The Mini3 and Mini3 Pro have an 8-bit color profile named Normal
It is a pre-processed color mode ready to use that doesn't need intensive color grading
But the Pro model also offers a 10-bit flat profile, D-Cine-like, able to stand any type of processing
In this video I will analyze the two modes and show how I'm going to use them
Normal mode is the one meant to be used right out of the box. Very interesting for users who don't have access to a computer or need to post immediately their work on social media platforms
As an 8-bit color mode it is able to display 16 million colors against more than 1 billion for a 10-bit profile
I know, I know, some people will ask, 16 million colors are plenty
Why would we need more than that? Well, things are not that easy
A wider color palette renders a better transfer of the sky and avoids color banding in uniform areas and other artifacts
especially when heavier color grading is needed. Normal mode is exactly the same in the Mini3 and in the Mini3 Pro
although the Pro model has a bitrate of 160 Mbps versus 100 for the Mini3
A higher bitrate means less compression in the file, which in theory results in better performance in post-processing
But the difference in this case is subtle. Footage shot in normal is pre-processed in order to be ready to use
Now, normal mode in the Mini3 and Mini3 Pro has been constantly improved via a series of firmware updates
as often happens with DJI models. After the release of the Mini3 Pro, I found that the shadows were a bit too dark
and that the footage was not exactly ready for use out of the camera
but needed a general close of contrast and separation. You are watching some ungraded footage shot in easy light conditions
in orange plantations in the east coast of Sicily, near Mount Etna
There are orange trees everywhere here. As you can see, it is the footage with which the clips are excellent and can certainly be used without any grading
I don't think it improves widely by adding a touch of contrast and separation
This is excellent news for users involved on social media. Considering also the possibility to shoot video in portrait mode
The quality of vertical footage taken in normal mode is exactly the same as for the horizontal format
By turning the camera down towards the ground, we can concentrate on the tail and collar rendition
It is not easy to reproduce properly the detail in foliage and vegetation
But, as you can see, the Mini3 Pro does an excellent job
The colors are nice and rich. Since there is a large difference between the darkest areas and the brightest one
also known as dynamic range situations, are the ones where 8-bit color modes tend to slide low
Under these conditions, a more intense color grading is needed, and it is not the strong point of normal mode
Being an already processed profile, it does not respond as well as a flat 10-bit one to post-processing
Another one where the Mini3 and Mini3 Pro really shine, forgiving the time, is night footage
Thanks to the very wide aperture of f1.7, the sensor and the cable are gathering a lot of light
and the results are excellent. Practically at the same level as the G.I. flagship model, the mighty, mighty Mini3
By looking at the footage, you might think that this is not night footage, but believe me, it was really pitch dark
And the rendition of Mini3 is sensational, without a hint of noise
I don't worry too much about the color grading, I don't worry too much about the noise in my footage
as there is an excellent noise mid-video. You will find info about it in the description below
You can watch my video about it by clicking on the link on the screen
But, with the Mini3 and Mini3 Pro, noise is not a major issue
This in a lot is the 10-bit flat profile available only in the Pro model
This is not meant to be used out of the camera, and requires a good amount of processing
It is called flat because the contrast is reduced to protect the highlights
although it's not nearly as flat as other 10-bit profiles like the Logo
Since 10-bit profiles can span any editing, they are used in high dynamic range situations
or to adapt at least to the color range of a specific project
When editing these files, large files are used, and the resolution of the files is not so high as in the Logo
This is because the image quality is not as good as in the Logo
When editing these files, LUTs are frequently used. LUT stands for Lookup Table
It is an image file mapping the colors to modify the appearance of the footage
You can now see variations of the same clip using different LUTs and different editing values
They can all work well according to the color theme of a specific project
Compared to the normal profile, with this in the light the colors are generally richer
and the structure of the sky is more dramatic. With a flat profile the ability of the person doing the editing is crucial to achieving the best results
I always suggest using this in the light for footage taken in the direction of the sun
and in high dynamic range situations. A flat profile reduces the contrast and makes it possible to protect the highlights
while maintaining some information in the shadow. It is then possible to fine tune them in post-processing
In this case I found the footage over-exposed for my test, but this is what was required by the client
and using this in the light I managed to deliver exactly what I was asked
When V3 Pro was released, this in the light was in 8-bit mode
and it was a bit disappointing, at least in my unit, as the shadows were way too dark
But like the normal profile, this in the light has been constantly improved by DJI
and it is now a true 10-bit mode, delivering good results with the correct editing
Click on this link to watch my video about the best camera settings for video with Mini 3 and Mini 3 Pro
And don't forget to hit the like button and to find this video interesting
Thank you