DJI Air 3: My Unexpected Change of Heart
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- Опубліковано 5 жов 2024
- #dji #drone #aerialphotography
My mind has changed about the DJI Air 3 since last year and here’s why.
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I understand this topic is divisive in the drone community. I am just giving an honest perspective to any new drone pilot when considering which one to start off with.
Everyone is diffrent... But 99% of all drone videos are shot at no zoom. So as soon as you use the 70mm lens your videos look different than everyone else. The effect looks so much better than just getting closer with the standard lens. In addition you still have the standard lens if you want that. The ability for the Air 3 to fly in wind is MUCH better than the Mini 4 pro. The Air 3 can climb and sink 2X faster than the Mini 4 its ground speed is also much higher. I can follow fast moving things with the Air 3 can't I can't with the Mini 4. The ONLY advantage the Mini has is size... In every other way the Air 3 is much better.
I’m not denying the size and how it does matter I was just saying the mini is a great starter line for new drone pilots.
Another air 3 here. Don't touch my mini unless i need that 250 limit. It's faster, more stable in the wind, just feels much nicer to fly. And then you've got the extra lense.
Agreed!
Im a beginner, i went with the air3 as my first drone. No regrets. Stability, flight time, 70mm.
Only pros of m4pro is for the sub 250g requirement .. portability? Nah..get stronger if less than a kilo is heavy for someone. 😂
I appreciate this response. Thanks!
They might look similar on paper, but real world use tells a different story in my opinion. I own an Air 3, which I traded up to from a Mini 3 Pro, and a Mavic 3 Classic. Having flown all three body styles, I can confidently say that the flying experience is much better with the bigger drones. If you want to fly in wind, or at altitude, the Minis are useless. Timelapse shots are a no-go with the Mini series as well due to their lack of stability. The bigger drone bodies are simply more stable, and faster too. The one thing that I do really love about the Mini series is their un-invasive noise level. It is very nice being able to launch a drone in relative discretion, which is not possible with the Air, and definitely not the Mavic.
Everyone has their own opinion about the tele lens, but for me personally, shooting a lot of golf courses in my work, the tele lens gives a really cool look when compared to the standard wide angle. Being able to take a shot down a fairway and onto a green, pulling that background behind the green in closer makes all the difference. Basically any shot that has a definitive point of interest rather than a general landscape is going to look better on the tele lens. Think about it like taking a portrait with a 24mm lens on your regular camera body vs an 85mm lens, the 85mm is going to pull that background in- whether its trees, mountains, buildings, etc. Also great if you are trying to get shots of any wildlife, as you have to get so close with the wide angle lenses that the noise spooks whatever you are trying to shoot.
I agree with you on this tele lens. I guess I was just addressing what some might think about when 70mm was brought up but thank you for your points
I have both drones and I'm a part 107 pilot who doesn't travel internationally much, so the under 250 grams means almost nothing to me. I like both drones, but the Air 3 is my go-to, I value the 3x camera not only for video but for photos as well. The ability to fly well in gusty winds along the coast is essential to me. Where the MIni 4 Pro comes in handy for me is when I don't want to be heard or seen. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this topic.
Hey thanks for watching and your input as well! I enjoy seeing where others like yourself are at in this topic.
The Air 3 is better at withstanding the wind. I'm thinking of going with the Mavic 3 pro. I do like the different focal length.
I agree and yes same for me. Might be investing in the Mavic 3 Pro soon.
Pro air 3 fan here. That 70mm zoom is a game changer. I've been flying drones for the past 4 years and to have a drone with a different perspective other than the standard wide angle is awesome! No more scaling footage in post production just to get a zoomed in shot.
My thoughts have altered a tad bit since the release of this video since I’ve made it a goal to use the heck out of the 70 mm regarding the mini 4 pro as a great beginner drone I still stand by that but I agree with you
As others have mentioned, I also upgraded from the Mini 3 Pro and the main draw was the 70mm lens, for the compression effect with telephoto. This is a massive creative capability for landscape photography. The bokeh "expectation" you mentioned is for portraiture, or other near objects, not an expectation at all for telephoto landscape, at least it never was for me, coming to drones from decades of pro landscape photography. Now semi-retired and mostly doing this for fun, the Mavic 3 Pro is a super-stretch for my retirement budget, but the Air 3 gives me that tele lens, for HALF the price! Frosting on the cake is the seamless image transitions between 24 & 70mm using the same sensor size, whereas the Mavic 3 Pro causes editing nightmares transitioning from 24-70mm with different sensor types... plus having all the speed of a Mavic... again, for half the price of Mavic 3 Pro... For me and my needs, Air 3 is the perfect sweet spot between features and price. I don't see it anywhere near "exactly the same" as Mini 4 Pro -- that additional lens puts it in a whole different league. Every decision in photography comes with trade-offs. For those that don't care about the addition of the 70mm, or for whom weight is a priority (shooting 107 +/-250g is a meaningless feature for me), they can save $400 with the Mini 4 Pro.
Thanks for sharing! It’s great to see this type of perspective
I got the mini 4 went out to lake Michigan on a windy day and went and picked up the air 3 …..I like them both better wind resistance and the other focal length is the game changer
The wind resistance piece seems to be huge
My first drone was a Mini 2. I still have and love my Mini but I live near Chicago which is the Windy City for a reason. My Mini 2 has problems with our wind more than half of the time. That’s why I bought an Air 3. Wind is huge for me. I am not making money off my drone and I only fly recreational. Even though a Mavic 3 Pro would be great, I can’t afford one which is double the price of what I paid for my Air 3.
I agree with you there. The mini 2 was also my first drone. Thanks for sharing!
Took a mini 3 pro on holidays, day 1 was windy, day 2 windy, 3,4, 5. The mini struggled.
Got the air 3 when I got back, what a Beast, Speed, Power, wind resistance. All I can say is good-bye mini
Completely understand where you’re coming from!
As a photographer, being told "they are exactly the same" & dismissing the 70mm lens as irrelevant is not accurate. They're not exactly the same, & the size differential is not just about portability. One weight a pound more than the other. How is that a worrisome thing? The size differential makes the Air 3 more stable in the wind, which is not insignificant.
So most new drone flyers, what what I know, don’t go out flying in windy situations. I was talking to beginners who want to learn this new tech. The Air 3 is awesome for windy situations and for the price can’t be beat but again that is the only other factor
The little drones under 250g are great for many applications especially not flying too far and bad weather. However, I fly mostly in the campo and mountains often in harsh changeable weather. I noticed the difference between my old Mavic Pro and my Air 2, God knows what the difference is like between the Air 3 and the Mini Pro 4. Serious conditions need serious equipment.
I definitely agree with this. I guess I was just making the argument that most beginners are going to start with something small and easy and not be flying crazy distances and stuff
The mavic 3 classic is the one! The best camera in this small drones.
I’ll be getting into the Mavic series soon. Debating on waiting for the release of the Mavic 4 at some point.
I don't completely agree, but I understand your argument very well. Here in Europe it feels like no one flies with the Air 3 and I think the Air 3 is completely underrated. My situation was the following: Due to the increasingly strict regulations, I wanted to replace my Air 2 with an Air 3. Because of its flyweight, I also own a Mini 3 Pro. Things turned out differently: I was able to buy a defective Mavic 3 (dual camera, the original) for the price of an Air 3 (replaced by DJI including the costs for repairs). I didn't hesitate for long. Nevertheless: I think the fact that the minis are quickly pushed to their limits in the wind and the additional benefit of the larger battery makes the Air 3 worth it. Not least because European regulations do not restrict the Air 3 much more than the Minis. Sure, the Mavic 3 Classic is very close in price and exact the same in terms of regulation. However, in my opinion, the Mavic 3 Pro is out because it is more limited by its weight over 900g. So the question is Air 3 or Mavic 3 Classic. I am of the opinion that the Air 3 can definitely compete here. The Mini 4 Pro is actually identical in terms of camera quality. However, wind resistance and battery performance do make a difference.
You’re right and I do agree with the battery life and wind resistance. I guess just depending on where you live it’s either got more pros or more cons. Thanks for sharing!
I love my dji air 3 one of the best drone from dji
It’s not a bad drone at all don’t get me wrong. It’s just unless you live in a super windy area, the Mini 4 Pro has the same features and range is all I was trying to say
it really isnt the best thou
The Air 3 has more stability and less effect from wind also the bullet proof RC2 - SIZE ... Matters than a dinky Mini4 ... My Mini2 still rocks
I 100% agree. Size matters in windy scenarios for sure
Well the Mini has the RC2 also.
But yeah, stability in very high winds is where the difference will be seen. But that's about it.
Since I already have an Air 2S and a Mavic 2 Zoom, I opted for the Mini 4 Pro. And I'm glad I did. It really has everything.
Well, until the next release that is 😂
The sub 250g drones do not have any alternatives if you are going to fly close to people though, C0 is the only class you are allowed to fly over people without a specific (expensive) certificate.
That is something else to consider as well
@TheEightfoldPath_ Be careful, if you are hovering over people or moving over a crowd, like at a beach or on a city street for example, sub-250g or not, it is still illegal without some extra safety precautions. Mainly, you need FAA approved propeller guards. The exact wording is as follows: "Contain no exposed rotating parts that would cause lacerations." That includes your props. If a LEO wants to issue you a citation, the exact wording will be up for interpretation, but at the end of the day it will be their word against yours. Just something to keep in mind.
@@r.Koozie If you are in the US then that might apply yeah. In the EU the current wording does not imply any additional safety precautions, A1 (under which C0 falls) is fine above people but not assemblies of people.
@@TheEightfoldPath_ ah, gotcha. Went right over my head that you weren’t in the states. CO class should have given it away lol
I use the 70mm camera on the air 3 all the time, so it's a big advantage in my eyes. However, there is one more key factor... and that is battery life. In Europe, if you wanna go higher than 30-35mins real flight time, and you don't wanna spend a lot of money but still be legal, there is no other choice than air 3. DJI cannot sell battery plus in Europe, so we are restricted to 35mins theoretical time, which means a little less than 30mins real flight time.
Second camera and flight time was my deciding factor that made me get the air 3, and never regret it so far.
And i also kept my old (but gold) mini2 for portability, to shoot for fun when size matters. But the difference in size and portability is not that great for me either. I 'm not the kind of guy that will go hiking with a backpack, but when i travel i do it by car or bike, so either of these drones are not heavy in my case.
Thanks for sharing! I was not aware of the battery situation in Europe
@@StephenDeLosRiosyeah it's because if you bring it over 249 grams, the drone loses its C0 classification and can only legally be flown in the open countryside.
However there is now/soon the option to get it C1 classified, which makes the weight gain ok (it would be allowed back in the same airspace as C0 Mini 4, and Air 3, fly close to people, in cities, etc). So maybe dji will start selling the Plus battery here in Europe also.
Air3 wins
🤙🏼
*I have owned the Phantom 3 Pro, Mavic Pro, Air 2, and the Air 2s. I have pondered the next purchase between the two drones you've mentioned. In my experience, the larger drones are more stable in the wind. The Phantom was a beast. The difference in size between the Air 3 and the Mini 4 Pro is enough to make a difference for stability. But, not a consideration on what I have to physically carry. They're both small. The telephoto lens isn't a motivational factor. I agree with you that I would rather fly closer then have degradation in video quality. Any thoughts about Parallax or Dolly Zoom? Yes, I can do those in post. Here's my motivation for the Mini 4 Pro. With the standard battery installed the Remote ID is not transmitted. I live in an area of tourists, Prima-donnas, and those with Entitlement personalities. I abide by the rules but do not want to deal with any "Karens" or uninformed law enforcement. If its a windy day and I absolutely need that footage I will retrieve the Air 2s from the trunk of my car and deal with the Remote ID shenanigans. Above all I want quality footage without the breaking of the bank of a Mavic 3 Pro 😁*
Thanks for your thoughts! All these are important to consider given the options and prices. My first drone was the Phantom and you never had to worry about stability there haha. If it were my preference, yea I’d go for the Mavic 3 Pro but people do get so weird with a drone flying in the air as if they’ve never seen one before. For that reason I do prefer the smaller drones but lately I have started not to care. Now I don’t live in an area that’s too regulated but given your circumstances maybe the mini series is a better fit.
I think to much emphasis is placed on the 250g rules. It really doesn't change much for the hobbyist. Yes there is RID but b y now everyone should just realize that is why even the older Mavic and the Air series already have RID baked in. As far as the Air 3 I am still in love with the Air 2S and waiting to see if there is an Air 3S with a full 1Inch sensor and the associated quality.
I’m wondering if that’s what I should’ve done as well honestly
Don’t get me wrong i was more pissed about the fact they both share the same controller…. But Dji says I can only bind one so I had to keep both controllers to have flyaway coverage …. But the wind resistance was my main reason for picking up the air
I can’t deny the wind resistance feature this one has going for it.
The best combo for those with plenty of cash to burn, is to go just with my combo of choice ….. The Mavic 3 Pro/Mini 4 Pro…..forget about Air 3…… Now you have the best of both worlds. Peace out as Billy would say. ✌️
That’s my dream garage scenario actually so I agree!
Thank You. 😎
You're welcome!
Air 3 owner in USA and the law changed that you need more weight to use your part 107 air 3 qualifies minis don't only recreational
That’s good to know!
the only draw back in air 3 is it does not support RC pro i don't why DJI Don't come up with an UPDATE in air 3 so it can support RC pro it has 4k HDMI output and RC 1 and RC 2 Also does not have HDMI out
Yea I’m not sure either. Would make sense to allow that though.
Because dji would like to sell you the RC2 Pro instead. I'm sure it's coming, if not now then surely when the Mavic 4 is released...
Regarding HDMI out... I've seen several posts recently with people using USB-C to HDMI adapter to indeed get HDMI out to an external monitor with RC2.
@@shadduckbut with USB c u get osd display out also and with HDMI out option you can turn off osd out but in USB C u cannot turn off osd output that's the drawback
@@olabergvall3154but what if people need now why they didn't launch support of RC pro with air 3
drone unlike camera spends most of its time in the air, so whether it is easy to carry around is not that important. air 3 has better antenna, more stability in air, stronger engine. mini 4 pro is just there for the 249g requirement. i will get air 3 every time.
They have the same specs, range and antenna system. Portability is huge for those carrying a lot of gear around but is a great beginner drone
I have both, so I think I can tell the difference. When compared with any DSLR with a standard 24mm and 70mm lens, Air 3 is light.@@StephenDeLosRios
@@swcblad same and the Air 3 is worth skipping in most cases for a beginner is all I’m saying. It’s ok to disagree.
@@StephenDeLosRios NO - THEY -DO - NOT
opinions are one thing but you are completely factually wrong.. delete the video.. research and do it again - or do u have some bias incentive ????@@StephenDeLosRios
I don't disagree. But I view it a hair different. I've been flying drones for several years without a Camera.
In the last couple years I decided to have a little fun with a drone with a camera. I was Not about to spend much though. When I bought, I got the Mini 2 and the Autel Nano Plus, Their was no mini 3 yet. The Mini 2 is a very good beginner drone. The Nano Plus is a flying camera. When the mini 4 came out I took the chance. I like it a lot, kind of. Recently lost my Nano Plus to an electric pole doing a fruit blossom survey. The insurance was about enough to cover an Amazon Used like new Air 3. I've been playing with it for a couple days and have found It is no better than the Mini 4 pro.
DJI made money off me mainly because Autel turned against their customer base and they'll never see another dime of mine.
SO, For those on the fence of Mini 4 vs air 3. Get the Mini 4 and call it a day. If you need more, go on up to the mavic 3 pro .
I’m sorry you had to experience that. I also do see this argument for the mini 4 pro. Thanks for sharing!
u absolute bell end