How The DJI Mini 5 Pro Captured Reddit's Viral Dunes Photo

Weighing just 249g with a 1-inch sensor built for shots like this, the DJI Mini 5 Pro is the drone behind a single aerial photo of “endless dunes and lagoons”, captured by photographer Ignacio Fernández and since pulling in over 22,000 upvotes on Reddit and nearly 24,000 likes on Instagram.

Built for Landscapes Like This

"To get this view, I used the drone in a spot where the arch naturally aligns," Fernández says of the moment, positioning the aircraft precisely so the rock formation frames the vast, mirror-still scene beyond. That kind of composition depends on the gear as much as the eye: the DJI Mini 5 Pro's 1-inch CMOS sensor shoots 50 effective megapixels through an f/1.8 lens with an 84° field of view, wide enough to hold an entire horizon in frame without losing detail.

A Wait Well Worth It

The shot almost didn't happen. Fernández's suitcase went missing the moment he landed, taking his cables, tripod, and spare clothes with it. "Most nights I could do nothing more than stare at the sky, just hoping that tomorrow would be better," he says. When his luggage finally turned up, he had just days left to capture it. It's a scenario every travelling photographer dreads, and exactly why the Mini 5 Pro is built the way it is: at sub-250g, it's designed to travel as hand luggage, not checked cargo, so the drone itself is never the thing a lost bag can take from you.

FAQs

Do I need a license to fly the DJI Mini 5 Pro?

Being sub-250g, it falls into a lighter regulatory category in many countries, though local drone laws still apply and are worth checking before you fly.

Why does drone weight matter for travel photography?

Sub-250g drones like the Mini 5 Pro qualify for lighter registration requirements in many countries and are easy to carry as hand luggage rather than checked cargo.

Can beginners get shots like this with the DJI Mini 5 Pro?

The 1-inch sensor and wide dynamic range do a lot of the heavy lifting for exposure and detail, and features like Active Track 360° and automated flight modes make it approachable even for pilots who are newer to composition and framing.

Is the DJI Mini 5 Pro good for video as well as photos?

Yes, it also shoots  4K video at 60 frames per second (fps) and high-framerate slow motion at 4K/120 fps.

What's the flight time on the DJI Mini 5 Pro?

Up to 36 minutes per battery, giving pilots more time to wait for the right light or composition.

Where can I get the DJI Mini 5 Pro?

The DJI Mini 5 Pro is available from the Coptrz official online store.

Final Thoughts

Shots like this are a reminder of what's possible with a drone that fits in your pocket. Whether you're chasing dunes, coastlines, or your own back garden, the DJI Mini 5 Pro is built to help you get the shot, even when the trip doesn't go to plan.

*Photo credits* - Ignacio Fernández

Instagram: @igneis.nightscapes

Reddit: u/igneisnightscapes