Drone Pilots Are Not Required to Register the DJI Mini 2 with the FAA
The DJI Mini 2 is a lightweight mini drone that works great for new commercial drone pilots and/or recreational drone flyers. Weighing in at only 249 grams, DJI Mini 2 owners are not required to register this drone with the FAA. Drones that are required to be registered are between 0.55 and 55 pounds. That being considered, the DJI MINI 2 does not have to be registered since it falls just below the FAA’s minimum weight requirement for drones of 250 grams.
Getting Started
When first unboxing your new DJI Mini 2, you will notice how small and lightweight the drone is. The DJI Mini 2 is a great drone for when you are traveling and want to get photos of the scenery because it is compact and not big and bulky. Before you fly, you will unfold the wings and take off the gimbal protector. The gimbal is the component where the camera is located and moves in tandem with the drone to capture optimal photos and video while flying. The power button is located on the bottom of the drone. When turning on and off, you will push the button once and then hold for three seconds (same for the remote controller). The DJI Fly app will give you instructions on pre-flight tasks such as calibrating the compass and making sure the GPS signal is good. Here is a great YouTube tutorial for more details on getting started with your DJI Mini 2.
DJI Fly App
DJI Mini 2 pilots will download the DJI Fly app in order to remotely pilot their drone from their phone and remote controller. The DJI Fly app is compatible with most of the latest phone models. See DJI’s phone compatibility list here for a full breakdown of phones that work with the DJI Fly app. Once the DJI Fly app is downloaded, the drone pilot will just need to connect their phone to the remote controller with the connecting cable that comes with the controller. There is a list of guides on how to get your phone set up and start flying your DJI Mini 2 once you are ready to fly your drone. For new drone pilots, the DJI Fly app gives users a basic flying tutorial on how to operate their DJI Mini 2 drone.
Flight Modes and Video Performance
The DJI Mini 2 is sleek, agile, and one of the most capable drones on the market. The DJI Mini 2 drone compares favorably in terms of battery life with some of DJI’s higher end drones such as the DJI Mavic 2 Pro or Phantom 4 Pro Version 2.0. The DJI Mini 2 features a battery life of roughly 30 mins depending on the mode it is flown in and wind conditions. The DJI Mini 2 features HD 4K resolution and shoots videos and pictures at up to 30 frames per second. The DJI Mini 2 can be flown in three flight modes – cinematic, normal and sport. Cinematic mode is best for drone pilots who want slow, smooth flight performance in order to capture aerial footage in the most efficient manner possible. Normal mode is the default flight mode and works well for most flying conditions. Sport mode (also known as “speed mode”) enables DJI drone users to fly the Mini 2 at higher speeds. I have flown my DJI Mini 2 as high as 36 mph when in sport mode. DJI drone pilots can also gain altitude faster when flying in sport mode.
DJI Fly More Package
The DJI Mini 2 is powered with a lithium-ion battery that is stored inside the fuselage of the drone. With the fly more package, DJI Mini 2 users get three batteries with the charging pack, propeller guards, and six pairs of propellers along with a small screwdriver to replace the propellers. The propeller guards are a must have because the DJI Mini 2 propellers are delicate and are susceptible to breaking if not handled and packaged with care. The propeller guards will give drone pilots peace of mind because they will not have to worry about the propellers being damaged while carrying their DJI Mini 2 drone in the carrying case. Here is a link to the DJI Mini 2 (plus fly more package) on Amazon’s website.
Flight Records
After every flight, DJI automatically saves your flight records which is helpful so you can demonstrate your flying experience to family, friends and/or clients. I have already flown my DJI Mini 2 more than 50 miles in 49 flights. See below.
SD Card is Not Included and I Recommend Purchasing One With Your DJI Mini 2
In order to upload and save your pictures/videos to your PC or tablet, I recommend purchasing an SD card. When I first purchased my DJI Mini 2, I bought this 128 GB SanDisk SD card and adapter. The SD card is easily inserted into the back of the drone so you can capture and store stunning aerial 4K photography and videos. The SD card does not come with the DJI Mini 2 and fly more package. The SD card is required if you want to upload photos and videos to your computer.
DJI Care Refresh Package – Cheap Insurance for Your New Drone
When I purchased the DJI Mini 2 drone, I bought the DJI Care Refresh package and it is a wise investment because it will give newer drone pilots peace of mind. The DJI Care Refresh Package offers an insurance policy for your drone in case you crash it. According to DJI’s website, “DJI Care Refresh (1-year plan) includes up to 2 replacements in 1 year. DJI Care Refresh (2-year plan) includes up to 3 replacements in 2 years and extends the original warranty up to 2 years from the date of purchase.” The only thing to keep in mind is that if you crash your drone, you must send in the damaged “carcass” for DJI to send you a new one. That is why it is risky for newer drone pilots to fly their new drone over water when first starting out.
Takeaway
The DJI Mini 2 is the perfect starter drone for both commercial and non-commercial aerial photographers. The performance, quality and reliability is unmatched when compared to other small consumer drones. If you are planning on capturing high quality photos and/or creating a photography business, then the DJI Mini 2 is a great way to get started. It is not quite as expensive as a higher end DJI Mavic 2 or Phantom 4 Pro and you can learn how to fly the drone without worrying about crashing a $1,500 drone like the Phantom 4 or DJI Mavic 2 Pro.
Happy flying!
Nick Clayton
Evergreen Skyworks