M3 v Air2S picture quality

[karlblessing]

Regarding the missing part, it happens sometimes and can be a little bit of a fight to have dji replace it (usually via a coupon to their store to get it).

 

[tlyons]

Good point on the sensor size, but the reference to controlled depth of field is not correct. DOF is only a factor when focusing on subjects close to the camera or with a longer lens, which is hardly the case with a drone. r drone.

and yet, depth of field is a simple physical characteristic that you can see. For example, this is a crop from a photo with the Mini 3 Pro. (The Mini 3 does have a significantly faster lens than the Air 2s at f1.7 vs f2.8 so about 1.5 stops faster.) The subject separation is more obvious if you were to shoot at 48Mp (more resolution) and focused on the something in the background like the tree. The problem with the Mini 3 Pro of course is that you cannot turn this off; the aperture is fixed. For the Air 2s with the slower f2.8, there would less subject separation if any.

For the Mavic 3 with the same f2.8 and the m43, there would be more separation and it would be adjustable with the aperture. Usually, the application of changing the aperture on a drone would be to reduce light without having a crazy short shutter speed with the consequent negative effects.

You absolutely can use subject separation creatively with a drone. It is particularly interesting when combined with the ability to subject focus from the touch screen.

BTW, the crop makes if appear I am closer to the lamp than I really am. Rather than think too hard about it, give it a try. It's one more tool to express creativity.

Good Luck!

 

[retiredNH]

and yet, depth of field is a simple physical characteristic that you can see. For example, this is a crop from a photo with the Mini 3 Pro. (The Mini 3 does have a significantly faster lens than the Air 2s at f1.7 vs f2.8 so about 1.5 stops faster.) The subject separation is more obvious if you were to shoot at 48Mp (more resolution) and focused on the something in the background like the tree. The problem with the Mini 3 Pro of course is that you cannot turn this off; the aperture is fixed. For the Air 2s with the slower f2.8, there would less subject separation if any.

For the Mavic 3 with the same f2.8 and the m43, there would be more separation and it would be adjustable with the aperture. Usually, the application of changing the aperture on a drone would be to reduce light without having a crazy short shutter speed with the consequent negative effects.

You absolutely can use subject separation creatively with a drone. It is particularly interesting when combined with the ability to subject focus from the touch screen.

BTW, the crop makes if appear I am closer to the lamp than I really am. Rather than think too hard about it, give it a try. It's one more tool to express creativity.

Good Luck!

And yet, as JoshC said, it's something most visible for close subjects, exactly the case you used.

Simple characteristic? Hardly, given that sensor size and focal length are two other factors.

Yes, there are use cases where "subject separation" can be used "creatively" but those use cases are hardly withing the realm of typical drone photography. If you want subject separation, get out your full sized sensor ILC with an expensive lens. A drone is rarely the proper tool.

 

[tlyons]

And yet, as JoshC said, it's something most visible for close subjects, exactly the case you used.

Simple characteristic? Hardly, given that sensor size and focal length are two other factors.

Yes, there are use cases where "subject separation" can be used "creatively" but those use cases are hardly withing the realm of typical drone photography. If you want subject separation, get out your full sized sensor ILC with an expensive lens. A drone is rarely the proper tool.

"hardly withing the realm of typical drone photography"
"rarely the proper"

I guess we all have different goals. If your goal is "typical" then all your points are clearly "proper."

For others, lots of atypical and perhaps improper mixing of parallax (dolly zoom) and DOF manipulation applying some of the features of the Mini 3 Pro here:

Good luck!

Good luck!