The DJI Mavic 4 Pro’s new active tracking system can follow vehicles from up to 200 meters away. It struggled to track a motorcycle accurately, highlighting limitations with non-car subjects. Using the 2.5x and 6x lenses, the drone effectively tracked a high-speed race car, especially in Sport Mode, though fast gimbal control was essential. In normal conditions with slower vehicles, tracking was highly accurate and stable.
Motorcycle track
Testing the DJI Mavic 4 Pro’s new vehicle tracking on a race car, the drone was used to track a motorcycle. It identified the rider as a person, not a vehicle, which limited tracking range and accuracy. The drone struggled to maintain lock, especially at higher speeds or longer distances. This highlights that tracking non-car vehicles like bikes or motorcycles is less effective than car tracking with the new system.
Car M4 on the 2.5X Lens
The DJI Mavic 4 Pro was tested tracking a car Competition on a racetrack using Spotlight mode with the 2.5x (70mm) zoom lens. In this mode, the drone keeps the car centered while the pilot manually controls flight. Despite the car reaching speeds up to 180 km/h, the drone effectively maintained tracking, even on challenging straightaways. Flying in Sport Mode (with sensors off), the drone showed impressive stability and accuracy, though fast gimbal movement is key to avoiding tracking loss at high speeds.
Normal Car Tracking
Some may criticize that the vehicle wasn’t always perfectly centered during the racetrack test, but the speeds involved made that challenging. To show a more typical use case, a slower tracking test was done using a motorcycle and a follow car. With grid lines enabled, the DJI Mavic 4 Pro kept the subject almost perfectly centered throughout. This demonstrates that in real-world, slower scenarios, vehicle tracking is highly accurate and reliable, even more so outside high-speed racetrack conditions.
Car M4 on the 6X Lens (Normal Mode)
This test used the DJI Mavic 4 Pro’s new 6x zoom lens (168mm equivalent), filming in 4K at 100fps with D-Log M. Despite being the hardest tracking scenario due to the extreme zoom and high vehicle speed, the drone performed impressively well. Most of the best shots used in the DJI launch campaign came from this lens. However, tracking isn’t flawless—vehicles can be lost if they move directly underneath or outrun the drone in the frame. Still, the results were highly satisfying, with only minor tracking issues during unexpected moments.
Car M4 on the 6X Lens (Sports Mode)
In the final test, the DJI Mavic 4 Pro was flown in Sport Mode at a lower altitude (around 14m) for improved tracking performance and more dynamic shots. This mode disables obstacle sensors, making it riskier, but the resulting footage was impressive; many clips were used in the official launch campaign. While the drone performed well, it still lost track when the vehicle passed directly underneath. Overall, the test highlighted the powerful but not flawless new tracking capabilities of the Mavic 4 Pro.
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Article Summary
The DJI Mavic 4 Pro’s new tracking system excels at following cars, even at high speeds and long distances. It performs best with the 2.5x and 6x lenses, especially in Sport Mode. While it struggles with motorcycles and extreme angles, overall tracking is highly accurate and launch-ready.
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