Right here now we 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 pastime.
As a result of the query is, why not? You’ll hardly discover something higher round this value level by way of efficiency and even picture high quality.
And DJI is broadly often known as one of many high drone corporations on the planet for creating high-quality and long-lasting drones; you’re off to a fantastic begin.
Thus far, so good, however the primary purpose 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 by the Florida vibes with a collection of images taken by one in every 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 expertise and digicam high quality, so, in actual phrases, the digicam present in Mini 2 SE is best than the older one present in Mini 2.
However by right now’s requirements, 1/2.3-inch CMOS is just too little for any type of skilled images.
Don’t count on a lot of it. When you’re aiming for a professional-level digicam, look for a minimum of a drone with 1/1.3-inch CMOS however ideally 1-inch or the Mavic 3 Professional‘s Hasselblad 4/3-inch.
Word: A 1-inch sensor is greater than 4 occasions greater than a 1/2.3-inch one.
To know it higher, a sensor measurement will straight contribute to how a lot gentle the sensor can register in a brief time period, which straight 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 significantly 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 now we have with an entry-level drone, and but, it’s not that dangerous when you simply need to get into the pastime, particularly in images.
You’ll merely need to bear in mind that the Mini 2 SE’s sensor will fall behind when you’re aiming for low-light images.
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 right now’s requirements, however not too far.
In actuality, if we publish images on social media or take some trip images, 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 Digital camera |
|---|---|
| Sensor Dimension | 1/2.3-inch CMOS |
| Efficient Pixels | 12 Million (12MP) |
| Aperture | f/2.8 |
| Area of View | 83 levels |
| ISO Vary | 100-3200 for each images and movies |
| Digital Shutter Pace | Between 4 sec and 1/8000 |
| Picture Dimension | 4000×3000 |
| Photograph Format | JPEG & RAW |
| Video Decision | Max 2.7k at 30 fps or FHD at 60 fps |
| Max Video Bitrate | 40 Mbps |
| Video Coloration Mode | Regular |
| Gimbal | 3-axis |
» MORE: Digital camera Expertise in Drones (Defined)
DJI Mini 2 SE for images
Strictly by way of images, the DJI Mini 2 SE is respectable. In reality, it’s greater than respectable for on a regular basis varieties of images, however when you’re aiming towards skilled captures, it falls brief.
The digicam aperture of f2/8 is common for many drones in the marketplace. Nonetheless, with a bigger aperture, we’d be capable to take higher low-light and evening images, together with long-exposure photos.
Identical 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, now we have an higher restrict of ISO to 3200. The ISO is the digicam sensor’s sensitivity to gentle, the place the picture sensor will increase its sensitivity with the intention to expose the picture correctly in low-light eventualities at the price of inducing picture noise.
Nonetheless, this may straight contribute to the standard of low-light images.
What now we have as a bonus with the DJI Mini 2 SE is that it could {photograph} in RAW.
Because of this you’ll be capable to post-process your photos additional in applications like Lightroom to regulate the shadows and highlights, publicity, colours, temperature, and way 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 here are post-processed, so the sky’s the restrict. And that’s regular. However when you’re seeking to see what sort of picture high quality you’ll be able to take with the DJI Mini 2 SE straight with out enhancing (nonetheless RAW model), right here now we have two photos to match.
Not so spectacular, proper? That’s fantastic as a result of even when you seize images with knowledgeable DSLR digicam or high-end drone, the pictures will nonetheless undergo a bit except improved through post-processing strategies.
However now let’s see how this drone does at completely different occasions of the day.
» MORE: Is the DJI Mini 2 SE Price It?
Daylight images
That is the place the DJI Mini 2 SE shines probably the most, with photos taken in full daylight.
- Your ISO doesn’t have to extend its worth to compensate for gentle to show the picture correctly, so the pictures might 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 steadiness does a fantastic job of offering the right ambient colours in full sunny daylight.
- Shutter velocity can be inside vary, so there is no such thing as a fuss round right here.
All these circumstances are met to seize the very best images you are able to do with this drone.
Though many different drones can be higher at images than the Mini 2 SE, for this value, it does excel, particularly once we evaluate it with the Holy Stone HS720E or some other related drones.
Your greatest digicam settings for good photos in daylight can be as follows:
- ISO: Locked at 100
- White Steadiness: Auto or 5600K
- Shutter Pace: Auto
» MORE: Drone Images Planning (Defined for Newbies)
Low-light images
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, but it surely 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 have to apply some post-processing to extend shadows and perhaps 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 might be an excessive amount of of a distinction between the highlights and shadows.
If photographing in full solar at dawn, the ISO might be decrease. But when not, you’ll most likely have to extend it to be accurately uncovered (if not on auto mode)
On this situation, to take the very best low-light photos, whether or not dawn, sundown, or an overcast afternoon (and even to a storm), we’ll need to manually deal with locking the ISO at a particular worth.
That’s provided that we can not take any images with the ISO100 with out counting on a long-exposure course of.
So, listed here are some settings I like to recommend:
- ISO: Lock it between 100 and 400, but when wanted, go as much as 800.
- Shutter Pace: Go away it to auto
- White Steadiness: 3500K to 4500K for dawn or 5600K for an overcast day. Or go away it on auto and additional modify it in post-process.
» MORE: Drone Images: Newbie’s Information to Getting Began
Night time images
The DJI Mini 2 SE just isn’t meant for evening images.
The picture sensor is just too small to seize any evening images. On this case, the ISO must be pushed to its higher limits, and numerous picture noise might 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 and compensate with longer exposures to get sufficient gentle 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 won’t do dangerous when you’re attempting to {photograph} an illuminated downtown or areas at evening with numerous synthetic gentle. Nevertheless it doesn’t do a wonderful job both.
You’ll even have to recollect the drone legal guidelines of capturing evening images with a drone and flying the DJI Mini 2 SE at evening.
Subsequently, the Mini 2 SE is NOT my advice for evening images.
» MORE: Finest Drones for Night time Time Use (Images & Video)
Recording movies with DJI Mini 2 SE
With recording movies, we’ll benefit from the identical digicam specs as with images.
The Mini 2 SE sensor measurement could have probably the most impression on video high quality, and, as with daylight, low-light, or evening images, filming might be largely the identical however will undergo 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 gentle will come into the digicam sensor, which is ideal whenever you’re recording in decrease gentle circumstances. However at 60 fps, you are able to do it solely in full daylight with out dropping 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 velocity to double the framerate for easy and cinematic movies. Which will require ND filters when you’re filming in full daylight.
So, as an illustration, in case your DJI Mini 2 SE is ready to movie in 2.7k at 30 frames per second, the shutter velocity 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 velocity at 1/120fps.
These are some settings when you’re aiming to get the very 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.
Nonetheless, 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.
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 enhancing in post-process software program. It solely has the traditional coloration mode.
Nevertheless it does profit from the incredible 3-axis mechanical gimbal that’s generally discovered throughout (nearly) all DJI drones. This implies your video might be extraordinarily easy even when recorded in high-wind circumstances.
» MORE: 3 Tricks to Market Your Enterprise With Drone Images and Videography
Edited vs. non-edited Mini 2 SE photos
In images, to get the very best photos we are able to with any drone, not solely the DJI Mini 2 SE, now we have to edit them.
However with the intention to try this, it’s a must to set your Mini 2 SE to seize images in RAW format. This manner, the pictures usually are not processed, and also you’re freely in a position to do it your self.
Nonetheless, when you’re not aiming for any semi-professional degree photos, then taking pictures in JPEG is sweet sufficient.
However when you {photograph} in JPEG, your photos will already be processed with info, so bettering such images 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 respectable outcomes.
So, photos captured together with your DJI Mini 2 SE with out enhancing are okay, particularly when you shoot in full daylight.
However as a result of now we have this feature to shoot in RAW, we must always all the time purpose to edit these kind of images to get the very best outcomes we are able to out of this small sensor drone.
» MORE: Easy methods to Edit Drone Photographs for Social Media Utilizing Lightroom (Information)
Is that this drone adequate to start out studying drone images?
To start out studying aerial images? Completely sure. For any sort {of professional} images? No.
All of us took step one into aerial images, and as a photographer, I do advocate utilizing this drone for a number of causes.
After I began my journey in aerial images, 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 means under that of this drone. It’s an historic drone with an outdated digicam and expertise. So, as per right now’s requirements, the Mini 2 SE does higher.
You don’t want a elaborate drone to start out studying drone images.
In reality, the DJI Mini 2 SE can be preferrred, and right here’s why.
It’s low-cost, small and transportable. It weighs lower than 250 grams, so it should profit from relaxed drone legal guidelines. Fewer complications for rookies in that space.
Furthermore, you could possibly fly the Mini 2 SE in locations the place you legally can not with different drones.
That may open new alternatives to take all varieties 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 may have superior sufficient on this area of interest, you’ll be able to improve to a extra skilled sort of drone.
What sort of images can you are taking with DJI Mini 2 SE?
There aren’t any limits to how you should utilize this drone within the images area. Truly, there are a couple of limits, so what do I do know?
When you’re searching for a particular space in images and even video taking, as coming from knowledgeable photographer, right here’s how we are able to classify this drone’s digicam capabilities with completely different eventualities.
- ✅ Panorama: Good
- ✅ Overcast Panorama: Common
- ✅ Cityscape: Good
- ✅ Morning Pictures: Common
- ❌ Night time Pictures: Insufficient
- ✅ Actual Property Images: Good
- ✅ Selfie & Household Photographs: Good
- ✅ Journey Images: Good
- ❌ Fireworks: Beneath common
- ❌ Night time Cityscapes: Beneath common
- ❌ Wildlife Images: Insufficient
- ❌ Mapping: Insufficient
Understand that this classification can rely on many components, equivalent to the present lighting circumstances, wind velocity, location, and different points.
All these photos may be additional improved if captured in RAW and post-processed. So, the sky’s the restrict.
