My first drone did not have any zoom features. Zoom features have become increasingly popular as they allow you to capture close-up photos and videos without having to get your drone physically close to the subject.
You can access the zoom feature on the DJI app by pressing the 1X button. Smooth zooming can be achieved by holding the same button or combining the function button and the flywheel on the remote control.
All of DJI’s latest drones support some form of zoom function. The mini SE and FPV drones do not currently support any zoom feature.
Typically, we see a digital zoom that can achieve up to eight times zoom depending on the photo and video resolution.
Here are all of the DJI drones that currently support a zoom feature. However, as firmware gets rolled out, more drones will likely receive this feature.
Drones that support Zoom
When you are worried that your DJI fly app does not have a zoom feature, please check the table below to ensure that your drone model is capable of zoom.
| Drone | Zoom |
|---|---|
| Mavic 3 | 4 x Digital (Tele lens) |
| Mavic Air 2S | Zoom recording is not available while recording 10-bit videos and 120fps videos. 4K/30fps: 4x; 2.7K/60fps: 4x; 2.7K/30fps: 6x; 1080p/60fps: 6x; 1080p/30fps: 8x |
| Mavic Air 2 | Available |
| Mini 3 Pro | 4K: 2x 2.7K: 3x FHD: 4x |
| Mini 2 | 4K: 2x 2.7K: 3x FHD: 4x |
You’ll notice that the highest zoom is possible in high definition. The DJI Mavic Air 2S can achieve up to an eight times zoom at 1080p. If you want a higher resolution photo or video, you can achieve between two times and four times zoom.
Bear this in mind when you are looking for your zoom function. The quality will dictate the amount of zoom possible.
How to zoom in on DJI Fly App?
You can use the zoom feature on the DJI Fly App in three ways.
You can press a button on the screen and hold the same butter for smooth zoom shots; you can also hold the function button and use the flywheel on the remote to perform a smooth zoom.
On button screen
The first way to use the zoom feature on the Mavic and 2 is to press the on-screen zoom button on the fly app. You should see a 1X button that you can press to change the zoom.
Press and hold
Depending on your filming resolution, you’ll be able to achieve different levels of maximum zoom.
Pressing the button will quickly cut into the new zoom. You can press and hold the button if you want a smoother zoom.
Getting used to navigating the first-person view of your drone and all of the features you can access using the fly app will allow you to quickly navigate through different functions and features without running down your battery while searching for the best feature.
Use the remote control
You can also use the zoom feature using the remote control.
By holding the function button and using the flywheel at the rear of the remote control, you’ll be able to change the digital zoom of your shot smoothly.
I prefer using this method to change the zoom of my shots as it is intuitive and allows me finer control with the flywheel than I can get using the on-screen software sliders.
If your zoom feature isn’t working, there are several things that you can try, and we will look at them in the section below.
What to do if your zoom feature has disappeared from the app
There have been some reports of the zoom feature has disappeared from the app. This can happen if your drone is not supported or there has been an upgrade to the firmware that has inadvertently removed the zoom feature.
Here are all the things to check if you feel the zoom feature has disappeared from the DJI fly app.
Maybe your drone doesn’t support it
The first thing you should do is double-check that the drone that you are flying can access the zoom feature.
Importantly, this can change over time with firmware upgrades.
For example, the DJI air 2 had a firmware upgrade to V01.00.0340.
The firmware upgrade V01.00.0340 was the first update that provided digital zoom, a new hyperlapse resolution, improved obstacle avoidance and much more.
The continuation of improvement to the different features of the drone means that it is very important to keep your firmware updated as it may bring some in-demand features. DJI is very active at satisfying its customer base with additional features when the community requests them.
Ensure you are using the right firmware
Check for updates of the firmware in the DJI fly app. Navigate to the about section and click “check for updates”.
Keeping your firmware up-to-date is very important. Regular updates keep your drone safe from software vulnerabilities and will add new features as they become available.
DJI is also known to increase the security of their firmware and app over time, so you’d be silly not to make the most of any update that gets pushed your way.
Zoom feature only supported in certain resolutions
Remember that the DJI zoom feature is only supported in certain resolutions.
The zoom feature will disappear when you change the camera settings away from a resolution and mode that doesn’t support Zoom.
Refer to your drone’s manual for specific information about the level of zoom available at different video and photo resolutions.
Change the app back to an older version
Sometimes, when DJI release a new version of the app, the zoom may now longer work on your phone.
I have had a couple of instances where I have had to revert to an older version of the app to allow me to continue flying.
There are several ways to get older versions, and you can find them in Google Drive below.
Link: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1No6Y6900jugASpW_LB7UDL6GevH4WVg5
This list is curated by a YouTuber and is my go-to resource if I need to downgrade my app to an older version.
Some phones do not support the zoom function
Some older phones do not support the soon function because you cannot upgrade the DJI fly app.
Users have reported that the zoom function is unavailable for phones of a similar age as the iPhone 5.
To solve this issue, I recommend updating your phone to a newer model or purchasing a smart device that you can use to fly your drones, such as an iPad or tablet.
Most of us will be able to utilise our everyday smartphones, but others will have to purchase an extra smart device to ensure that they have the latest features and full compatibility with the fly app.
Wrapping up
In this article, we have discovered all of the ways you can use the DJI fly app zoom function and the potential errors you may encounter while using it.
Having zoom on your drone is becoming increasingly popular, and I expect that all future drones will have access to some form of digital zoom.
Learning to use it smoothly can add a fantastic cinematic feel to your videos – all it takes is a little bit of practice.
