DrDrone's Verdict
The DJI Air 3 is a brand new design that takes cues from the rest of the consumer drone lineup by DJI. The biggest change is the dual camera system that gives you different focal length options in the same camera body. This gave us flexibility in the kind of shots we could capture with the Air 3. Similar to the Mavic 3 Pro, the DJI Air 3 features fisheye wide-angle obstacle avoidance sensors that sense and avoid obstacles in all directions around the drone. The drone features a compact foldable design that makes it very convenient to pack and carry. The drone comes with two controller options, the DJI RC2 with a built-in screen or the DJI RC-N2 to use your phone or tablet with it. Our unit came with the DJI RC2. The controller now features external folding antennae for better signal performance. The screen is the same 700 nit 1080p 60hz that we have seen before on the DJI RC. The performance of the in-built Android based system is super smooth and the controller can now output video over the USB-C port to an external monitor/TV via a HDMI converter.
When flying the Air 3, we tested the obstacle avoidance system and ActiveTrack 360 in a variety of situations. The ActiveTrack 360 feature worked well in our tests even in fairly complicated situations where the drone lost sight of the subject due to the surroundings a few times but re-gained a lock right away. The obstacle sensing works well for most obstacles however if it is small twigs or thin power lines in the path, the drone struggles to see and avoid them.
The camera is where things get quite interesting. Since it uses similar camera sensors to the DJI Mini 3 Pro, the overall imaging performance is very familiar. However, since the Air 3 has two of those sensors behind different lenses, you can now play with depth of field effects or add spatial compression or shoot tight zoomed in shots of a subject without having to fly too close. Since both cameras use identical image sensors that are calibrated the same, footage coming from either cameras matches up perfectly, making post-processing a breeze.
Overall, the DJI Air 3 provides a robust set of features that will appeal to a wide range of users thanks to superior imaging performance combined with compact design and incredible ease of use.
Pros:
Cons:
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Dimensions |
Folded (without propellers): 207×100.5×91.1 mm (L×W×H) Folded (without propellers): 207×100.5×91.1 mm (L×W×H) |
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Max Flight Time |
46 minutes |
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Max Wind Speed Resistance Video Transmission System and Range |
O4 Transmission system; 1080p 60fps downlink; 20km transmission range 43.2 km/h |
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Takeoff Weight
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720g |
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Image Sensor |
Wide-Angle Camera: Medium Tele Camera: |
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Lens |
Wide-Angle Camera Medium Tele Camera |
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Max. Image Resolution |
Wide-Angle Camera: Medium Tele Camera: |
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Max Video Resolution (For either sensor) |
150Mbps Bitrate; 4K @ 100fps; 2.7K @ 60fps in vertical mode |
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Digital Zoom |
Wide-Angle Camera: 1-3x |
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Obstacle Avoidance |
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In the world of aerial photography and videography, DJI has been a trailblazer, consistently pushing the boundaries of drone technology. With the introduction of the Air 3, DJI again demonstrates its commitment to innovation, redefining what's possible in the realm of consumer drones. In this in-depth article, we embark on an exciting journey to explore the DJI Air 3's exceptional features, cutting-edge technology, and limitless creative possibilities. Get ready to soar to new heights as we unveil the remarkable DJI Air 3.
The DJI Air 3 represents the culmination of years of expertise and engineering excellence, resulting in a drone that is not only powerful but also remarkably easy to fly. The drone boasts an advanced propulsion system and intelligent flight algorithms, delivering unmatched stability and control during flights. With up to 46 minutes of flight time, the DJI Air 3 stands as one of the longest flying drones in its class, ensuring longer and more immersive flight experiences.
One of the standout features of the DJI Air 3 is its dual-primary camera system, setting it apart from other drones on the market. The Air 3's dual-camera setup includes a 1/1.3-inch CMOS wide-angle camera and a 3x medium telephoto camera. These two cameras have the same sensor size but different focal lengths, providing consistent image quality and an array of dynamic imaging possibilities.
The wide-angle camera opens up a world of sweeping landscapes and breathtaking vistas, allowing you to capture the grandeur of the world from a bird's-eye view. In addition, the 3x medium telephoto camera offers lossless 3x optical zoom, enabling you to focus on distant subjects and achieve spatial compression for a unique and compelling perspective. Whether you're documenting vast landscapes or zooming in on intricate details, the Air 3's dual-primary camera system ensures exceptional image quality that leaves a lasting impression.
Safety is always a top priority when operating a drone, and DJI has gone the extra mile to ensure your flying experience is secure and worry-free. The DJI Air 3 features an omnidirectional obstacle sensing system, enabling the drone to detect obstacles from all directions and take evasive actions to avoid collisions.
This advanced technology gives you the confidence to explore challenging environments, navigate through tight spaces, and focus on capturing incredible footage without the fear of accidents.
Safety is paramount when piloting a drone, and DJI prioritizes this aspect with the Air 3's Smart RTH (Return to Home) and Advanced RTH features. During Smart RTH, the Air 3 automatically plans an optimized flight route for Advanced RTH while maintaining omnidirectional obstacle sensing. This ensures that your drone can return to its home point quickly and safely, even in complex environments. Whether you're a seasoned pilot or a complete beginner, Smart RTH and Advanced RTH provide peace of mind and enhance the overall flight experience.
The DJI Air 3's O4 video transmission system takes connectivity to a whole new level. With a max range of 20 km, the O4 system ensures stable and reliable transmission, offering an ultra-smooth viewing and operating experience with its 1080p/60fps max-quality live feed. This advanced technology allows you to stay connected to your drone even when flying over long distances, providing you with the confidence to explore and capture aerial footage from various perspectives.
While the DJI Air 3 comes with an Intelligent Flight Battery that offers up to 46 minutes of flight time, having spare batteries on hand is a smart choice for extended flying sessions. With additional Intelligent Flight Batteries, you can stay airborne for longer, capturing more incredible shots without frequent interruptions for charging. The Intelligent Battery Charging Hub allows you to charge up to three batteries in sequence, ensuring that your batteries are always ready for action. The charging hub also features a power transfer function, allowing you to transfer remaining power from low batteries to the one with the highest remaining charge. This feature is incredibly useful, especially in remote locations where charging options may be limited.
The DJI Air 3's FocusTrack feature empowers you to keep your subject in the center of the frame effortlessly. With the 3x medium tele camera, you can achieve a unique sense of spatial compression when highlighting subjects, adding a creative touch to your shots. This updated tracking performance combined with omnidirectional obstacle sensing allows you to execute intelligent and well-planned shots wherever and whenever you need them.
For those who crave cinematic shots without the need for complex manual controls, QuickShots is a game-changer.
Capture the thrill of your subject launching into the sky with Rocket, create a dramatic reveal with Dronie, or circle around your subject with elegance using Circle mode. Helix adds a captivating spiral effect to your footage, while Boomerang creates a dynamic loop around your subject. Lastly, Asteroid mode delivers a unique perspective, combining a series of images to create a spherical panorama. With QuickShots, show off your creativity and achieve cinematic excellence with ease.
Unleash your inner filmmaker with MasterShots, a feature that automates diverse camera movements to create fast and simplified cinematic footage. The Air 3 intelligently shoots multiple clips and edits them with music, cuts, and effects, giving you professionally curated footage in no time. Whether you're a seasoned videographer or just starting, MasterShots offers a simple yet powerful tool to achieve cinematic excellence with minimal effort.
Photography enthusiasts will appreciate the Mavic Air 3's SmartPhoto 3.0, an intelligent feature that takes the guesswork out of capturing the perfect shot. SmartPhoto automatically selects the best camera settings based on the shooting scenario, offering HDR, hyperlight, and scene recognition options. This means you can focus on framing your shot and let the Air 3's advanced technology handle the rest, ensuring stunning photos with every click.
HDR (High Dynamic Range) mode expands the dynamic range of your images, preserving details in both shadows and highlights for vivid and well-balanced photos. Hyperlight mode is designed for low-light conditions, capturing noise-free images with impressive clarity and detail. Scene recognition intelligently identifies the subject of your shot, optimizing settings to achieve the best results, whether it's a stunning sunset, a beautiful landscape, or a bustling cityscape. With SmartPhoto 3.0, your aerial photography game reaches new heights.
For those who love slow-motion footage, the DJI Air 3 is a dream come true. With the option to record in 4K at 100fps or 1080p at 100fps, you can create stunning slow-motion videos that add a touch of cinematic flair to your content. This feature is perfect for capturing action sequences, mesmerizing natural movements, or simply adding a dramatic effect to your footage.
The Air 3's 3x medium tele camera supports HDR DNG format, which expands the dynamic range and includes built-in contrast enhancement. This powerful feature elevates your post-processing capabilities, allowing you to achieve JPG-level image quality with ease and reducing the complexity of editing tasks. Whether you're an amateur or professional photographer, the Air 3's HDR DNG format sets the stage for stunning and vibrant post-processed images.
With Waypoint, you can pre-plan flight routes and shooting actions in advance, allowing you to achieve difficult camera movements and capture stunning one-take shots. This powerful feature opens the door to long-duration timelapse shots that document transitions like day to night or changes in seasons with seamless precision.
Whether you're a seasoned pilot or a newcomer to drone flying, Waypoint empowers you to explore aerial storytelling with ease. Capture captivating footage of your subjects from unique perspectives, document the passage of time, and tell captivating visual narratives like never before.
Capturing footage in low-light environments or during nighttime can be challenging, but not for the DJI Air 3. Thanks to its advanced noise reduction algorithm, the Air 3 can capture noise-free footage at up to 4K/30fps, ensuring clear and detailed visuals even in less than optimal lighting conditions. This feature allows you to confidently explore low-light settings and capture breathtaking moments in their full glory.
To fully maximize the DJI Air 3's capabilities, the drone comes with the DJI RC 2 remote controller. This advanced controller boasts a built-in 5.5-inch FHD screen with 700 nits brightness, ensuring clear visuals even in bright sunlight. The powerful processor and O4 video transmission system deliver smooth and stable real-time video feed, allowing you to see the world from your drone's perspective with remarkable clarity.
The DJI RC N2 offers intuitive controls, ergonomic design, and customizable buttons, providing a seamless and convenient flying experience. With this remote controller and your smartphone/tablet, you have full command over the DJI Mavic Air 3's flight, camera settings, and intelligent features, giving you the power to capture stunning aerial footage with ease.
Editing your aerial footage is an essential part of the creative process, and DJI understands the importance of simplifying this task for users. The LightCut app allows you to wirelessly connect your smartphone to the DJI Mavic Air 3, offering expanded creative options such as One-Tap Edit. The app intelligently selects clips based on composition and flight path, automatically matching them with optimal templates and sound effects to generate quick and cinematic videos. Additionally, the LightCut app offers a tilt-shift effect that can be applied to footage shot with the 3x medium tele camera, adding an extra layer of creativity to your visuals.
To cater to diverse needs and preferences, the DJI Air 3 is available in three distinct packages, each offering unique advantages:
The DJI Air 3 (RC-N2): Ideal for those seeking the essential components to kickstart their aerial journey, the Basic Kit includes the aircraft itself, one Intelligent Flight Battery, extra propellers, a gimbal cover, and the DJI RC N2 remote controller with connection cables.
The DJI Air 3 Fly More Combo (DJI RC-N2): This comprehensive package includes everything from the Basic Kit and adds valuable accessories to elevate your drone experience. You'll receive a shoulder bag for easy carrying, two additional Intelligent Flight Batteries to extend your flight time, an Intelligent Battery Charging Hub for efficient battery management, and six pairs of propellers to keep you flying without interruption.
The DJI Air 3 Fly More Combo DJI RC 2: For those who prefer the DJI RC 2 remote controller, this package includes all the items from the DJI Air 3 Fly More Combo (DJI RC N2) while swapping out the DJI RC N2 for the DJI RC 2.
The DJI Air 3 is a remarkable system, offering unparalleled flight performance, exceptional imaging quality, and intelligent features for elevated aerial creativity. With its dual-primary camera system, QuickShots, SmartPhoto 3.0, and Waypoint, the Air 3 sparks endless creative possibilities. Safety features like obstacle sensing, Smart RTH, and Advanced RTH ensure worry-free flights. The DJI RC N2 remote controller enhances the flying experience, and accessories like spare batteries, propellers, gimbal cover, and shoulder bag provide added convenience. The LightCut app facilitates effortless editing, while slow-motion recording adds captivating visual effects. The Air 3 and its accessories exemplify the pinnacle of drone technology, empowering your imagination to soar to new heights of aerial excellence.
Dr Drone
Author
DrDrone is Canada's leading provider of drone technical services, with over a decade of experience and the distinction of being the first company in the country to offer drone servicing and repairs. As the largest drone vendor in Canada, we are also the primary supplier of Remotely Piloted Air Systems (RPAS) to the Canadian government. Our team members possess extensive knowledge of each drone's technical specifications and have a wealth of hands-on experience. For more than ten years, we have been dismantling and reconstructing drones, ensuring a deep understanding of these systems.