With the discharge of the DJI Air 3, individuals have much more choices for his or her first drone or an extra one.
DJI has older drone fashions, that are nonetheless very succesful, and one that’s nonetheless a favourite some years later is the DJI Mavic 2 Professional.
So, how does the Air 3 maintain as much as an older mannequin just like the Mavic 2 Professional?
Should you crave the newest technological developments, superior flight options, and prolonged capabilities, the DJI Air 3 is the clear selection. Nevertheless, for those who’re knowledgeable prioritizing distinctive picture high quality and reliability, the Mavic 2 Professional continues to carry its floor.
Prime Drone Programs
Hold studying to be taught whether or not to get or preserve the older mannequin, purchase the newer one, and different alternate options you may additionally take into account.
DJI Air 3 overview
As talked about, the Air 3 is the latest client drone from DJI, and it’s getting fairly standard.
Whereas among the applied sciences it makes use of are recycled from older drones, it comes with new applied sciences that aren’t in different fashions.
A number of the options that make this drone extremely popular embody:
- Twin digicam system – First seen within the DJI Mavic 3, the Air 3 options two cameras providing totally different apertures and fields of view, permitting customers to get footage from twin views in a single take. One of many cameras is an f1.7 wide-angle, 24mm equal, and the opposite is a 70m equal f2.8 3X medium tele digicam. Each characteristic a 1/1.3 CMOS sensor.
- 360-degree impediment avoidance – The Air 3 options 360-degree impediment avoidance and a extra superior APAS system that ensures a easy flight even because the drone dodges obstacles. These sensors are lively in all modes apart from Sport Mode.
- Longer flight time – Whereas most DJI drones are recognized for lasting about half-hour, DJI has just lately launched drones with greater than 40 minutes of flight time. The Air 3 is marketed to final 46 minutes in flight, which is ample for many purposes.
- Clever Flight Modes – The Air 3 options clever modes like Hyperlapses, ActiveTrack, Panoramas, QuickShots, MasterShots, Waypoints, Cruise Management, and Evening Mode. Many of those modes are upgraded, that means they carry out higher and provide you with extra choices than older drones.
- Vary – The Air 3 comes with the OcuSync 4.0 transmission system that provides a variety of as much as 12 miles. That is the latest DJI transmission system now we have not seen in different drones but.
- Vertical taking pictures – The Air 3 permits you to document movies in portrait mode for social media content material. Nevertheless, this characteristic is enabled by routinely cropping the footage, and it’s solely accessible for movies and is proscribed to 2.7K decision.
- Most decision – The Air 3 can shoot movies as much as 4K at 100 fps and take stills in 12 and 48 MP, making it nice for private or industrial content material creation. It additionally helps 10-bit D-Log M and HLG, supplying you with a lot room for enhancing.
✅ Professionals
- Twin digicam system with versatile taking pictures choices
- 360-degree impediment avoidance for enhanced security
- Longer flight time in comparison with older fashions
- Improved and upgraded flight modes
- Longer vary with OcuSync 4.0 transmission
- Vertical taking pictures for social media content material
- Excessive-resolution video capabilities and a number of nonetheless picture choices
- Assist for superior shade grading
❌ Cons
- Some customers could discover the Quad Bayer know-how for stills difficult to make use of
- Requires further equipment like ND filters for optimum flexibility in sure conditions as a consequence of mounted aperture
» MORE: DJI Air 3 Evaluation – Is This the Drone for You?
DJI Mavic 2 Professional overview
DJI Mavic 2 Professional with Sensible Controller
Drone Quadcopter UAV with Sensible Controller with Hasselblad Digicam 3-Axis Gimbal HDR 4K Video Adjustable Aperture 20MP 1″ CMOS Sensor, as much as 48mph, Grey
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09/26/2023 01:31 pm GMT
Launched in August 2018, the DJI Mavic 2 Professional is 5 years older than the Air 3.
Nevertheless, it got here with a variety of options that made it the very best moveable drone on the time, and it’s nonetheless used for pictures, videography, and photogrammetry for surveying tasks.
These options embody:
- One-inch sensor – One characteristic that makes the Mavic 2 Professional nonetheless stand out over time is the 1-inch sensor co-engineered by Hasselblad, a Swedish firm that DJI now owns. Hasselblad sensors are recognized within the drone business for his or her superior picture high quality. The Mavic 2 Professional can take 20 MP stills with this sensor and shoot as much as 4K at 30 fps.
- First rate flight time – The Mavic 2 Professional comes with a 31-minute flight time, which is lengthy sufficient to document footage or acquire photos for photogrammetry. With a number of batteries, you’ll not have to fret about flight time.
- Variable aperture – The Mavic 2 Professional is without doubt one of the few DJI drones with an adjustable aperture starting from f2.8 to f11. When you can at all times get ND filters for some photographs, an adjustable aperture offers you extra flexibility in adjusting the quantity of sunshine that will get to the lens.
- Coloration profiles – The Mavic 2 Professional helps HLG and D-Log M, providing better shade depth.
- OcuSync 2.0 – This drone options OcuSync 2.0, which permits a variety of as much as 6 miles, lengthy sufficient for many duties.
- Enhanced Clever Flight Modes – It consists of a wide range of Clever Flight Modes, comparable to ActiveTrack 2.0 for topic monitoring, Hyperlapse for creating time-lapse movies, and Waypoints 2.0 for exact flight path planning.
- Two taking pictures angles – This drone additionally comes with two angles: a wide-angle view equal to a 24MM lens and an HQ (high-quality) angle equal to 40mm. The power to change between these two angles on the Mavic 2 Professional opens up a world of inventive alternatives for photographers and videographers.
- Impediment avoidance – This drone has 360-degree impediment sensors. Nevertheless, the entrance, again, upward, and downward sensors are lively for regular or guide flight, whereas the facet sensors are solely lively throughout ActiveTrack and Tripod modes.
✅ Professionals
- Excessive-quality 1-inch sensor co-engineered by Hasselblad for glorious picture high quality
- First rate flight time appropriate for varied purposes
- Adjustable aperture for exact management over publicity
- Assist for superior shade profiles
- Two taking pictures angles for inventive flexibility
- Efficient impediment avoidance for regular and guide flight
❌ Cons
- Heavier than the DJI Air 3, doubtlessly requiring extra regulatory compliance
- Restricted availability as a consequence of being changed by newer fashions
- There is no such thing as a assist for the newest DJI controllers, making it much less ergonomic for some customers
- Restricted to 4K at 30 fps for video recording, much less appropriate for high-speed or slow-motion photographs
» MORE: DJI Mavic 2 Professional Evaluation
DJI Air 3 vs. DJI Mavic 2 Professional – The comparability
Beneath is an in depth comparability of how these drones carry out in varied facets.
» MORE: DJI Air 3 vs. Mini 3 Professional (Right here’s My Selection)
Weight and design
Whereas these drones are 5 years aside, they give the impression of being comparable.
The Mavic Air 2 Professional got here at a time when DJI was transferring away from cumbersome drones just like the Phantoms to extra moveable and foldable drones, and so they have used this design even of their most up-to-date releases just like the Air 3 or the Mavic 3 Professional.
The Mavic 2 Professional is heavier, weighing 907 grams in comparison with the Air 3’s 720 grams.
As such, each drones will want registration with the FAA, and in case you are within the UK, the Air 3 falls beneath the C1 class, whereas the Mavic 2 Professional falls beneath the C2 class.
This implies flying the Air 3 in most locations will likely be simpler than the Mavic 2 Professional.
» MORE: Finest 4K Drones Underneath 250 Grams
Worth and availability
The Mavic 2 Professional is not in manufacturing and has since been changed by the Mavic 3 drones.
In consequence, it’s potential to get it for lower than $1,000 with one battery, as much as $1,200 for the Fly Extra Combo, and as much as $1,599 with the Sensible Controller.
When it was first launched, the Mavic 2 Professional retailed between $1,300 and $1,500 for the drone and one battery and as much as $1,700 for the Fly Extra Combo.
The DJI Air 3 begins at $1,099 for the usual bundle with the DJI RC-N2 controller, $1,349 with the DJI RC 2 controller, and $1,549 for the Fly Extra Combo, together with the DJI RC 2 controller.
For the reason that Air 3 is a latest launch, getting it on most platforms is simple. You might have to purchase the Mavic 2 Professional from resellers, which can not at all times be mint high quality.
Except you get a substantial low cost on the Mavic 2 Professional, there’s a slight distinction between these drones’ costs, with the Mavic 2 Professional typically costly for those who go for a brand new one.
» MORE: Finest and Most cost-effective Drones with Digicam
Images and video recording
Beneath are the principle variations between these two drones’ cameras.
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Sensor measurement
Whereas the Mavic 2 Professional was launched virtually 5 years in the past, its digicam options are in some respects superior to the Air 3.
The Mavic 2 Professional contains a bigger sensor, which, on paper, is meant to carry out higher in low-light circumstances.
However due to the developments in imaging know-how, the sensor measurement shouldn’t be a deal breaker because it’s now potential to get glorious footage from a smaller sensor.
Variable aperture
One space that the Mavic 2 Professional is palms down the higher drone is the variable aperture, which supplies you an in depth vary to work with.
The Air 3 tries to compensate for this with two cameras, every with totally different apertures, nevertheless it solely offers you two choices of aperture. To get extra flexibility, you’ll want to make use of ND filters.
» MORE: Finest DJI Options – What Drones Are Higher Than DJI?
Twin digicam system
Talking of two cameras, the Air 3 affords a handy strategy to take the identical shot from two views, so you possibly can select one throughout enhancing or mix them.
Nevertheless, whereas the Mavic 2 Professional doesn’t have two cameras, it has two views you possibly can swap between. One is the 24MM broad angle, and the opposite is the 40MM HQ view.
You possibly can obtain virtually the identical flexibility as you’ll from a dual-camera system.
Most decision
Then again, the Air 3 can movie at 4K at 100fps, which works nice while you want high-resolution slow-motion movies.
The Mavic 2 Professional stops at 4K at 30fps, which is sufficient for many photographs, however for sluggish movement, you’ll have to shoot at 2.7K.
Each drones additionally assist D-Log M and HLG, so you’ll have many shade choices to mess around with, no matter your chosen drone.
How about nonetheless imagery? You will get 20 MP stills from the Mavic 2 Professional, which is nice sufficient. The Air 3 permits you to take 12 and 48-MP stills.
Nevertheless, the 48 MP high quality of the Air 3 is enabled by Quad Bayer know-how.
Meaning it’s primarily a 12-MP sensor, however the pixel clustering makes it potential to attain 48 MP.
Some customers have points with the Quad Bayer-enabled decision, claiming it has noise or unpredictable outcomes.
DJI has been refining this characteristic, so you could get higher outcomes with the Air 3, however you might have to do this manually and examine it with a real 20-MP digicam from the Mavic 2 Professional.
» MORE: Finest 4k Video Drones Underneath $500
Vertical taking pictures mode
The vertical taking pictures mode is a wonderful addition for content material creators who wish to shoot and publish content material with out a lot cropping.
It solely seems within the Air 3, the place the digicam is designed to routinely crop the footage to a decrease decision (2.7K).
However for those who’ve obtained the time, you need to use both of those drones and manually crop it.
Flight options
So, which of those two drones offers you a greater flying expertise and peace of thoughts when flying? Let’s discover out.
- Impediment avoidance – Each drones characteristic impediment avoidance, however the Air 3 has the higher hand. For starters, it options 360-degree impediment avoidance, which is completely lively. This characteristic can also be extra superior, providing a smoother flight when utilizing clever modes. As talked about earlier, 360-degree impediment sensing is simply lively in ActiveTrack and Tripod modes, so it’s essential to at all times watch out in guide flight.
- Wind resistance – Each drones are good at dealing with robust winds. The Air 3 is marketed to deal with winds of as much as 26 MPH, and a check of this drone in opposition to a leaf blower confirmed the Air 3 held its place effectively. The Mavic 2 Professional can deal with wind gusts of as much as 40 MPH, nevertheless it has to change off the sensors to attain a high pace and preserve alerting the excessive wind pace.
- Flight time – The Air 3 contains a extra superior battery that provides a flight time of 40 to 46 minutes, which is kind of lengthy. The Mavic 2 Professional is from an older technology of drones that maxed at half-hour of flight time, which is probably not so long as the Air 3, nevertheless it was sufficient then and continues to be sufficient now for many actions. There may be at all times the choice of getting extra batteries.
» MORE: How Does Climate Have an effect on Drones? (Defined for Newcomers)
Clever Flight Modes
As evident in latest drone releases, DJI has been engaged on its flight modes. The Air 3 and the Mavic 2 Professional characteristic standard Clever Flight Modes like ActiveTrack, QuickShots, and Hyperlapses.
Nevertheless, the Air 3 options the newest variations which can be improved in comparison with the older ones within the Mavic 2 Professional.
Beneath are the variations between these two drones when trying on the Clever Flight Modes.
ActiveTrack
The Air 3 options the newest ActiveTrack 5.0 in comparison with the Mavic 2 Professional’s ActiveTrack 2.0. That’s a distinction of three generations.
As anticipated, ActiveTrack 5.0 offers a extra fluid flight expertise, smoother video, and eight totally different instructions to trace the topic.
ActiveTrack 2.0 was good when launched, however you might be restricted in monitoring the topic in three alternative ways. The Level of Curiosity and Highlight options are additionally upgraded.
» MORE: Observe Me and ActiveTrack on DJI Drones (Defined for Newcomers)
Cruise management
Cruise management is a characteristic that first appeared on the Air drones however has been round because the Mavic 3 drones.
This characteristic permits the drone to maintain flying at a continuing pace as you utilize the gimbal and works nice for some photographs or when you should get to a selected location.
Whereas it sounds new, this characteristic is offered within the Mavic 2 Professional however beneath a distinct title: TapFly.
With TapFly, you possibly can let the drone fly at a continuing pace ahead, in reverse, or swap to Free, the place you might have extra management over the drone.
Evening mode
This characteristic is designed to make it simpler to take night time pictures by routinely adjusting the ISO and noise.
The Mavic 2 Professional festivals effectively for nighttime cinematography due to the bigger sensor that lets extra gentle in and the HyperLight characteristic, an replace that works equally to the Evening Mode within the Air 3.
This video exhibits a comparability between the Air 3 and the Mavic 3 for night time photographs, whereas this video exhibits a comparability between the Mavic 2 Professional and the Mavic 3.
Whereas there are some variations, these comparisons present that the Mavic 2 Professional and the Air 3 are ok when taking pictures nighttime footage for social media content material or some other sort of content material.
» MORE: Drone Evening Flight: Easy methods to Safely and Legally Fly a Drone at Evening
Waypoints
Each drones have the Waypoints characteristic that allows you to preplan the flight, telling the drone what to do at every level.
That is the primary time Waypoints appeared on an Air drone, as most individuals have needed to depend on apps like Litchi when utilizing drones just like the Air 2S, however the Mavic 2 Professional has had this characteristic for some time.
Waypoints turn out to be useful when you should replicate a sure shot at totally different occasions or movie your self partaking in your favourite exercise with out having to maintain trying on the controller.
Since each drones have this characteristic, it’s a matter of which footage you want most from the 2.
» MORE: DJI Waypoints (Defined for Newcomers)
Vary and transmission
Once more, the distinction in when these drones have been launched exhibits within the vary you may get.
The Mavic 2 Professional comes with the OcuSync 2.0, which affords a variety of as much as six miles, whereas the Air 3 comes with the newest OcuSync 4.0, which guarantees a variety of as much as 12 miles.
The Air 3 has the higher hand right here.
The brand new OcuSync system has extra antennas, performs higher in areas with interference, and transmits a higher-quality dwell feed than the Mavic 2 Professional.
It exhibits how DJI’s transmission system has modified over time.
I just lately needed to fly the Mavic 2 Professional for a long-range flight after certainly one of our enterprise drones was broken.
I stored dropping the sign for flights longer than two kilometers, which was fairly irritating, having gotten used to stronger transmissions.
You would need to fly very far to expertise such with the Air 3, and even for short-range flights, the Air 3 will likely be manner higher.
» MORE: Lengthy Vary Drones: Final Information
Controller design and compatibility
Controller ergonomics is one more reason to decide on one drone over the opposite. The Mavic 2 Professional contains a totally different controller from what you might have seen within the drones launched just lately.
It’s smaller, and the smartphone goes on the backside, not the highest.
In comparison with the RC-N1 that comes with the Air 2S, Mini, and Mavic 3 drones, the Mavic 2 Professional’s controller is kind of uncomfortable.
Fortunately, you don’t have to make use of it for the drones launched after the Mavic 2 Professional.
DJI later made the Mavic 2 Professional appropriate with the Sensible Controller that got here with a built-in display and was extra snug to make use of.
Nevertheless, this Sensible Controller has since been changed by the DJI RC and the DJI RC 2, and the Mavic 2 Professional is incompatible.
Then again, the Air 3 comes with the RC-N2, an improve from the RC-N1, and the DJI RC 2, an improve from the DJI RC.
Should you don’t thoughts utilizing your smartphone because the display, you possibly can go for the RC-N2, however if you wish to eradicate the effort of connecting your smartphone each time you wish to fly, the DJI RC 2 is a more sensible choice.
Sadly, these new controllers usually are not appropriate with some other drone but, however they may work with future drones which will include the O4 system.
In addition to trying on the ergonomics, it will likely be a query of whether or not to go together with outdated or the newest controllers.
» MORE: Finest Drone Controllers
DJI Air 3 vs. the DJI Mavic 2 Professional – Which must you select?
Each drones are severe contenders. Regardless of the massive generational hole, each outcomes usually are not considerably totally different.
I’ve come throughout individuals who have upgraded to the newest drone fashions, and I additionally know {of professional} photographers and videographers who is not going to let go of their Mavic 2 Professional.
Both of those drones is best for you, relying in your wishes.
» MORE: DJI Air 3 vs. Air 2S vs. Mini 3 Professional: Which One is Proper for You?
Why select the DJI Air 3?
The Air 3 is a standout selection for many who worth cutting-edge know-how and the newest improvements in drone know-how.
With its twin digicam system, prolonged flight time, enhanced impediment avoidance, and clever modes, it’s clear that DJI has pushed the boundaries of what a client drone can do.
Should you’re a content material creator seeking to seize dynamic photographs from a number of angles in a single take, the twin digicam system of the Air 3 offers unmatched flexibility.
The 360-degree impediment avoidance and superior APAS system supply peace of thoughts throughout flights, even in complicated environments.
The longer flight time and prolonged vary make it a flexible instrument for varied purposes, from cinematography to surveying.
Moreover, the Air 3’s assist for high-resolution video (4K at 100 fps), a number of nonetheless picture choices (12 MP and 48 MP), and superior shade profiles (10-bit D-Log M and HLG) make it a powerful contender for these searching for the very best high quality content material creation.
» MORE: DJI Air 3 Newcomers Information (Step-by-Step Information)
Why select the Mavic 2 Professional?
Regardless of being an older mannequin, the Mavic 2 Professional nonetheless shines in sure facets, making it a compelling selection.
Its superior Hasselblad digicam with a 1-inch sensor and adjustable aperture affords distinctive picture high quality, particularly in low-light circumstances.
The confirmed reliability of the Mavic 2 Professional and its in depth clever modes make it a superb instrument for skilled photographers and videographers.
Should you prioritize picture high quality above all else and require the pliability of adjusting the aperture for various lighting conditions, the Mavic 2 Professional stays a high contender.
Its dependable efficiency, high quality shade profiles, and impediment avoidance system guarantee a protected and productive flying expertise.
Nevertheless, keep in mind that the Mavic 3 sequence drones have changed the Mavic 2 Professional, and it’s not in manufacturing.
Should you appreciated the Air 3 however the smaller sensor or lack of variable aperture is a deal breaker to you, take into account trying out the Mavic 3 Traditional, which has an excellent larger sensor and all of the options you get within the Air 3 apart from the vertical taking pictures mode, however you additionally get to shoot in 5.1K.
» MORE: Finest Digicam Drones Underneath $2,000
DJI Air 3 vs. Mavic 2 Professional – My selection
Whereas the Mavic 2 Professional holds its floor in a number of facets, I’d not go for it. The app it makes use of, the controllers, and a few options have been upgraded.
I like to recommend the Air 3 because it affords extra superior options like upgraded clever modes, longer flight time, and total higher efficiency.
» MORE: DJI Air 3 vs. Air 2S (Right here’s My Selection)
Finest SD playing cards for these drones
Upon getting settled on the drone that may fit your wants, beneath are some appropriate SD playing cards you possibly can order to begin taking pictures footage as quickly as your drone arrives.
Finest SD playing cards for the DJI Air 3
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Finest SD playing cards for the DJI Mavic 2 Professional
TIP: The Mavic 2 Professional has a most SD card measurement of 128 GB, whereas drones just like the Air 3 have a most SD card measurement of 256 GB. Bear that in thoughts when buying. Getting two SD playing cards can also be advisable to make sure you don’t at all times lose all of your footage if one thing occurs to your drone.
» MORE: Easy methods to Format SD Playing cards in DJI Drones (Fast Steps with Pictures)