So I finally picked up the Mini 4 Pro for my trip to the Scottish Highlands next month but honestly the accessory situation is stressing me out way more than it should. Ive been flying for years so I thought I had a handle on this but nothing from my old setup fits quite right and the weight restrictions are a nightmare. My logic was to stay under the 250g limit for easy travel but the ground over there is gonna be nothing but wet grass and sharp rocks so I really need landing gear. Problem is every set I find puts me over the limit and then what's even the point of the Mini?
I have about 200 bucks left in the budget and I cant decide what's actually essential. I was looking at:
The DJI bag feels so flimsy and I'm worried the props are gonna get mangled while I'm trekking around. Also do I really need a strobe if I'm only shooting during the day or is that just more dead weight? I feel like I'm overthinking this but I dont want to get to the middle of nowhere and realize I missed something basic because I was too busy worrying about a few grams...
Honestly, I had a similar headache when I took my Mini 4 Pro up to Glencoe last summer. I bought the official DJI bag thinking it would be enough, but unfortunately, it felt like a cheap lunchbox and offered zero protection against the Scottish drizzle. The zippers snagged on my rain shell constantly, it was just a mess. I also tried those snap-on landing legs, but they were not as good as expected because they push you over that 249g mark instantly. In the Highlands, you really gotta just master the hand-launch and hand-landing. It is the only way to keep your gimbal out of the damp peat without breaking the weight laws. If you want to stay light but protected, focus on these:
Late to the party but I'm gonna disagree on the landing gear. In my experience, those clip-ons are just risky dead weight. Ive tried many over the years and they always snag. Grab a Startrc 50cm Waterproof Foldable Landing Pad instead. It keeps the gimbal safe from mud without ruining your sub-250g status. Also, the Smatree Hard Carrying Case for DJI Mini 4 Pro is way tougher than that stock bag for trekking.
Saw your post earlier and wanted to weigh in because the Highlands are no joke. Be careful with those clip-on landing gears tho. Most of them are absolute junk and catch the wind like a sail, which is the last thing you want on a cliffside. Plus, like you said, they push you over 250g and that ruins the whole point of the Mini. I would suggest just learning to hand launch and hand land. Its a bit nerve-wracking at first but way safer than trying to find flat ground in wet heather. If you really want protection from the damp, just get a folding landing pad. It weighs basically nothing in your pack and keeps the sensors dry. Also, definitely skip the strobe if youre only doing day shots. Its just extra drag you dont need when the wind starts picking up. Honestly, just focus on keeping that thing light so the motors dont struggle in the gusts. Better to have a light drone that flies right than a heavy one that gets tossed around.
I spent hours weighing my gear on a jewelry scale last year because I was terrified of hitting 251g. Honestly, I found that even tiny additions can mess with the flight controllers pid tuning in high winds, causing some nasty oscillations. I almost lost mine over a lake because of it. Quick question tho, what kind of wind speeds are you expecting at those peaks? It really changes how cautious you need to be with the aerodynamics.
Just catching up on this thread. Before you buy anything else, how often are you planning on flying in actual mist or high humidity? The Highlands weather changes in seconds, and that should really dictate your gear choices more than just the weight. I would suggest staying away from the cheap plastic landing legs. They act like little sails in the wind and can seriously mess with the flight stability. If you're worried about the gimbal, focus on these instead: