Hey Everybody

We compared the Mavic Mini with the Spark. Here are the results: DJI Mavic Mini vs. DJI Spark Comparison

What do you think about the new Mavic Mini? Will you get one?

It is a lot better than Spark if you ask me.
But I do have some questions if it can replace my Mavic Pro (1)

Btw how do I get into sports mode with my Mavic Mini?

Montfrooij Posted at 10-30 06:36
It is a lot better than Spark if you ask me.
But I do have some questions if it can replace my Mavic Pro (1)

What questions?

UnlimiteDrone@gmail.com Posted at 10-30 06:43
Btw how do I get into sports mode with my Mavic Mini?

It should be somewhere on the screen.
That is what I have watched at least.

UnlimiteDrone@gmail.com Posted at 10-30 06:48
What questions?

Mainly if there is AEB (5) mode and if we can choose some kind of 'flat' profile.
Plus if it has cinematic mode (flight mode)

Montfrooij Posted at 10-30 06:53
Mainly if there is AEB (5) mode and if we can choose some kind of 'flat' profile.
Plus if it has cinematic mode (flight mode)

One review said it did not have dlog.

DAFlys Posted at 10-30 07:06
One review said it did not have dlog.

Yeah, I heard Peter say that.
But that was in the beta version.
Then again, I guess it will be what DJI designed it for.
Entry level consumers.

Montfrooij Posted at 10-30 07:11
Yeah, I heard Peter say that.
But that was in the beta version.
Then again, I guess it will be what DJI designed it for.

Not just entry level, it's a perfect travel drone. Very compact, you don't have to worry about regulations in many countries and the flight time is good enough so you don't have to carry 5 large batteries with you.

Montfrooij Posted at 10-30 06:36
It is a lot better than Spark if you ask me.
But I do have some questions if it can replace my Mavic Pro (1)

I don’t know. I actually thought I was going to upgrade from Spark to MM, but after seeing the specs I’m not so sure. If it had:

Obstacle avoidance
Raw photo
D-cinelike profile

I would have. Especially the obstacle avoidance, for a drone small enough to fly it in tight spaces, forests etc. would have been really handy and would have convinced me to buy it.

2.7k and 3 axis gimbal, for my needs, is not quite enough to by another drone, if I lose obstacle avoidance.

BrianSC Posted at 10-30 07:46
I don’t know. I actually thought I was going to upgrade from Spark to MM, but after seeing the specs I’m not so sure. If it had:

Obstacle avoidance

The weight of the sensor/s in the front would have put it over 249g.

Hi, thanks for sharing this drone comparison that you had provided for the DJI Spark and DJI Mavic Mini. Hope that you could get the best recommendation and suggestions from our fellow DJI members here in Forum. Thank you for your continued support!

DJI Gamora Posted at 10-30 08:09
Hi, thanks for sharing this drone comparison that you had provided for the DJI Spark and DJI Mavic Mini. Hope that you could get the best recommendation and suggestions from our fellow DJI members here in Forum. Thank you for your continued support!

Thank you very much! What do you think about the Mavic Mini?

UnlimiteDrone@gmail.com Posted at 10-30 08:36
Thank you very much! What do you think about the Mavic Mini?

If the Mini had raw files capability, I would jump
on one with both feet. I might still buy one just
for the 30 minute flight time.

I will probably wait a few months to let any
firmware, etc, issues shake out & begin working
on selling one of my Sparks.

The Mini looks good!

Flight time is the key point!!! The flight time of Spark is too short!

Johnny C! Posted at 10-30 08:49
If the Mini had raw files capability, I would jump
on one with both feet. I might still buy one just
for the 30 minute flight time.

I'm a pondering amateur photographer and Spark owner as well...first reaction was to sell the Spark and buy a Mini.  Then...I came up with the positives and negatives from my view of both, without flying it;

Positives - More compact, lighter, 3 axis gimbal, 2.7k vs. 1080, higher bitrate.  I like being able to fold it up and put it in my camera backpack.  The Spark fits in there on its side, but always worried about crunching the arms.  Increased flight time from some 15 minutes on the Spark to 30 on the mini, wow!  Also cheaper than the Spark offering.

Negatives - No follow mode, no obstacle avoidance.  I've enjoyed using the follow mode on the Spark, assuming this is a hardware thing (weight) vs. a software thing?

Neutral - Having to register it, or not...at $5 and a process that takes about 5 minutes online, that shouldn't even be that big a deal, but I see it is a main marketing point.  Still not sure you can fly over people, but I thought that rule change may be coming from the FAA.  Increased range was always a weird one for me, as if you are supposed to be in line of sight, it doesn't take long to not be able to see it, so 1 mile out, or 2, or 4, not sure that's really legal, by the letter of the law, but whatever works.  Speed is similar.

Confused - Exempt of all drone laws with the Mini?  Uh...really?  

Going to have to watch and ponder.  Thought about stepping up to the Mavic Air...but didn't pull the trigger on that yet.  

Exciting news, nonetheless...they are getting smaller.  

The MMini is a great little drone!  The spark is a tough drone to top.   WHEN my Spark breaks, dies or drowns it will be great that there is a cheaper and slightly better option to replace it with.  IMHO there is not enough to warrant replacing a perfectly good spark.  IF the M-Mini was 4K, then I would have been very tempted to shelve the spark into early retirement.  

Is it possible to use Spark remote on Mavic mini?  Have you tested it?

Montfrooij Posted at 10-30 06:53
Mainly if there is AEB (5) mode and if we can choose some kind of 'flat' profile.
Plus if it has cinematic mode (flight mode)

From the DJI website

Mavic Mini Still Photography Modes
    Single shot
    Interval: 2/3/5/7/10/15/20/30/60 s

Spark Still Photography Modes        
   Single Shot
   Burst Shooting: 3 frames
   Auto Exposure Bracketing (AEB): 3 bracketed frames at 0.7 EV bias
   Interval: 2/3/5/7/10/15/20/30/60 s


So for photography, the Spark is better .

bluesky2017 Posted at 10-30 10:04
Is it possible to use Spark remote on Mavic mini?  Have you tested it?

I don't know for sure but I don't think so.

Not sure about replacing spark with this...except for the weight..

Negatives that are making me think:
- No tracking mode
- Looks like you can only use the remote to control this, not just smartphone with wifi like spark. This is a big deal for me.
I take it to camping/hiking and whereever and use if for quick shots and don't bother taking the remote controller with me.
With mini, I need to take remote with me always which makes it a bulkier option than my spark!

One more thing, there is no internal storage as the article in the link says

fansc88ec810 Posted at 10-30 10:29
Not sure about replacing spark with this...except for the weight..

Negatives that are making me think:

Oh you really use the Spark with Smartphone? I never did that and know nobody else who does that.

Montfrooij Posted at 10-30 06:52
It should be somewhere on the screen.
That is what I have watched at least.

The max speed is 13m/s in sport mode , that is good!!

Are you guys crazy?! Of course, it's a HUGE improvement! 30 min flight time, 2.7k video, no law restrictions, and it's super fast! Who cares about the sensors, or bracketing... If you know how to shoot you will get much better pictures than with the spark.

Also, spark is freekin noisy!

No mention of WiFi vs Occusync?   I've always had wifi reception problems with the Spark and limited range.  Occusync and 4k would make me get this on day one.

PS013 Posted at 10-30 10:07
From the DJI website

Mavic Mini Still Photography Modes

Oof!

I would miss the AEB on the MM.

I guess I'll keep me Sparks!

Again, price is king, they made a entry drone for 399, less than the spark.  It is in most respects better than the Spark, the one exception being the obstacle avoidance.    The positives, size, size, size........ 3 axis gimbal, 2.7k video......... and ..... 30 minute flight time.   Mine is ordered and my spark and mavic will be on Ebay tonight.   I really only use mine for travel anymore, so Mavic Mini is King!!!

tvon Posted at 10-30 12:49
No mention of WiFi vs Occusync?   I've always had wifi reception problems with the Spark and limited range.  Occusync and 4k would make me get this on day one.

Occusync and 4k  would make it a Mavic Air killer, and that's not the purpose of this drone. Mavic Mini was made to replace the spark on the market. And it did that perfectly.

tvon Posted at 10-30 12:49
No mention of WiFi vs Occusync?   I've always had wifi reception problems with the Spark and limited range.  Occusync and 4k would make me get this on day one.

Occusync and 4k  would make it a Mavic Air killer, and that's not the purpose of this drone. Mavic Mini was made to replace the spark on the market. And it did that perfectly.

Cavids Posted at 10-30 13:17
Again, price is king, they made a entry drone for 399, less than the spark.  It is in most respects better than the Spark, the one exception being the obstacle avoidance.    The positives, size, size, size........ 3 axis gimbal, 2.7k video......... and ..... 30 minute flight time.   Mine is ordered and my spark and mavic will be on Ebay tonight.   I really only use mine for travel anymore, so Mavic Mini is King!!!

Why your mavic though?

UnlimiteDrone@gmail.com Posted at 10-30 08:36
Thank you very much! What do you think about the Mavic Mini?

You're welcome! All I can say is this drone was amazing. Thank you!

UnlimiteDrone@gmail.com Posted at 10-30 15:28
Why your mavic though?

I am selling my mavic pro and my spark as 99% of what I do is use it for travel, and the mavic pro is too big for me for that

BrianSC Posted at 10-30 07:46
I don’t know. I actually thought I was going to upgrade from Spark to MM, but after seeing the specs I’m not so sure. If it had:

Obstacle avoidance

all about price and at its current price, i couldn't agree more.   not actually much of an upgrade from the spark as i thought initially.   if this drone was $250 for base kit  and $349 for fly more then no debate..

but no avoidance systems, no activetrack, no additional color profiles, and no unique features to separate it from the spark other then weight and design.. and that price.. basically only paying for branding and the fact that its ultra light.. forgetting that almost completely stripped of features.,

Johnny C! Posted at 10-30 08:49
If the Mini had raw files capability, I would jump
on one with both feet. I might still buy one just
for the 30 minute flight time.

for the current price, absolute agree, its missing too much to justify it.  if it were $249 for base kit and $349 then i would actually be all over this myself as well and i dont even need it!

Can we use the activetrack mode in mavic mini to use the drone to follow us while shooting, similar to what we did with Spark?
Thanks a lot!

Patricia Almeida Posted at 10-30 21:50
Can we use the activetrack mode in mavic mini to use the drone to follow us while shooting, similar to what we did with Spark?
Thanks a lot!

not from the looks of it, several reviews mentioned lack of active track and without avoidance sensors plus the lower processing power onboard its unlikely.   

that being said they could add it in an update and have processing streamed via the app, similar to how litchi retroactively added active track to older drones but still possibly crash prone without aviodance sensors.

UnlimiteDrone@gmail.com Posted at 10-30 06:43
Btw how do I get into sports mode with my Mavic Mini?

The onscreen button to select sports mode was shown in the top left hand corner on one of the reviews.

UnlimiteDrone@gmail.com Posted at 10-30 07:46
Not just entry level, it's a perfect travel drone. Very compact, you don't have to worry about regulations in many countries and the flight time is good enough so you don't have to carry 5 large batteries with you.

Very true.
I have not made my final verdict (yet).
For now the limitations feel too much of a handicap for me.
But time will tell (real user reviews mainly)

BrianSC Posted at 10-30 07:46
I don’t know. I actually thought I was going to upgrade from Spark to MM, but after seeing the specs I’m not so sure. If it had:

Obstacle avoidance

Frankly, I don't care about obstacle avoidance.
If I get that close to an obstacle I'm doing something wrong
The 30 min flight time and option to use 25/50 fps is a very welcome upgrade if you ask me.
Plus it is < 250 gr so you won't be bothered too much by european laws.

PS013 Posted at 10-30 10:07
From the DJI website

Mavic Mini Still Photography Modes

If it lacks AEB mode, I will skip it 100%.
That is the only mode I use for photography (since the contrast is usually way too high for the small sensor)