The DJI Mavic 4 Pro has the best image quality of any folding DJI drone. Its 28 mm Hasselblad camera uses a 100 MP Four Thirds sensor with an f/2.0 to f/11 aperture, records 6K at up to 60 fps in HDR, and is rated by DJI at up to 15.5 stops of dynamic range. The 70 mm (48 MP, 1/1.3-inch) and 168 mm (50 MP, 1/1.5-inch) tele cameras both shoot 4K/60 HDR, and all three record 10-bit D-Log, D-Log M and HLG.
Video quality
- 28 mm Hasselblad: 6K (6016×3384) at 24 to 60 fps, 4K at up to 60 fps, and 4K/120 slow motion. True vertical 4K (2160×3840).
- 70 mm: 4K at up to 60 fps, 4K/120 slow motion, 2.7K vertical.
- 168 mm: 4K at up to 60 fps, 4K/100 slow motion, 2.7K vertical.
- Bitrate: 180 Mbps in H.265. The 512GB Creator Combo adds H.264 ALL-I 10-bit 4:2:2 at up to 1200 Mbps.
- Color: 10-bit in Normal (H.265), HLG, D-Log M and D-Log on every camera.
HDR is on by default in most video modes. DJI's FAQ lists the exceptions: slow motion on all cameras and 2.7K vertical at 48 to 60 fps on the teles.
Photo quality
- 28 mm: 25 MP or 100 MP (12288×8192). 100 MP gives huge crops and prints in good light; 25 MP is cleaner in low light and supports AEB up to 7 frames.
- 70 mm: 12 MP or 48 MP.
- 168 mm: 12.5 MP or 50 MP.
- RAW stacking of up to 5 frames, which DJI promotes for high-resolution RAW files.
- SmartPhoto in Single Shot blends frames for HDR, but not in Pro mode, at full resolution, or while moving.
The tele cameras
The Mavic 4 Pro's teles are a real step up. The 168 mm now has a 50 MP 1/1.5-inch sensor at f/2.8, compared with the Mavic 3 Pro's 12 MP 1/2-inch sensor at f/3.4. That means sharper distant subjects and usable footage later into the evening. The 70 mm is a 1/1.3-inch 48 MP camera at f/2.8, similar in class to the Mavic 3 Pro's.
Low-light quality
Normal video reaches ISO 12800 on all three cameras, and the f/2.0 aperture gives the main camera a stop more light than f/2.8. DJI's Dual Native ISO Fusion improves shadows in most modes. For settings, see Mavic 4 Pro night mode.
Where it falls short
- 100 MP has trade-offs: no HDR processing, ISO limited to 3200, and big files. Use it for landscapes in good light.
- Teles aren't Four Thirds. Cutting from the 28 mm to the 168 mm at dusk will show a quality step.
- Diffraction at small apertures is more visible on a 100 MP sensor. Stay around f/2.8 to f/5.6 and use ND filters.
- Log needs grading. Use DJI's Mavic 4 Pro LUTs.
How it compares
| Mavic 4 Pro | Mavic 3 Pro | Air 3S | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main sensor | 4/3, 100 MP | 4/3, 20 MP | 1-inch, 50 MP |
| Top video | 6K/60 HDR | 5.1K/50 | 4K/60 HDR |
| Longest lens | 168 mm, 50 MP | 166 mm, 12 MP | 70 mm, 48 MP |
| True vertical | Yes (28 mm) | No | No (2.7K crop) |
If you shoot for clients and want the most flexibility in one airframe, the Mavic 4 Pro is the pick. Compare in Mavic 3 Pro vs Mavic 4 Pro, start with best Mavic 4 Pro settings, or shop the DJI Mavic 4 Pro.
Related guides
- DJI Mavic 3 Pro photo and video quality: what to expect
- Best DJI Mavic 4 Pro camera settings for photo and video
- DJI Mavic 3 Classic photo and video quality: what to expect
- DJI Mavic 4 Pro night mode and low-light video: what to expect
- DJI Mini 4 Pro photo and video quality: what to expect
- DJI Mini 5 Pro photo and video quality: what to expect
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