My thoughts on the DJI Air 3S as an Air 3 owner

[Yaros]

Just gonna leave my honest opinion about the newly-released DJI Air 3S.
(I don't have the drone, and probably won't get it because I already own the regular Air 3)

• No variable aperture - this would be a game-changer. I was waiting for that, but I guess it's still left for the Mavic Pro series, bummer.
• 1-inch sensor, nice! But this should have been on the original Air 3, because it already was on the Air 2S, however it was not a downgrade, compared to the Air 2S sensor, I think that the slightly smaller Air 3 sensor is much more color accurate and low-light capable.
• Downward vision assist - very useful, don't need to point down the camera, I would love to see this as a firmware update on other drones that have downward VPS.
• New panorama stitching modes - not sure yet how they really work, but they look promising
• No option to buy drone-only - Yes, this would be extremely nice for the people who already own the Air 3 or just the RC2 controller. Would save money, but DJI probably won't offer this.

Overall, an upgrade, personally not worth an upgrade if you already have the Air 3, as I do, but as a mid-range first drone, it's an awesome kit!

 

[Droning on and on...]

• 1-inch sensor, nice! But this should have been on the original Air 3, because it already was on the Air 2S, however it was not a downgrade, compared to the Air 2S sensor, I think that the slightly smaller Air 3 sensor is much more color accurate and low-light capable.

I believe your analysis here is mistaken.

In 12MP mode making an apples/apples comparison, the 1" sensor has bigger pixel area, and gathers more light than the functionally similar 1/1.3" sensor in the A3. The color fidelity of both sensors is nominally the same, but the 1" sensor is more sensitive.

This is how they get 14 stops of usable dynamic range from the main camera in the 3S.

 

[Yaros]

This is how they get 14 stops of usable dynamic range from the main camera in the 3S.

Right, no doubt that the Air 3S sensor is better than the Air 3.

But I have flown the Air 2S and Air 3 side by side in the same conditions, Air 3 is better for some reason, and by far, especially in photos.

 

[Phantomrain.org]

This is the best Designed Drone DJI ever made so its nice to see the nicer version.

I cant believe the only controller that will work with this is the Mini 4 Controller but not the Pro Controller or the Mavic 3 Controller.

Its also annoying that they won't sell the drone by itself as mentioned.



Phantomrain.org
Gear to fly in the Rain. Land on the Water.

 

[DanJ]

Its also annoying that they won't sell the drone by itself as mentioned.

View attachment 178323

Phantomrain.org
Gear to fly in the Rain. Land on the Water.

I have been asking for this from DJI since I got an Air2S
It's funny how you can buy a Mavic 3 Pro overseas without a controller but not in North America.
Plain and simple greed.

 

[Droning on and on...]

Right, no doubt that the Air 3S sensor is better than the Air 3.

But I have flown the Air 2S and Air 3 side by side in the same conditions, Air 3 is better for some reason, and by far, especially in photos.

My bad, I read your post as comparing the main 3S sensor to the 3, but with your clarification I see your comparing the A3 sensor to the 2S.

I agree the smaller M4P/A3 sensor outperforms the 2S. (now climbing into my Nomex suit ).

 

[Droning on and on...]

I have been asking for this from DJI since I got an Air2S
It's funny how you can buy a Mavic 3 Pro overseas without a controller but not in North America.
Plain and simple greed.

And you know that how?

I can think of many legitimate, common reasons why this is the case, among them a market analysis tells them they would lose money due to too small projected sales.

Demanding DJI provide something they lose money on is greedy, but not on DJI's part.

So maybe we ought to be a bit more circumvent with derogatory criticism when, well, we don't know anything.

 

[davedrone 178]

Not sure how much of an upgrade the 1" sensor will be in non-professional applications.
I prefer the picture I get with my Air 3 compared to my Mavic 3 with the 4/3 sensor.
And my Air 3 blows my Mavic 3 away during night shooting. But I almost pulled the trigger
this morning, wanting the latest and greatest new DJI product but I didn't find enough
new features like longer battery or better range to justify the purchase.

 

[Phantomrain.org]

I was able to see immediately a big difference on the video but not so much on the Pictures, being able to use the Zoom footage and improvement in low light is huge and the Slow Motion at 120 is nice.

Phantomrain.org
Gear to fly in the Rain. Land on the Water, and Lidar around.

 

[MARK (LI)]

View attachment 178324

I was able to see immediately a big difference on the video but not so much on the Pictures, being able to use the Zoom footage and improvement in low light is huge and the Slow Motion at 120 is nice.

Phantomrain.org
Gear to fly in the Rain. Land on the Water, and Lidar around.

You got your hands on a 3S already?...the color from the Mini 4 looks best in the example followed by Air 3...the 3s looks like the poorest quality photo...the background looks like less than "good" light for photography, so maybe that effected the finished products

 

[ryguy80]

The max bit rate was dropped from 150 to 130 Mbps between the two models. Will be interesting to see if it’s noticeable in real world usage.

 

[davidarmenb]

I believe your analysis here is mistaken.

In 12MP mode making an apples/apples comparison, the 1" sensor has bigger pixel area, and gathers more light than the functionally similar 1/1.3" sensor in the A3. The color fidelity of both sensors is nominally the same, but the 1" sensor is more sensitive.

This is how they get 14 stops of usable dynamic range from the main camera in the 3S.

So then how are they also getting 14 stops from the 1/1.3” sensor on the air 3S? Sensor size is a lot, but it isnt everything.

 

[FF_Shooter]

Bitrate 130Mb/s vs. 150Mb/s, Air 3s, Air 3 respectively. Isn't that odd?

Anyone felt that the promotional video's image was strange somehow? a bit contrasty?

 

[davidarmenb]

The max bit rate was dropped from 150 to 130 Mbps between the two models. Will be interesting to see if it’s noticeable in real world usage.

That is because they are utilizing a new compression algorithm that reduces file size by 30% with zero loss in quality (according to DJI). So, if they kept the same compression quality as the Aur 3, the Air 3S should have had a bit rate of 105Mbps, but it is 130Mbps, which is 25Mbps more. This means that the Air 3S technically has higher quality videos than the Air 3, solely from a compression perspective.

 

[davidarmenb]

Not sure how much of an upgrade the 1" sensor will be in non-professional applications.
I prefer the picture I get with my Air 3 compared to my Mavic 3 with the 4/3 sensor.
And my Air 3 blows my Mavic 3 away during night shooting. But I almost pulled the trigger
this morning, wanting the latest and greatest new DJI product but I didn't find enough
new features like longer battery or better range to justify the purchase.

Literally me.

 

[Droning on and on...]

So then how are they also getting 14 stops from the 1/1.3” sensor on the air 3S? Sensor size is a lot, but it isnt everything.

They are? I haven't seen this anywhere. In fact, the only official statement I've seen in any advertising collateral from DJI is a brief statement that the 3x camera is the same as the A3, no change at all.

Do you have some reference for the 14-stop ability on the tele camera?

 

[Wreckhunter]

View attachment 178324

I was able to see immediately a big difference on the video but not so much on the Pictures, being able to use the Zoom footage and improvement in low light is huge and the Slow Motion at 120 is nice.

Phantomrain.org
Gear to fly in the Rain. Land on the Water, and Lidar around.

Quality Air 3S is brighter and has the most detail,followed by Air 3 and third Mini 4 pro which is not close to the other two.

 

[GFields]

I'm going to pass on the Air 3s and wait for the Mavic 4

 

[davedrone 178]

Waiting for the Youtube tests of the night time capabilities of this new drone. Very happy
with my Air3 at night but would consider the "S" version if it's far superior at night.

 

[ryguy80]

That is because they are utilizing a new compression algorithm that reduces file size by 30% with zero loss in quality (according to DJI). So, if they kept the same compression quality as the Aur 3, the Air 3S should have had a bit rate of 105Mbps, but it is 130Mbps, which is 25Mbps more. This means that the Air 3S technically has higher quality videos than the Air 3, solely from a compression perspective.

DJI used similar language for the Osmo Action 5 Pro, and they are in the process of issuing an update to up the bitrate after users complained and submitted samples of image smearing and loss of detail.