While this article focuses on the DJI Mavic 4 Pro, many of the DJI drones have a similar set of capabilities. Here, DJI groups them mainly under QuickShots, MasterShots, FocusTrack, Hyperlapse, and Waypoints.
1. QuickShots: Automatic individual cinematic shots
Pick a subject, choose the maneuver, and press Start.
| QuickShot | What the drone does | Best use |
| Dronie | Flies backward and upward while keeping subject centered | Person, building, vehicle |
| Rocket | Climbs vertically with camera pointed toward subject | Dramatic location reveal |
| Circle | Orbits around subject | Buildings, boats, people |
| Helix | Spirals outward and upward | Dramatic landscape reveal |
| Boomerang | Flies an oval path around subject, moving away and returning | People, vehicles, landmarks |
| Asteroid | Flies upward/backward and creates a tiny-planet-style sequence | Large scenic locations |
| Rotation | Uses the Mavic 4 Pro’s rotating gimbal for a rolling cinematic shot | Creative transitions |
The Mavic 4 Pro can record most of these in 1080p, 4K or 6K at 30/60 fps. Asteroid has additional limitations.
DJI Introduction to QuickShots
2. MasterShots: The most automatic option
MasterShots is essentially an automated cinematographer. You select the subject and the drone automatically performs a sequence of maneuvers such as:
Dronie → Circle → Zoom → Rocket → Descending shots → Overhead shots
It then returns to its starting position and can automatically assemble the clips into a finished cinematic sequence. DJI provides different automated trajectories for Portrait, Proximity and Landscape subjects.
DJI Introduction to MasterShots
3. FocusTrack
This is more sophisticated because the drone continuously follows or aims at your subject.
There are three modes:
- ActiveTrack: The drone actually follows a moving subject.
- Point of Interest (POI): The drone automatically circles a selected subject while keeping the camera pointed at it.
- Spotlight: The camera stays locked onto the subject while you fly the drone.
So ActiveTrack and POI are substantially automated, while Spotlight is more of an automated camera operator.
4. Hyperlapse
The Mavic 4 Pro can automatically create moving aerial time-lapses.
The important Hyperlapse flight patterns include: Free, Circle, Course Lock and Waypoints.
Waypoint Hyperlapse is particularly interesting, as you can establish several camera positions and orientations, and the drone automatically calculates the route, flies it and creates the time-lapse.
5. Waypoint Flight
This is one of the Mavic 4 Pro’s most powerful automated video tools.
You can program up to 200 waypoints and specify at individual points:
- altitude
- speed
- aircraft direction
- gimbal pitch
- gimbal roll
- zoom
- Point of Interest
- start recording
- stop recording
- take photo
- hover time
Then press GO and the Mavic flies the programmed route automatically.
This is especially useful when you want repeatable cinematic flights, such as photographing the same property or shoreline every few months.
The three to learn first
- MasterShots for an automatically generated collection of cinematic clips.
- Circle/Helix QuickShots for dramatic footage of boats, buildings, landscapes and people.
- ActiveTrack for automatically following a boat, vehicle or person.
Then move into Waypoints once you want more sophisticated, repeatable camera movements.
Ten Automated Shots to Learn
The Mavic 4 Pro is particularly good for these activities because MasterShots, QuickShots, FocusTrack, Hyperlapse and Waypoints automate much of the flying, while the 360° Infinity Gimbal adds roll and up to 70° upward shooting.
| # | Shot | Automated mode | Starting setup | Lens | Ideal subject |
| 1 | Grand reveal | Dronie | 30-60 m retreat, gain 15-30 m | 28mm | Lodge, beach, mountain, boat |
| 2 | Classic orbit | POI | 30-60 m radius, slow orbit | 28mm | Building, monument, boat |
| 3 | Telephoto orbit | POI | 70-120 m away, very slow | 70mm | Mountain, lodge, distant subject |
| 4 | Spiral reveal | Helix | 30-60 m expansion | 28mm | Person in spectacular landscape |
| 5 | Straight cinematic push-in | Waypoints | 2-4 points, 2-4 m/s | 70mm | Mountains, architecture |
| 6 | Rise-and-reveal | Waypoints | Start low, climb 20-50 m | 28mm | Beach, cliff, river, lodge |
| 7 | Follow the action | ActiveTrack | 15-30 m behind/side | 28mm | Boat, vehicle, person |
| 8 | Landscape sampler | MasterShots | Landscape mode, generous clearance | 28mm | New travel destination |
| 9 | Moving time-lapse | Hyperlapse Course Lock | 2-3 m/s, 2-5 sec interval | 28mm | Sunset, clouds, city |
| 10 | Golden-hour journey | Waypoint Hyperlapse | 3-5 viewpoints | 28mm | Coastline, valley, mountains |
DJI’s QuickShots can automatically execute Dronie, Circle, Helix, Rocket, Boomerang, Asteroid and other supported maneuvers. The Mavic 4 Pro also adds the distinctive Rotate QuickShot using its roll-capable gimbal.
1. Dronie “Grand Reveal”
This would be my default travel shot. Start fairly close to your subject with the landscape mostly hidden. Have the drone fly backward and upward while maintaining the subject in the center.
Try:
- 28mm Hasselblad
- Start 10-15 m high
- 30-60 m Dronie distance
- Subject in lower third rather than dead center when possible
- Record long enough to reveal the entire environment
2. POI “Classic Orbit”
Point of Interest (POI) is better than Circle QuickShot when you want more control.
Select the building, monument, boat, etc. The Mavic automatically calculates the orbit and keeps the camera pointed toward the subject.
Recommended starting settings:
Radius: 30-60 m
Altitude: 20-40 m
Speed: slow
Lens: 28mm
Don’t necessarily use a complete 360°. A 5-10 second segment from a larger orbit often looks better.
3. Telephoto Orbit
This is one of the Mavic 4 Pro shots I’d particularly recommend. Back away and switch to the 70mm medium telephoto camera. The compressed perspective makes mountains, trees or architecture behind your subject appear much larger.
For example: Safari lodge → trees → escarpment becomes a layered composition instead of the wide-angle “tiny building in a huge landscape” look.
Hint: Keep the orbit very slow.
4. Helix Landscape Reveal
Helix combines an orbit with an increasing radius and altitude. DJI allows the Mavic 4 Pro’s Helix distance to be adjusted up to 120 m.
This can be spectacular, but it’s easy to overdo. Use approximately 30-50 m, not 120 m. The shot gets progressively more impressive as the landscape emerges.
5. Waypoint Cinematic Push-In
Waypoints are where the Mavic 4 Pro becomes a serious filmmaking tool. Create 3 points: A → B → C Set all cameras toward the same Point of Interest. Then have the aircraft slowly approach.
Try:
Speed: 2-4 m/s
Lens: 70mm
Gimbal: slightly downward
Duration: ~10-20 sec
DJI allows up to 200 waypoints and speeds from 0.1-15 m/s, along with control of gimbal tilt, zoom, hover time and, on the Mavic 4 Pro, gimbal roll. DJI Repair
6. Low-to-High Reveal
Waypoint 1: 10 m altitude, camera facing forward
Waypoint 2: 25 m altitude
Waypoint 3: 50 m altitude
Keep the POI fixed on something in the distance. As the drone rises, the foreground falls away and the landscape appears. Excellent over trees, dunes, cliffs and riverbanks.
7. ActiveTrack Parallel Follow
For a moving subject, select ActiveTrack Parallel. Instead of following directly behind, have the drone travel alongside. DJI’s Parallel mode maintains a relatively constant angle and distance from the subject. DJI Repair This would be particularly good for a boat cruising down a river or 4×4 driving along a dirt road
Shoot with the 28mm, leaving significant scenery around the vehicle.
8. MasterShots Landscape
When you arrive somewhere spectacular and don’t know what shot to make:
MasterShots → Landscape
DJI automatically combines movements including Dronie, several Circles, forward movement, zoom, Rocket, descending shots and other maneuvers.
Think of it as a shot generator.
Keep the individual original clips and edit them yourself rather than relying solely on DJI’s automatic final edit.
9. Course-Lock Hyperlapse
Excellent at sunset. Point toward a strong distant subject: mountain / skyline / sunset / coastline Then let the drone slowly travel forward while recording the Hyperlapse.
A useful starting point:
Interval: 2-5 sec
Speed: 2-3 m/s
Lens: 28mm
Finished clip: 8-12 sec
DJI allows 2-15 second intervals and automatically calculates the flight and shooting duration.
Moving clouds make this dramatically better.
10. Waypoint Hyperlapse
This is the advanced version you ultimately want to be using.
Create perhaps:A → B → C → D around a landscape.
Change both position and camera direction slightly at each waypoint. The Mavic interpolates between them and automatically captures the sequence. The result can look like a very slow, impossibly smooth aerial camera move while sunset light and clouds race through the scene.
One more: the Mavic 4 Pro special
Experiment with Rotate QuickShot.
The drone moves forward/backward while the Infinity Gimbal rolls the horizon. The Mavic 4 Pro’s gimbal actually supports roll-axis movement from -40° to 400°, rather than merely simulating the rotation digitally.
Use this sparingly. One 2-4 second rotating segment can make a great transition; 20 seconds can become dizzying.
Default travel setup
For most trips I’d start with 4K/60, 28mm, ND filter when needed, shutter near 1/120 sec when practical, fixed white balance, and Normal color when you want quick turnaround or D-Log M when you’re planning to grade.
The biggest cinematic improvement isn’t another setting, just slow the aircraft down. A slow 8-second automated movement generally looks more professional than an aggressive 20-second maneuver.
Mavic 4 Pro travel presets
I would save these as mental starting points rather than rigid settings. Light level determines the ND filter and exposure; subject and desired perspective determine the lens.
| 🌅 Sunrise | 🌇 Sunset | 🏖️ Beach | 🏔️ Mountains | 🦁 Safari | |
| Primary lens | 28mm | 28/70mm | 28mm | 70mm | 70/168mm |
| Resolution | 4K | 4K | 4K | 4K | 4K |
| FPS | 30 | 30 | 60 | 30 | 60 |
| Shutter | 1/60 | 1/60 | 1/120 | 1/60 | 1/120 |
| ISO target | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | Auto 100-800 |
| Aperture | f/2.8-4 | f/2.8-4 | f/4-5.6 | f/4-5.6 | f/2.8-5.6 |
| White balance | 5000-5600K | 5500-6500K | 5200-5600K | 5200-6000K | 5200-6000K |
| Color | D-Log M | D-Log M | D-Log M | D-Log M | D-Log M |
| ND starting point | None/ND8 | None/ND8 | ND16-32 | ND8-16 | None/ND8 |
| Best automation | Hyperlapse | POI/Hyperlapse | Dronie/POI | Waypoints | ActiveTrack/POI |
🌅 1. Sunrise: slow cinematic reveal
Camera: Use the 28mm Hasselblad initially. Shoot 4K/30, 1/60 sec, ISO 100, with aperture around f/2.8-f/4. Start without an ND filter. As the sun rises, move to ND8 if necessary.
Lock white balance around 5200-5600K rather than Auto so the color doesn’t shift during the shot.
Automated shot: Waypoint rise-and-reveal.
Program roughly:
10 m → 25 m → 50 m altitude
Speed: 1.5-2.5 m/s
Keep the gimbal aimed toward a distant Point of Interest.
Also shoot a Course Lock Hyperlapse as clouds and sunlight begin moving across the landscape.
🌇 2. Sunset: orbit + hyperlapse
Sunset is where I’d use the 70mm camera more aggressively. It compresses the foreground and background, making the setting sun appear substantially larger relative to buildings, mountains or trees.
Starting Point:
4K/30
1/60 sec
ISO 100 initially
WB 5800-6500K
D-Log M
Avoid changing white balance during the shot.
Automated shot #1: POI orbit
Radius: 50-100 m
Speed: 1-2 m/s
Let the sunset remain behind or beside your subject.
Automated shot #2: Hyperlapse
Interval: 2-5 seconds
Finished clip: 8-12 seconds
This is particularly effective during the 15-20 minutes surrounding sunset.
🏖️ 3. Beach: Dronie reveal
Bright beaches are where ND filters become particularly useful.
Start around:
28mm
4K/60
1/120 sec
ISO 100
f/4-f/5.6
ND16
Very bright midday sun may require ND32.
I’d use 60 fps because waves, boats and people give you useful motion, and it lets you produce smooth 50% slow motion on a 30-fps timeline.
Automated shot: Dronie
Start:
10-15 m high
Then fly backward/upward roughly:
50-80 m
The progression becomes:
person/boat → beach → coastline → ocean.
Also try a slow POI orbit around a boat or prominent coastal feature.
🏔️ 4. Mountains: 70mm compression
This is where the 70mm camera may actually produce more impressive footage than the 28mm Hasselblad. With 28mm, distant mountains can become disappointingly small.
The 70mm compresses: foreground → trees → valley → mountain into dramatic layers.
Camera
70mm
4K/30
1/60 sec
ISO 100
WB ~5600K
D-Log M
Automated shot: Waypoint push-in
Create 3-4 waypoints traveling toward the mountain at approximately: 2-3 m/s Point all waypoints toward the same distant POI. The result resembles a slow helicopter/dolly shot.
Try the 168mm too
The 168mm telephoto can produce spectacular mountain compositions. Rather than moving aggressively, hover or move extremely slowly. A distant mountain peak behind a ridge, building or person can look enormous.
This is one situation where the Mavic 4 Pro can produce imagery that doesn’t immediately look like typical wide-angle drone footage.
🦁 5. Safari: telephoto first
For wildlife, the philosophy changes: Distance first, photograph second. Use the 70mm or 168mm camera rather than bringing the aircraft close to animals. Drone use around wildlife is often restricted or prohibited, particularly in protected areas, so local rules and park/lodge policies take precedence.
For permitted situations:
4K/60
1/120 sec
ISO Auto 100-800
WB ~5600K
D-Log M
PS: Tolerate somewhat higher ISO than fly closer.
Best safari automation
For vehicles:
ActiveTrack Parallel
Keep substantial lateral distance and use 70mm.
That creates:
Vehicle + dust trail + enormous African landscape.
For stationary subjects such as a safari lodge or waterhole:
POI + 70mm
Slow orbit:
0.5-1.5 m/s
The telephoto perspective makes the landscape feel much larger.
I would generally avoid automated tracking of individual wild animals even where drone flight is legal. Automated trajectories can be unpredictable from the animal’s perspective, and the aircraft should never be used to chase wildlife.
Three custom modes I’d actually keep ready
Rather than constantly changing settings, I’d configure three basic camera setups:
C1: Cinematic Landscape
28mm • 4K/30 • 1/60 • ISO 100 • D-Log M • WB 5600K
Use for sunrise, sunset, beaches and establishing shots.
C2: Action
28/70mm • 4K/60 • 1/120 • ISO 100-400 • D-Log M • WB 5600K
Use for boats, vehicles, waves and tracking.
C3: Telephoto Cinematic
70mm • 4K/30 • 1/60 • ISO 100 • D-Log M • WB 5600K
Use for mountains, sunsets, architecture and compressed landscapes.
The 168mm becomes the specialty lens for distant details rather than your default.
One setting I would change from the usual advice
Don’t become a slave to the 180-degree shutter rule.
If maintaining 1/60 at 30 fps means changing ND filters while the light is rapidly changing, letting shutter speed increase is often preferable to missing the shot. With aerial landscapes, particularly when the drone is moving slowly, moderately faster shutter speeds frequently look perfectly good.
Your priority order should usually be:
Composition → smooth flight → highlight protection → ISO → shutter perfection.
DJI Mavic 4 Pro Cinematic Cheat Sheet
🎥 Three core presets
| Setting | C1 Landscape | C2 Action | C3 Telephoto |
| Lens | 28mm | 28/70mm | 70mm |
| Resolution | 4K | 4K | 4K |
| Frame rate | 30 fps | 60 fps | 30 fps |
| Shutter target | 1/60 | 1/120 | 1/60 |
| ISO | 100 | 100-400 | 100 |
| WB | 5600K | 5600K | 5600K |
| Color | D-Log M | D-Log M | D-Log M |
| Best for | Scenery | Motion | Compression |
168mm: reserve primarily for distant details, mountains, architecture and wildlife where legal.
🌅 SUNRISE
28mm • 4K/30 • 1/60 • ISO 100 • f/2.8-4
WB: 5200-5600K
ND: None → ND8
Best automated shots
Waypoint Rise & Reveal
10 m → 25 m → 50 m
Speed: 1.5-2.5 m/s
Course-Lock Hyperlapse
Interval: 2-5 sec
⭐ Keep exposure slightly dark enough to protect the sky around the sun.
🌇 SUNSET
28mm or 70mm • 4K/30 • 1/60 • ISO 100
WB: 5800-6500K
ND: None → ND8
POI Orbit
Radius: 50-100 m
Speed: 1-2 m/s
Use 70mm to enlarge the sun relative to the landscape.
Hyperlapse
Interval: 2-5 sec
Target final clip: 8-12 sec
⭐ Lock WB and exposure so brightness/color don’t jump between frames.
🏖️ BEACH
28mm • 4K/60 • 1/120 • ISO 100
WB: 5200-5600K
ND: ND16-32
Dronie Reveal
Start altitude: 10-15 m
Retreat/climb: 50-80 m
Compose:
person/boat → beach → coastline → ocean
POI Orbit
Radius: 30-60 m
Speed: 1-2 m/s
⭐ Use 60 fps for waves, boats and people. Slow to 50% on a 30-fps timeline.
🏔️ MOUNTAINS
Use the 70mm
70mm • 4K/30 • 1/60 • ISO 100
WB: ~5600K
ND: ND8-16
Waypoint Push-In
Create:
A → B → C
Speed: 2-3 m/s
Aim every waypoint toward the same distant POI.
⭐ The 70mm produces strong:
foreground → trees → ridge → mountain
layering.
168mm trick
Use the 168mm from considerable distance.
Move very slowly or simply hover.
Excellent for:
mountain + moon
mountain + building
sunset + silhouette
🦁 SAFARI / WILDLIFE
70/168mm • 4K/60 • 1/120
ISO: Auto 100-800
WB: 5200-6000K
Safari vehicle
ActiveTrack Parallel
Lens: 70mm
Capture:
vehicle → dust → savanna
Wildlife
Prefer 168mm + substantial distance.
Never approach or chase animals with the drone. Protected areas frequently have additional restrictions.
🎬 THE 8-SECOND RULE
Don’t fly every automated maneuver to completion just because DJI can.
For editing, think in 5-10 second usable clips.
A simple travel sequence:
28mm wide establishing shot
↓
70mm push-in
↓
POI orbit
↓
168mm detail
↓
Dronie pull-away
That gives you five distinctly different perspectives without making the video feel like a collection of drone tricks.
☀️ QUICK ND FILTER GUIDE
| Conditions | Starting ND |
| Blue hour | None |
| Sunrise/sunset | None/ND8 |
| Overcast | None/ND8 |
| Morning/afternoon | ND8-16 |
| Bright sun | ND16-32 |
| Beach/water/snow | ND32 |
Choose ND based on the meter, not the table.
⚠️ BEFORE PRESSING GO
Automated flight does not eliminate pilot responsibility.
Before Dronie, Helix, POI, ActiveTrack or Waypoints:
Look behind → above → below → entire predicted flight path.
Watch especially for branches, wires, poles and terrain.
Set an appropriate Return-to-Home altitude before takeoff.
Default Settings
When I didn’t know what I was about to encounter, I’d launch with:
28mm • 4K/30 • D-Log M • WB 5600K • ISO 100 • histogram/zebras ON
Then choose:
28mm = environment
70mm = cinematic landscape
168mm = detail/compression
For travel photography, you’ll find the 70mm camera is the Mavic 4 Pro’s secret weapon. It produces a much less stereotypical “drone-looking” image than constantly shooting ultra-wide.
Next step: Practice, practice, practice!
- Save C1, C2 and C3 as your baseline configurations.
- Practice the four most useful moves first: Dronie, POI, 70mm Waypoint Push-In and Hyperlapse.
DJI Mavic 4 Pro Field Cheat Sheet (pdf for iPhone)
NB: Written with the assistance of Claude and ChatGPT
