Drones can be a powerful tool to increase your capabilities as a photographer or videographer. Whether you want to infinitely expand the types of shots and angles you can achieve, or simply get up in the air to experience a bird’s eye view, you’ll be amazed at what’s possible with the modern, high-tech, and incredibly intelligent drones currently available.
As the most recognizable name in the world of drones, DJI has delivered countless quality products over the years and has continued to impress with each new release. Whether they’re newest product is smaller, lighter, has a longer battery life, additional cameras, or all of these features combined I’m always blown away by how much DJI is pushing the industry.
And today, they’ve done it again with another exciting and impressive release. Just earlier this morning, on July 25th, they announced the newest member of their lineup: The Brand new DJI Air 3, and this little drone is quite impressive, to say the least. Let’s break it down and get into all the juicy details.
Overview
Key Features:
Price: $1,100 USD
Wide-Angle 24mm f/1.7 Lens
3x Telephoto 70mm f/2.8 Lens
Omnidirectional Obstacle Sensing
Dual-Camera 4K/60p HDR Video
46-Minute Max Flight Time
Dual-Camera 48MP Images
New DJI 04 HD Video Transmission
12 Km Maximum Signal Effective Distance
78-Minute Charge Time
The Brand new DJI Air 3 is not only very impressive and capable for its price point but it’s also a great option for those looking to get into drones. For anyone wanting something above entry-level offerings when it comes to performance but also doesn’t want to break the bank the Air 3 is a great option. In fact, it just might be the best bang for your buck on the market today.
With so many different drones currently available for purchase, and many options from DJI alone, it may seem that each offering fits a specific niche or serves a specific type of creator. With the Air 3, this isn’t necessarily the case. This all-around workhorse will work great for anyone from new enthusiasts to well-rounded pros looking for an additional machine and here’s why.
To start out this thing is continuing the “air” trend with its lightweight and compact build. With foldable arms and a very compact body, you’ll be able to tuck the Air 3 away and carry it with you no matter where you’re heading. If you need something that balances performance and portability, this is a great option.
One of the most notable and eye-catching features of this new drone is its dual-camera system that houses both a wide-angle and telephoto zoom giving users great flexibility when it comes to composition. This isn’t the first time DJI has introduced multiple cameras into one gimble, such as their high-performance Mavic 3 Pro which includes 3 cameras, but for a drone this small and affordable 2 cameras is great! This system will include a wide-angle 24mm f/1.7 lens as well as a 70mm f/2.8 telephoto capable of 3x zoom. Whether you want to capture the entire scene before you or focus on small and distant details you’ll be able to get the shot with the Air 3.
And it’s not just the optics that are impressive. Both of these lenses feed into two 1/1.3-inch CMOS sensors capable of capturing still images at 48 megapixels with sharp details and brilliant color. The Air 3 can also record 4K video at 100 frames per second and 4K HDR at 60 frames per second without the need for cropping. And with 10-bit D-Log M and 10-bit HLG color modes you’ll be able to capture everything in a stunning wide range of vibrant colors. Whether you’re looking to capture high-quality and high-resolution stills or videos the Air 3 will deliver.
And with a maximum flight time of 46 minutes, this drone can stay in the air longer than pretty much any of its direct competitors and surpasses its predecessor by an astounding 48%. And the brand-new battery charging hub features the ability to transfer power from one battery to another allowing you to transfer any left-over juice to the battery with the most power increasing your flight time even more. With such an impressive flight time the possibilities are only increased, and you’ll be able to capture more stunning footage and images.
Another very exciting feature of the new DJI Air 3 is the introduction of 04 HD Video Transmission. This brand-new transmission system will significantly boost performance allowing you to fly up to 20 kilometers away. Additionally, 04 Video Transmission has improved stability and delivers a great and uninterrupted 1080p/60fps live feed directly to your remote control. And this new video transmission wouldn’t be possible without their new and improved DJI RC 2 and DJI RC-N2 remote controllers.
And, on top of all that, this drone features some very impressive new and intelligent flight modes. These new features make it easier and more enjoyable to fly the Air 3. With ActiveTrack the Air 3 can automatically follow and rotate around subjects with smooth tracking. And with GPS and GLONASS positioning systems the overall navigation and stability will work great.
Additionally, the Air 3 features very advanced and upgraded omnidirectional obstacle sensing allowing it to autonomously avoid obstacles and barriers in all directions. This system allows the drone to have a comprehensive awareness of its surroundings and when the drone detects an obstacle it can effortlessly and smoothly avoid it creating a safer and better user experience.
Multiple Configurations Available
Just like many of DJI’s products, you can purchase the DJI Air 3 in multiple configurations to suit your specific needs. Let’s discuss each of these offerings.
This is the most simple and basic configuration. In this package, you’ll receive the aircraft, the RC-N2 controller which utilizes your smartphone as a screen, one battery and a charging cable, 3 pairs of extra propellers, a gimbal protector, and all necessary cables. If you want to keep things as simple and affordable as possible this is a great option.
This option still features the RC-N2 remote controller that uses your smartphone as a screen but comes with many more bells and whistles than the basic package. You’ll get The aircraft, the RC-N2 remote, 3 batteries, 6 pairs of propellers, a gimbal protector, the 30battery charging hub, the DJI shoulder bag, and all necessary cables.
This offering is the exact same as the previous Fly More Combo but comes with the new RC 2 controller instead of the RC-N2 controller. If you don’t want to use your smartphone as a screen and what a slightly more advanced remote controller then this might be the option for you.
Conclusion
The brand-new and very exciting DJI Air 3 is destined to be one of the biggest, If not the biggest, drone releases of 2023. This lightweight, compact, and relatively affordable drone surpasses its predecessor in every way and packs quite the punch. With impressive new features, an upgraded controller, and the inclusion of two cameras the Air 3 just might be the best bang for your buck on the market today. We can’t wait to get our hands on one and see what it’s capable of.
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