Why the DJI Air 2s is the best photography drone

The DJI Air 2s is the best photography drone for a number of reasons. It has a 1-inch sensor, can shoot 4K video at 60fps, and has a flight time of 31 minutes. But what really sets it apart from other drones is how much quality you get for the price. While a Mavic 3 pro is going to produce better shots in the right hands, they won't be that much better than this superstar masquerading as a mid range flyer.

Air 2s photo quality

The DJI Air 2s is a high-quality photography drone that takes stunning pictures. It is equipped with a 20 MP camera that has a 1-inch sensor and an f/2.8 aperture, which makes it great for capturing 12.6 stops of dynamic range in photos in low light conditions.

HDR Example

While high dynamic range photos aren't to everyones tastes, the ability to capture them gives a huge amount of creative freedom to photography enthusiasts and professionals. In the example below from the Rock of Cashel in Ireland, it is clear how much detail is retained in the shadows and highlights. Admittedly this is lighting is too much for our eyes but we want to show our readers what this drone can do.

Rock-of-Cashel-HDR-Air-2s

Raw Example

The ability to shoot raw is everything. The Air 2s shoots .dng files and we absolutely love it. The example below has been lightly edited in Adobe Lightroom and gives a great example of how much dynamic range is captured in one still. This shot also highlights that this camera sensor is so good, stacking HDR shots isn't actually needed.

Rock-of-Cashel-Air-2s-raw

Jpeg Example

Out of camera jpegs are surprisingly high quality. We always shoot raw but wanted to give our readers an example of what you will get straight out of the camera sensor.

Air-2s-raw-Killiney-Hill

Panorama Example

The Air 2s has all sorts of built in features to help you snap the perfect moment. This panorama image of sunset over Lough Key in Ireland highlights the low light capabilities of the Air 2s.

Air-2s-pano

Air 2s video quality

The Air 2S captures incredible videos with its 5.4k camera. The 1-inch sensor produces stunningly detailed images with great dynamic range and low noise and records video at up to 5.4k resolution and 30 fps, or 4k resolution at 60 fps.

The gimbal is very stable and does a great job of keeping the camera level, even when the drone is moving around in high winds. This makes it easy to get smooth, steady footage. The Air 2S also has some great shooting modes like master shots that make it easy to get the perfect shot. These include ActiveTrack 2.0, QuickShot, TapFly 3.0, and Point of Interest 3.0. We use point of interest quite a lot for areas in the landscape we want to lock on to. One drawback is that dji master shots can't be filmed in 4k, which is disappointing.

4K Video Example

One lesson learned is to judge distance and battery time well when shooting footage. In the video below the drone was battling the winds of the wild atlantic way and the dji air 2s max speed of 42kmph was needed in sport mode to get my bird safely home before the battery ran out.

Why the Air 2s is the best drone for photography

The Air 2s from DJI is the best drone for photography for a number of reasons.

First, it has a great camera. The 1-inch sensor is amazing.
Second, it is very easy to fly. It has obstacle avoidance sensors and can automatically land itself if needed.
Third, the Air 2s comes with a bunch of great features for photographers. It has intelligent flight modes that make it easy to get great shots, and it also has a panorama mode that lets you stitch together multiple photos into one large image.
Fourth, it is very portable. It fold up into a small package that is easy to carry with you.
Finally, it is very affordable. The price to performance ratio is unmatched in the market.

Overall, the DJI Air 2s is an excellent photography drone that takes stunning pictures and videos. It is packed with features that make it safe and easy to fly, and it has a long flight time so you can get great frames and footage. If you are looking for the best drone for photography, the DJI Air 2s is the obvious choice. It has everything you need, at an excellent price!

Where to buy the Air 2s

The Air 2s can be bought directly from DJI for €1029 or £899, or Amazons DJI site for $894. An unpopular opinion but we actually recommend not getting the fly more combo and picking up some polarised nd filters and a car charging kit to keep you going when moving between locations.

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What about the DJI Air 3

The Air 3 is the latest in DJI's lineup of prosumer drones. The DJI Air 2s and Air 3 are both excellent drones, and newer doesn't always mean better. The Air 3 has a dual-camera system, which gives it more versatility for different types of photography and videography, but the zoom lens doesn't really offer real world value in terms of quality images. The Air 2s has a larger 1-inch CMOS sensor, which gives it better image quality in low light, and ultimately it still reigns supreme in my heart as the camera drone of choice.

The DJI Controller

This is the product I didn't know I needed until I got it. The DJI RC controller is the perfect companion for the DJI Air 2S, providing a crystal-clear view of your drone's live feed and unparalleled control during your flights. The controller features a stunning 5.5-inch OLED screen, providing a bright, high-resolution display that ensures you can see every detail of your drone's live feed, even in challenging lighting conditions.

With a transmission range of up to 12 kilometers, the DJI RC controller allows you to fly your DJI Air 2S with confidence, giving you the freedom to explore and capture stunning aerial footage from breathtaking distances. In personal experience, the signal has remained strong and clear through forest cover, mountains, and over lakes.

There is no comparison between the experience of the DJI controller and your smart phone. With the controller, I can get my drone in the air quickly, and trust that I will have a strong signal with buttery smooth control in the air. With my phone, I found myself constantly scrambling and frustrated. Excellent deals can be found on Amazon. While we may earn a small affiliate commission from purchases through the previous link, we actually recommend buying second hand as that's where the real deals are.

Why the DJI Air 2s is the best photography drone