Hi, my name is Michael — and I’m a drone-aholic.

There, I said it. I have a drone problem. My collection is starting to look less like a filmmaker’s toolkit and more like a DJI showroom.

So why, less than two months after buying the brand-new Mavic 4 Pro, did I also go out and buy the Mini 5 Pro? Simple: I’ve been waiting for it.

The Mavic 4 Pro is the drone I bring when I know I’ll be flying — the workhorse that delivers the image quality I need. But the Mini 5 Pro is different. It’s my “always-with-me” drone. Small enough to slip in a bag or even a jacket pocket, it’s the one I’ll carry without hesitation, ready for when something drone-worthy appears out of nowhere, or when I just need quick BTS shots or a few seconds of video to spice up a reel.

Travel is another reason. Back in August, when I went to South Africa, I had to pack the Mavic 4 Pro in my checked luggage — I knew I probably wouldn’t use it more than once or twice, since the reserve had strict rules against flying near animals (even though I had special permission to capture some landscape shots). In that kind of situation, the Mini 5 would have been perfect: light, compact, and good enough for those few quick moments where a drone shot adds to the story without taking space away from my main gear.

Yes, the image quality isn’t on par with the Mavic 4 Pro, but that’s not the point. Sometimes what matters is simply capturing the moment — whether it’s an Instagram short, a behind-the-scenes glimpse, or just a clip that helps tell the bigger story.

In the coming weeks, I’ll share a proper review of the Mini 5 Pro, and maybe even pit it against the Mavic 4 Pro in a “is the Mini 5 good enough for Behind-the-Scenes Insta-shorts?” showdown. For now, here’s a quick look at just how tiny it is — me holding the Mini 5 in one hand, the Mavic 4 in the other.

And just so you know I’m serious about the drone-aholic thing… here’s the current fleet: Mavic 2 Pro, Mavic 3 Pro Cine, Mavic 4 Pro, Inspire 3 (a questionable buy, but I got a great deal), Mini SE (a gift from a few years ago, never used), and now the Mini 5 Pro.

Admitting the problem doesn’t mean I’ll stop buying drones 🙂