Settings in DJI Fly app, it is possible to toggle the recording destination between the SD card and the internal memory, the available space is displayed below
Even though larger cards are available, a 128GB mini card is more than enough as it can store about three hours of 4k footage
To transfer files from a micro SD card to a computer, we need a card reader that attaches to the computer via USB. Some laptop computers have an SD card slot; in this case, a card reader is not needed
When the card is connected to an Android device, PC, smartphone, or tablet, a folder named SD card will be visible. Open it in a new window, and then open the DCIM folder and then the folder named DJI_001, which contains the footage and photos
We can then copy the files to the desired storage location. The procedure is similar for IOS devices, however, the names of the folders will be different
From Internal Memory to PC
Like the Mini 4 Pro, the DJI Flip has an internal storage of 2Gb, while the Mini 3 and the Mini 4k have no internal memory. As mentioned earlier, the Neo has a larger 22GB one
2Gb can store about 80 RAW + JPEG images or about three minutes of 4k footage. This is not much, but it comes in handy when we forget to bring an SD card or when the card is full
A remote controller is not needed to transfer the content of the internal memory to a computer. Connect the drone to a USB slot in the computer with the USB C cable supplied. With the Flip and the Neo, there is no need to power on the aircraft
A folder named Internal Storage will appear; it contains two folders. By opening the folder DCIM, we access another one named DJI_001 with the content of the internal memory of the drone. We can now copy it to a new folder on the PC
If an SD card is inserted into the drone, another folder named SD card will be shown, and we can transfer its content to the computer using the same method. It can be handy if we don’t have a card reader available
If we have brought a laptop to the filming location, we can quickly transfer the files to the hard drive, format the internal storage, and shoot more footage and photos
Transfer to a Mobile Device
A laptop is often unavailable on location, but we can transfer the files to a smartphone or tablet
A controller is not needed, but DJI Fly app must be installed on the remote device. I will use a tablet, but the procedure is the same with a smartphone
After turning on the aircraft, we can then launch DJI Fly app. We don’t need to unfold the wings. Once the Flip has been detected, we can tap on Connect on the left part of the screen
If it is the first time we use the Flip, or a different model was recently used, DJI Fly might fail to recognize it. In this case, tap on Connection Guide on the lower left part of the screen and follow the on-screen instructions
After the connection, tap on the icon on the lower left to access the album. All the files in the internal memory and on the SD card are shown
To download a video clip or a photo, tap on it to select it and tap on the down arrow on the lower right. There is no need to select a destination folder, as the files will automatically be stored with the photos
We can only transfer video clips taken in H.264 and photos in JPEG. Make sure to set the video and photo modes accordingly in the Setting
Two effects can be applied when downloading a video clip: Skin Effect and Body Effect. Click on the three dots on the top right to turn them on and off. I always leave them off, but you can give it a try if you wish
We can choose to download only a portion of a video file. After hitting the download icon, we are presented with a choice between Full Download or Trimmed Download. After choosing the latter, we can set the desired starting and ending points by tapping on the yellow icon and dragging the ruler
It is possible to transfer several files at once. Tap on the icon on the top right to enter Batch Selection. Then, select the files you want to transfer and hit the download button on the bottom right of the screen. At the top left of this screen, the progress of the download is shown
Screen recordings
When using the Flip with a remote controller, the screen can be recorded. Screen recordings are useful for YouTube tutorials, checking the settings and flying modes used for each video clip or photo, and locating the drone in case of an accident
With the RC2 controller, the procedure is simpler, as this model has a built-in screen recorder. By scrolling a finger down the screen twice, we access this window with several icons on the right side
The first one on the second row is Screen Record. After tapping on it, we are brought back to DJI Fly app main screen. On the bottom of the screen in the middle, an icon shows the recording time with a button to stop recording. We can drag it somewhere else on the screen if needed
The screen recording is stored in the controller’s internal memory. If we connect the remote controller to a PC or remote device, we find a folder named DJI RC 2, containing another one named Internal Shared Storage, with several folders
All the screen recordings are stored in the Movies folder. We can transfer them to the chosen destination
Screen recording can also be made with the RC N2 or RC N3 controllers, but in this case, a third-party screen recorder must be used