DJI Air 3 review: A high-quality zoom adds new creative options

DJI is without doubt one of the most revolutionary gadget firms on the market, continually making an attempt new issues with its drones like a triple-camera setup on the Mavic 3 Professional. With the launch of the mid-sized Air 3 camera drone, the corporate has launched a brand new trick referred to as twin major cameras. Which means the telephoto digicam has the identical specs as the principle digicam, moderately than being relegated to lesser high quality prefer it was on the Mavic 3. That opens up new potentialities for pilots, giving them two methods to create cinematic photographs.

It additionally has quite a few enhancements over the Air 2 and Air 2S. It makes use of DJI’s new O4 transmission system that tremendously will increase vary, whereas bringing the Waypoint function to Air drones for the primary time. It additionally has a lot improved battery life and is significantly quieter. In any other case, it matches the Mavic 3 Professional function for function, with impediment detection throughout, focus monitoring, Hyperlapse and extra.

Some consumers may see the 1/1.3-inch sensors as a downgrade in comparison with the 1-inch sensor on the Air 2S, nevertheless. How does it stack up towards that mannequin, and the way does it slot in with the Mavic 3 Professional and Mini 3 Professional fashions? I took it flying in France’s Loire valley with my drone pilot buddy to seek out out.

Design and efficiency

With a dual-camera module up entrance and related design, the Air 3 (no extra Mavic within the identify) appears extra just like the Mavic 3 than the Air 2 and Air 2S. It has the identical frog-like design, and folds up precisely just like the Mavic 3, collapsing right into a compact measurement for journey. The physique has omnidirectional sensors throughout for impediment detection. For storage, it comes with the standard microSD storage slot and has 8GB internally that’s actually for emergency use solely. It’s additionally significantly heavier than the Air 2S, tipping the scales at 720 grams in comparison with 595.

On the similar time, it has borrowed some aerodynamic tips from the Mini 3 Professional, notably the bigger propellers that cut back noise right down to 81 decibels — making it near-inaudible when flying at over 100 ft or so. The physique can be extra aerodynamic, giving it higher vary in ahead flight and the power to deal with stronger winds than previous fashions.

A lot of the additional weight comes from the brand new 4,241 mAh batteries that weigh 267 grams greater than a whole Mini 3 Professional. They’ve almost the capability of the Mavic 3 Professional’s batteries, tremendously boosting the Air 3’s vary to 46 minutes, up from 34 minutes on the Air 2S.

In real-world use, we noticed flight instances of round 35 minutes earlier than the return-to-home warning went off, relying on flying type and winds. That usually allowed us to fly for a full day with three charged batteries. DJI additionally launched a brand new charging function with the up to date battery hub, letting you switch energy from two weaker batteries to essentially the most charged on the contact of a button. Doing so permits for longer flights for those who’re in a location with no charging out there. The one downside of the higher-capacity batteries is that charging speeds are comparatively gradual.

One other key function is the next-gen O4 video transmission system that enhances vary from 15 to twenty km (9.3 to 12.4 miles). Drone vary is usually a massive downside in Europe, as a result of legal guidelines considerably cut back transmission energy in comparison with the US. To assist compensate for that, DJI added a brand new 5.1GHz frequency in Europe that seems to have a big impression on vary and transmission dropouts in difficult terrain, from what we noticed in our checks in France.

When it comes to maneuverability and pace, the Air 3 affords compromise between stability of the Mavic 3 Professional and the agility of the Mini 3 Professional. The latter makes it nice for following fast-moving topics like mountain bikers and autos, nevertheless it’s additionally regular in stiff breezes. On the similar time, if a topic is transferring by timber, impediment avoidance with APAS 5.0 is excellent, with much less danger of crashing than the Mini 3 Professional because of the additional sensors — notably from the facet and rear.

All of DJI’s tentpole options like Energetic Observe, Grasp Pictures, Quickshots and Timelapse can be found on the Air 3 and work on each cameras. Energetic Observe, used to lock onto and comply with topics, works about the identical on each cameras. As with DJI’s different drones, it’s usually dependable, however for those who’re chasing a mountain biker by the timber, it could actually lag a bit and the monitoring can swap off with out warning.

Quickshots options like Dronie and Rocket are extra fascinating with the addition of the tele digicam that may add additional intimacy and drama. The impediment detection is helpful there as effectively. As a result of the drone flies mechanically when you hit “go,” it’s simple to misjudge boundaries, so it’s good to understand it’ll abort if it will get too near one thing.

On high of these flight modes, DJI has introduced the Mavic 3’s Waypoint flight mode over to the Air sequence for the primary time. It allows you to plan flight and digicam strikes prematurely, letting you repeat a flight exactly for a number of takes, Timelapse movies and extra. It requires a while to be taught and arrange, nevertheless it delivers constant outcomes. It additionally opens up inventive potentialities, like doing a Timelapse through the day and at night time, then seamlessly mixing them collectively.

Together with the Air 3, DJI has launched the brand new RC-2, DJI’s third display screen controller after the RC and the RC Professional. It’s compromise between the 2, because it’s considerably cheaper than the $1,200 RC Professional. On the similar time, it has a brighter display screen, extra substantial really feel and extra exact controls than the RC. It’s out there both individually or in a bundle with the Air 3 Fly Extra equipment. DJI additionally introduced one other new controller, the RC-N2, successfully a refresh of the RC-N1, with the principle profit being the brand new O4 transmission system.

Cameras

The massive concept with the Air 3 is that the standard of the 2 cameras is similar. As such, it comes with a 1/1.3-inch 24mm (35mm equal) f/1.7 fundamental and 70mm f/2.8 telephoto digicam. These focal lengths match the 2 major cameras on the Mavic 3 Professional, with the sensor measurement being the identical because the Mini 3 Professional and the tele digicam on the Mavic 3 Professional.

The 70mm lens is especially good for motion or hero photographs, including pleasure and a extra pure perspective. With an ideal portrait focal size, it’s nice for individuals photographs at weddings, for instance. It additionally allows you to keep a higher distance from topics for security or different causes, whereas compressing the area between them. As normal, the principle extensive digicam can be utilized for establishing, overhead, comply with and different photographs. And with an identical sensors, it’s simple to match footage from the 2 cameras whereas enhancing.

The sensors have twin native ISO assist for improved gentle sensitivity, and ship 4K 60p in HDR or 4K at as much as 100 fps with slo-mo solely playback. 1080p will be shot at 200 fps with slo-mo playback as effectively. The digicam module will be tilted down 90 levels and up 60, and it’s the primary Air sequence drone supporting 2.7K vertical 9:16 video.