i would pick this over any single lens drone any day. the ability to have extra zoom is huge. allows for closeup and compression, just like we buy multiple lenses for our mirrorless.
If it was your first drone then sure. But it's a different matter if you're upgrading, as the comments on this post (and on the influencers Air 3 posts) pretty clearly illustrate. Actually your example about mirrorless cameras is a really good one, because while I own two telephotos (including a 600mm equivalent) far and away my most used lens (by a mile) is my 10-24mm super-wide. I used those zooms far less than I thought I would before I bought.I think a lot of people will buy into the idea of having this extra camera/lens combo on their drone, but how much it actually gets used is another matter entirely. I reckon for specialist stuff like weddings it'll be handy, possibly sports, but for the average hobbyist drone user it might prove to be less used than they imagine before purchasing. :)
@@Andyhutchinsonwell everyone who has the air 3, seem to love that 3x - myself included. Not read a single owners comments stating anything but love for it. Maybe it just doesn't fit you. As if you look at those Amazon reviews, you quote, it's actually higher rated than the Mavic 3 pro. Go figure.
I have owned and flown all of the DJI Air models. The Air 3 is by far the best out of all of them. I feel like I finally have a PRO drone. The color is so good in manual mode that I don't even need to color grade. The telephoto lense is a game changer. Out of the entire Air series, the Air 3 has amazing night vision. I haven't had this capability before and now I do and now I can clearly see at night. Maybe if I was a pro film maker I might want more but for me, it's more than sufficient. In fact I now have no need for any other drone. The Air 3 is the best drone out there to date. I know other pilots who are selling their pro drones to get the Air 3. Oh and who cares about long range flights? I do. 10 Km out and 10Km back in without any break in signal. I have personally tested this feature and I can tell you it's real. It really can reach out that far. My only frustration with the Air 3 is that my hands get tired holding the remote that long. 46 minute flight time. So it's time to get a lanyard and start using the new cruise control function. Apparently the obstacle avoidance is good but not perfect yet. But I have no need to test this. I always fly in open spaces. I have lots of other drones I can risk for those tight spaces. If I crash, no big deal. At this point I have 9 drones and most of them I don't even fly anymore. So I've become a pretty good pilot in the last 5 years and my new Air 3 checks all the boxes.
There is nothing ground breaking I’ll keep flying what I have for a few more cycles MA2 and MNI2. Fully agree with your post. You aren’t the only one to have the same sentiment.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts about the dii air3, I have a question about the Mavic 3 classic, in EU, Denmark where I am from the Mavic 3 classic is classified as a c1, which means you can fly in the open category, just as an mini 3 pro, does that rule also applies in Australia, I only fly holidays photo. I can't find the anser on CASA, and it would be nice to know, I do fly to Australia often, my son lives in Australia PS you take some awesome photo. Thank you from Copenhagen Denmark
It's not heavily restricted here. The main advantage of the sub-250g drones here in Oz is that you do not have the 5.5km restriction around airports. Apart from that, the airspace is pretty tightly controlled for *all* drone owners including Mavic 3 Classic - the vast majority of Sydney is restricted and the other cities have large restricted airspaces. Drones are banned in Commonwealth Parks (Uluru, Kakadu and Booderee) and you're supposed to get permission to fly in National Parks, but nobody does. Registration doesn't apply to you, since you're only visiting. When you visit, use the (free) OK2Fly.com.au website to check airspace etc. :)
Yes and no. That collision detection is never as good as DJI claim. It's excellent for larger stuff like lamp posts and tree trunks, but not so great with things like smaller branches and twigs. It also struggles with stuff like wires, particularly if they don't *really* stand out from the background. So danger areas would be flying beneath the canopy in woodland and things like electrical wire strung across a river. It does give great piece of mind though and I've personally had it save my bacon on more than one occasion. The best-in-class collision detection remains with Skydio drones.
Nah..... to be honest not having those extra sensors has taught me to fly carefully. I NEVER trust the tech alone, I like to control as much as possible.
You address in your video exactly the same thoughts I have about the drone. Various influencers say more or less the same things about the Air 3, emphasising that the smaller sensor, compared to the Air 2S, is actually better due to the stacked technology. However, in a side-by-side comparison, I found the video quality of the Air 2S with 5.4K to be superior over that of the Air 3. You can see this in the shadows and the details. The Air 3 looks somewhat oversharpened to me. I don't want to talk badly about the drone, it has many very nice features. But it's not enough for me to justify upgrading from my Air 2S. And somehow I have a feeling that in a year's time they will release an Air 3S with a 1-inch sensor and higher resolution :)
Yes, I agree and was thinking the same. I think often someone viewing footage mistakes over-sharpening for an increase in quality when actually the opposite is often the case. I always turn the sharpening as low as possible so that there's as little in-drone manipulation of the video going on. Over-sharpening would account for the issues with shadows and details.
Thank you for an honest and relevant comment on the usefulness of the Air 3 .. I’ll stick with my mini 3 pro until the air3 s arrives with a bigger sensor. Or buy a used Mavic 2
I have an Air 3 for my first photographic drone, have had and built quads. I really wanted a Mavic 3 pro, but the flymore combo was close to $AU4k... the mini 4 was next choice, but then I discovered the Air 3 (RC 2) which I bought for $AU2,040 (and love). I will also get a mini 4 pro flymore soon (about $AU1,700), just because. IAs I said, I really, really wanted a Mavic 3 pro, but couldn't justify paying twice the price for mot much/enough difference (to my amateur eye) All up so far, I have spent about $AU2,500 being for split ND filters, charging brick (that doesn't come with the drone!) ... lanyard, prop holder, SD cards, landing pad... so, when I get the mini 4 pro, I will have spent about the same as one Mavic 3 pro flymore ($AU4,200) I am happy with the Air 3... very happy
Nice one. There's a lot of jealous looks when it comes to drones and they're like most electronic devices - you always worry if it's the right time to buy or if it's going to fit your needs. Sounds like you've hit on a combination that works for you. :)
Im happy with my Mavic 3 Classic it does the job I also have a air 2s that I am going to sell having two drones is expensive the Care Refresh is a rip off but you have to have it DJI charge you $70 an hour to fix your drone...Peace of mind having care refresh what bull 💩
I think your comments are mostly correct. I was thinking mini three pro or air 3. Where I live all drones over 100g must be registered, and there are no law differences for sub 250 gm drones. The OA and the dual camera got me on board. And the way this thing handles in the air is 2nd to none. Have not owned a Mini 3P but have flown one several times. The way they handle in the air is chalk and cheese. But aside from the dual cameras they are very similar, and I would not upgrade if I had a recent drone. I think the air 3s will be the next big thing. I am predicting a return to the 1" sensor stacked and veriable aperture. It`s about time that made it`s way to mid level drones.
Very Good points made here. As a Air 2s owner I'd get the mini pro 3 before the Air 3. How can a drone be called a upgrade when the previous model has 5.4 k and the new one doesn't
Because no one cares about 5.4K, and the new sensor is better because it is backlit stacked. It is that good that you can only compare it to a mavic pro 3 drone to find a upgrade to the air 3. Look at the results in low light as well, not to mention that the 70mm zoom is as good as the mavic 3 pro. Let’s discuss the performance and capabilities, as well as all the functions it comes with, before comparing to the older models.
@@corentindockx couple of inaccuracies in there mate. Firstly - evidently a tonne of people care about the 5.4k Ultra HD - and its true ultra HD its 1" sensor, not a tiny little 1/1.3". That sensor/lens/camera combination doesn't get within a mile of the Mavic 3 Classic with its huge micro 4/3rds sensor (literally double the size of the Air 3's) and Hasselblad hardware. The night mode's a nice gimmick with the dual ISO kicking in, but that's on the Mini 3 Pro too and, as I said in my video, it's illegal to fly at night in many countries, including here in Australia. The low light performance on the Air 3 is nice, but it's about as subtle as a kick in the bollocks - really over-saturated and over-lit. Compare how that low light footage compares to the way TV and movies and are shot you'll find it's very different.
@@Andyhutchinson well it seems you focus a lot on size.. But really from RUclips itself in most situations you don't really see a difference between the 4/3 and the new 1/1.3. Which is mind blowing but it's true.
@@corentindockx no you're correct about spotting the difference in video quality - I said as much in my video. But you initially said the new sensor is better than Air 2s's because it's backlit stacked - so I guess we're in a Catch 22. We have sensors are supposedly better but which nobody will ever really see in all their glory because the footage is only being shared on RUclips with its huge compression levels and viewed on smartphones where you could still use a Phantom 2 and nobody would know :)
@@Andyhutchinson well it's good to agree on something.. I'm just a bit tired of seeing people complaining where they actually use it on social media and RUclips.. So 4k is already good enough for practically anything, and with a small sensor (not tiny, my mavic air original is tiny and was still okay) with new technology you actually get good results in both lit and dark environments. I forgot to mention: no more crop when shooting 4k, pretty important I would say. I think that today we cannot criticize a small sensor that much anymore. That's my opinion. And I have always been one to criticize phone cameras compared to a real camera as well. Now I think less and less.. Except I would never trade my 600 mm optical zoom from my camera. In the end if you want a quality printing, yes it matters, if you see it on screen.. Less so.
yes!,... i have basically unsubscribed avoided watching any channel that has the usual DJI sunshine on launch day... only genuine channels these days that are not part of the DJI marketing team.
They're pretty thin on the ground. It's interesting how DJI control the narrative. Being sent a new drone a month prior to release is a hell of an incentive to go easy on it. :)
@@AndyhutchinsonI'd expect DJI has seen more growth in its influencer buying outlays than in any other aspect of its business. They do make a good product, so nobody's yet taken these fellows to task. It's a safer and wiser bet to just say what you think, so thank you for that, Andy!
DJI is no longer creating SDKs for the iOS environment. My Mini 2 will allow me to use Litchi and Maven - getting features that I love using my iOS devices. The RC Controllers do not allow loading of 3rd party flying apps. Closing the architecture is an off-putting business strategy for this little customer.... I am a beginning hobbyist and will never be a commercial pilot. Yes, I'd love obstacle avoidance and the longer flight time for longer and successive way point missions and a better camera but GPS based tracking, geofencing (defining safe spaces in the sky for learning kid pilots, for example) and web-based way point planning that interacts with the local controller are features that I've grown to want. No Mini 3 Pro nor Air 3 for this customer..... to each their own.
Absolutely. DJI have a vested interest in rolling out new models to tempt existing users to upgrade but that doesn't mean that the older models are inferior. I think that at a certain point I simply stopped worrying too much about video quality on the DJI drones because they were all uniformly excellent. And once you accept that it just comes down to the bells and whistles on each drone and whether they offer a sufficient value-add to you to make you upgrade. :)
@@Andyhutchinson there are desirable features- obstacle avoidance, much longer flight time, better cameras, stronger flight characteristics, Remote ID support (important is USA) etc. I simply want certain piloting features offered by Litchi and Maven. I also do not like when companies close down their architecture. If I was an Android user, I might consider the Mini 3 Pro as an SDK was released in April fir Android - but I am not an Android user. If the RC Controller supported installation of Litchi and Maven, I could consider that option. I like DJI a lot - but that doesn’t mean I will go along with all of their marketing decisions. Value - the features I want at a price I am willing to pay.
I think I’m still guna pay the extra for the mavic 3 classic. I know I’d enjoy this air 3 if I had it but I’ve been eyeing the 3 pro for a while now. I think they should have put this air 3 out before they put the mavic Promout, and the they could have implemented occusync 4 onto the Pro also. It seems crazy to me that they didn’t make the mavic 3 pro have occusync 4. They should have released the classic as the last drone with Occusync 3, then released air 3 and mavic 3 pro on occusync 4 as it feels odd that now their flagship, hassleblad equipped top of the range drone is not even running the most up to date internals.
I'm fckn pissed after this release. I'm doing mainly photography and I'm trying to decide between buying Air 3 vs Air 2s (I'm currently on five year old as well - but Mavic Air :) . You were 100% on point in this video. It's decision between 70mm lens and beautiful native 20MP in Air2s. I'm undecided since release arghhhh
I don't know for sure keep looking at my Air 2s video and Air 3 video and I think my Air 2s video is better in day time as mostly fly in day time, I think they should of put a true variable optical zoom lens up to that 7x on the larger sensor cams instead of using fixed lenses on them small lesser cameras. In fact, they should make the lenses interchangeable really as well as the cameras but they just want to sell more drones, cameras and remotes, pity they don't have any viable competition. The screen on RC 2 should have been at least as bright as on RC Pro which you can't use with Air 3 at least for now and range wise as far as trees are concerned frankly, I got better range using RC Pro, so much for their extra frequency band which is restricted in some countries anyway as are power levels. But drone although heavier and still noisy has C1 certification for EU but Air 2s has not, I guess on purpose. Apart from that it's fine.
Hope you get those additional 94k subscribers mate - You’re good for it - Love the no BS approach re your opinions on drone development or not - Hoping to keep the Mavic 3 classic for as long as you’ve had the Mavic 2 pro - Once you look past the fleece and the fluff we both own Great drones - Thanks for your content 😊
Enjoyed your take on the Air 3. I do have to disagree about the popular drone youtubers stating that the Air 3 sensor is larger than the Air 2s. I've listened to them all and never heard that once. The Air 3 is WAY better than the Air 2s in low light. Even my Mini 3 Pro KILLS my Air 2s in low light. That larger aperture makes all the difference. I sold my Air 2s because of it's real world 16-minute flight time. I expect the Air 3 to double that just like Mini 3 Pro. Every popular drone youtuber who has actually flown the drone found it a major upgrade over the Air 2s. RUclipsrs on the fence or don't recommend the drone have never flown it.
Thanks mate. In terms of sensor size, the one I remember was Mark McGee, there were a tonne of comments pointing out his error but they all (including mine) appear to have disappeared - he may have deleted the original and re-uploaded. Yea the low-light performance on the Air 3 has been helped twice - firstly by the smaller aperture and secondly by the stacked sensor. I've been watching a tonne of footage off the Air 3 and while it has an advantage over my five year old M2Pro with that dual-ISO design, I'm just not seeing any improvement in video shot at dawn or dusk. It's illegal to fly at night here in Australia, so I'm not concerned about that. And yep, I see that 'every popular youtuber' is blowing smoke up DJI's arse, but that's what they have to do in order to stay in the loop and keep getting sent new drones a month before their release. I'm much more interested in what people without big followings on RUclips have to say about it and would really like to know what you think about the Air 3 after you've had it for a while. :)
The air 2s looks great at night when there’s some light for you to take in. Mini 3 pro does better when there’s less light. Manual settings really helps the air2s too. The mini 3 pro , out of the cam does look great tho What the air2s does better than all of them is photography, which I really enjoy the most. M I’ll wait for the air 3 to drop to 1200ish for fly more and I’ll get it then :) I also don’t agree with you saying air2s gets 16 minutes. I get 19-21 over and over again flying in Long Island Ny Where there are enough winds to make it work and put the mini 3 pro into constant wind warnings.
Yes there's a cost differential between the Air3 & the MiniPro 3/4, but speaking to his point that all you really get is a 70mm lens, even if that were true (it's not) from a photographer's POV, that is well within the range I'd expect to pay for a second lens on quality ground cameras. For example, if you shoot with the Nikon Z class, & you want to add a medium telephoto S lens to your gear, the NIKKOR Z 85mm f/1.8 S will run you $700. It's worth that much to be able to get the shots you need from that focal length.This reviewer seems to infer that the sensor size being the same as the M3P makes the images the same, but the Air3 has upgraded it's processing speed which creates a better image. It's worth noting that the same 70mm camera he doesn't think is worth the money is also on the Mavic 3 Pro for $600 more than you spend on the Mavic 3 Classic. So no matter how you slice it, if the second lens is important, this is a cheaper way to go. I also don't get the claim that the camera can't create depth of field. Huh? A 2.8 aperture without a neutral density filter obviously will.
"the Air3 has upgraded it's processing speed which creates a better image". This is simply wrong. Image quality depends upon the optical equipment and sensor size - it has absolutely nothing to do with processing speed - that is simply a measure of the camera's ability to encode the information it's getting from the optics. DJI and all camera manufacturers balance the capabilities of the hardware against the CPU and only enable modes such as 10-bit 5.3K 120fps if the chip can handle it but it has no impact on image quality whatsoever. "I also don't get the claim that the camera can't create depth of field. Huh? A 2.8 aperture without a neutral density filter obviously will." What have neutral density filters got to do with anything? Depth of field is determined by aperture size, focal length, and focusing distance. Neutral density filters simply reduce the amount of light hitting the sensor and have absolutely no bearing on DoF.
Andy I totally agree with your thoughts and everything you say is so true. Thank you keep up the great work. As far as stack sensor design on the air 3 ? Is this really true…..DJI does not mention this at all on there specs. This was brought to everyones attention by one of DJI influencer who gets there drones free.
I didn't buy the Air 2S because I had just bought the Air 2 9-10 months after I bought the Air 2. I did the same thing with the Mini. I'm not about to get caught buying the Air 3 because they'll probably come out with the Air 3X in the next 9 months. BTW you just put the DJI fanboys to shame. Good review/commentary.
Commenting from 2024, you mention an over 500g category with CASA here in Oz? I have only seen under 2.5kg mentioned? Do you have links to the rules? I have both an Air 3 and Mini 4 pro and am looking to do the registration and license, have contacted a couple of 'drone schools' but one (in Brisbane near me) no longer does drone stuff other than for businesses... (National) ... and I haven't heard back from other inquiries? I have a PPL (not current) so evidently I only need to get a drone endorsement, however, I can't get any concrete info on how to go about it. BTW, the most flight time I have gotten from my Air 3, on a calm day here at sea level (Poona Qld) with little wind and not flying 'abruptly'... was 34 minutes... my general flight times from my controller logs is 27 - 31 minutes... my Mini 4 pro is about the same. The 34 minutes on the Air 2, it came back at 22% (as always) ... but I took off again and kept it flying over the landing area until eventually it just hovered and would not move... it was half over an obstacle so I had to walk over and grab it, or it would have descended into an accident. Helpful video, cheers
I either take the battery out of the charger into the drones so 100% at the beginning of the flight... or have the batteries on charge so 100% before going somewhere to fly... so the charger hasn't reduced the charge to 96% for storage safety. I am disappointed to always be hearing the Air 3 can achieve 46 minutes flight time... and the Mini 4 pro can do 45 minutes (Plus batteries at 38mAh)... as far as I am concerned, they cant achieve much more than 30 minutes on a calm, wind free day. I just wish that DJI and the influencers would stop quoting some fictitious laboratory possibilities and actually tell the truth on actual achievable flight times (in real life)
The 500g weight was in the paperwork over at CASA - it pertained only to the much-modified registration rather than the Part 101 stuff. Interesting about the drone schools - I think CASA probably killed them when they changed the legislation such that you could use the drone commercially without having to get your RePL. I suspect most people, unless they were after the BVLOS and night flight ratings had no need any more. :)
I think you have blinders on to your own specific situation. The Air 3 has the best object avoidance of a mid tier drone, stable flight in strong winds, extended flight time, intelligent RTH, waypoints, a respectable 2 camera setup, and the even the wide angle camera is clearly outperforming the air2s and some would say mini3 in side by side comparisons. This would be a fine one-and-done option for a real estate or prosumer flyer, or a nice second option for someone who already has a Nano+/Mini3 or the like for more restricted travel.
@reviews4fun805 It all comes down to whether you're upgrading or this is your entry into the world of camera drones. If I was a real estate photo/videographer or flying in any professional capacity at all I'd almost certainly opt for a Mavic 3 either classic or pro editions because (apart from the massively superior sensor and camera) being able to set aperture is absolutely crucial. Having aperture in the camera means I have far more flexibility in terms of the light on the day I'm working - wide open on overcast and dark days, stopped down to f/8 or similar on very sunny days. Sure, I could accomplish sort of the same thing with an ND but anyone that's used ND filters on a drone knows it's a royal pain in the arse as you put a specific strength on, test it, try another and so on. Those other features - intelligent RTH and obstacle avoidance are really for novice or recreational users who don't know how to fly a drone properly. If I was 'upgrading' from a Mavic 2 Pro or Air 2s there is no way I would accept a downgrade on sensor size, no matter how much smoke DJI is blowing up people's arses about low-light performance and auto-focus. DJI have done their usual amazing job on marketing this drone and the spin is concealing the very real flaws with the Air 3.
@@Andyhutchinson Man tell me about it, the ND issue is still a pain on the Air 2S for video. And another thing I think will be an even bigger problem with the Aor 3 is exactly this, ND filter. Having two different apertures will mean one lens will be darker than the other. If say you put an ND 4 on the drone, the f1.7 is bright so it should work just fine but the smaller f2.8 opening will appear darker making this a nightmare when switching camera in flight. In this area alone the Air 2S seems much easier to handle with just one lens. But yeah no aperture control in 2023 on a drone is ludicrous.
Once again I’ll say I really wish people that don’t own the product and haven’t used it would stop giving opinions, and let’s be honest NO ONE REALLY CARES about the 5.4k the air 2s has. The normal person consuming the content can’t tell the difference between 5.4k 2.7k or 4k. Buy the product and use it before you give your opinion because without the experience your opinions are mute.
You cared so little that you decided to leave a butt-hurt comment? RUclips's a big place mate, if you disagree then go and find someone that meets your confirmation bias. There's nothing I've said in this video that isn't cold hard fact. I've been a photographer for 40 fucking years and a drone owner for a decade and I have a pretty solid understanding of what constitutes quality video and photography and I can read a spec sheet on-screen just as easily as Potato Jet.
@@Andyhutchinson Like I said you don’t own the drone so miss us all with your OPINIONS bub. Also I left a comment because I could I don’t have to agree with you to leave a comment. Keep dropping your lame A** opinions and I’m going to call you on it. Now when you have a actual Air 3 in your possession, then have something to say. Until then Shut Up. Now that’s my opinion. Oh and with your 40 years, something tells me you still couldn’t stax up to Potato Jet, since you want to bring him into it.
@@Andyhutchinson I'm a little confused here by the need to get so nasty & territorial over your opinion. In another comment you said, "I'm much more interested in what people without big followings on RUclips have to say about it and would really like to know what you think about the Air 3 after you've had it for a while."--So if you're so interested in others opinions how does that jive with a profanity laced tirade over his difference of opinion? Or did you just expect everyone to agree with you? You're on RUclips criticizing other guys who are also on RUclips...& I'm thinking that getting shitty with people might not be the best way to add to your subscriber list.
@@MarkLewis-l3f alright - little bit angrier than it should have been - but being told that your views are 'mute' isn't exactly friendly is it? I was clear about my angle when making this video, made no extraordinary claims as to my insights, just gave my take on the drone. OP was clearly angry because I pointed out some weaknesses of the drone he'd bought and he took it as a personal slight, not because what I said wasn't valid. But you're right - a reasoned reply would have been better - just sometimes you read these things after a shitity day and hit send before you should.
i would pick this over any single lens drone any day. the ability to have extra zoom is huge. allows for closeup and compression, just like we buy multiple lenses for our mirrorless.
If it was your first drone then sure. But it's a different matter if you're upgrading, as the comments on this post (and on the influencers Air 3 posts) pretty clearly illustrate. Actually your example about mirrorless cameras is a really good one, because while I own two telephotos (including a 600mm equivalent) far and away my most used lens (by a mile) is my 10-24mm super-wide. I used those zooms far less than I thought I would before I bought.I think a lot of people will buy into the idea of having this extra camera/lens combo on their drone, but how much it actually gets used is another matter entirely. I reckon for specialist stuff like weddings it'll be handy, possibly sports, but for the average hobbyist drone user it might prove to be less used than they imagine before purchasing. :)
@@Andyhutchinsonwell everyone who has the air 3, seem to love that 3x - myself included. Not read a single owners comments stating anything but love for it.
Maybe it just doesn't fit you. As if you look at those Amazon reviews, you quote, it's actually higher rated than the Mavic 3 pro. Go figure.
I have owned and flown all of the DJI Air models. The Air 3 is by far the best out of all of them. I feel like I finally have a PRO drone. The color is so good in manual mode that I don't even need to color grade. The telephoto lense is a game changer. Out of the entire Air series, the Air 3 has amazing night vision. I haven't had this capability before and now I do and now I can clearly see at night. Maybe if I was a pro film maker I might want more but for me, it's more than sufficient. In fact I now have no need for any other drone. The Air 3 is the best drone out there to date. I know other pilots who are selling their pro drones to get the Air 3. Oh and who cares about long range flights? I do. 10 Km out and 10Km back in without any break in signal. I have personally tested this feature and I can tell you it's real. It really can reach out that far. My only frustration with the Air 3 is that my hands get tired holding the remote that long. 46 minute flight time. So it's time to get a lanyard and start using the new cruise control function. Apparently the obstacle avoidance is good but not perfect yet. But I have no need to test this. I always fly in open spaces. I have lots of other drones I can risk for those tight spaces. If I crash, no big deal. At this point I have 9 drones and most of them I don't even fly anymore. So I've become a pretty good pilot in the last 5 years and my new Air 3 checks all the boxes.
Sounds like it's the perfect drone for you and ultimately that's all you can ask. :)
There is nothing ground breaking I’ll keep flying what I have for a few more cycles MA2 and MNI2. Fully agree with your post. You aren’t the only one to have the same sentiment.
Thanks mate - appreciate it :)
Thanks for sharing your thoughts about the dii air3, I have a question about the Mavic 3 classic, in EU, Denmark where I am from the Mavic 3 classic is classified as a c1, which means you can fly in the open category, just as an mini 3 pro, does that rule also applies in Australia, I only fly holidays photo. I can't find the anser on CASA, and it would be nice to know, I do fly to Australia often, my son lives in Australia PS you take some awesome photo. Thank you from Copenhagen Denmark
It's not heavily restricted here. The main advantage of the sub-250g drones here in Oz is that you do not have the 5.5km restriction around airports. Apart from that, the airspace is pretty tightly controlled for *all* drone owners including Mavic 3 Classic - the vast majority of Sydney is restricted and the other cities have large restricted airspaces. Drones are banned in Commonwealth Parks (Uluru, Kakadu and Booderee) and you're supposed to get permission to fly in National Parks, but nobody does. Registration doesn't apply to you, since you're only visiting. When you visit, use the (free) OK2Fly.com.au website to check airspace etc. :)
@@Andyhutchinson Thank you, so many different rules country to country, I already have OK2Fly , Have a great day
Is worth mentioning the new all-around collision detection (I'm not a drone owner) that might appeal to new pilots like me.
Yes and no. That collision detection is never as good as DJI claim. It's excellent for larger stuff like lamp posts and tree trunks, but not so great with things like smaller branches and twigs. It also struggles with stuff like wires, particularly if they don't *really* stand out from the background. So danger areas would be flying beneath the canopy in woodland and things like electrical wire strung across a river. It does give great piece of mind though and I've personally had it save my bacon on more than one occasion. The best-in-class collision detection remains with Skydio drones.
Nah..... to be honest not having those extra sensors has taught me to fly carefully. I NEVER trust the tech alone, I like to control as much as possible.
You address in your video exactly the same thoughts I have about the drone. Various influencers say more or less the same things about the Air 3, emphasising that the smaller sensor, compared to the Air 2S, is actually better due to the stacked technology. However, in a side-by-side comparison, I found the video quality of the Air 2S with 5.4K to be superior over that of the Air 3. You can see this in the shadows and the details. The Air 3 looks somewhat oversharpened to me. I don't want to talk badly about the drone, it has many very nice features. But it's not enough for me to justify upgrading from my Air 2S. And somehow I have a feeling that in a year's time they will release an Air 3S with a 1-inch sensor and higher resolution :)
Yes, I agree and was thinking the same. I think often someone viewing footage mistakes over-sharpening for an increase in quality when actually the opposite is often the case. I always turn the sharpening as low as possible so that there's as little in-drone manipulation of the video going on. Over-sharpening would account for the issues with shadows and details.
I gave you a like and subscribed. Excellent video with equally excellent points. Good luck on getting that free drone from DJI.
lol - thanks Dan - think we're going to be here a while :)
The excessive hype by the "unpaid and unsponsored" influences is so transparent. I don't think consumers will fall for it.
We'll see. The same bullshit machine's currently at work with the Osmo Action 4 which has one of the worst video pictures I've seen in a long time.
I've stoped at Mavic 3 Classic all other 3s just did not for me. make it.
Pass - fixed aperture and 12mp - so 2020....
Nice review on the Air3! I think I’ll pass
Thank you for an honest and relevant comment on the usefulness of the Air 3 .. I’ll stick with my mini 3 pro until the air3 s arrives with a bigger sensor. Or buy a used Mavic 2
Thank-you :)
I have an Air 3 for my first photographic drone, have had and built quads. I really wanted a Mavic 3 pro, but the flymore combo was close to $AU4k... the mini 4 was next choice, but then I discovered the Air 3 (RC 2) which I bought for $AU2,040 (and love). I will also get a mini 4 pro flymore soon (about $AU1,700), just because. IAs I said, I really, really wanted a Mavic 3 pro, but couldn't justify paying twice the price for mot much/enough difference (to my amateur eye) All up so far, I have spent about $AU2,500 being for split ND filters, charging brick (that doesn't come with the drone!) ... lanyard, prop holder, SD cards, landing pad... so, when I get the mini 4 pro, I will have spent about the same as one Mavic 3 pro flymore ($AU4,200) I am happy with the Air 3... very happy
Nice one. There's a lot of jealous looks when it comes to drones and they're like most electronic devices - you always worry if it's the right time to buy or if it's going to fit your needs. Sounds like you've hit on a combination that works for you. :)
Im happy with my Mavic 3 Classic it does the job I also have a air 2s that I am going to sell having two drones is expensive the Care Refresh is a rip off but you have to have it DJI charge you $70 an hour to fix your drone...Peace of mind having care refresh what bull 💩
The 3 Classic is a phenomenal drone. :)
I think your comments are mostly correct. I was thinking mini three pro or air 3. Where I live all drones over 100g must be registered, and there are no law differences for sub 250 gm drones.
The OA and the dual camera got me on board. And the way this thing handles in the air is 2nd to none. Have not owned a Mini 3P but have flown one several times. The way they handle in the air is chalk and cheese. But aside from the dual cameras they are very similar, and I would not upgrade if I had a recent drone. I think the air 3s will be the next big thing. I am predicting a return to the 1" sensor stacked and veriable aperture. It`s about time that made it`s way to mid level drones.
1" on that drone chasis would incredible for sure.
Smash.
amen
Very Good points made here. As a Air 2s owner I'd get the mini pro 3 before the Air 3. How can a drone be called a upgrade when the previous model has 5.4 k and the new one doesn't
Because no one cares about 5.4K, and the new sensor is better because it is backlit stacked. It is that good that you can only compare it to a mavic pro 3 drone to find a upgrade to the air 3. Look at the results in low light as well, not to mention that the 70mm zoom is as good as the mavic 3 pro. Let’s discuss the performance and capabilities, as well as all the functions it comes with, before comparing to the older models.
@@corentindockx couple of inaccuracies in there mate. Firstly - evidently a tonne of people care about the 5.4k Ultra HD - and its true ultra HD its 1" sensor, not a tiny little 1/1.3". That sensor/lens/camera combination doesn't get within a mile of the Mavic 3 Classic with its huge micro 4/3rds sensor (literally double the size of the Air 3's) and Hasselblad hardware. The night mode's a nice gimmick with the dual ISO kicking in, but that's on the Mini 3 Pro too and, as I said in my video, it's illegal to fly at night in many countries, including here in Australia. The low light performance on the Air 3 is nice, but it's about as subtle as a kick in the bollocks - really over-saturated and over-lit. Compare how that low light footage compares to the way TV and movies and are shot you'll find it's very different.
@@Andyhutchinson well it seems you focus a lot on size.. But really from RUclips itself in most situations you don't really see a difference between the 4/3 and the new 1/1.3. Which is mind blowing but it's true.
@@corentindockx no you're correct about spotting the difference in video quality - I said as much in my video. But you initially said the new sensor is better than Air 2s's because it's backlit stacked - so I guess we're in a Catch 22. We have sensors are supposedly better but which nobody will ever really see in all their glory because the footage is only being shared on RUclips with its huge compression levels and viewed on smartphones where you could still use a Phantom 2 and nobody would know :)
@@Andyhutchinson well it's good to agree on something.. I'm just a bit tired of seeing people complaining where they actually use it on social media and RUclips.. So 4k is already good enough for practically anything, and with a small sensor (not tiny, my mavic air original is tiny and was still okay) with new technology you actually get good results in both lit and dark environments. I forgot to mention: no more crop when shooting 4k, pretty important I would say. I think that today we cannot criticize a small sensor that much anymore. That's my opinion. And I have always been one to criticize phone cameras compared to a real camera as well. Now I think less and less.. Except I would never trade my 600 mm optical zoom from my camera. In the end if you want a quality printing, yes it matters, if you see it on screen.. Less so.
yes!,... i have basically unsubscribed avoided watching any channel that has the usual DJI sunshine on launch day... only genuine channels these days that are not part of the DJI marketing team.
They're pretty thin on the ground. It's interesting how DJI control the narrative. Being sent a new drone a month prior to release is a hell of an incentive to go easy on it. :)
@@AndyhutchinsonI'd expect DJI has seen more growth in its influencer buying outlays than in any other aspect of its business. They do make a good product, so nobody's yet taken these fellows to task. It's a safer and wiser bet to just say what you think, so thank you for that, Andy!
DJI is no longer creating SDKs for the iOS environment. My Mini 2 will allow me to use Litchi and Maven - getting features that I love using my iOS devices. The RC Controllers do not allow loading of 3rd party flying apps.
Closing the architecture is an off-putting business strategy for this little customer....
I am a beginning hobbyist and will never be a commercial pilot.
Yes, I'd love obstacle avoidance and the longer flight time for longer and successive way point missions and a better camera but GPS based tracking, geofencing (defining safe spaces in the sky for learning kid pilots, for example) and web-based way point planning that interacts with the local controller are features that I've grown to want.
No Mini 3 Pro nor Air 3 for this customer..... to each their own.
Absolutely. DJI have a vested interest in rolling out new models to tempt existing users to upgrade but that doesn't mean that the older models are inferior. I think that at a certain point I simply stopped worrying too much about video quality on the DJI drones because they were all uniformly excellent. And once you accept that it just comes down to the bells and whistles on each drone and whether they offer a sufficient value-add to you to make you upgrade. :)
@@Andyhutchinson there are desirable features- obstacle avoidance, much longer flight time, better cameras, stronger flight characteristics, Remote ID support (important is USA) etc.
I simply want certain piloting features offered by Litchi and Maven.
I also do not like when companies close down their architecture.
If I was an Android user, I might consider the Mini 3 Pro as an SDK was released in April fir Android - but I am not an Android user. If the RC Controller supported installation of Litchi and Maven, I could consider that option.
I like DJI a lot - but that doesn’t mean I will go along with all of their marketing decisions.
Value - the features I want at a price I am willing to pay.
@@born2bwildne744 no arguments here - I think if everyone held DJI accountable we'd see more meaningful releases from them :)
I think I’m still guna pay the extra for the mavic 3 classic.
I know I’d enjoy this air 3 if I had it but I’ve been eyeing the 3 pro for a while now. I think they should have put this air 3 out before they put the mavic Promout, and the they could have implemented occusync 4 onto the Pro also.
It seems crazy to me that they didn’t make the mavic 3 pro have occusync 4.
They should have released the classic as the last drone with Occusync 3, then released air 3 and mavic 3 pro on occusync 4 as it feels odd that now their flagship, hassleblad equipped top of the range drone is not even running the most up to date internals.
It was a strange choice, for sure.
I'm fckn pissed after this release. I'm doing mainly photography and I'm trying to decide between buying Air 3 vs Air 2s (I'm currently on five year old as well - but Mavic Air :) . You were 100% on point in this video. It's decision between 70mm lens and beautiful native 20MP in Air2s. I'm undecided since release arghhhh
I don't know for sure keep looking at my Air 2s video and Air 3 video and I think my Air 2s video is better in day time as mostly fly in day time, I think they should of put a true variable optical zoom lens up to that 7x on the larger sensor cams instead of using fixed lenses on them small lesser cameras. In fact, they should make the lenses interchangeable really as well as the cameras but they just want to sell more drones, cameras and remotes, pity they don't have any viable competition. The screen on RC 2 should have been at least as bright as on RC Pro which you can't use with Air 3 at least for now and range wise as far as trees are concerned frankly, I got better range using RC Pro, so much for their extra frequency band which is restricted in some countries anyway as are power levels. But drone although heavier and still noisy has C1 certification for EU but Air 2s has not, I guess on purpose. Apart from that it's fine.
I always appreciate hearing your thoughts on a new drone, especially your common sense perspective on whether it is genuinely worth the investment.
Thanking-you kindly :)
Hope you get those additional 94k subscribers mate - You’re good for it - Love the no BS approach re your opinions on drone development or not - Hoping to keep the Mavic 3 classic for as long as you’ve had the Mavic 2 pro - Once you look past the fleece and the fluff we both own Great drones - Thanks for your content 😊
The cmos sensor is a new type of stacked sensor, not the same as m3p
Thank-you. Do you have any links that explain the differences?
I believe there is fast memory behind the sensor to speed up capture and improve in low light
Enjoyed your take on the Air 3. I do have to disagree about the popular drone youtubers stating that the Air 3 sensor is larger than the Air 2s. I've listened to them all and never heard that once. The Air 3 is WAY better than the Air 2s in low light. Even my Mini 3 Pro KILLS my Air 2s in low light. That larger aperture makes all the difference. I sold my Air 2s because of it's real world 16-minute flight time. I expect the Air 3 to double that just like Mini 3 Pro. Every popular drone youtuber who has actually flown the drone found it a major upgrade over the Air 2s. RUclipsrs on the fence or don't recommend the drone have never flown it.
Thanks mate. In terms of sensor size, the one I remember was Mark McGee, there were a tonne of comments pointing out his error but they all (including mine) appear to have disappeared - he may have deleted the original and re-uploaded. Yea the low-light performance on the Air 3 has been helped twice - firstly by the smaller aperture and secondly by the stacked sensor. I've been watching a tonne of footage off the Air 3 and while it has an advantage over my five year old M2Pro with that dual-ISO design, I'm just not seeing any improvement in video shot at dawn or dusk. It's illegal to fly at night here in Australia, so I'm not concerned about that. And yep, I see that 'every popular youtuber' is blowing smoke up DJI's arse, but that's what they have to do in order to stay in the loop and keep getting sent new drones a month before their release. I'm much more interested in what people without big followings on RUclips have to say about it and would really like to know what you think about the Air 3 after you've had it for a while. :)
The air 2s looks great at night when there’s some light for you to take in. Mini 3 pro does better when there’s less light. Manual settings really helps the air2s too. The mini 3 pro , out of the cam does look great tho
What the air2s does better than all of them is photography, which I really enjoy the most. M
I’ll wait for the air 3 to drop to 1200ish for fly more and I’ll get it then :)
I also don’t agree with you saying air2s gets 16 minutes. I get 19-21 over and over again flying in Long Island Ny Where there are enough winds to make it work and put the mini 3 pro into constant wind warnings.
@@ChuckD05You must not be recording and flying to 5% to get 20+ minutes.
Anywho, I sold my Air 2s last week and the Air 3 arrives tomorrow!
Yes there's a cost differential between the Air3 & the MiniPro 3/4, but speaking to his point that all you really get is a 70mm lens, even if that were true (it's not) from a photographer's POV, that is well within the range I'd expect to pay for a second lens on quality ground cameras. For example, if you shoot with the Nikon Z class, & you want to add a medium telephoto S lens to your gear, the NIKKOR Z 85mm f/1.8 S will run you $700. It's worth that much to be able to get the shots you need from that focal length.This reviewer seems to infer that the sensor size being the same as the M3P makes the images the same, but the Air3 has upgraded it's processing speed which creates a better image. It's worth noting that the same 70mm camera he doesn't think is worth the money is also on the Mavic 3 Pro for $600 more than you spend on the Mavic 3 Classic. So no matter how you slice it, if the second lens is important, this is a cheaper way to go. I also don't get the claim that the camera can't create depth of field. Huh? A 2.8 aperture without a neutral density filter obviously will.
"the Air3 has upgraded it's processing speed which creates a better image". This is simply wrong. Image quality depends upon the optical equipment and sensor size - it has absolutely nothing to do with processing speed - that is simply a measure of the camera's ability to encode the information it's getting from the optics. DJI and all camera manufacturers balance the capabilities of the hardware against the CPU and only enable modes such as 10-bit 5.3K 120fps if the chip can handle it but it has no impact on image quality whatsoever.
"I also don't get the claim that the camera can't create depth of field. Huh? A 2.8 aperture without a neutral density filter obviously will." What have neutral density filters got to do with anything? Depth of field is determined by aperture size, focal length, and focusing distance. Neutral density filters simply reduce the amount of light hitting the sensor and have absolutely no bearing on DoF.
Andy I totally agree with your thoughts and everything you say is so true. Thank you keep up the great work. As far as stack sensor design on the air 3 ? Is this really true…..DJI does not mention this at all on there specs. This was brought to everyones attention by one of DJI influencer who gets there drones free.
Thanks - yes it has a stacked sensor - it's what enables it to perform so well in low light with a 1/1.3" sensor size. :)
I didn't buy the Air 2S because I had just bought the Air 2 9-10 months after I bought the Air 2. I did the same thing with the Mini. I'm not about to get caught buying the Air 3 because they'll probably come out with the Air 3X in the next 9 months.
BTW you just put the DJI fanboys to shame. Good review/commentary.
lol - yes - they have an aggressive upgrade process and it's really frustrating when you commit to a purchase and it gets outdated six months later.
Definitely pass
Commenting from 2024, you mention an over 500g category with CASA here in Oz? I have only seen under 2.5kg mentioned? Do you have links to the rules? I have both an Air 3 and Mini 4 pro and am looking to do the registration and license, have contacted a couple of 'drone schools' but one (in Brisbane near me) no longer does drone stuff other than for businesses... (National) ... and I haven't heard back from other inquiries? I have a PPL (not current) so evidently I only need to get a drone endorsement, however, I can't get any concrete info on how to go about it. BTW, the most flight time I have gotten from my Air 3, on a calm day here at sea level (Poona Qld) with little wind and not flying 'abruptly'... was 34 minutes... my general flight times from my controller logs is 27 - 31 minutes... my Mini 4 pro is about the same. The 34 minutes on the Air 2, it came back at 22% (as always) ... but I took off again and kept it flying over the landing area until eventually it just hovered and would not move... it was half over an obstacle so I had to walk over and grab it, or it would have descended into an accident. Helpful video, cheers
I either take the battery out of the charger into the drones so 100% at the beginning of the flight... or have the batteries on charge so 100% before going somewhere to fly... so the charger hasn't reduced the charge to 96% for storage safety. I am disappointed to always be hearing the Air 3 can achieve 46 minutes flight time... and the Mini 4 pro can do 45 minutes (Plus batteries at 38mAh)... as far as I am concerned, they cant achieve much more than 30 minutes on a calm, wind free day. I just wish that DJI and the influencers would stop quoting some fictitious laboratory possibilities and actually tell the truth on actual achievable flight times (in real life)
The 500g weight was in the paperwork over at CASA - it pertained only to the much-modified registration rather than the Part 101 stuff. Interesting about the drone schools - I think CASA probably killed them when they changed the legislation such that you could use the drone commercially without having to get your RePL. I suspect most people, unless they were after the BVLOS and night flight ratings had no need any more. :)
Uhhhh the kids have given a new meaning to the word smash…. Guessing you haven’t heard….
lol - it’s being used (ironically) in that context.
@@Andyhutchinson 😀
I think you have blinders on to your own specific situation. The Air 3 has the best object avoidance of a mid tier drone, stable flight in strong winds, extended flight time, intelligent RTH, waypoints, a respectable 2 camera setup, and the even the wide angle camera is clearly outperforming the air2s and some would say mini3 in side by side comparisons. This would be a fine one-and-done option for a real estate or prosumer flyer, or a nice second option for someone who already has a Nano+/Mini3 or the like for more restricted travel.
As a professional Air 2S pilot I disagree with you. This tool is extremely phenomenal to anyone who knows how to use it.
@reviews4fun805 It all comes down to whether you're upgrading or this is your entry into the world of camera drones. If I was a real estate photo/videographer or flying in any professional capacity at all I'd almost certainly opt for a Mavic 3 either classic or pro editions because (apart from the massively superior sensor and camera) being able to set aperture is absolutely crucial. Having aperture in the camera means I have far more flexibility in terms of the light on the day I'm working - wide open on overcast and dark days, stopped down to f/8 or similar on very sunny days. Sure, I could accomplish sort of the same thing with an ND but anyone that's used ND filters on a drone knows it's a royal pain in the arse as you put a specific strength on, test it, try another and so on. Those other features - intelligent RTH and obstacle avoidance are really for novice or recreational users who don't know how to fly a drone properly. If I was 'upgrading' from a Mavic 2 Pro or Air 2s there is no way I would accept a downgrade on sensor size, no matter how much smoke DJI is blowing up people's arses about low-light performance and auto-focus. DJI have done their usual amazing job on marketing this drone and the spin is concealing the very real flaws with the Air 3.
@@Andyhutchinson Man tell me about it, the ND issue is still a pain on the Air 2S for video. And another thing I think will be an even bigger problem with the Aor 3 is exactly this, ND filter. Having two different apertures will mean one lens will be darker than the other. If say you put an ND 4 on the drone, the f1.7 is bright so it should work just fine but the smaller f2.8 opening will appear darker making this a nightmare when switching camera in flight. In this area alone the Air 2S seems much easier to handle with just one lens. But yeah no aperture control in 2023 on a drone is ludicrous.
my question is does the 2 lenses record both at once? or you have to choose what focus length you want when first recording?
No they don't record at once. You have to pick your camera (and therefore focal length) prior to recording.
Once again I’ll say I really wish people that don’t own the product and haven’t used it would stop giving opinions, and let’s be honest NO ONE REALLY CARES about the 5.4k the air 2s has. The normal person consuming the content can’t tell the difference between 5.4k 2.7k or 4k. Buy the product and use it before you give your opinion because without the experience your opinions are mute.
You cared so little that you decided to leave a butt-hurt comment? RUclips's a big place mate, if you disagree then go and find someone that meets your confirmation bias. There's nothing I've said in this video that isn't cold hard fact. I've been a photographer for 40 fucking years and a drone owner for a decade and I have a pretty solid understanding of what constitutes quality video and photography and I can read a spec sheet on-screen just as easily as Potato Jet.
Who are you to criticize someone who has much more experience then you. Have more respect and keep your opinion to yourself because it means nothing.
@@Andyhutchinson Like I said you don’t own the drone so miss us all with your OPINIONS bub. Also I left a comment because I could I don’t have to agree with you to leave a comment. Keep dropping your lame A** opinions and I’m going to call you on it. Now when you have a actual Air 3 in your possession, then have something to say. Until then Shut Up. Now that’s my opinion. Oh and with your 40 years, something tells me you still couldn’t stax up to Potato Jet, since you want to bring him into it.
@@Andyhutchinson I'm a little confused here by the need to get so nasty & territorial over your opinion. In another comment you said, "I'm much more interested in what people without big followings on RUclips have to say about it and would really like to know what you think about the Air 3 after you've had it for a while."--So if you're so interested in others opinions how does that jive with a profanity laced tirade over his difference of opinion? Or did you just expect everyone to agree with you? You're on RUclips criticizing other guys who are also on RUclips...& I'm thinking that getting shitty with people might not be the best way to add to your subscriber list.
@@MarkLewis-l3f alright - little bit angrier than it should have been - but being told that your views are 'mute' isn't exactly friendly is it? I was clear about my angle when making this video, made no extraordinary claims as to my insights, just gave my take on the drone. OP was clearly angry because I pointed out some weaknesses of the drone he'd bought and he took it as a personal slight, not because what I said wasn't valid. But you're right - a reasoned reply would have been better - just sometimes you read these things after a shitity day and hit send before you should.