Even though the Mini 2 performs decently in easy light, I would only recommend it to users on a budget. The Mini 3 Pro not only offers a lot of useful functions, like vertical photos, 48MP mode, and hyperlpse but it is also a big step up in terms of photo quality, especially in low light
Many users have asked me if it is worth upgrading from the Mini 2 or the Mini SE to the new Mini 3 Pro, and which of the two models to buy as a first drone
There is a big difference in terms of functionalities between the two drones, in this article I will put them face to face focusing only on the quality of the photos in all different light conditions
Recently DJI has lowered the price of the Mini 3 and added the 48 MP mode. My analysis in the article: Mini 3 vs 3 Pro, which lightweight drone to buy?
Other articles you may find interesting:
- Mini 3 Pro vs Mini 2 overall comparison
- Mini 3 Pro vs Mini 2 video quality
- Mini 3 Pro photo camera settings
- Mini 3 Pro panorama mode
- Mini 3 Pro hyperlapse mode
If you prefer to watch this as a video, you will find my YouTube version at the end of this article
Photo Specs
| Mini 3 Pro | Mini 2 | |
| Sensor size | 1/1.3″ | 1/2.3″ |
| Aperture | f 1.7 | f 2.8 |
| Field of view | 82.1° (24mm equivalent) | 83° (24mm equivalent) |
| Photo resolution | 12 MP (48MP mode available) | 12 MP |
| Photo format | JPEG + RAW | JPEG + RAW |
The Mini 2 was released in November 2020, more than three years ago, which in terms of drone technology is a very long time
The sensor is tiny by today’s standards. Due to sensor size and aperture, we should expect much better performance in low light and high dynamic range situations from the Mini 3 Pro
In the specs, the photo resolution of the Mini 3 Pro is often stated as 48 MP, but that is misleading
The Quad Bayer sensor is capable of splitting each pixel into four smaller ones, therefore creating a sort of 48 MP resolution, but the size of each pixel is so small that the benefits are limited to an increase in detail in easy light conditions
In low light and high dynamic range situations, better results are obtained with the regular 12 MP resolution
For more information please refer to my article about photography with the Mini 3 Pro, or to the one about the 48MP mode of the Mini 3 Pro
The Mini 3 has the added benefit of shooting vertical photos and video
It is a feature mainly meant for video, but I also appreciate it for extra creativity in photography
It can also be interesting for manual panoramas using vertical images
Both models can shoot photos in Automatic Exposure Bracketing
The Mini 3 Pro in this mode can take 5 shots like the bigger models in DJI prosumer line, while the Mini 2 can only take 3, which slightly reduces the use of this functionality
I tend to shoot always in AEB to avoid the risk of a slightly wrong exposure
In situations of high dynamic range with both models merging several photos to HDR often yields better results compared to single shots
In this article, you will find plenty of examples of AEB photos with the Mini 3 Pro
Photo Quality
Easy Light Conditions
Let’s start by watching some images taken with both models in friendly light conditions
The RAW images taken with the Mini 2 look a bit hazy, probably due to the lens
DJI and Hasselblad have recently put a lot of effort into the lens design, and the ones that equip the Air 2S, Mavic 3, and Mini 3 Pro are a big step up compared to previous models
But the RAW files are not meant to be used out of the camera and in post-processing in most cases we can get rid of the haze
In most cases, the rendition of the two models is similar, with just a touch of extra noise in the Mini 2
We also notice that there is no degradation in the edges of the images with any of the two models
For editing and color grading I have used the excellent Luminar Neo, click on the link for an in-depth analysis
Top-Down
By turning the camera down the sky is taken out of the equation to focus on detail and color rendition
The Mini 3 Pro and the Mini 2 have a similar amount of detail
At 200% magnification, the Mini 3 Pro shows just a touch of extra detail
The major difference between the two models is in color rendition: the Mini 3 Pro shows a much richer color space
Against the Sun
Shots in the direction of the sun with extreme dynamic range are the real stress test for drone photography
These conditions put under pressure not only the sensor but also the quality of the lens and the resistance to flare
Against the sun, the Mini 3 performs much better than the Mini 2: the sky looks more natural, there is more detail in the shadows, and the colors are much richer
The tiny sensor of the Mini 2 shows its limits: there is little detail in the shadows, loss of contrast, some color banding in the sky, and a limited range of colors
Both models benefit from shooting several images and merging them to HDR, especially the Mini 2
With the Mini 3 Pro, I would recommend getting a set of ND filters
Due to the very large aperture, in shots against the direction of the sun, we often reach the limits of exposure: even when using the base ISO and the faster shutter speed, too much light enters the sensor and the image can be overexposed
Low Light
Low-light photography is a strong point of the Mini 3 Pro
The relatively big sensor paired with the very wide aperture gathers plenty of light while keeping the ISO value down
The noise is contained, the shadows contain plenty of information and the color rendition is excellent
More examples of low-light photography with the Mini 3 Pro are in this article
In low-light photography, the Mini 2 shows its age and the extremely small size of the sensor
There is a noticeable amount of luminance noise in the sky, very little detail, and plenty of chromatic noise in the shadows. The color rendition is poor
For low-light photography, this model is not up to today’s standards