If you are in the US and concerned about customs issues order your drone from drone-works.com I don’t get any commission but he has some in stock and can ship quickly!
I have seen this a couple times now in your videos and wanted to ask, what are the issues people are having? I have had a few drones and accessories delivered from DJI directly and have received mine without delay or issues. I'm curious because I have not experienced this at all.
Love this new compare and contrast format - people always want to compare - honest reviews , thorough evaluation , and experienced technical insight about what matters - appreciate you Jake
Thanks Jake, great comparison video! You covered everything I needed to know and just saved me about $2000 NZ! I'm sticking with my 3 Pro and going to wait for the Mavic 4 Pro. By the way it was your night time video with the Mavic 3 pro that sold me on it last year. :) Always a pleasure watching your videos and such fantastic scenery.
@@SimplyScotlandPhotography You and me both. I'm keeping my Air 2s and also my older Autel Evo II Pro V1 for when I need the best picture quality. Cheers.
I’m blown away by how quiet my Air 3S is. I’m really liking it so far. Learning how to get the most out of it at night but I’ve gotten some great pictures already
Do you use the original propellers or are there more quiet ones? I would say it is louder than I thought it would be. Quite aggressive like my Air2S, just a little deeper. I thought it would be more like the Mavic 3 pro. I used the ones coming with the fly more combo
@ I use the stock props. Mine is very quiet. My Air 2S wasn’t bad for noise but then the software got messed up and I had to send it for warranty. The refurb one they sent back works great but is so loud. The 3S is so much quieter. Only 200ft up and out and it’s hard to know it’s there, or certainly not a sound that attracts any attention
@@Philonic thanks! Stock means the one coming with the drone? Maybe my impression is wrong. This summer I was flying a M3 pro and I was just blown away on how quiet it was. Maybe I have to put my air2s next to the 3s
I think we are at a point to where there is no "bad" consumer/prosumer drones. Unless you step up to the cine or inspire you're not going to see major differences anymore.
@@Matanumi True, I suppose I'm mainly referring to any of the latest DJI Drones. Everyone else has bowed out or are making toys (for the consumer/prosumer market).
The mavic 3 pro to me is still the most outstanding cinematic drone I've flown... good to see some others coming closer with a more accessible price point though.
Thanks Jake. Like many for my work I just demand having the aperture adjustment, and the larger sensor so I’ll definitely be waiting on the Mavic 4.. (as I’ve got 2 Mavic 3’s sent off to Drone Nerds to get repaired and I’m flying with a Mavic 2 Pro to get by right now haha) . I downloaded some of Billy’s Air 3s dng’s and brought them into LR and they seemed pretty soft and also thought the lens design was poor despite the extra resolution. Cheers friend!
Thank you for the comparison! Seeing as my M3Pro was new in 2023, I'm not in any hurry to replace it. And as a primarily stills and, specifically, low-light stills photographer, I do not see myself going backward in sensor size any time soon. I'm actually exploring a build-your-own platform that can hold a full frame or APC-C body. I'd love an Inspire, but I don't make enough from my drone work to justify it right now. Thanks for planting that seed, though!
Maybe it’s time for Jakey to get some reader glasses? : ) the M3P image across the board is clearer, better contrast, sharper hands down. Not night and day but big enough. The color was also better on the M3P vs the blue cast on the other. Top speed is better for sure, I’m sure they could adjust that in a Few revision but in true DJI fashion to keep picking the consumers pockets, they won’t. Good review in a stunning landscape!
Very good review. I have a dji mini 3 and i have noticed a big difference in sharpness when i make the video sharper in a editor program, i can even see the video on my 42 inch tv and it looks amazing, so if you are worried about one drone being a bit sharper than the other, i would argue that its not that big of a deal as long as you can make it sharper with software. What is a big of a deal for me is the zoom. Mavic 3 pro is amazing and i have not seen any good competitor yet. I love filiming nature an animals and i cant wait to get my maic 3 pro and be able to get close up shots. 7x optical zoom is quite a lot and even the digital zoom seems great.
Hatcher Pass is so scenic in the winter (and the other spots you filmed in as well). Great video! The video I made in Alaska a couple of years back featured a few shots there.
great video as always thanks, I recently bought the 3s fly more and sold my 3yr old mavic 3. I find this an upgrade for my work uses. Having the 24 and 70mm match really well with each other is great, the quality is close enough to the M3, and I really wanted the 70mm lens for work photos. I found then 162mm a bit too soft and too long for work needs. So far very happy with it, its speed and manoeuvrability is super fast and great. Much needed. I do hate the slow 50mp 5x bracketed photo processing speed though and wish you could adjust the camera settings ready for the next photo which it was processesing instead of being locked out of any camera adjustments - takes about 11seconds or so!! Overall love it so far overall.
Thank you for the honest and professionally good comparison. Are tons of bad comparison videos made by people who have no idea about photography. Most are bought by DJI as well.
Love it! Love those two drones. I have those two exact ones. Have the air 3s for a week now and still haven't use it yet. Can't wait to test it soon when I relieve from work
Hi Jake. Useful video. So with the low light of the Air 3S that looks very much like you’ve got noise reduction on which looks mushy. Were you in the dedicated night mode? You have no control with that mode. Did you have sharpness at -2 for your filming?
Hey Phillip. For everything I run -2 and -2 because I hate the in camera sharpening and noise reduction. On the mavic 3 I noted where I switched to night mode
Great video! The shots you got at Portage Glacier were fantastic! We loved that area so much when we visited last year. The waterfalls along the hike to get there were epic too, but my guess is that they aren't flowing in the winter! 😉
Both look great, but I’m worried about the fixed aperture on the Air. I don’t want to waste time landing and changing filters during sunset or bc clouds are moving through. My Mavic 2 Pro just drowned last week, so I am looking for a replacement but not sure if I can wait for the Mavic 4 :)
yeah that is a huge upside to the Mavic 3! If you can live without the 3x camera then I would 100% look at the mavic 3 classic if you want a "stop gap" drone till the Mavic 4 arrives likely in April next year
Hi Jake, great video. To me the Mavic 3 Pro looks better on every shot you have compared. Air 3s looks mushy to me, so not tempted by it at all. Lots of banding in the night shots. So dont really want to sell my M3Pro. Regarding active track, I think all DJI drones I have tested, including the M3Pro which I own, is simply not good enough. I do ski mountainering and mountain biking. So what I am really looking forward to is that bacon device. Hopefully we will finally be able to track a skier running downhill, which currently is simply not working using DJI drones. Sadly it does not seem like the beacon (O4) will be supporting the M3 Pro (O3) so will be forced to sell it. But rather wait for the Mavic 4, or get the mini 4 for skiing with the beacon than the Air3S. Thanks again for the video.
I'm so torn, lol. I need a drone and I've been mentored to say if you're a pro, then you gotta buy the best gear for good reasons. I also know that for at least 5 years I've not needed a drone and I have a client that seems like they may need me to fly mine for photography only about once a quarter. At first I was thinking the mini pro, then the 3s, but then there's also good refurb prices on the mavic 3 pro. So most of my photography is corporate events, so periodically when there's an outdoor event I can now use it, otherwise, this thing will be just a tool. I'm not going to suddenly start trying to market myself for real estate. Greatly appreciate any direction.
If you are mainly focused on photography then the mavic 3 classic or a refurb mavic 3 pro is 100% the way to go. It has superb image quality for photos
Very helpful video, thanks Jake for sharing good advices. Having the air 3 s , a bit lost with the iso mode which climb up to 12000!! Better to stay in 100 and putting the shutter speed quite high? Your exposure is often at + 1, isn’ it to overexpose? Thanks for your answer… if😉
You want to keep the iso as low as possible and keep your shutter speed 2 times your frame rate if you can (higher if it’s overexposed. When filming over snow generally you have to overexpose the image +.7 to +1.0. If you expose at 0 the snow looks grey. So much white throws off the exposure metering
we don't know about the mavic 4 yet, best guess is April/may of 2025. You will likely see some price drops here and there as sales but nothing permanent for a while
Hey Jake, I’m looking at starting out with my drone business and am looking at the Air 3s. Since I’m starting out the focus will be on real estate, events, and marketing material for various marketing companies. I was leaning towards the mavic 3 pro initially until the air 3s came out and was curious if you would choose on over the other for any specific reasons. Thanks!
honestly either one will work very well for that. I'd say since you are starting out and you don't want to sink a lot of money into equipment until you have positive cash flow then go with the Air 3s. It produces great results
Have you had any issues with the autofocus motor freezing in low temperatures? I have run into an issue where the Mavic mini 3 pro autofocus motor will freeze up below 32 degrees F. It makes the photos unusable.
@@JakeSloanthank you! Cold weather hit yesterday in North Dakota. We have had a gorgeous fall but now I have to get back into the routine of doing the extra steps needed for cold weather!
Been waiting for this , thanks. Was hoping for 3 vs 3S too tho. In day and night. Right away I notice what I’ve noticed in other videos. I prefer the color of the mavic 3 pro. But the sharpness and clarity of the air 3S Is super impressive. It packs a punch for sure. Amazing value.
Hi, I’m wondering if you can shed some light, (your channels awesome btw) I recently upgraded from the air 3 to the air 3s hoping the active track would be better. If I draw a box around a vehicle the camera follows the object fine but the coverage is sporadic - wonky. It’ll creep up on the object or shy away from it when I simply want it to spotlight the object - thanks in advance
usually I find that is because there isn't good contrast between the subject the drone is trying to track and the surrounding area like tracking a dark car against a dark background.
Your video's never disappoint 👍 even if I'm gonna sit on my m3 original, i still love seeing your footage and insight. I hear the cold helps you stay younger longer. Here's to a long life 🍻
THIS is the review the community has been waiting for. I know these tests aren't easy to do Jake, thanks for taking the time to do a great job on this here 👏👏
it will be more of a challenge to match it up, not impossible just a bit more work. Something like the mavic 3 classic will be a bit easier with the D-Log as opposed to D-Log M.
I thought you might do a smart RTH with the Air 3S when I saw the ice cave. Other videos of it RTH'g back inside a parking garage or high rise apartment are impressive.
Thanks for the review! I love this drone. And the only thing that keeps from not swapping it with my DJI Mini 3 Pro is its size and portability. The cameras are great!
Can I say that if you can help it, wait for the mini 5 pro because it will be the perfect drone for social media given its vertical mode. Again, if you can help it but the weight as well as flight characteristics in regards to wind would be better with the 3S
Nice video. Do you think the M3 cine version is worth buying over the normal version? Does the prores codec look better over H265? I get the smoother performance for editing, wondering if the 140MB H265 bitrate is enough in 5.1K. Thanks Jake!
I find it’s plenty for most things. The only reason I went with the cine version is many of the commercial jobs I work on ask specifically for ProRes for color grading
Are these videos hot off the drone or post edit? I'm going to buy my first drone and would love to know if I can expect footage like this or if I have to learn video editing. I'm something of a tech Luddite with limited computer skills so this would either be exciting for me or something of a disappointment if I have to upgrade a simple laptop to something much more powerful and invest in editing software I wouldn't really know how to use.
@@JakeSloan Wow, such a prompt reply. Thank you very much Sir. I'm in N.E Scotland with hundreds of castles, mountains and moors on my doorstep and ever since drones dropped from rich tv companies into the public domain I've been intrigued by the possibilities and now I'm in a position to make it happen. I covet the Mavic 3 Pro but prudence says I learn the art with the 3S. Your video pretty much clinched it for me. Thanks again and kindest regards from Scotland.
I still sport the Air 2S and the original Mavic 3. Do you think the original M3 is falling behind to warrant an upgrade to the 3s? I am waiting for the M4 before I decide of any.
Good review, Jake! I agree I probably will wait for the Mavic 4...but wow, the Air3S certainly gives a run for it's money compared to the Mavic 3..I still think the Mavic 3 is still overall better, but 60 mph, crazy!
@@JakeSloan Yes, I agree! With the advancements they made with the active tracking and speed (for example), I can only imagine the improvements on the Mavic 4 that are coming!
Are you flying your drones without 4G, or do you have 4G out there? I live in Australia, I don't have to go far to change from full signal to no signal. 🙁
Just bought the Air 3s. Can’t get it into Night mode. The setting isn’t in the same place as my MAVIC 3 pro. First rep I spoke to at DJI said it will go into Night mode automatically. But no matter how dark it is, the ISO isn’t anywhere close to where it is on my MAVIC 3 Pro in night mode. The second rep I spoke to said that the Air 3s does not have night mode for video. She said I could return it and buy an AIR 3 if I want night mode. Any advice or thoughts on this? Thanks in advance! Great videos. Yours have been the best I’ve found so far when I need to know anything about my DJI drones!
as I said in this video there is no night mode in the Air 3s anymore it is all just part of the video mode. D-log M limits how high you can go in ISO but if you switch into normal color profile you can go all the way up to 12800iso. Thanks for the kind words!
@@JakeSloanMust have missed that. Thanks Jake! Love your video’s. Great tips, advice and insight. I always went back to one of your video’s on the MAVIC 3 pro after I bought mine a few months ago!
With all the hype around the new 3S, I'm surprised how much better the Mavic 3 images are compared to the Air 3S. Is the 7x zoom on the 3S variable or fixed? Alaska looks fabulous. How do you like shooting in winter there?
all the cameras on the Air 3s are fixed at f1.7 for the wide and f2.8 for the 3x. I love shooting in the winter here BUT it takes a LOT more work and prep to keep everything working
Again, it's absolutely criminal that dji is not sending you equipment for you to test. But that aside. Really considering the Air 3s. However, I saw online the the video bit rate it produces isn't as advertised and that the max height has been limited. Can you confirm or dispel these 2 things?
I haven't seen an issue with bit rate. There are a lot of people making a big deal about it when it really isn't. For height limits there is not difference here (USA) compared to the mavic 3. There might be a difference in locations like the EU however
When I shoot in D-Log-M I don't notice any HDR effects. And photos do seem better than the ones from the Air 3. In almost every way expect for camera quality, the Air 3S is the better than the Mavic 3 series. The video and photo quality is better on the Mavic 3 series' main camera, but the Air 3s is not that far off. Great comparison Jake, you made a lot of good points. Thanks for sharing. And wow, I didn't expect all that snow, I'm still wearing shorts at the Jersey Shore.
why most of 3s footage is too soft and almost all details washed out 0:46 look at the trees 1:09 also the trees in the right side 2:38 , 2:34 look how the rooks are soft looks like out of focus.... is it an issue in the drone or what ??
Thanks Jake - been waiting for your opinion on the Air 3S. As an Air 2S owner, and mainly a stills shooter, I held off on the Air 3 due to the lack of 1" sensor, but even with that now in place for the 3S I'm not convinced that the 12MP (50MP with binning I assume) that the stills will be better than the stock 20MP of the Air 2S. Realise that the comparison is probably quite niche now due to the age of the Air 2S, but if you get a chance, could you comment on the stills between 3S and 2S please? 👍😉
I am going to try and get my hands on an Air 2s to compare. I suspect that it will still win in photos but video I think the air 3s does better”might” edge it out.
Thank you for giving an honest thoughtful review of the Air3s which is a decent drone but it’s Not the Mavic 3 series from the flexibility of a variable aperture to its proven video as well as photo quality 👍🏽🚁🎢💯
Hello, I love you video! I'm starting out with my channel and have been using the dji fpv. I see the quality diffrence but wondering due to price if I should get the air3s and get better with that then upgrade later to get the mavic 3 pro... or something better when it comes out in a few years?
The mavic series will likely see a refresh early next year, but for starting out an Air 3 or air 3s would be great to learn with and capture great photos and video
Hey Jake, I bought the OA5P after you're review when it came out and am happywith it. I'm deciding between a M4P and Air3s(maybe a mavic 3 pro or clasic basic combo?). I want to be able to take video / images to use on a high end travel hotel website for background. The M4P seems the most practical and handy but I'm a little concerned I may not be able to get the images to look great for what I need. Do you think for this type of occasional work I can make it look good with a M4P in post and with filters/luts or should I get the Air3s or maybe even the Mavic3 classic/pro even though it may be overkill the rest of the time? Thanks.
I am working on my Air 3s vs Mini 4 Pro video now so hopefully it will answer some of your questions. End of the day I think the Mini 4 pro imagery will do just find for you!
@JakeSloan Thanks! I've watched a bunch of reviews already and the difference in flight characteristics is pretty clear to me... it's really the camera / video... how much can a M4P do before I need a better camera... how much is from the actual cameras vs a skilled camera person and editor...
@JakeSloan it would also be my first drone... I'm not worried about being able to fly it or getting a license... just don't want to buy it and in two months feel like I bought the wrong one...
Good comparison. Thank you. Definitely want to get the Air 3S, but the size is still my biggest problem. I definitely need to check more of my regulations when traveling. Ugh 😩.
That's all cool but having variable aperture is important to me. If I am taking video and the light changes a lot I like being able to adjust aperture while in flight vs landing and changing the filter and possibly needing to tweak shutter speed and aperture.
Same here! I hope the Mavic 4 Pros main sensor will have more than 20MP. Both for higher resolution landscape shots but also for either 6K or 8K video recording. Maybe even 6K or 8K downsampled to 4K? Who knows. It’ll be interesting to see how the Mavic 4 compares to the Air3s/Mavic 3 Pro
I have been watching videos of this type to see if I should go to the A3S from my Air 2S but at this time I think I will buy the Mavic 3 PRO as I have the RC Pro etc. and the video quality you have shown to me is way better on the Mavic 3 PRO. Obstacle avoidance for me is a non issue as I fly FPV drones and know what not to do.
@JakeSloan I too have an air 2s Am just shocked how the image looks soft at night in the air 3s Is this the same quality in the air 3 ? Am kinda bumbed right now coz I was seriously considering an upgrade from air 2s to air 3s But now am truly disappointed by the low light quality u posted
Great comparison video! Where abouts in Alaska are you? My job has me and the family potential going to Either Homer or Sitka and possibly Cordova this next June.
I think I will keep my M3P for a long time. It doesn't make me feel limited at all. I like the quality of 3 cameras, 7x is my favorite. I always forget that M3P has tracking features 😁.
Why all reviewers of air3s not talking the Vertical or Portrait Video Mode? That's the trend today for social media like facebook tiktok etc. Vertical video is very important if how air 3s can compete the true vertical video on Mini 4 Pro.
@@JakeSloan I'd be really happy if they upgraded the sensor for the 166mm camera and/or went for a slightly longer zoom. It's already fabulous with nature, for example, but it requires a lot of light. Also, that paralax is fantastic.
Im with the Air2s that has given me amazing content. Now DJI has the promo for the mavic 3 pro combo. Dont know if i wait for tbe 4 but it will be expensive or go for the Air3s... Mainly for architectural photography....
Yeah i was thinking the same thing.. how come in this review it looks like the mavic 3 has all the best images but in other reviews I've seen they all showed the air3s to have better images even in night mode
Yeah I was surprised as well. I double checked focus many times when shooting this. I do have sharpness turned down from the stock but I also do that on the mavic 3 so they should match up settings wise
I’d consider the Air3s but I’ll wait for a little longer since the Mavic 4 is just around the corner. It’ll be interesting to see how the Mavic 4 compares to the Air3s/Mavic 3 Pro! I hope the Mavic 4 Pros main sensor will have more than 20MP. Both for higher resolution landscape shots but also for either 6K or 8K video recording. Maybe even 6K or 8K downsampled to 4K? Who knows.
It's a good idea to let a new DJI model bake-in for awhile before acquiring. Consider that, when planning your acquisitions. 1. The firmware is never quite ready for primetime on new DJI models. 2. New features are sometimes added a few months after initial release. In the case of the Mavic 3, the original 2-cam model (24/164) split to a cheaper single-cam model (24mm) and a 3-cam model (24/70/164). People who bought early got a raw deal.
@@JakeSloan I couldn’t agree more. I can’t wait to see a side by side comparison! I’m also curious if there’ll be any meaningful improvements to the tele lenses/sensors.
Damn, the Mavic 3 seems to have a pretty strong image sharpening compared to there Air 3s. I had the Air 2s before which I loved a lot, so not natural choice for me is the Air 3s. Great comparison!
always compliments for your reviews, you're really great!!! the air 3s is excellent but the mavic 3 pro beats it in most 😊😊 cases the mavic 3 pro is a wonderful drone
If you are in the US and concerned about customs issues order your drone from drone-works.com I don’t get any commission but he has some in stock and can ship quickly!
Ordered mine on Wednesday and received it couple hours ago. This is my first drone since 2010. Had the parrot ar drone 2.0
I'm from USA and ordered last week and got it right away without any issues.
Mine was blocked in customs. Trying to get my $1725 back has been a real treat from DJI.
I have seen this a couple times now in your videos and wanted to ask, what are the issues people are having? I have had a few drones and accessories delivered from DJI directly and have received mine without delay or issues. I'm curious because I have not experienced this at all.
Love this new compare and contrast format - people always want to compare - honest reviews , thorough evaluation , and experienced technical insight about what matters - appreciate you Jake
Thank you so much!
One of the best comparison videos I’ve seen so far. Nice work Jake!
Thanks Eddie!!
Definitely sticking with my mavic 3, the mavic 4 is right around the corner and I'd rather wait for that
That’s a good plan
Thanks Jake, great comparison video! You covered everything I needed to know and just saved me about $2000 NZ! I'm sticking with my 3 Pro and going to wait for the Mavic 4 Pro. By the way it was your night time video with the Mavic 3 pro that sold me on it last year. :) Always a pleasure watching your videos and such fantastic scenery.
I am glad it was helpful and I think that is a great plan!
Much respect for putting in the miles in that snow 😊. I will stick with my Air2S till I see what the Mavic 4 brings us.
Good choice!
Air2s has such a boring default profile but you can do more with it sometimes
@@SimplyScotlandPhotography You and me both. I'm keeping my Air 2s and also my older Autel Evo II Pro V1 for when I need the best picture quality. Cheers.
I’m blown away by how quiet my Air 3S is. I’m really liking it so far. Learning how to get the most out of it at night but I’ve gotten some great pictures already
Couldn't agree more!
😉 they beast of all
Do you use the original propellers or are there more quiet ones? I would say it is louder than I thought it would be. Quite aggressive like my Air2S, just a little deeper. I thought it would be more like the Mavic 3 pro. I used the ones coming with the fly more combo
@ I use the stock props. Mine is very quiet. My Air 2S wasn’t bad for noise but then the software got messed up and I had to send it for warranty. The refurb one they sent back works great but is so loud. The 3S is so much quieter. Only 200ft up and out and it’s hard to know it’s there, or certainly not a sound that attracts any attention
@@Philonic thanks! Stock means the one coming with the drone? Maybe my impression is wrong. This summer I was flying a M3 pro and I was just blown away on how quiet it was. Maybe I have to put my air2s next to the 3s
I think we are at a point to where there is no "bad" consumer/prosumer drones. Unless you step up to the cine or inspire you're not going to see major differences anymore.
100% agree!
I douno autel has kinda left the game and what they had was only OK.
There isn't much else competing
@@Matanumi True, I suppose I'm mainly referring to any of the latest DJI Drones. Everyone else has bowed out or are making toys (for the consumer/prosumer market).
Exxxxactkly
The mavic 3 pro to me is still the most outstanding cinematic drone I've flown... good to see some others coming closer with a more accessible price point though.
It is such a beast
This is the Review I needed today. Thanks. Will watch to the end.
Hope you enjoy it!
Thanks Jake. Like many for my work I just demand having the aperture adjustment, and the larger sensor so I’ll definitely be waiting on the Mavic 4.. (as I’ve got 2 Mavic 3’s sent off to Drone Nerds to get repaired and I’m flying with a Mavic 2 Pro to get by right now haha) . I downloaded some of Billy’s Air 3s dng’s and brought them into LR and they seemed pretty soft and also thought the lens design was poor despite the extra resolution. Cheers friend!
Yeah even though I didn’t mention it the adjustable aperture is something I cannot live without when I’m working for clients.
Are you going to do the air 2s vs air3s?
If I can get my hands on an air 2s yes I definitely will!
@@JakeSloanseconding this!
@@Ponyfrog151 Thirding 😉
Man, love this comparison. Love my Air 2s, hard to decide. Hearing the Mavic 4 is just around the corner (April). Might hold out and wait.
I think waiting a few months is wise!
The comparison of MAVIC3PROvsAIR3s shooting was very helpful. Thanks.
I've decided to purchase additional MAVIC3 batteries!
fantastic!
Thank you for the comparison! Seeing as my M3Pro was new in 2023, I'm not in any hurry to replace it. And as a primarily stills and, specifically, low-light stills photographer, I do not see myself going backward in sensor size any time soon. I'm actually exploring a build-your-own platform that can hold a full frame or APC-C body. I'd love an Inspire, but I don't make enough from my drone work to justify it right now. Thanks for planting that seed, though!
You’re welcome!!
Great job on the video Jake! Thanks for making it.
You bet!
Jake, great comparison as always. Thank you for the video!
Glad you liked it!
Maybe it’s time for Jakey to get some reader glasses? : ) the M3P image across the board is clearer, better contrast, sharper hands down. Not night and day but big enough. The color was also better on the M3P vs the blue cast on the other. Top speed is better for sure, I’m sure they could adjust that in a Few revision but in true DJI fashion to keep picking the consumers pockets, they won’t. Good review in a stunning landscape!
It is. After reviewing the footage more deeply it definitely is. Glasses might be a good idea. I am over 40 😂
Very good review.
I have a dji mini 3 and i have noticed a big difference in sharpness when i make the video sharper in a editor program, i can even see the video on my 42 inch tv and it looks amazing, so if you are worried about one drone being a bit sharper than the other, i would argue that its not that big of a deal as long as you can make it sharper with software.
What is a big of a deal for me is the zoom.
Mavic 3 pro is amazing and i have not seen any good competitor yet.
I love filiming nature an animals and i cant wait to get my maic 3 pro and be able to get close up shots.
7x optical zoom is quite a lot and even the digital zoom seems great.
agree 100%
@5:21, on the M3P shot, what is that in the sky? Is that lense flair or something else?
I think it’s a strange lens flare. I’ve never seen it till that shot
Hatcher Pass is so scenic in the winter (and the other spots you filmed in as well). Great video! The video I made in Alaska a couple of years back featured a few shots there.
It’s such a fantastic place to film!
great video as always thanks, I recently bought the 3s fly more and sold my 3yr old mavic 3. I find this an upgrade for my work uses. Having the 24 and 70mm match really well with each other is great, the quality is close enough to the M3, and I really wanted the 70mm lens for work photos. I found then 162mm a bit too soft and too long for work needs. So far very happy with it, its speed and manoeuvrability is super fast and great. Much needed. I do hate the slow 50mp 5x bracketed photo processing speed though and wish you could adjust the camera settings ready for the next photo which it was processesing instead of being locked out of any camera adjustments - takes about 11seconds or so!! Overall love it so far overall.
NICE!!
Thank you for the honest and professionally good comparison. Are tons of bad comparison videos made by people who have no idea about photography. Most are bought by DJI as well.
I appreciate that!
True.
Love it! Love those two drones. I have those two exact ones. Have the air 3s for a week now and still haven't use it yet. Can't wait to test it soon when I relieve from work
NICE
Thanks Jake. Plan to do air3 vs air3s?
I do working on it now
Hi Jake. Useful video.
So with the low light of the Air 3S that looks very much like you’ve got noise reduction on which looks mushy. Were you in the dedicated night mode? You have no control with that mode.
Did you have sharpness at -2 for your filming?
Hey Phillip. For everything I run -2 and -2 because I hate the in camera sharpening and noise reduction. On the mavic 3 I noted where I switched to night mode
At night try -2 sharpness and 0 noise reduction and ISO 1600 footage looks much better but with -2 noise reduction in low light produce noisy image
Great video! The shots you got at Portage Glacier were fantastic! We loved that area so much when we visited last year. The waterfalls along the hike to get there were epic too, but my guess is that they aren't flowing in the winter! 😉
I agree! Portage Glacier is an incredible place, the waterfalls are definitely frozen now
can you make a video for Mavic Pro 4 vs Air3S when you got in next year ?
I will be as soon as the mavic 4 is released assuming dji doesn't get banned in the US
Josh Sattin brought me here! Good stuff!
Thank you for coming by!
Just got an Air 3s after 2+ years working with Air 2s, so can't wait what the machine is capable of.
awesome!!
Both look great, but I’m worried about the fixed aperture on the Air. I don’t want to waste time landing and changing filters during sunset or bc clouds are moving through. My Mavic 2 Pro just drowned last week, so I am looking for a replacement but not sure if I can wait for the Mavic 4 :)
yeah that is a huge upside to the Mavic 3! If you can live without the 3x camera then I would 100% look at the mavic 3 classic if you want a "stop gap" drone till the Mavic 4 arrives likely in April next year
Hi Jake, great video. To me the Mavic 3 Pro looks better on every shot you have compared. Air 3s looks mushy to me, so not tempted by it at all. Lots of banding in the night shots. So dont really want to sell my M3Pro. Regarding active track, I think all DJI drones I have tested, including the M3Pro which I own, is simply not good enough. I do ski mountainering and mountain biking. So what I am really looking forward to is that bacon device. Hopefully we will finally be able to track a skier running downhill, which currently is simply not working using DJI drones. Sadly it does not seem like the beacon (O4) will be supporting the M3 Pro (O3) so will be forced to sell it. But rather wait for the Mavic 4, or get the mini 4 for skiing with the beacon than the Air3S. Thanks again for the video.
Agreed! I am hoping the Air 3s with the upcoming beacon will maybe get good enough for stuff like that.
GREAT INTRO. Thanks for such inspiration im still watching it
Appreciate the kind words.
I'm so torn, lol. I need a drone and I've been mentored to say if you're a pro, then you gotta buy the best gear for good reasons. I also know that for at least 5 years I've not needed a drone and I have a client that seems like they may need me to fly mine for photography only about once a quarter. At first I was thinking the mini pro, then the 3s, but then there's also good refurb prices on the mavic 3 pro. So most of my photography is corporate events, so periodically when there's an outdoor event I can now use it, otherwise, this thing will be just a tool. I'm not going to suddenly start trying to market myself for real estate. Greatly appreciate any direction.
If you are mainly focused on photography then the mavic 3 classic or a refurb mavic 3 pro is 100% the way to go. It has superb image quality for photos
Can an ask does the 3 air capture sound? A fly DJI Fpv ?
No it does not
Very helpful video, thanks Jake for sharing good advices. Having the air 3 s , a bit lost with the iso mode which climb up to 12000!! Better to stay in 100 and putting the shutter speed quite high? Your exposure is often at + 1, isn’ it to overexpose? Thanks for your answer… if😉
You want to keep the iso as low as possible and keep your shutter speed 2 times your frame rate if you can (higher if it’s overexposed. When filming over snow generally you have to overexpose the image +.7 to +1.0. If you expose at 0 the snow looks grey. So much white throws off the exposure metering
Thanks for your answer
i dont have the budget for dji neo itself but I love to see tech like this just in case one day I may...until then, thank you for this jake!
Thank you!
Good comparison video Jake
Thank you so much Lynn
Thank you for the review! Very high quality and useful 😊
Thank you
Do we know approximately when DJI will release the Mavic 4 Pro and do you know if the price of the Air 3 will drop after this new generation?
we don't know about the mavic 4 yet, best guess is April/may of 2025. You will likely see some price drops here and there as sales but nothing permanent for a while
Wow jake what was that in the mavic 3 pro footage @6:05 crazy! Looked like a shooting star?
I have no idea lol. I could not figure out what is was but my best guess is an odd reflection in on off the lenses
Hey Jake, I’m looking at starting out with my drone business and am looking at the Air 3s. Since I’m starting out the focus will be on real estate, events, and marketing material for various marketing companies. I was leaning towards the mavic 3 pro initially until the air 3s came out and was curious if you would choose on over the other for any specific reasons. Thanks!
honestly either one will work very well for that. I'd say since you are starting out and you don't want to sink a lot of money into equipment until you have positive cash flow then go with the Air 3s. It produces great results
Which camera do use for making your video main recording cameras
For almost all my videos this year (2024) I have been using the pocket 3
Have you had any issues with the autofocus motor freezing in low temperatures? I have run into an issue where the Mavic mini 3 pro autofocus motor will freeze up below 32 degrees F. It makes the photos unusable.
I have not but the mini series typically struggles at low temps. I have many IMU issues etc so I just don’t fly them in low temps.
@@JakeSloanthank you! Cold weather hit yesterday in North Dakota. We have had a gorgeous fall but now I have to get back into the routine of doing the extra steps needed for cold weather!
Great video showing the wonderful scenery where you live 😍 I’m holding out for the Mavic 4 Pro.
Good choice and thank you!
I give you the highest praises for your drone photography, you are right there with iPhonedo. Another video well done👍🏾👍🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾
I appreciate that!
Been waiting for this , thanks. Was hoping for 3 vs 3S too tho. In day and night.
Right away I notice what I’ve noticed in other videos. I prefer the color of the mavic 3 pro. But the sharpness and clarity of the air 3S Is super impressive. It packs a punch for sure. Amazing value.
I am working on the air 3 vs air 3s now. Should be out next week!
For still photography only, which drone is the best? Doesn't have to be these two you reviewed.
Mavic 3 classic no question
Any vignetting issues with the sony 20mm f1.8 lens?
Nope
Hi, I’m wondering if you can shed some light, (your channels awesome btw) I recently upgraded from the air 3 to the air 3s hoping the active track would be better. If I draw a box around a vehicle the camera follows the object fine but the coverage is sporadic - wonky.
It’ll creep up on the object or shy away from it when I simply want it to spotlight the object - thanks in advance
usually I find that is because there isn't good contrast between the subject the drone is trying to track and the surrounding area like tracking a dark car against a dark background.
Your video's never disappoint 👍 even if I'm gonna sit on my m3 original, i still love seeing your footage and insight. I hear the cold helps you stay younger longer. Here's to a long life 🍻
I appreciate that!
THIS is the review the community has been waiting for. I know these tests aren't easy to do Jake, thanks for taking the time to do a great job on this here 👏👏
Thank you!!!
Do you see “HDR look” only in normal mode or in d-log m too ?
Only in normal mode. Dlog-m seems to get rid of it
hey Jake! I need to pair the drone with a canon c70. Would I struggle with the air 3s in editing? thanks.!
it will be more of a challenge to match it up, not impossible just a bit more work. Something like the mavic 3 classic will be a bit easier with the D-Log as opposed to D-Log M.
I thought you might do a smart RTH with the Air 3S when I saw the ice cave. Other videos of it RTH'g back inside a parking garage or high rise apartment are impressive.
yeah those videos are impressive. I have yet to really test that feature out
Thanks for the review! I love this drone. And the only thing that keeps from not swapping it with my DJI Mini 3 Pro is its size and portability. The cameras are great!
Agreed!
Can I say that if you can help it, wait for the mini 5 pro because it will be the perfect drone for social media given its vertical mode. Again, if you can help it but the weight as well as flight characteristics in regards to wind would be better with the 3S
@ I agree ☝️ I hope, DJI will introduce a new 1” sensor into Mini 5 Pro
Nice video. Do you think the M3 cine version is worth buying over the normal version? Does the prores codec look better over H265? I get the smoother performance for editing, wondering if the 140MB H265 bitrate is enough in 5.1K.
Thanks Jake!
I find it’s plenty for most things. The only reason I went with the cine version is many of the commercial jobs I work on ask specifically for ProRes for color grading
Are these videos hot off the drone or post edit? I'm going to buy my first drone and would love to know if I can expect footage like this or if I have to learn video editing. I'm something of a tech Luddite with limited computer skills so this would either be exciting for me or something of a disappointment if I have to upgrade a simple laptop to something much more powerful and invest in editing software I wouldn't really know how to use.
This is pretty much right off the drone.
@@JakeSloan Wow, such a prompt reply. Thank you very much Sir. I'm in N.E Scotland with hundreds of castles, mountains and moors on my doorstep and ever since drones dropped from rich tv companies into the public domain I've been intrigued by the possibilities and now I'm in a position to make it happen. I covet the Mavic 3 Pro but prudence says I learn the art with the 3S. Your video pretty much clinched it for me. Thanks again and kindest regards from Scotland.
Thanks for the great comparison. Great info!!
My pleasure TJ
I still sport the Air 2S and the original Mavic 3. Do you think the original M3 is falling behind to warrant an upgrade to the 3s? I am waiting for the M4 before I decide of any.
I think waiting for the mavic 4 to drop is probably a good idea
Good review, Jake! I agree I probably will wait for the Mavic 4...but wow, the Air3S certainly gives a run for it's money compared to the Mavic 3..I still think the Mavic 3 is still overall better, but 60 mph, crazy!
Yeah it mostly makes me very excited for the mavic 4!
@@JakeSloan Yes, I agree! With the advancements they made with the active tracking and speed (for example), I can only imagine the improvements on the Mavic 4 that are coming!
Are you flying your drones without 4G, or do you have 4G out there?
I live in Australia, I don't have to go far to change from full signal to no signal. 🙁
most of the time I fly without any cellular connection. occasionally I have service but it's pretty rare
Love my Mavic 3 Pro. Good rundown on the two.
Thanks!
Just bought the Air 3s. Can’t get it into Night mode. The setting isn’t in the same place as my MAVIC 3 pro. First rep I spoke to at DJI said it will go into Night mode automatically. But no matter how dark it is, the ISO isn’t anywhere close to where it is on my MAVIC 3 Pro in night mode. The second rep I spoke to said that the Air 3s does not have night mode for video. She said I could return it and buy an AIR 3 if I want night mode. Any advice or thoughts on this? Thanks in advance! Great videos. Yours have been the best I’ve found so far when I need to know anything about my DJI drones!
as I said in this video there is no night mode in the Air 3s anymore it is all just part of the video mode. D-log M limits how high you can go in ISO but if you switch into normal color profile you can go all the way up to 12800iso. Thanks for the kind words!
@@JakeSloanMust have missed that. Thanks Jake! Love your video’s. Great tips, advice and insight. I always went back to one of your video’s on the MAVIC 3 pro after I bought mine a few months ago!
With all the hype around the new 3S, I'm surprised how much better the Mavic 3 images are compared to the Air 3S. Is the 7x zoom on the 3S variable or fixed? Alaska looks fabulous. How do you like shooting in winter there?
all the cameras on the Air 3s are fixed at f1.7 for the wide and f2.8 for the 3x. I love shooting in the winter here BUT it takes a LOT more work and prep to keep everything working
Again, it's absolutely criminal that dji is not sending you equipment for you to test. But that aside. Really considering the Air 3s. However, I saw online the the video bit rate it produces isn't as advertised and that the max height has been limited. Can you confirm or dispel these 2 things?
I haven't seen an issue with bit rate. There are a lot of people making a big deal about it when it really isn't. For height limits there is not difference here (USA) compared to the mavic 3. There might be a difference in locations like the EU however
When I shoot in D-Log-M I don't notice any HDR effects. And photos do seem better than the ones from the Air 3. In almost every way expect for camera quality, the Air 3S is the better than the Mavic 3 series. The video and photo quality is better on the Mavic 3 series' main camera, but the Air 3s is not that far off. Great comparison Jake, you made a lot of good points. Thanks for sharing. And wow, I didn't expect all that snow, I'm still wearing shorts at the Jersey Shore.
Yeah if you shoot dlog m all that extra “processing” goes away. Thanks for the kind words!
why most of 3s footage is too soft and almost all details washed out
0:46 look at the trees
1:09 also the trees in the right side
2:38 , 2:34 look how the rooks are soft looks like out of focus....
is it an issue in the drone or what ??
Not sure I have another one to test now
@JakeSloan
Please, Let us know if there are any update.. Thanks in advance 🙏
Thanks Jake - been waiting for your opinion on the Air 3S. As an Air 2S owner, and mainly a stills shooter, I held off on the Air 3 due to the lack of 1" sensor, but even with that now in place for the 3S I'm not convinced that the 12MP (50MP with binning I assume) that the stills will be better than the stock 20MP of the Air 2S.
Realise that the comparison is probably quite niche now due to the age of the Air 2S, but if you get a chance, could you comment on the stills between 3S and 2S please? 👍😉
I am going to try and get my hands on an Air 2s to compare. I suspect that it will still win in photos but video I think the air 3s does better”might” edge it out.
Why r u saying 5:33 night mode on the air 3s !?!? There is NO Night Mode in the Air 3s !...
I say that in the video...
Thank you for giving an honest thoughtful review of the Air3s which is a decent drone but it’s Not the Mavic 3 series from the flexibility of a variable aperture to its proven video as well as photo quality
👍🏽🚁🎢💯
Agreed
Hello, I love you video! I'm starting out with my channel and have been using the dji fpv. I see the quality diffrence but wondering due to price if I should get the air3s and get better with that then upgrade later to get the mavic 3 pro... or something better when it comes out in a few years?
The mavic series will likely see a refresh early next year, but for starting out an Air 3 or air 3s would be great to learn with and capture great photos and video
Hey Jake, I bought the OA5P after you're review when it came out and am happywith it. I'm deciding between a M4P and Air3s(maybe a mavic 3 pro or clasic basic combo?). I want to be able to take video / images to use on a high end travel hotel website for background. The M4P seems the most practical and handy but I'm a little concerned I may not be able to get the images to look great for what I need. Do you think for this type of occasional work I can make it look good with a M4P in post and with filters/luts or should I get the Air3s or maybe even the Mavic3 classic/pro even though it may be overkill the rest of the time? Thanks.
I am working on my Air 3s vs Mini 4 Pro video now so hopefully it will answer some of your questions. End of the day I think the Mini 4 pro imagery will do just find for you!
@JakeSloan Thanks! I've watched a bunch of reviews already and the difference in flight characteristics is pretty clear to me... it's really the camera / video... how much can a M4P do before I need a better camera... how much is from the actual cameras vs a skilled camera person and editor...
@JakeSloan it would also be my first drone... I'm not worried about being able to fly it or getting a license... just don't want to buy it and in two months feel like I bought the wrong one...
10:58 that chopper parking is 🔥🔥🔥
agreed!!
Good comparison. Thank you. Definitely want to get the Air 3S, but the size is still my biggest problem. I definitely need to check more of my regulations when traveling. Ugh 😩.
Definitely as that can be a HUGE issue
That's all cool but having variable aperture is important to me. If I am taking video and the light changes a lot I like being able to adjust aperture while in flight vs landing and changing the filter and possibly needing to tweak shutter speed and aperture.
I totally agree!
Are you going to make Air 3 vs 3S comparison video?
I am. Working on that video now
@@JakeSloangreat! When we should expect it?
Thanks Jake. I’m still waiting for the M4 Pro or Cine
Same here! I hope the Mavic 4 Pros main sensor will have more than 20MP. Both for higher resolution landscape shots but also for either 6K or 8K video recording. Maybe even 6K or 8K downsampled to 4K? Who knows. It’ll be interesting to see how the Mavic 4 compares to the Air3s/Mavic 3 Pro
You and me both!!
We 3 😂
@@deanfordcreative Ill 4/3 that notion 😂
Despite being around for a while….It amazing how well the Mavic 3 performs….. I will wait for the Mavic 4 for a fair comparison.
Been waiting for this , thanks. Was hoping for 3 vs 3S too tho. In day and night.
Coming soon! Working on it now
I have been watching videos of this type to see if I should go to the A3S from my Air 2S but at this time I think I will buy the Mavic 3 PRO as I have the RC Pro etc. and the video quality you have shown to me is way better on the Mavic 3 PRO. Obstacle avoidance for me is a non issue as I fly FPV drones and know what not to do.
Yeah for best image quality the mavic 3 pro is REALLY hard to beat
@JakeSloan I too have an air 2s
Am just shocked how the image looks soft at night in the air 3s
Is this the same quality in the air 3 ?
Am kinda bumbed right now coz I was seriously considering an upgrade from air 2s to air 3s
But now am truly disappointed by the low light quality u posted
Great music, good comparison, thank you.
Thanks
Pulls up a chair, I have been looking forward to this one.. Many thanks Jake. 👌
Hope you enjoy it!
Great comparison, cheers
Thanks for watching!
are props interchangeable?
no not from the mavic
Great comparison video!
Where abouts in Alaska are you? My job has me and the family potential going to Either Homer or Sitka and possibly Cordova this next June.
Fantastic! I am based in Anchorage but travel around a lot
I think I will keep my M3P for a long time. It doesn't make me feel limited at all. I like the quality of 3 cameras, 7x is my favorite. I always forget that M3P has tracking features 😁.
Every time I compare the mavic 3 pro I am amazed how good the image quality is coming off of it!!
Why all reviewers of air3s not talking the Vertical or Portrait Video Mode?
That's the trend today for social media like facebook tiktok etc. Vertical video is very important if how air 3s can compete the true vertical video on Mini 4 Pro.
I will be talking about this in my upcoming mini 4 vs air 3s video
Great comparison! I still love my Mavic 3 Pro ;-)
Same here it’s such a beast of a drone
@@JakeSloan I'd be really happy if they upgraded the sensor for the 166mm camera and/or went for a slightly longer zoom. It's already fabulous with nature, for example, but it requires a lot of light. Also, that paralax is fantastic.
Glad I watched this getting a used mavic 3 pro for a little more is worth it for the flexibility.
awesome
Im with the Air2s that has given me amazing content. Now DJI has the promo for the mavic 3 pro combo. Dont know if i wait for tbe 4 but it will be expensive or go for the Air3s...
Mainly for architectural photography....
Looks like the mavic 4 will come around April 2025. in the mean time the air 3s is amazing
Is your Air 3S OK? Very sof image during the night. I don't see it on other UA-camrs films.
Yeah i was thinking the same thing.. how come in this review it looks like the mavic 3 has all the best images but in other reviews I've seen they all showed the air3s to have better images even in night mode
Yeah I was surprised as well. I double checked focus many times when shooting this. I do have sharpness turned down from the stock but I also do that on the mavic 3 so they should match up settings wise
im kinda impressed with the new 1inch cmos sensor on air 3s
yeah me too
Great video. Thx buddy 🙏
You bet
Brilliant Video as always! Can you tell me the Name of the Song used in your intro? Or the Artlist ID?
Cheers and keep up the good work!🎉
That was actually from Music Bed and it's Aero by Ryan Taubert.
@JakeSloan Thank you so much Jake! Cheers, Martin
Great comparison, Jake. Your time is greatly appreciated. I think I will stick with the Mavic 3 Pro until the Mavic 4 comes out. 😀
Thanks. I cannot wait for the mavic 4!!
If the camera is normally not like that, maybe there was a smudge on the lens or oil.
yeah I have been wondering that myself
I’d consider the Air3s but I’ll wait for a little longer since the Mavic 4 is just around the corner. It’ll be interesting to see how the Mavic 4 compares to the Air3s/Mavic 3 Pro!
I hope the Mavic 4 Pros main sensor will have more than 20MP. Both for higher resolution landscape shots but also for either 6K or 8K video recording. Maybe even 6K or 8K downsampled to 4K? Who knows.
Yeah I cannot wait for the mavic 4!
It's a good idea to let a new DJI model bake-in for awhile before acquiring. Consider that, when planning your acquisitions.
1. The firmware is never quite ready for primetime on new DJI models.
2. New features are sometimes added a few months after initial release. In the case of the Mavic 3, the original 2-cam model (24/164) split to a cheaper single-cam model (24mm) and a 3-cam model (24/70/164). People who bought early got a raw deal.
I really hope for a 24mp 6k sensor on the mavic 4. That would be absolutely amazing
@@JakeSloan I couldn’t agree more. I can’t wait to see a side by side comparison!
I’m also curious if there’ll be any meaningful improvements to the tele lenses/sensors.
Damn, the Mavic 3 seems to have a pretty strong image sharpening compared to there Air 3s.
I had the Air 2s before which I loved a lot, so not natural choice for me is the Air 3s.
Great comparison!
thanks!
From the opening shots, it seems like the Air 3s is better. The definition was amazing, although the Mavic 3 Pro looks better in slo-mo.
Fair enough. I feel like the air 3s does better in some shots and others the mavic 3 definitely wins
always compliments for your reviews, you're really great!!! the air 3s is excellent but the mavic 3 pro beats it in most 😊😊 cases the mavic 3 pro is a wonderful drone
Thank you!