50MP 1" sensor a wise choice?

[Filmarik]

Even with YouTube compression, the differences were noticeable. Now I’m even more excited to get the Air 3S.

I agree. If your main thing is video the comparison video above is pretty convincing. Newer sensor technology beats the older technology. For serious photographers though the jury is still out..

 

[Droning on and on...]

Even with YouTube compression, the differences were noticeable. Now I’m even more excited to get the Air 3S.

Yes, and what gives this review cred with me is the careful setup, and showing the details of what his settings were. I could reproduce the results for myself and see what I get.

That's real scientific method. Not the used-car sales pitch we get fom Billy and the other carnival barkers.

 

[Droning on and on...]

I agree. If your main thing is video the comparison video above is pretty convincing. Newer sensor technology beats the older technology. For serious photographers though the jury is still out..

Totally agree. QB sensors will never satisfy pixel-peepers. If the application requires that level of enlarged scrutiny, I side with the peepers.

 

[ryguy80]

That's real scientific method. Not the used-car sales pitch we get fom Billy and the other carnival barkers.

Exactly! Anyone that starts off a video with “This <insert drone model> is a game changer!”, I roll my eyes.

 

[Filmarik]

Totally agree. QB sensors will never satisfy pixel-peepers. If the application requires that level of enlarged scrutiny, I side with the peepers.

Video is lot more forgiving in terms of sharpness requirement. Many videographers would argue that too much sharpness in video is not good and is detrimental to the coveted "cinematic look". For printing photographs though the sharpness and detail can be of a critical importance and can make or brake the resulting print.

 

[wco81]

I agree. If your main thing is video the comparison video above is pretty convincing. Newer sensor technology beats the older technology. For serious photographers though the jury is still out..

Of course Mavic 4 Pro will have new sensors as well and presumably at least the same transmission specs.

But can they make it C1-compliant for Europe, 900 grams or less?

 

[Filmarik]

Of course Mavic 4 Pro will have new sensors as well and presumably at least the same transmission specs.

But can they make it C1-compliant for Europe, 900 grams or less?

That is a fair assumption. The Mavic4Pro will be a beast no doubt. However the under 900g might be a wishful thinking.

 

[wco81]

Yeah I don't think DJI even bothered to get the M3P certified for C2.

They got all their other drones certified for C1 and the Mini 4 Pro for C0.

Though they won't give those labels to anyone other than Europeans.


I wonder if it wouldn't lead to less weight to try to develop a single zoom lens camera which would be either a 24-105 or 24-120 mm equivalent rather than continue with this 3-camera approach.

The main issue would be that those zoom lenses are typically F4 (though still very good optically). DJI wants to offer faster lenses since people want to fly in low-light conditions or at night.

 

[Filmarik]

Of course Mavic 4 Pro will have new sensors as well and presumably at least the same transmission specs.

But can they make it C1-compliant for Europe, 900 grams or less?

That is a fair assumption. The Mavic4Pro will be a beast no doubt. However the under 900g might be a wishful thinking.

Yeah I don't think DJI even bothered to get the M3P certified for C2.

They got all their other drones certified for C1 and the Mini 4 Pro for C0.

Though they won't give those labels to anyone other than Europeans.


I wonder if it wouldn't lead to less weight to try to develop a single zoom lens camera which would be either a 24-105 or 24-120 mm equivalent rather than continue with this 3-camera approach.

The main issue would be that those zoom lenses are typically F4 (though still very good optically). DJI wants to offer faster lenses since people want to fly in low-light conditions or at night.

That is right, a 7x optical zoom 24 to 168mm or something like that would be unlikely under f4 and that would be a major problem for low light performace. It could marginally reduce overall weight compared to the current 3 camera gimbal but unlikely enough to change the EU certification. I still believe that with the Mavic3Pro they hit a jackpot. It has very few weeknesses. No doubt the M4P will be better but so will be M5P, M6P etc. The question is how long are you prepared to wait and if it is worth waiting when M3P is almost flawless for most video and photo applications and awailable today

 

[wco81]

I'd go for a 3x zoom but those 24-72 F2.8 lenses are large and heavy.

And expensive.

 

[Filmarik]

I'd go for a 3x zoom but those 24-72 F2.8 lenses are large and heavy.

And expensive.

That would mean going backwards in reach. I do not think they will do that. The current 166mm on M3P provides amazing parallax in video and pesrpective compression in photos and many would miss that, I would think.
We might be both wrong and DJI might supprise us all with something truly unexpected

 

[Kiwicbrthou]

That would mean going backwards in reach. I do not think they will do that. The current 166mm on M3P provides amazing parallax in video and pesrpective compression in photos and many would miss that, I would think.
We might be both wrong and DJI might supprise us all with something truly unexpected

Not to far into November we will probably know!

 

[Droning on and on...]

Of course Mavic 4 Pro will have new sensors as well and presumably at least the same transmission specs.

And a 2x price tag.

Air 3S for me

 

[Wreckhunter]

It is almost guaranteed that the Mavic 3 pro will be going on sale before the 4 is released.
That is usually what DJI does.

That would make a great drone a good buy then.

 

[Wreckhunter]

I misquoted Russ (51 Drones). He actually said, "[DJI] finally made a drone that is appealing to photographers...strictly aerial photographers".

This is just one more early reviewer with his own opinion.Staying away from it because of the new 1" main camera which does nothing
for me.And is of a major concern in quality,not enough resolution if you want to crop in post.

 

[RC5728]

I reckon that these images give good indication of IQ from the two cameras. Thanks for posting.

Those pics from okephoto look good and clean to me. What is the issue? Just the lower resolution / print size with 12MP?

 

[bkushner]

It's probably a decent drone for videos but not really suitable for (serious) photography if you want a higher resolution than 12 MP. The 12 MP images are still noisy and show quite some colour artefacts but naturally these are not as visible as in the artificially enlarged 50 MP files. Personally, I'm waiting for the Mavic 4 now, even though I didn't want to spend that much money on a new drone. Buying the Air 3S doesn't make any sense to me, though, if my six year old drone still takes better pictures.

I saw a youtube video comparing Air 3s To Mini 4 night video and the mini 4 was as good if not better.

 

[GadgetGuy]

I saw a youtube video comparing Air 3s To Mini 4 night video and the mini 4 was as good if not better.

And the Mini 4 also is not broadcasting RID with the stock battery!

 

[Filmarik]

Interesting to read how mixed have been the reactions to this Air3S. From very positive to very negative. It indicates that there is a section of the market by whom this drone is well received and section by whom it has been a disappointment. Where is the split is hard to tell. The sales numbers will tell DJI very soon if they have made the right choice in regards to the 1" 50MP sensor or not..

 

[bkushner]

And the Mini 4 also is not broadcasting RID with the stock battery!

Didn't know that.Love the mini 4. If it would only withstand higher winds it's all I'd use.