DJI Air 3: Revolutionizing Aerial Photography with Unmatched Features and Performance – A Comprehensive Review

Lens Logic Verdict

The DJI Air 3 is a game-changer for photographers. Its powerful camera, long battery life, and smooth flight make it perfect for capturing stunning aerial shots. The drone’s smart features and solid build give users more control and stability, even in tough conditions. Whether you’re a pro or a hobbyist, the DJI Air 3 will elevate your photography with sharp images and videos. It’s reliable, easy to fly, and packed with tech that will take your creative projects to new heights.

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DJI’s Mini series has been a go-to for budget-friendly drone enthusiasts, but the new DJI Air 3 offers a fresh take on the mid-sized Air lineup. This drone combines a dual-lens camera with all-around obstacle sensors, marking a significant upgrade for those wanting enhanced flexibility and safety. However, despite its impressive features, the Air 3’s price point places it close to the DJI Mini 3 Pro. Let’s have a closer look into what makes the DJI Air 3 a compelling option, where it stands out, and how it compares to other drones in its class.

DJI Mini 3 Pro Specifications

• Camera:
  • 48MP, 4K video at 60fps
  • 1/1.3″ CMOS sensor, f/1.7 aperture
• Battery: Up to 47 minutes flight time (Intelligent Flight Battery Plus)
• Flight Performance:
  • Max speed: 16 m/s (57.6 km/h)
  • Max altitude: 5000m
• Sensors: Front, rear, and downward obstacle sensors
• Range: OcuSync 3.0 (up to 12 km)
• Weight: 249 grams (FAA registration not required)
• Features:
  • FocusTrack, Mastershots, intelligent RTH
  • 3-axis gimbal stabilization

A Dual-Camera Setup for More Versatile Shots

With the Air 3, DJI builds on its innovative dual-camera design first seen with the Mavic 3, enhancing creative flexibility in drone photography. This setup features a primary 24mm F1.7 wide-angle lens, inspired by the Mini 3 Pro, alongside a 70mm F2.8 short telephoto lens originally from the Mavic 3 Pro. Both lenses are mounted on a three-axis gimbal, ensuring stable shots and smooth footage even in challenging flight conditions. This dual-camera configuration provides a seamless transition between wide and telephoto perspectives, allowing photographers to capture expansive landscapes or zoom in to isolate details without the need to land and switch lenses.

Each camera utilizes a Type 1/1.3 Quad Bayer sensor, ensuring consistent image quality across both lenses. This means whether you’re shooting with the 24mm lens for broad, sweeping views or the 70mm lens for detailed close-ups, the final footage will have a similar level of sharpness, color, and dynamic range. The fixed apertures on these lenses mean that you can’t adjust the depth of field in real-time, but DJI has anticipated this limitation by offering a set of four neutral density (ND) filters for $99. These filters provide added control over exposure, allowing users to adapt to varying lighting conditions without sacrificing image quality.

This dual-lens system empowers creators to expand their visual storytelling options, making the Air 3 a versatile tool for capturing diverse shots with ease, whether you’re filming grand landscapes or honing in on distant subjects.

Portability and Build

The DJI Air 3 has increased slightly in size compared to its predecessors, measuring 3.9 by 3.6 by 8.2 inches (height, width, and depth). While a bit bulkier than the Mavic Air 2, which comes in at 3.8 by 3.3 by 7.1 inches, it still retains a compact form factor that makes it easy to pack in most camera bags. The added size accommodates the Air 3’s more advanced features, like its dual-camera system and enhanced obstacle detection sensors, but it’s still light enough to be practical for mobile use, making it a versatile choice for both recreational and professional applications. However, because of its weight, FAA registration is required for legal operation in the United States, which may be a consideration for hobbyists who prefer simplicity.

For users interested in commercial applications, like real estate photography or video production, the Air 3’s capabilities make it an excellent choice, though it does come with additional regulatory considerations. Commercial drone operators in the U.S. must obtain an FAA remote pilot certificate, which ensures that they understand airspace regulations and can operate the drone safely in a variety of environments. This certification process might be a worthwhile investment for professionals seeking advanced features, while those looking for simplicity and travel ease might still favor the Mini 3 Pro. Weighing in at under 249 grams, the Mini 3 Pro sidesteps these registration and certification requirements, offering a more lightweight and convenient option for casual travelers.

Battery Life and Storage Options

DJI mentioned the Air 3’s battery at around 46 minutes per charge, though real-world tests indicate closer to 40-12 minutes—still impressive for a compact drone. By comparison, the Mini 3 Pro offers a flight time of around 30 minutes, making the Air 3 one of the top options for extended flight times.

In terms of storage, the Air 3 has 8GB of onboard memory, which will fill up quickly if you’re recording high-quality 4K video. Adding a microSD card is highly recommended for those who plan to capture longer footage, with DJI advising users to choose a card with a V30 or V90 speed rating for optimal performance.

The Air 3 is available as a standalone model with the DJI RC-N2 remote, or in a Fly More Combo package, which includes two extra batteries, a three-way charger, and a carry case. There’s also an option to upgrade to the DJI RC 2 remote with a built-in screen, making setup even simpler, especially for users who want an all-in-one remote solution.

Advanced Obstacle Sensors and Safety Features

One of the standout features of the Air 3 is its all-around obstacle sensing, covering a full 360 degrees thanks to sensors on its forward, rear, and undercarriage areas. These sensors can be set to either stop the drone in place or actively bypass obstacles, an excellent safety feature for navigating complex environments. DJI’s Advanced Autopilot Assist System (APAS 5.0) works with these sensors to provide a smooth, safe flight experience, avoiding potential crashes with minimal input from the user. These sensors also play a crucial role in ActiveTrack, DJI’s follow-me feature that allows the Air 3 to automatically track subjects, like people or vehicles. This mode works best with the 70mm telephoto lens, giving users a close, focused view without needing to manually adjust the drone’s position. While a new Spotlight mode promises more dynamic tracking, tests have shown that standard ActiveTrack provides better results, consistently keeping the subject in the frame and allowing users to control whether the drone follows from behind, in front, or to the side.

With its advanced obstacle sensors and ActiveTrack mode, the Air 3 stands out as an option for adventurers, hikers, and sports enthusiasts looking to capture dynamic footage without needing a co-pilot.

GPS, AirSense, and FlySafe Technology for Safe Flights

Safety remains a priority in the Air 3, and the drone is equipped with several advanced features to ensure secure and reliable operation. One of the key safety features is DJI’s GPS hardware, which allows the drone to safely return to its home point if it loses signal or encounters issues during flight. This “Return to Home” functionality is backed by the O4 transmission system, which offers an impressive range of up to 12.4 miles. While most users won’t need this extreme range due to line-of-sight regulations, the long-range capability provides added security for flights in open areas. The GPS lock, which helps maintain the drone’s location and altitude, might take a couple of minutes to engage when flying in new locations, but it ensures stable flight once the connection is established.

Additionally, the Air 3 supports DJI’s FlySafe geofencing system, which prevents the drone from entering restricted or sensitive airspace. Although some experienced pilots may find this feature limiting, it offers peace of mind for beginners or casual users who may not be familiar with airspace regulations. Another important safety feature is DJI AirSense, which uses an ADS-B receiver to alert pilots to nearby manned aircraft, greatly enhancing situational awareness—especially in areas with higher air traffic.

In compliance with recent FAA regulations, the Air 3 also includes Remote ID, a feature that broadcasts the drone’s location. While this might raise privacy concerns for some users, it’s a critical safety measure to ensure drones can be monitored in public spaces and sensitive areas.

DJI Fly App: Enhanced Control and Flexibility

The DJI Fly app is integral to the Air 3’s operation, allowing users to activate the drone, control the camera, and customize settings. For those who opt for the RC 2 remote, which has an integrated screen, the app can be accessed directly on the remote, providing the same features as a smartphone-based experience. The app’s layout is straightforward, with live camera views, a map overlay, and intuitive touch controls.

Through the app, users can access more advanced flight modes, such as planned waypoint missions, previously limited to DJI’s larger Mavic drones. This feature is particularly useful for applications like time-lapse photography, mapping, or even automated photography missions. Additionally, the app offers settings for QuickShots, MasterShots, and Hyperlapse modes, enabling users to capture cinematic footage with minimal effort.

A Telephoto Lens Adds Unique Creative Options

The Air 3’s dual-camera system offers a wide-angle and a telephoto lens, giving users enhanced creative flexibility for framing and composition. Both lenses can record video in stunning 4K at 100fps with 10-bit color profiles, making the Air 3 a powerful tool for both photographers and videographers. For stills, the Air 3 supports a 12-bit DNG format, providing more room for post-processing, which is ideal for professionals who need to adjust and fine-tune their images.

While the dual-camera system enhances versatility, it doesn’t necessarily deliver superior image quality for wide-angle shots compared to the Mini 3 Pro. For users seeking the highest level of image quality, the Mavic 3 Classic, equipped with a larger Four-Thirds sensor and Hasselblad color science, offers improved performance. However, this comes at a significantly higher price point, making the Air 3 a better option for those who want solid performance without the premium cost.

Comparing the Air 3 with the DJI Mini 3 Pro and Mavic 3 Classic

Feature	DJI Air 3	DJI Mini 3 Pro	Mavic 3 Classic
Release Date	July 2023	May 2022	November 2022
Weight	595 g	249 g	895 g
Max Flight Time	46 minutes	34 minutes	46 minutes
Max Range (FCC)	32 km (20 mi)	12 km (7.45 mi)	15 km (9.32 mi)
Camera	Dual 1/1.3″ CMOS sensors	1/1.3″ CMOS, 48 MP	4/3″ CMOS, 20 MP
Video Resolution	4K 60fps, 4K 120fps (Telephoto)	4K 60fps, 4K HDR	5.1K 50fps, 4K 120fps
Max Video Bitrate	200 Mbps	150 Mbps	200 Mbps
Obstacle Avoidance	360° Sensors (Forward, Down, Back)	Forward, Back, Down, Up (APAS 4.0)	360° (All Directions)
Intelligent Flight Modes	FocusTrack, Mastershots, Hyperlapse	ActiveTrack, Mastershots	ActiveTrack 5.0, Mastershots, Hyperlapse
Sensors	4 Vision + 2 Infrared	3 Vision Sensors	6 Vision Sensors
Max Wind Resistance	12 m/s	10.7 m/s	12 m/s
Transmission System	OcuSync 4.0	OcuSync 3.0	OcuSync 3+
Price	$1,099 USD	$759 USD	$1,599 USD

Key Takeaways:

• Air 3 is the most versatile, offering dual cameras and a long 32 km range. It’s great for both video and photos with excellent flight time.
• Mini 3 Pro is compact, light, and delivers impressive 4K video. It’s perfect if you need something portable, with a solid 12 km range.
• Mavic 3 Classic provides the best camera quality with a 4/3″ sensor. It’s best for serious professionals who need superior image quality, longer range, and more control.

Final Thoughts: Is the DJI Air 3 Worth It?

The DJI Air 3 brings notable advancements to the mid-sized drone market, especially with its dual-lens camera and all-around obstacle sensing. While it’s priced higher than the Mini 3 Pro, the added features justify the cost for users who want a more versatile drone that balances performance and portability.

The Air 3 isn’t a drastic leap forward for those already invested in the Mini 3 Pro or Mavic line, but it offers a unique set of features that cater to a specific audience. For hobbyists and semi-professionals looking to expand their creative possibilities without investing in a full-sized Mavic, the Air 3 hits a sweet spot. Its solid battery life, reliable safety features, and creative flexibility make it a well-rounded choice, especially for adventurers or content creators who need more than just the basics.

In the end, the DJI Air 3 is an excellent addition to DJI’s lineup, providing a balanced mix of features and performance at a mid-range price, making it a versatile tool for those ready to take their aerial photography to the next level.