The Mini 4k is currently the most affordable DJI model for videography and photography. One of the most important features missing compared to the more expensive models is Hyperlapse mode
In this article, I will show you how to make time lapses and hyperlapses with this model manually. Since the Mini 4k is a rebranded version of the very popular Mini 2, the same technique can be used with both
Other related articles you may find interesting:
- Mini 4k review
- Mini 4k video quality
- Mini 4k photo quality
- Drone hyperlapse and time lapse beginners guide
If you prefer to watch this as a video, you will find my YouTube version at the end of this article
Length and interval
First of all, we must choose the length of the short movie
If possible I aim for a movie of about 12 seconds which is obtained by shooting 300 photos when using a frame rate of 24 frames per second, as
300 Photos / 24 Images per second = 12.5 seconds
Then we must choose the interval in seconds between each image. When taking 300 photos it is easy to compute the length of the shooting, as 300 shots can be taken in 5 minutes at an interval of 1 second, since
300 seconds / 60 seconds per minute = 5 minutes
| Interval | Time needed |
| 1 second | 5 minutes |
| 2 seconds | 10 minutes |
| 3 seconds | 15 minutes |
| 4 seconds | 20 minutes |
The interval between photos determines the speed of the elements in motion, as shown by the examples in the video above
When shooting time lapses with a drone, the main constraint is battery life. With the Mini 4k and Mini 2, the shooting should take less than 20 minutes to make sure we have the time to set up the shots and return home
When the movement in the scene is mostly made by people walking, cars, or other vehicles, the best results are obtained with an interval of one shot every 3 seconds. With this interval we have enough time for 300 photos
When the movement is mostly from clouds, an interval of four or five seconds is a better choice. In transitions from day to night, an even longer interval is preferable. In these cases we must aim for a lower number of photos, somewhere around 250, for a shorter film of about 10 seconds
RAW or JPEG?
All other current DJI models have a Hyperlapse functionality with four modes
- Free
- Circle
- Course Lock
- Waypoints
After choosing the number of photos and the interval, all sorts of moves are possible. At the end, the software produces a short movie. This feature is unavailable with the Mini 4k and the Mini 2, so we must do the whole process manually
Using the Timed Shot functionality in the Photo menu, we can shoot successive photos at a chosen interval until we press the shutter button again to stop the process
We cannot select the number of images, so we must keep an eye on the indicator of the amount of photos available on the disk in the lower part of the screen to know how many we have taken
With these two models, it is possible to choose between JPEG or JPEG plus RAW as the photo format
I normally use RAW for slightly better results, however, when using TImed Shots with RAW images the minimum interval between photos is five seconds, as the program needs more time for buffering each photo
With JPEG files we can choose an interval of two or three seconds, which is what we need on most occasions. For this reason in this video, I will be using JPEG files. Another advantage is that the post-processing process will be simpler
Time lapse
Let’s start with the simplest option: the time-lapse
In a time-lapse, the point of view, which is the drone’s camera, doesn’t move. In other words, the aircraft hovers in a static position while taking the photos
This technique produces interesting results when the scene already contains elements in motion or for transitions from day to night or the opposite
Motion Blur
The most important concept to master to produce good quality time-lapses and hyperlapses is Motion Blur
During a time-lapse, the elements in motion move very fast. At such a high speed in real life, our eyes will not perceive the sharp details of the moving elements, they would rather appear quite blurry
To replicate the same visual effect we must set the correct shutter speed to obtain the proper amount of motion blur, as you can see from these examples
Ideally, the correct amount of motion blur is obtained by using a shutter speed with a value of half the interval between the photos:
| Interval | Shutter speed |
| 2 seconds | 1 second |
| 3 seconds | 1.5 seconds |
| 4 seconds | 2 seconds |
| 5 seconds | 2.5 seconds |
It is easy to use the required speed when using a ground-based camera on a sturdy tripod, but a drone hovering will drift slightly even in low winds, so very long shutter speed cannot be used
We can compromise slightly and choose a shutter speed of half a second to obtain more than acceptable results
ND Filters
If we use such a long shutter speed in most light conditions, the resulting image will be way overexposed. This is why a set of ND filters is mandatory for time lapses and hyperlapses
With the correct filter, we can use the shutter speed of ½ seconds in all light conditions. Here you find a link to the ND filter to use with the Mini 4k and Mini 2
Action
Let’s get into action. I position the drone at a relatively high elevation to frame this village keeping the sky out of sight thus reducing the dynamic range. The main movement will come from cars, so I choose an interval of three seconds
We are right after sunset, so there will be a mix of natural and artificial light which is often very interesting
I have put on a very light ND filter to apply the correct shutter speed of half a second. If possible I select the minimum ISO value of 100, but if needed it can be increased to 200 or 400 without a major loss of quality
In the Photo/Video mode, I choose Timed Shots, I select a three-second interval
I write down the number of photos available on the disk at the bottom of the screen. I can then hit the shutter to start the shooting process. When the number shows that I have taken at least 300 shots, I hit the shutter again to stop the process.
Post-processing
When choosing hyperlapse mode with the other models of the current DJI line, the program creates a short movie at the end of the photo shoot. With the Mini 4k and Mini 2 we must do it manually, but the process is simple
We need a video editing program, here I am using Premiere Pro, but it works similarly on most other editors. In Premiere Pro I select Import and navigate to the folder containing all the photos for the time lapse
I chose the first image and thick the box Image Sequence at the bottom left of the window. Once the sequence is imported I can drag it to the timeline
The timelapse plays at the correct speed and we can edit it by using Lumetri color. If the aircraft drifts too much we can apply Warp Stabilizer to reduce the unwanted movement
For better results, I start by color-grading the images using Luminar Neo, my favorite photo editing program. I then batch export and import them to Premiere Pro as shown above
Here you find a link to Luminar Neo with a discount coupon code (Vicvideopic), it is an affiliate link, so I get a small commission in case of purchase
Hyperlapse
With the Mini 4k or Mini 2, we don’t have all the powerful tools of hyperlapse mode to handle the drone’s movement. However, with some care, we can apply some simple movements to add more interest to our short movie
The simplest option is to advance slowly during the photo shoot. We want the forward move to be very slow and consistent
Before starting we select Tripod in the speed selector of the remote controller. During the shooting, we push the right stick of the controller very slightly forward, trying to maintain a constant speed of about 0.2 meters per second. It is a bit tricky at first, but it gets easier with some practice
We can try some simple variations, like pushing the right stick of the controller diagonally to get an advancing move while sliding to the right, still trying to get a slow and consistent speed. Or we can add an elevation change with the left stick of the controller during the move
If You Prefer To Watch This As a Video