With the discharge of the DJI Air 3, folks 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?
In the event you crave the newest technological developments, superior flight options, and prolonged capabilities, the DJI Air 3 is the clear alternative. Nonetheless, when you’re an expert prioritizing distinctive picture high quality and reliability, the Mavic 2 Professional continues to carry its floor.
High Drone Programs
Hold studying to study whether or not to get or hold the older mannequin, purchase the newer one, and different options you may also contemplate.
DJI Air 3 overview
As talked about, the Air 3 is the most recent client drone from DJI, and it’s getting fairly in style.
Whereas a few of 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 function 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 energetic in all modes apart from Sport Mode.
- Longer flight time – Whereas most DJI drones are identified for lasting about half-hour, DJI has 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, which 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 spread of as much as 12 miles. That is the most recent DJI transmission system we’ve got not seen in different drones but.
- Vertical capturing – The Air 3 means that you can file movies in portrait mode for social media content material. Nonetheless, this function is enabled by mechanically 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 business content material creation. It additionally helps 10-bit D-Log M and HLG, providing you with a lot room for enhancing.
✅ Professionals
- Twin digicam system with versatile capturing 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 capturing for social media content material
- Excessive-resolution video capabilities and a number of nonetheless picture choices
- Assist for superior colour grading
❌ Cons
- Some customers could discover the Quad Bayer expertise for stills difficult to make use of
- Requires extra equipment like ND filters for max flexibility in sure conditions attributable to fastened 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.
Nonetheless, it got here with a variety of options that made it the most effective 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 function 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 identified 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 file footage or accumulate photos for photogrammetry. With a number of batteries, you’ll not have to fret about flight time.
- Variable aperture – The Mavic 2 Professional is likely one of the few DJI drones with an adjustable aperture starting from f2.8 to f11. Whilst you can at all times get ND filters for some pictures, an adjustable aperture offers you extra flexibility in adjusting the quantity of sunshine that will get to the lens.
- Colour profiles – The Mavic 2 Professional helps HLG and D-Log M, providing better colour depth.
- OcuSync 2.0 – This drone options OcuSync 2.0, which permits a spread of as much as 6 miles, lengthy sufficient for many duties.
- Enhanced Clever Flight Modes – It contains quite a lot of Clever Flight Modes, equivalent to ActiveTrack 2.0 for topic monitoring, Hyperlapse for creating time-lapse movies, and Waypoints 2.0 for exact flight path planning.
- Two capturing 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 flexibility to modify 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. Nonetheless, the entrance, again, upward, and downward sensors are energetic for regular or guide flight, whereas the aspect sensors are solely energetic throughout ActiveTrack and Tripod modes.
✅ Professionals
- Excessive-quality 1-inch sensor co-engineered by Hasselblad for wonderful picture high quality
- First rate flight time appropriate for varied purposes
- Adjustable aperture for exact management over publicity
- Assist for superior colour profiles
- Two capturing angles for inventive flexibility
- Efficient impediment avoidance for regular and guide flight
❌ Cons
- Heavier than the DJI Air 3, probably requiring extra regulatory compliance
- Restricted availability attributable to being changed by newer fashions
- There isn’t any 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 pictures
» MORE: DJI Mavic 2 Professional Evaluation
DJI Air 3 vs. DJI Mavic 2 Professional – The comparability
Under 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 appear related.
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 can be simpler than the Mavic 2 Professional.
» MORE: Finest 4K Drones Underneath 250 Grams
Worth and availability
The Mavic 2 Professional is now not in manufacturing and has since been changed by the Mavic 3 drones.
Consequently, it’s attainable 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 package deal 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 will 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 usually costly when you go for a brand new one.
» MORE: Finest and Least expensive Drones with Digicam
Pictures and video recording
Under are the primary variations between these two drones’ cameras.
» MORE: Finest Reasonably priced Drones for Pictures
Sensor dimension
Whereas the Mavic 2 Professional was launched nearly 5 years in the past, its digicam options are in some respects superior to the Air 3.
The Mavic 2 Professional encompasses a bigger sensor, which, on paper, is meant to carry out higher in low-light circumstances.
However because of the developments in imaging expertise, the sensor dimension shouldn’t be a deal breaker because it’s now attainable to get wonderful footage from a smaller sensor.
Variable aperture
One space that the Mavic 2 Professional is arms 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 presents a handy solution to take the identical shot from two views, so you possibly can select one throughout enhancing or mix them.
Nonetheless, 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 nearly the identical flexibility as you’d from a dual-camera system.
Most decision
Then again, the Air 3 can movie at 4K at 100fps, which works nice once you want high-resolution slow-motion movies.
The Mavic 2 Professional stops at 4K at 30fps, which is sufficient for many pictures, 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 colour choices to mess around with, no matter your chosen drone.
How about nonetheless imagery? You may get 20 MP stills from the Mavic 2 Professional, which is nice sufficient. The Air 3 means that you can take 12 and 48-MP stills.
Nonetheless, the 48 MP high quality of the Air 3 is enabled by Quad Bayer expertise.
Meaning it’s primarily a 12-MP sensor, however the pixel clustering makes it attainable 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 function, so chances are you’ll get higher outcomes with the Air 3, however you could 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 capturing mode
The vertical capturing mode is a superb addition for content material creators who need to shoot and put up content material with out a lot cropping.
It solely seems within the Air 3, the place the digicam is designed to mechanically crop the footage to a decrease decision (2.7K).
However when you’ve bought the time, you should utilize 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 function impediment avoidance, however the Air 3 has the higher hand. For starters, it options 360-degree impediment avoidance, which is completely energetic. This function can also be extra superior, providing a smoother flight when utilizing clever modes. As talked about earlier, 360-degree impediment sensing is simply energetic in ActiveTrack and Tripod modes, so you should at all times watch out in guide flight.
- Wind resistance – Each drones are good at dealing with sturdy winds. The Air 3 is marketed to deal with winds of as much as 26 MPH, and a check of this drone towards 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 modify off the sensors to attain a prime velocity and hold alerting the excessive wind velocity.
- Flight time – The Air 3 encompasses 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 era 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 Learners)
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 function in style Clever Flight Modes like ActiveTrack, QuickShots, and Hyperlapses.
Nonetheless, the Air 3 options the newest variations which can be improved in comparison with the older ones within the Mavic 2 Professional.
Under are the variations between these two drones when wanting 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: Comply with Me and ActiveTrack on DJI Drones (Defined for Learners)
Cruise management
Cruise management is a function that first appeared on the Air drones however has been round because the Mavic 3 drones.
This function permits the drone to maintain flying at a continuing velocity as you utilize the gimbal and works nice for some pictures or when it’s worthwhile to get to a particular location.
Whereas it sounds new, this function is on the market within the Mavic 2 Professional however beneath a distinct title: TapFly.
With TapFly, you possibly can let the drone fly at a continuing velocity ahead, in reverse, or swap to Free, the place you could have extra management over the drone.
Evening mode
This function is designed to make it simpler to take evening images by mechanically adjusting the ISO and noise.
The Mavic 2 Professional gala’s effectively for nighttime cinematography because of the bigger sensor that lets extra mild in and the HyperLight function, 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 evening pictures, 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 adequate when capturing nighttime footage for social media content material or some other sort of content material.
» MORE: Drone Evening Flight: How you can Safely and Legally Fly a Drone at Evening
Waypoints
Each drones have the Waypoints function that permits 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 function for some time.
Waypoints turn out to be useful when it’s worthwhile to replicate a sure shot at totally different occasions or movie your self participating in your favourite exercise with out having to maintain wanting on the controller.
Since each drones have this function, it’s a matter of which footage you want most from the 2.
» MORE: DJI Waypoints (Defined for Learners)
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 presents a spread of as much as six miles, whereas the Air 3 comes with the newest OcuSync 4.0, which guarantees a spread 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 reside feed than the Mavic 2 Professional.
It exhibits how DJI’s transmission system has modified over time.
I lately needed to fly the Mavic 2 Professional for a long-range flight after one in every of our enterprise drones was broken.
I stored shedding 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 can be means higher.
» MORE: Lengthy Vary Drones: Final Information
Controller design and compatibility
Controller ergonomics is another excuse to decide on one drone over the opposite. The Mavic 2 Professional encompasses a totally different controller from what you could have seen within the drones launched 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 screen and was extra snug to make use of.
Nonetheless, 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.
In the event you don’t thoughts utilizing your smartphone because the display screen, you possibly can go for the RC-N2, however if you wish to eradicate the effort of connecting your smartphone each time you need to fly, the DJI RC 2 is a better option.
Sadly, these new controllers will not be appropriate with some other drone but, however they might work with future drones that will include the O4 system.
Moreover wanting on the ergonomics, it is going to be a query of whether or not to go along 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 critical contenders. Regardless of the large generational hole, each outcomes will not be 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 healthier for you, relying in your needs.
» 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 alternative for many who worth cutting-edge expertise and the newest improvements in drone expertise.
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.
In the event you’re a content material creator seeking to seize dynamic pictures 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 provide 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 colour profiles (10-bit D-Log M and HLG) make it a robust contender for these looking for the very best high quality content material creation.
» MORE: DJI Air 3 Learners 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 alternative.
Its superior Hasselblad digicam with a 1-inch sensor and adjustable aperture presents distinctive picture high quality, particularly in low-light circumstances.
The confirmed reliability of the Mavic 2 Professional and its intensive clever modes make it a superb instrument for skilled photographers and videographers.
In the event you prioritize picture high quality above all else and require the flexibleness of adjusting the aperture for various lighting conditions, the Mavic 2 Professional stays a prime contender.
Its dependable efficiency, high quality colour profiles, and impediment avoidance system guarantee a secure and productive flying expertise.
Nonetheless, keep in mind that the Mavic 3 collection drones have changed the Mavic 2 Professional, and it’s now not in manufacturing.
In the event you appreciated the Air 3 however the smaller sensor or lack of variable aperture is a deal breaker to you, contemplate trying out the Mavic 3 Basic, which has a fair larger sensor and all of the options you get within the Air 3 apart from the vertical capturing 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 alternative
Whereas the Mavic 2 Professional holds its floor in a number of facets, I might 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 presents 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, under are some appropriate SD playing cards you possibly can order to begin capturing footage as quickly as your drone arrives.
Finest SD playing cards for the DJI Air 3
» MORE: Finest SD Playing cards for DJI Air 3
Finest SD playing cards for the DJI Mavic 2 Professional
TIP: The Mavic 2 Professional has a most SD card dimension of 128 GB, whereas drones just like the Air 3 have a most SD card dimension 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: How you can Format SD Playing cards in DJI Drones (Fast Steps with Pictures)
