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Lovely - thanks for such a detailed response!
10km!
And I'm probably being dense, but which would I need?
if you’ll fly, you must pass a theory test to get a flyer ID
if you’re responsible for a drone or model aircraft, you must register for an operator IDEDIT: figured it out! It's a lot of common sense and "if in doubt, check/don't fly".
Ben689908-
Bleugh - wrote a response earlier and forgot to hit post. But yes, as you've seen it's both:
Each is very easy to get, one is a tenner a year or something like that. The other is free but needs to be renewed every 5 years. You're supposed to also put a sticker on with your ID onto the drone itself but honestly I'd presume 70+ per cent of DJI owners don't even have a license, much less bother with a sticker.
No pressure but I'd probably sell the mini pro 3 if you're interested based on my lack of use. Though new they're reduced currently to £460 at the moment (shifting stock I guess to make way for the 4 which came out last year and, more likely still, ahead of the Mini Pro 5 which is likely due out this summer) . That's pretty competitive already so would personally just go for new to get the warranty etc: https://www.wexphotovideo.com/dji-mini-3-dji-rc-2024-3148578 But if you wanted to save a ton I'd do £350 collect in Devon or £375 posted? Again, no pressure but feel free to DM if interested.
CYOA
I have a mini 3 pro (the RC controller with screen version). I work in video so picked it up as a backup for when we need to steal a shot and didn't budget an actual drone op with a cine lifter. I've never used it professionally. In fact I've used it 3 times cruising around the cliffs in Cornwall and it's sat in a case since then.
I would say it's fine... It's easy to use, quite fun, batteries don't last forever depending on wind speed (plenty windy on the cliffs) so you'd probably want to buy a couple of spares whatever version you get. It's got clever tracking software so you can do some novel bits like following people/bikes/vehicles etc. It's nippy. Good stabilisation. Pretty quiet unless right above you.
The main reason I got it was because it was light so once you've got your registration you can use it in a lot of environments (not all, not without due care and not on private/near mil/air spaces etc obvs) https://register-drones.caa.co.uk/individual/register-and-take-test-to-fly
The RC controller is bright but you'd want a sunshade for sure. Biggest gripe is actually part of the USP - it's very small. My eyesight isn't tremendous so it goes out of range for my eyes pretty quickly and you're reliant on the screen/signal. You're supposed to keep it in visual line of sight at all times. And I know it's there, but I just can't see it once you get about half a kilometre away. They reckon you can fly it 10km so I can only assume you'd need someone standing with you training some punchy binoculars.