DJI Mini 5 Pro

Stop and hover right now

Press Pause / RTH once.

It brakes and hovers. It also cancels QuickShots, MasterShots, Cruise Control and the FocusTrack subject. Manual p.32-36 p.72

Bring it home

Press and hold Pause / RTH until it beeps.

Press it again to cancel RTH and take control back. In the app: tap the RTH icon on the left of the camera view, then press and hold it. Manual p.42 p.72

Before you need it: is the RTH altitude above the trees? See Return Home.

Low battery warning

• A prompt with a countdown appears. Confirm, or let it count down, and it flies home.
• If you cancel and keep flying, it lands by itself once there's only enough power to get down.
• That auto landing can't be canceled. You can still steer with the right stick and slow the descent with the left stick. Fly it to a safe spot.

Lost or weak signal

• After 6 seconds without signal it does your Signal Lost action: RTH (default), Hover or Descend.
• It keeps returning even if the signal comes back. You can cancel once you're reconnected.
• Fix a weak signal: turn the controller so the antennas face the drone (the app's attitude indicator shows which way), get out from behind trees or buildings, walk toward it.
• Turn off Wi-Fi on phones nearby. Land soon if interference keeps up.

Manual p.43 p.74-75 p.88

It's drifting on its own (ATTI mode)

No GPS and no vision positioning. It won't hold position or brake by itself, and wind will push it around. The drone's lights blink yellow slowly.

Fly it by hand, away from obstacles, and land as soon as you can. Manual p.38-39

It hovers just above the ground and won't land

Landing Protection thinks the ground is bad.

• Normal landing: hold the left stick down for 5+ seconds and it lands anyway.
• RTH landing: tap Confirm, or hold the left stick all the way down for 1 second.

Manual p.47 p.52

Kill the motors (last resort)

Stopping the motors in the air means it falls. Same stick move as starting (both sticks down and in, or down and out), held for 2 seconds.

Default is Emergency Only: it only works when the drone detects a collision, a stalled motor, tumbling, or a runaway climb or drop. Setting: ••• > Safety > Advanced Safety Settings > Emergency Propeller Stop. Manual p.25

Other trouble

• Rain or snow: land now, dry the gimbal. p.64
• Motor straining or stalled: land now. p.56
• Gimbal drifting: after landing, calibrate the IMU and compass in DJI Fly. p.84
• Inside an unlocked GEO zone: it can't fly out, and if home is outside the zone RTH won't work. p.20

Circle a subject (Point of Interest)

Drag a box around it, tap Point of Interest, slide the arrow.

1. Drag a box around the subject on screen.
2. Tap Point of Interest at the bottom.
3. Drag the two-way arrow slider. Farther = faster. Drag the other way to circle the other direction.
4. It keeps circling until you stop it. While it circles you can climb, drop, or move closer or farther with the sticks.
5. Tap Stop, then the X to exit.

Start FocusTrack

1. Drag a box around the subject. Or tap the FocusTrack icon (square with a dot) on the left of the camera view, then tap a + over a detected car or person.
2. Pick a mode at the bottom: Spotlight (selected first), Point of Interest or ActiveTrack.
3. Exit: tap the FocusTrack icon again, or the X. Pressing Pause drops the subject.

Manual p.32 Hands-on guide

Camera locked on, you fly (Spotlight)

The camera stays pointed at the subject while you fly however you want. It follows your Bypass or Brake setting. No obstacle avoidance in Sport mode.

Works on anything stationary, plus moving cars, boats and people. Manual p.29

Follow it (ActiveTrack)

• Manual: drag the marker on the trace wheel to pick which side to film from. Inner ring = closer, outer ring = wider. Sticks also change direction, height and distance.
• Auto: tap AUTO. It picks its own angles using the default settings (your custom ones are ignored). Touching a stick or the wheel drops you out of Auto. Auto is for vehicles and people only.
• People scenes: it detects Standard, Cycling or Skiing. Tap the scene icon to change it. Skiing = sticks only, follows from behind. Never pick Standard or Cycling while skiing.
• Tune distance and height: FocusTrack Settings icon, or ••• > Control > FocusTrack Settings.

If it starts out of range it moves into range first. Manual p.29-31

Other ways to circle

• QuickShots > Circle: one automatic lap, records itself, flies back. Auto Shots
• QuickShots > Helix: circles while spiraling up and out.
• Hyperlapse > Circle: time-lapse orbit, clockwise or counterclockwise. Hyperlapse
• Waypoints with Face POI: a saved route that stays aimed at one spot.

When tracking goes wrong

• Thin branches, power lines, water, glass and plain white walls confuse it.
• Very dark or very bright light (manual's limits: under 300 or over 10,000 lux).
• Subject going up or down hills, changing shape, or hidden for a while.
• It can swap to another subject when two pass close together.
• Don't track kids or RC cars. Stay ready on Pause.

Manual p.31-32

QuickShots

1. Tap the Shooting Mode icon (right side, above the shutter) > QuickShots.
2. Pick a shot. Tap the + on the subject or drag a box around it.
3. Tap Start. It flies, records, makes a short video, then flies back to where it started.
4. Stop early: tap X or press Pause once. It hovers.

Shot list: DJI product info. Space needed: Manual p.33 Steps: Manual p.34

MasterShots

1. Shooting Mode icon > MasterShots.
2. Drag a box around the subject and adjust the shooting area.
3. Tap Start. It picks a route from the subject type and distance (portrait, close-up, long distance), records a run of classic moves, then flies back.
4. Stop early: tap X or press Pause once.

Manual p.32-33

Skip auto shots when

• The subject is hidden or out of sight for long.
• Snow, sand or big plain areas, or the subject blends into the background.
• The subject is in the air or moving fast.
• You're near buildings or GPS is weak (the path gets unstable).
• Extremely dark or bright light.

Quick picks

• 12MP for everyday shots. 50MP at a stunning spot where you'll crop or print. DM Productions
• Hover still for single shots. SmartPhoto (on by default in Single Shot) stacks several frames with HDR and scene detection, so the drone and gimbal have to be still. Manual p.66
• Shoot RAW (DNG) if you'll edit. General tip
• Take a few test shots before the important one. Manual p.67

Why a single shot came out with no HDR

• The drone or gimbal was moving, or wind kept it from hovering.
• Auto mode with EV changed by hand.
• Auto mode with AE lock on.
• Pro mode.

So the video's EV -0.3 tip is best for video. For photos in tricky light, stay in Auto at EV 0, or go Pro and use AEB. Manual p.66

Photo modes

DJI specs

Exposure limits & lens

DJI specs

RC 2 photo controls

Manual p.15 p.65 p.72

Panorama

Shooting Mode icon > Pano. Only works in the air.

• Avoid frames that are mostly sky or water. Stitching fails.
• No polarizer. It bands the sky.
• Sphere always has the sun in it. Shoot near sunrise or sunset, or under cloud.
• Save the single frames as RAW or JPEG in the Original tab.
• DM Productions sets pano to 50MP. One hands-on guide says pano can't do 50MP, HDR or 48 mm, so use 50MP if your app offers it.

Hands-on guide DM Productions

General photo tips

• Lowest ISO that works: 100 in daylight.
• Sunsets and high contrast: AEB 3 or 5, blend later.
• Set white balance by hand (around 5200K in daylight) so a set of shots matches.

General tip

Quick picks

DM Productions

Shutter speed for each frame rate

Without an ND the shutter runs very fast and footage looks too crisp, like a phone. DM Productions

Which ND filter

The Fly More kit has ND8, ND32 and ND128. Pick the one that gets you to the shutter above at low ISO.

Shutter still too fast: go stronger. Image too dark at ISO 100: go lighter. General tip

Resolution & frame rates

4K and slow-mo need H.265. Slow-mo files save at 30 fps, so a 120 fps clip plays 4x longer. DJI specs

Color modes

D-Log M looks flat and gray on screen. Color Display Assist previews the graded look, but it guesses your grade, so DM Productions leaves it off. DJI specs DM Productions

Gimbal

DJI specs Manual p.65 p.72

Smooth footage

• Fly in C (Cine). Push the sticks gently.
• Use Cruise Control for a dead-steady speed.
• Sport mode can shake.
• Camera tilted way down and flying fast: it limits speed to keep the shot stable, and the drone body can show at the edge. Tilt up a little to go faster.
• Strong wind can vibrate the gimbal.
• Slow down Gain & Expo for Cine. See Best Settings.

Manual p.27 p.38 p.64-65

Hyperlapse

1. Shooting Mode icon > Hyperlapse.
2. Pick a mode. Set Interval, Length and Max Speed. It shows shooting time and photo count.
3. Tap the shutter to start.
4. Stop: tap stop or press the Stop button. It exits and hovers.

The app builds a short 4K clip. You can also save every frame as RAW or JPEG. Manual p.34-35 Hands-on guide

Waypoint Flight

1. Tap the Waypoint icon on the left of the camera view.
2. Follow the prompts to add points and set actions.
3. Tap the icon again to exit. The route saves to the Library so you can fly it again (seasons, day to night).

• Before takeoff you can only add points on the map, and the map has to be downloaded with internet first.
• Camera Action set to None = you run the camera.
• Heading and Gimbal Tilt set to Face POI = the POI links to those points.

Cruise Control

1. Put it on a button: ••• > Control > Button Customization. DM Productions uses C1.
2. While pushing the sticks, press the button. It holds that speed hands-free.
3. RC 2: while turning the gimbal dial, press it and the gimbal keeps rotating. Set the right dial to gimbal roll for spinning shots.
4. Add more stick or dial while cruising to stack moves (like a spiral up).
5. Exit: press Pause once or tap X.

Obstacle avoidance follows your flight mode, so none in Sport. Manual p.36 DM Productions

Set before every flight

RTH altitude above the tallest thing around.

• ••• > Safety > Return to Home. You can't change it during RTH.
• After takeoff, wait for the "Home Point updated" voice before flying away.

Manual p.20 p.40-41 p.45

Optimal vs Preset

Manual p.41 p.45 DM Productions

What Preset RTH does

164 ft = 50 m, 16 ft = 5 m. If forward LiDAR sees something ahead, it climbs over it. Manual p.40 p.45-46

During RTH

• Right stick forward or back changes speed.
• Pull it all the way back: brakes, hovers, exits RTH.
• You can't steer sideways or change height.
• Cancel any time: Pause / RTH button or the X in the app.
• Lower max altitude below its current height and it drops to that first.
• Strong wind can keep it from making it home. Watch the battery.

Manual p.41-42

Land on the exact takeoff spot

Precision landing works when:

• The home point was recorded at takeoff and never changed.
• It climbed straight up at least 23 ft (7 m) before moving sideways.
• The takeoff spot has texture (not snow) and hasn't changed.
• Light isn't too bright or too dark.

Touch any stick except the left one up/down during landing and it gives up and drops straight down. Manual p.47-48

Moving home point

• Update once: ••• > Safety > Update Home Point.
• Dynamic Home Point (RC 2): ••• > Safety > Update Home Point > Dynamic Home Point > Update. Home follows the controller and the RTH icon turns blue.
• With Dynamic on, RTH brings it back near you, then it exits RTH and hovers. You land it.
• Needs open sky and strong GPS on the controller.

Manual p.40 p.48

Signal Lost action

••• > Safety > Advanced Safety Settings > Signal Lost: RTH (recommended), Descend or Hover. Kicks in after 6 s. In bad light it backtracks 164 ft (50 m) along its route, then does Preset RTH.

Manual p.43 DM Productions

On-screen helpers

Turn all three on in ••• > Safety > AR Settings: AR Home Point (the H), AR RTH Route (green line home), AR Aircraft Shadow (where it'll land). The route line is a guide only, watch the live view. Manual p.40 DM Productions

Sticks (Mode 2, the default)

"Turn" = spin in place (yaw). Left/Right on the right stick = slide sideways. The farther you push, the faster it goes. Manual p.25-26

Start and stop the motors

Manual p.24-25

Flight mode switch

Leave 33 ft (10 m) to stop a climb or descent. Manual p.38 p.72 DJI specs

RC 2 buttons

Manual p.14-15 p.72

RC 2 screen gestures

Manual p.74-76

See around the drone (Vision Assist)

• Swipe left on the compass (attitude indicator, bottom left), swipe right on the mini map, or tap the icon at its lower right.
• Tap an arrow to look that way, hold it to lock. Tap the center to go big.
• Yellow, then red = obstacle getting closer.
• Press, hold and drag up to show the compass and Vision Assist together. DM Productions

Manual p.52-54

Obstacle avoidance

••• > Safety > Manual Obstacle Avoidance

• Works in N and C only, never Sport. With Bypass on, Pause = brake and hover 3 s.
• Sensors only keep up to: forward 34 mph, back and sides 31 mph, up and down 13 mph.
• Blind to: thin wires and branches, glass, water, plain white or black surfaces, darkness.
• DM Productions: Bypass about 80% of the time. Off only for rock-steady shots or threading a tight gap. Keep Display Radar Map on.

Manual p.49-51 DJI specs DM Productions

Where settings live (••• top right)

Manual DM Productions screens

Flight time

"Real flying" is DJI's typical figure with 4K 60 recording, maneuvers and hovering. DJI specs

Temperature

Manual p.56-57

Charging time (DJI 65W charger)

The drone has to be off to charge through it. The hub does standard batteries 2 at a time (charger 45W or more), Plus batteries one after another. DJI specs Manual p.59 p.61

Hub tricks

• Power bank: batteries in, plug your phone or controller into the hub's USB-C, press the function button. Lowest battery drains first (needs over 5%).
• Combine charge: press and hold the function button. It moves charge from the low batteries into the fullest one. Stops when that one's full or the others hit 10%. Hold again to stop.

Manual p.61-63

Battery care

• Never insert or remove it with the drone on. Push until it clicks.
• Fully charge at least every 3 months.
• Travel at 30% or less.
• Rated for 200 cycles.
• Store dry, ideally 71-82°F.

Manual p.57 p.83-84

Power on and off

• Unfold the right rear arm: it powers on. Fold it: power-off countdown (press any button to cancel).
• Or press, then press and hold the power button.
• Arm trick doesn't work while USB-C is plugged in. Keep both arm options on. DM Productions
• Take the gimbal cover off before powering on.

Manual p.11-12

Get files off (QuickTransfer)

1. On the phone: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and Location on.
2. DJI Fly: tap the QuickTransfer card on the home screen, or Album > icon top right, or press the drone's side button.
3. First time with this phone: press and hold the drone's power button to confirm.

• Up to 100 MB/s over Wi-Fi 6. Works even with the drone off (Allow QuickTransfer in Sleep, on by default, ••• > Camera).
• Or: USB-C to a computer (drone can be off), or pull the microSD.
• Don't pull the card while it's recording.

Manual p.66-69 DJI specs

Pre-flight checklist

• Gimbal cover off before powering on p.12
• Battery clicked in. Props tight, unfolded, no chips p.22 p.55
• Drone, controller and phone charged p.22
• Lens and sensors clean (soft dry cloth, no alcohol) p.51
• microSD in, test shot taken p.67
• Airspace checked (B4UFLY or Aloft), LAANC if needed
• Wind under 27 mph, no rain or fog p.20
• DJI Fly logged in (expires every 90 days) p.4
• Obstacle avoidance on Bypass or Brake p.22
• Max altitude, max distance and RTH altitude set p.22
• Flat open spot, rear of the drone facing you. Not a car roof or shiny surface p.21 p.27
• After takeoff: straight up 23 ft, wait for "Home Point updated" p.20 p.47

Gotchas

• Not logged in or not connected to the app: capped at 98 ft high and 164 ft out. p.4
• Weak GPS at power-on: height capped at 98 ft above takeoff until GPS gets strong. p.19
• Max altitude may ship set low (DM Productions saw 66 ft). Set it to 400 ft (120 m). DM Productions
• Update firmware when prompted, and update every battery. p.13 p.82

US rules

• Register it. DJI lists the weight as 249.9 g ± 4 g, so yours may be over 250 g. With a Plus battery it's about 295 g. Over 250 g = FAA registration ($5 at FAADroneZone) and Remote ID.
• Paid work = Part 107, and registration no matter the weight.
• 400 ft max above ground. Keep it in sight.
• Controlled airspace needs LAANC approval (B4UFLY, Aloft).
• Night: anti-collision light visible for 3 miles.
• Recreational pilots need the free TRUST certificate.

DJI specs FAA rules

DJI GEO zones on the map

Manual p.19-20 p.89-91

After landing

• Power off the drone first, then the controller.
• Check the drone, props and gimbal for damage.
• Clean the lens and sensors.
• Gimbal cover on, arms folded, antennas folded.
• Let the batteries cool before charging.

Manual p.21 p.27 p.83-84

From DM Productions, "DJI Mini 5 Pro: Settings You Should Change Immediately." Set these once on the ground. Gain & Expo numbers are read off his screen.

Camera view

••• > Camera

••• > Safety

••• > Control > Gain & Expo Tuning

Defaults are too fast and jerky, gimbal tilt most of all. His values:

The Expo and Gimbal values were shown right after his Cine page, so set them on the Cine tab. Normal's Expo and Gimbal screens weren't shown. The app may show mph if it's set to imperial.

••• > Control > Button Customization

In the air

Bottom-left compass: swipe left for the map and Vision Assist. Press, hold and drag up to show the compass and Vision Assist together.