MasterShots are a set of automated flight maneuvers originally designed for beginners
During execution, the drone carries out several pre-set moves, which the app can edit into a short, music-synced video
Despite their beginner-oriented design, they can be employed by experienced pilots to document unfamiliar terrain
Master Shots works similarly on the Mini 4 Pro, DJI Flip, Air 3S, and Mavic 4 Pro (these links are affiliate, therefore I receive a small commission in case of purchase). I will detail the few minor differences between the different models
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Settings
We access MasterShots in the right part of the photo/video menu. This mode can only be used when the drone is flying
The exposure can be set to Auto or Manual via the icon on the bottom right of the screen
Beginners will start by using Auto exposure, but in this mode, when the luminosity changes, the software will compensate, thus creating noticeable shifts in the footage brightness, a clear sign of an amateur job
I suggest using manual exposure to better control the luminosity and then adjusting the shadows while editing. The differences in luminosity will still be too strong when the sky enters the frame, so I suggest carefully planning the shots
Much better results are obtained by shooting around sunrise or sunset, or with the sun covered by clouds, as the differences in luminosity are lower and the shadows much softer. This is why it is often said that the middle of a sunny day is the time when videographers sleep. For the same reason, it is generally preferable to have the sun behind the camera
The resolution can be set to 4k or 1080p with frame rates of 30 and 60 fps; therefore, some slow motion can be applied. This is an upgrade compared to the Mini 3 Pro, which only offers 30 fps
The 4k resolution applies only to the footage recorded during the shots, while the auto-generated short movies have a resolution of 1080p
All the color profiles can be used, not only Normal, but also D-Log M and HLG, while in the Flip, only Normal and D-Log M are available. The Mavic 4 Pro has a fourth mode, D Log. This is another upgrade compared to previous models, and it makes it easier to integrate the footage into the color scheme of a specific project
During the shots, the aircraft will perform all sorts of movements, so it is important to set the obstacle avoidance system to Brake or to Bypass to prevent possible collisions
The Flip is the only model analyzed in this video without omnidirectional obstacle sensors. When using this drone, extra care is needed while planning the shot to stay far from surrounding obstacles
MasterShots Parameters
A target is selected by drawing a box around it; it will be the reference point for all the moves. If a person is in the frame, it will be automatically recognized as a target and can be selected by simply tapping on the plus sign
In the middle, a small window shows the estimated flight time, which varies according to the set of movements and the parameters chosen, generally between 2 and 3 minutes
By opening it, we access 3 parameters: Width, Length, and Height. Each of them can be set to Small, Medium, or Large
Width indicates how far to the left and right the aircraft will travel. Length is for the maximum distance from the target. Height sets the distance between the lower and higher altitudes
It is generally preferable to set Height to Small to avoid reaching the maximum allowed altitude, in which case the MasterShot will be aborted. The Mavic 4 Pro and the Air 3S have another parameter that can be set: Start Point. I always leave it on Current Location
The Moves
After hitting the shutter, the aircraft will perform a series of moves according to the distance from the target and its nature. There are three different sets of moves:
- Proximity when the target is relatively close
- Landscape for a target further away
- Portrait when the target is a person
In Proximity mode the aircraft circles for a few seconds to compute its position, then it performs the following moves:
- a Dronie going backward while raising
- a Circle to the left far from the target
- a Pitch Up Fly Forward starting the move with the camera facing the ground and gradually tilting it up to reveal the target
- a Circle to the right from a closer distance using the digital zoom
- another Circle to the left from a medium distance
- a Rocket, raising in altitude while keeping the camera on the target
- a Camera Down Fly Forward until the target is below the aircraft
- a camera down + Circle while slightly ascending for the famous screwdriver effect
- a Camera Straight + Descend facing the opposite direction
- a Camera Down + Descend
The camera stops recording, and the aircraft goes back to the initial position
During the MasterShot, the map on the lower left of the screen shows the itinerary in green and the position of the drone with a blue triangle, handy to spot obstacles on the way
The moves in Portrait mode are very similar to those of Proximity, while Landscape mode introduces some moves with the drone rolling while turning, like in FPV mode
The Mastershort can be stopped at any time by pressing the red shutter on the screen or the pause button in the remote controller
Auto-Generated Movie
After turning on the controller and the drone, click on the icon with the small triangle below the shutter to access the Album containing the file on the memory disk and the internal memory of the drone
The files for Master Shots have an icon with a small star in the middle. The ones shot in color modes other than Normal show the name of the profile, D Log M or HLG. By clicking on one of them, we get a full-screen view
By clicking on Create Mastershot, we access the different templates, divided into five groups for different moods:
- Original
- Epic
- Cheerful
- Smooth
- Pop
Each of them contains several templates for short movies of about 30 to 40 seconds, putting together short clips taken from the MasterShot with music. Some templates contain text that cannot be modified. The resulting movie will be at a resolution of 1080p
When using a controller connected to a remote device, like the RC N2, the operation is straightforward, while with the RC 2 controller with the built-in screen, there is a minor inconvenience, as the files must be transferred using Quick Transfer to a smartphone or tablet with DJI Fly app installed to apply the templates and generate the short movie