Air3S Buffering?

[Dakrisht]

Just picked up the Air3S after using the Mavic 2 Pro for years. Great bird so far but one issue.

When taking a single shot still, it takes a good 1.5-2 seconds for the shutter release “button” to buffer before I can take another shot. It just rotates for a period of time.

This wasn’t the case with the M2Pro. I’ve turned Caching off but nothing

With the M2Pro, I would snap a shot and be able to almost immediately take another 2-3 shots. Assuming focus was focused and is currently in AF.

Anyone know a workaround to be able to capture more shots quicker aside from selecting 3-shot burst, for example?

The buffering is annoying. I’m also using a high speed SD card. That’s not the issue.

 

[wco81]

Bizarre, other 3S owners don't seem to have this issue.

Or it's not being reported widely.

 

[Dakrisht]

Bizarre, other 3S owners don't seem to have this issue.

Or it's not being reported widely.

Totally bizarre. Probably not being reported. Lol.

Snap still image > good 2 second spinning buffer on the shutter release icon > then can shoot again.

 

[GadgetGuy]

Totally bizarre. Probably not being reported. Lol.

Snap still image > good 2 second spinning buffer on the shutter release icon > then can shoot again.

What still image mode are you shooting in?
The 48MP Quad-Bayer mode requires lots of post processing and is capturing 4x as much data as the straight 12 MP image mode, most comparable to the Mavic 2 Pro 20MP mode.

 

[Dakrisht]

What still image mode are you shooting in?
The 48MP Quad-Bayer mode requires lots of post processing and is capturing 4x as much data as the straight 12 MP image mode, most comparable to the Mavic 2 Pro 20MP mode.

Yes, 48MP RAW on the 1x and 3x camera. Takes a good 2-3 seconds to buffer / write the data to the card before being able to take another shot. Maybe burst is the only option for multiples….

Maybe I’ll try JPEGs…

M2Pro never had this issue at 20MP

 

[davidarmenb]

Totally normal when shooting 50MP/48MP mode.

 

[GadgetGuy]

Yes, 48MP RAW on the 1x and 3x camera. Takes a good 2-3 seconds to buffer / write the data to the card before being able to take another shot. Maybe burst is the only option for multiples….

Maybe I’ll try JPEGs…

M2Pro never had this issue at 20MP

Use the 12 MP mode instead. It's recording one quarter the data with no conversion from Quad-Bayer back to 12 MP necessary before taking the next shot. Burst option is undoubtedly JPG only, which will definitely get you the speed you are used to, but so will JPG only.

Air 2S stills are true 20MP, like the Mavic 2 Pro and Mavic 3 series.
Everything in photography is a compromise. Air 3S had to compromise with only true 12 MP stills for its 1” sensor.

 

[davidarmenb]

Use the 12 MP mode instead. It's recording one quarter the data with no conversion from Quad-Bayer back to 12 MP necessary before taking the next shot. Burst option is undoubtedly JPG only, which will definitely get you the speed you are used to, but so will JPG only.

Air 2S stills are true 20MP, like the Mavic 2 Pro and Mavic 3 series.
Everything in photography is a compromise. Air 3S had to compromise with only true 12 MP stills for its 1” sensor.

You can shoot burst in RAW.

 

[GadgetGuy]

You can shoot burst in RAW.

Cool! Is there any delay? Are you able to shoot a burst of RAW with variable exposure like +/- .7 EV or +/- 1.4 EV?

 

[davidarmenb]

Cool! Is there any delay? Are you able to shoot a burst of RAW with variable exposure like +/- .7 EV or +/- 1.4 EV?

It shoots the burst instantly and then there is a delay as it processes and stores the files. Yes you can shoot up to 5 AEB imagines using RAW (7 when shooting JPEG).

 

[Droning on and on...]

Use the 12 MP mode instead. It's recording one quarter the data with no conversion from Quad-Bayer back to 12 MP necessary before taking the next shot.

There is no conversion from Quad Bayer to Bayer.

Neither produce an RGB triple at each pixel location. For both filter patterns, each pixel recieves only red, green, or blue light. The other two color values for every pixel must be computed with some interpolation algorithm using neighboring pixels of that color to estimate the color value at the subject pixel.

So there are errors, whether QB or simple bayer. The errors are greater with QB, but not non-existent with Bayer.

The Bayer pattern 12MP images are not "true" in any meaningful sense. A "true" image would capture red, green, and blue at each pixel location. Such sensing systems exist, but are very, very expensive.

Quad Bayer captures are higher resolution, with one color channel accurate for each pixel, exactly the same as a Bayer capture. The QB capture can have more color error than the Bayer, but how much and whether it produces an inferior image depends greatly on the content of the image.

Where color is somewhat monotone, like a green forest, a QB capture can be quite a bit better with more detail than it's ¼ resolution cousin from the same sensor in Bayer mode.

It's all about color errors. There are plenty of scenes, particularly natural landscapes, that work really well with Quad Bayer sensors. However, it's yet another thing to have to consider when taking a shot, and this can get a bit much.

 

[Felix le Chat]

"...a "true" image would capture red, green, and blue at each pixel location. Such sensing systems exist, but are very, very expensive..."

FOVEON X3 - the only true layered (stacked) sensor - used in Sigma cameras. The tech is about 15 years old now and has evolved into X4 so the original X3 sensors aren't much more expensive than anything mid-line designed by Sony.

 

[GadgetGuy]

There is no conversion from Quad Bayer to Bayer.

Neither produce an RGB triple at each pixel location. For both filter patterns, each pixel recieves only red, green, or blue light. The other two color values for every pixel must be computed with some interpolation algorithm using neighboring pixels of that color to estimate the color value at the subject pixel.

So there are errors, whether QB or simple bayer. The errors are greater with QB, but not non-existent with Bayer.

The Bayer pattern 12MP images are not "true" in any meaningful sense. A "true" image would capture red, green, and blue at each pixel location. Such sensing systems exist, but are very, very expensive.

Quad Bayer captures are higher resolution, with one color channel accurate for each pixel, exactly the same as a Bayer capture. The QB capture can have more color error than the Bayer, but how much and whether it produces an inferior image depends greatly on the content of the image.

Where color is somewhat monotone, like a green forest, a QB capture can be quite a bit better with more detail than it's ¼ resolution cousin from the same sensor in Bayer mode.

It's all about color errors. There are plenty of scenes, particularly natural landscapes, that work really well with Quad Bayer sensors. However, it's yet another thing to have to consider when taking a shot, and this can get a bit much.

Thanks for the clarification. However, my understanding is that the Quad Bayer is still converted into a 12 MP image, taking much longer to process. Is that not the case?

In either event, bottom line is that what you are calling the Bayer/12 MP mode is processed significantly faster, and results in a more consistent image quality. Whether a longer Quad Bayer capture will be better depends upon the scene, and when in doubt, shoot one of each!

 

[GadgetGuy]

It shoots the burst instantly and then there is a delay as it processes and stores the files. Yes you can shoot up to 5 AEB imagines using RAW (7 when shooting JPEG).

Not yet having an Air 3S, I assume all the AEB steps are still only 0.7 EV?
If so, are the additional 2 JPEG images +/- 2.1 EV, while the RAW are still limited to only +/- 1.4 EV at the extremes?

 

[Droning on and on...]

Thanks for the clarification. However, my understanding is that the Quad Bayer is still converted into a 12 MP image, taking much longer to process. Is that not the case?

Nope. Processed as 48MP and stays that way.

This means debayering 4x as many pixels, and since the filter pattern is QB, the interpolation algorithm is more complex, so more computation per pixel than with the simple bayer pattern in 12MP mode.

 

[Droning on and on...]

"...a "true" image would capture red, green, and blue at each pixel location. Such sensing systems exist, but are very, very expensive..."

FOVEON X3 - the only true layered (stacked) sensor - used in Sigma cameras. The tech is about 15 years old now and has evolved into X4 so the original X3 sensors aren't much more expensive than anything mid-line designed by Sony.

The Foveon is a cool concept. For those that don't want to look it up, it basically uses frequency absorption by silicon to filter R, G, and B in the same pixel location. Through a 5 micron layer, blue is absorbed (and detected) in the surface ½ micron, about the next micron of depth absorbs green, and the last 3½ microns absorb the red.

No demosaicing (debayering) required. However, since all of this absorption is continuous, there's crosstalk between the channels. This requires a very different mathematical process to reject the crosstalk.

As a result, image processing SoCs for the Foveon sensor are expensive due to low volume.

Finally, people generally don't find the better color accuracy and lack of artifacts subjectively superior most of the time, so there doesn't seem to be much of a real world advantage, hence they haven't caught on.

 

[GadgetGuy]

Nope. Processed as 48MP and stays that way.

This means debayering 4x as many pixels, and since the filter pattern is QB, the interpolation algorithm is more complex, so more computation per pixel than with the simple bayer pattern in 12MP mode.

So, it isn't a conversion that takes up time, but a processing of four times the data, that often results in a no better image.

 

[Tman1265]

Just picked up the Air3S after using the Mavic 2 Pro for years. Great bird so far but one issue.

When taking a single shot still, it takes a good 1.5-2 seconds for the shutter release “button” to buffer before I can take another shot. It just rotates for a period of time.

This wasn’t the case with the M2Pro. I’ve turned Caching off but nothing

With the M2Pro, I would snap a shot and be able to almost immediately take another 2-3 shots. Assuming focus was focused and is currently in AF.

Anyone know a workaround to be able to capture more shots quicker aside from selecting 3-shot burst, for example?

The buffering is annoying. I’m also using a high speed SD card. That’s not the issue.

Here is a whole other thread on this same topic. I shoot the same subjects as this poster does and can confirm that my Autel does the same thing along with my new Air 3 Air 3 Photo Capture Delay Issues

 

[Droning on and on...]

So, it isn't a conversion that takes up time, but a processing of four times the data, that often results in a no better image.

I wouldn't say that.

 

[GadgetGuy]

I wouldn't say that.

Which part do you disagree with? I thought your more detailed post above indicated that whether there was an improvement over the Bayer 12MP depended upon the image and one's preferences. In other words, it often is no better, and sometimes could be worse. So, for the best image quality, shoot one of each, a Bayer and a Quad Bayer, and then choose whichever you prefer. Can we agree on that statement?