We can argue specs and tech endlessly, but the bottom line is the quality of the files produced. I've had a chance to edit the 12 and 50MP DNGs from the 24mm Air 3S camera in Lightroom Classic. Adobe added support in ACR 17.1, but got it wrong. It doesn't pick up the profiles automatically like it does with Air 2S files, and selecting them manually lists two different DJI camera number profiles both labelled 70mm. It probably only affects distortion correction. Hopefully they’ll sort it in the next release of ACR.
The 50MP DNG has lots of tonal detail, but a lot of noise and colour artifacts. The shot is of a lake with a bunch of distant seagulls floating on the water which look like multi-coloured party balloons! It took a linear grad mask with 80 Defringe to make these and other colour artifacts acceptable, and that was after creating a new files with AI Denoise. The 12MP DNG kills most of the noise, but lacks detail and sharpness. Both sizes are disappointing, the 50MP for the huge file size without the quality to match, and the 12MP for its lack of detail in an already small resolution. The 20MP Bayer Air 2S sensor is still generally better for stills with maybe a little less tonal detail and sharpness, but a lot less in the way of colour artifacts, and a useful resolution. Hopefully DJI can tweak the Air 3S processing to improve the output.
The 50MP DNG has lots of tonal detail, but a lot of noise and colour artifacts. The shot is of a lake with a bunch of distant seagulls floating on the water which look like multi-coloured party balloons! It took a linear grad mask with 80 Defringe to make these and other colour artifacts acceptable, and that was after creating a new files with AI Denoise. The 12MP DNG kills most of the noise, but lacks detail and sharpness. Both sizes are disappointing, the 50MP for the huge file size without the quality to match, and the 12MP for its lack of detail in an already small resolution. The 20MP Bayer Air 2S sensor is still generally better for stills with maybe a little less tonal detail and sharpness, but a lot less in the way of colour artifacts, and a useful resolution. Hopefully DJI can tweak the Air 3S processing to improve the output.
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