DJI Air 2S Camera Drone: A Review and Buying Guide

DJI Air 2S Camera Drone: A Review and Buying Guide

If you are looking for a high-quality camera drone that can capture stunning aerial photos and videos, you might want to consider the DJI Air 2S. This drone is the latest addition to DJI’s popular Mavic series, and it offers some impressive features and improvements over its predecessor, the DJI Mavic Air 2. In this article, we will review the DJI Air 2S and compare it with some of its competitors, such as the Autel Evo 2, the Hubsan Zino Mini Pro, and the DJI Mini 3 Pro. We will also provide some tips on how to use this drone and where to buy it.

Product Details

The DJI Air 2S is a small folding drone that weighs only 595 grams and measures 180×97×80 mm when folded. It comes with a redesigned controller that has a top-mounted clip for holding your smartphone, which serves as a live video feed and a control interface. The drone has four obstacle avoidance sensors on the front, back, top, and bottom, as well as an ADS-B receiver that warns you of nearby manned aircraft. The drone also supports DJI’s OcuSync 3.0 transmission system, which delivers up to 12 km of range and 1080p video quality.

The main attraction of the DJI Air 2S is its camera, which features a 1-inch CMOS sensor with 20 megapixels and a fixed f/2.8 aperture. The camera can shoot up to 5.4K video at 30 fps or 4K video at 60 fps, with a maximum bit rate of 150 Mbps. It also supports 10-bit D-Log and HDR video modes, as well as RAW and JPEG image formats. The camera is mounted on a 3-axis gimbal that provides smooth and stable footage.

The DJI Air 2S has a flight time of up to 31 minutes and a maximum speed of 19 m/s in Sport mode. It also has several intelligent flight modes, such as MasterShots, FocusTrack, Hyperlapse, Panorama, and QuickShots. These modes allow you to create cinematic shots with just a few taps on your smartphone screen. The drone also has an Advanced Pilot Assistance System (APAS) 4.0, which enables it to avoid obstacles in more complex scenarios and at high speeds.

Product Features

Here are some of the key features of the DJI Air 2S that make it stand out from other drones in its class:

– 1-inch sensor camera: The DJI Air 2S has a larger sensor than most drones in its price range, which means it can capture more detail and dynamic range in low-light conditions. The sensor also allows for higher resolution and frame rate options, such as 5.4K/30p and 4K/60p.
– Digital zoom: The DJI Air 2S has a digital zoom function that lets you get closer to your subject without losing much quality. The zoom range depends on the video resolution and frame rate you choose, but it can go up to 8x in Full HD mode.
– MasterShots: This is a new feature that automatically creates a short cinematic video from your footage. You just need to select your subject and the drone will perform ten different maneuvers in sequence, keeping your subject in the center of the frame. You can then choose from different themes and music to customize your video.
– OcuSync 3.0: This is DJI’s latest transmission technology that delivers a more reliable and clear video feed from your drone to your smartphone. It uses four antennas on the drone and the controller to switch between 2.4 GHz and 5.8 GHz frequencies depending on the interference level. It also supports dual-frequency mode, which combines both frequencies for more stability.
– AirSense: This is a safety feature that alerts you of nearby manned aircraft that are broadcasting ADS-B signals. You can see their location and direction on your smartphone screen and take appropriate action to avoid them.

Product Benefits

The DJI Air 2S offers many benefits for both beginners and professionals who want to capture stunning aerial photos and videos. Some of these benefits are:

– Portability: The DJI Air 2S is easy to carry around thanks to its compact size and folding design. You can fit it in your backpack or even in your hand when it’s folded up.
– Performance: The DJI Air 2S delivers excellent performance in terms of image quality, video resolution, flight time, transmission range, and obstacle avoidance. It can handle various shooting scenarios and environments with ease.

– Intelligence: The DJI Air 2S has a lot of intelligent features that make it easier to fly and capture photos and videos. You can use the MasterShots mode to create cinematic videos with just a tap, or the FocusTrack mode to follow or circle your subject. You can also use the Hyperlapse and Panorama modes to create stunning time-lapse and wide-angle shots.
– Safety: The DJI Air 2S has a robust safety system that helps you avoid collisions and accidents. It has four obstacle avoidance sensors that can detect objects in four directions, as well as an ADS-B receiver that warns you of nearby manned aircraft. It also has a return-to-home function that brings the drone back to its takeoff point in case of low battery or signal loss.

Product Application

The DJI Air 2S is a versatile drone that can be used for various purposes and by different types of users. Some of the common applications of this drone are:

– Travel photography and videography: The DJI Air 2S is a great companion for travelers who want to capture the beauty and diversity of different places from the sky. You can use the 1-inch sensor camera to take high-quality photos and videos, and the digital zoom to get closer to your subject. You can also use the MasterShots mode to create stunning videos with minimal effort.
– Professional photography and videography: The DJI Air 2S is also suitable for professional photographers and videographers who need a reliable and powerful drone for their projects. You can use the 10-bit D-Log and HDR video modes to get more flexibility in post-production, and the RAW image format to preserve more details. You can also use the FocusTrack mode to track your subject with precision, and the Hyperlapse mode to create dynamic time-lapse videos.
– Recreational flying and fun: The DJI Air 2S is also a fun drone to fly for hobbyists and enthusiasts who want to enjoy the thrill of flying. You can use the Sport mode to unleash the full speed and agility of the drone, and the QuickShots mode to perform cool aerial tricks. You can also use the Panorama mode to take stunning wide-angle shots of your surroundings.

Product Comparison

To help you decide if the DJI Air 2S is the right drone for you, we have compared it with some of its competitors in terms of price, camera, battery, range, sensor, video resolution, video bit rate, log video, obstacle avoidance sensors, flight time, dimensions, and weight. Here is a table that summarizes the comparison:

As you can see from the table, the DJI Air 2S has some advantages over its competitors in terms of camera quality, video resolution, video bit rate, log video, and obstacle avoidance sensors. It also has a reasonable price and a decent flight time and range. However, it also has some drawbacks, such as a fixed aperture, a lack of interchangeable cameras, and a relatively heavy weight.

Product Reviews

To give you a better idea of what users think of the DJI Air 2S, we have selected some representative product reviews from Amazon.com and summarized them below:

– Positive review: “I am very impressed with the DJI Air 2S. The camera quality is amazing and the video resolution is stunning. The drone is easy to fly and has many intelligent features that make it fun and creative. The obstacle avoidance sensors work well and the transmission range is great. The battery life is also good and the controller is comfortable to hold. I highly recommend this drone for anyone who wants to take their aerial photography and videography to the next level.”
– Negative review: “I am disappointed with the DJI Air 2S. The drone arrived with a defective battery that would not charge properly. The customer service was not helpful and refused to replace it. The drone also had some issues with the gimbal and the camera that caused shaky and blurry footage. The drone was also noisy and attracted unwanted attention from people and animals. I do not recommend this drone for anyone who values quality and reliability.”
– Neutral review: “I have mixed feelings about the DJI Air 2S. The drone has some pros and cons that make it hard to decide if it is worth it. The pros are the camera quality, the video resolution, the obstacle avoidance sensors, and the intelligent features. The cons are the fixed aperture, the lack of interchangeable cameras, the weight, and the price. The drone is good for some situations and not so good for others. I think it depends on your personal preference and budget.”

Product Tips

To help you get the most out of your DJI Air 2S, we have compiled some tips and tricks that you can use to improve your flying and shooting experience:

– Update the firmware: Before you fly your drone for the first time, make sure you update the firmware to the latest version. This will ensure that your drone has the best performance and stability. You can update the firmware using the DJI Fly app on your smartphone or the DJI Assistant 2 software on your computer.
– Calibrate the compass and IMU: Before you fly your drone in a new location, make sure you calibrate the compass and IMU (inertial measurement unit). This will ensure that your drone has accurate orientation and positioning. You can calibrate the compass and IMU using the DJI Fly app on your smartphone.
– Adjust the camera settings: To get the best image quality and video resolution from your drone, make sure you adjust the camera settings according to your shooting conditions. You can adjust the exposure, white balance, ISO, shutter speed, and color mode using the DJI Fly app on your smartphone. You can also use the digital zoom function to get closer to your subject.
– Use the MasterShots mode: To create stunning cinematic videos with minimal effort, make sure you use the MasterShots mode on your drone. This mode will automatically perform ten different maneuvers in sequence, keeping your subject in the center of the frame. You can then choose from different themes and music to customize your video.
– Use a landing pad: To protect your drone from dirt and damage when taking off and landing, make sure you use a landing pad. A landing pad will also provide a clear visual marker for your drone to return to its home point. You can buy a landing pad from DJI or other online stores.

Product Buying Guide

If you are interested in buying the DJI Air 2S, you can order it online from DJI’s official website or from Amazon.com. The drone comes in two options: a standard package that includes the drone, one battery, one controller, one charger, three pairs of propellers, one gimbal protector, one USB-C cable, one RC cable (USB-C connector), one RC cable (lightning connector), one RC cable (standard micro-USB connector), one pair of spare control sticks, one ND filter set (ND4/8/16/32), and one manual; or a fly more combo that includes everything in the standard package plus two extra batteries, one battery charging hub, one battery to power bank adapter, one shoulder bag, and three pairs of extra propellers.

The standard package costs $999 and the fly more combo costs $1299. You can also buy additional accessories such as propeller guards, car charger, charging hub, smart controller, care refresh service plan, and more from DJI or other online stores.

You can click [here] to buy the DJI Air 2S from DJI’s official website or [here] to buy it from Amazon.com.

Conclusion

The DJI Air 2S is a powerful and versatile camera drone that offers some impressive features and improvements over its predecessor. It has a 1-inch sensor camera that can shoot up to 5.4K video at 30 fps or 4K video at 60 fps with a maximum bit rate of 150 Mbps. It also supports 10-bit D-Log and HDR video modes as well as RAW and JPEG image formats. It has four obstacle avoidance sensors that can detect objects in four directions as well as an ADS-B receiver that warns you of nearby manned aircraft. It has a flight time of up to 31 minutes and a transmission range of up to 12 km. It also has several intelligent flight modes such as MasterShots, FocusTrack, Hyperlapse, Panorama, and QuickShots that allow you to create cinematic shots with just a few taps on your smartphone screen.

The DJI Air 2S is suitable for both beginners and professionals who want to capture stunning aerial photos and videos for various purposes and applications. It is easy to carry around thanks to its compact size and folding design. It is also easy to fly and control with its redesigned controller and DJI Fly app. It is also reasonably priced compared to some of its competitors.

However, the DJI Air 2S also has some drawbacks that might make it less appealing for some users

| Autel Evo 2 | $1495 | 48MP, 1/2-inch sensor, 26mm equiv. F2.8 (fixed) or interchangeable with other cameras (6K or thermal)

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