✈️ DJI Air 3S Fly More Combo (RC 2): The New Mid-Range Powerhouse – A Comprehensive Review
The DJI Air series has long held the sweet spot for many drone pilots, balancing portability with pro-level imaging. The DJI Air 3S, particularly in its Fly More Combo with the RC 2 Screen Remote Controller, continues this legacy, introducing significant upgrades that position it as arguably the most capable all-rounder in its class. This detailed review delves into the drone's standout features, performance, and overall value proposition for both enthusiastic hobbyists and working professionals.
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| DJI Air 3S Fly More Combo (RC 2): The New Mid-Range Powerhouse – A Comprehensive Review |
📸 Dual-Camera System: The Star of the Show
The most compelling feature of the Air 3S is its sophisticated dual-camera module, offering unprecedented versatility in a mid-size drone.
The 1-Inch Wide-Angle Camera
The primary camera is equipped with a large 1-inch CMOS sensor, a significant leap in image quality for the Air series. This sensor, paired with a 24mm equivalent lens, is engineered for superior low-light performance and higher dynamic range.
Stunning Detail and Dynamic Range: It captures up to 50MP stills and delivers 4K/60fps HDR video with an impressive 14 stops of dynamic range. This allows for richer detail retention in both the brightest highlights and the deepest shadows, making cinematic shots in challenging lighting (like sunrises or sunsets) remarkably vibrant.
Low-Light Mastery: The larger sensor size and advanced image processing enable cleaner, less noisy footage, even at higher ISO settings (up to 12,800 in normal color mode), pushing the boundaries for night-time aerial photography.
The Medium Tele Camera (3x Optical Zoom)
Complementing the wide-angle is a secondary camera featuring a 1/1.3-inch CMOS sensor and a 70mm equivalent lens, providing a crucial 3x optical zoom.
Creative Framing: This medium telephoto lens is a game-changer for compositional creativity. It allows pilots to capture dramatic, compressed-perspective shots, isolate subjects (like buildings or people) from a distance, or transition seamlessly between wide and zoomed perspectives without losing image quality.
Consistent Footage: Crucially, both cameras support the same video specifications and color modes, including 10-bit D-Log M and HLG, ensuring color consistency in post-production when blending footage from both lenses.
🛡️ Next-Generation Safety and Flight Performance
The Air 3S isn't just an imaging upgrade; it sets a new standard for intelligent and safe flight.
Omnidirectional Obstacle Sensing with LiDAR
Safety is paramount, and the Air 3S features an Omnidirectional Binocular Vision System combined with a Forward-Facing LiDAR sensor.
360-Degree Protection: The system detects obstacles in all directions (forward, backward, lateral, upward, and downward), ensuring a safer flight path, especially in complex environments.
Enhanced Night Sensing: The addition of LiDAR significantly improves the drone’s obstacle avoidance capabilities in low-light conditions, a major advantage over previous generations.
ActiveTrack 360°: The improved tracking feature can follow a subject from any angle while automatically plotting a safe flight path around obstacles.
Extended Flight Time and Transmission
The drone’s endurance has seen a major boost, making those long, complex shots more feasible.
45-Minute Max Flight Time: The extended battery life of up to 45 minutes provides considerably more time for setup, complex manoeuvres, and capturing multiple takes on a single charge.
O4 Video Transmission: Utilizing the new DJI O4 video transmission system, the drone offers a stable, high-definition (1080p/60fps) live feed over a long range (up to 20 km FCC), ensuring responsive control and a clear view even from great distances.
🚀 The Fly More Combo and RC 2 Advantage
The Fly More Combo is the recommended package, transforming the Air 3S from a standard drone into a complete aerial cinematography kit.
Fly More Combo Essentials
This package addresses the critical needs of any serious drone pilot:
Three Intelligent Flight Batteries: Tripling the potential flight time to over two hours (with re-charging), this is essential for long shooting days.
Charging Hub: Allows sequential or parallel charging of the batteries, drastically reducing downtime.
ND Filters: The inclusion of Neutral Density (ND) filters (often ND8, ND32, ND128) is vital for achieving cinematic motion blur by controlling shutter speed in bright conditions.
Shoulder Bag: A custom-designed bag provides a safe, portable way to transport the drone and all its accessories.
DJI RC 2 Screen Remote Controller
The RC 2 is a significant convenience upgrade, eliminating the need to use a smartphone.
Integrated HD Screen: The controller features a bright, high-resolution 5.5-inch display that is highly visible even in direct sunlight.
Quick and Reliable: With the screen built-in, setup is instant—power on the drone and the controller, and you're ready to fly. This dedicated system offers a more stable and reliable connection than using an external phone.
⚖️ Final Verdict: Approaching Perfection
The DJI Air 3S establishes a new benchmark for mid-range consumer drones. By incorporating a highly capable dual-camera system (the 1-inch sensor is a major win), superior omnidirectional obstacle avoidance, and a genuinely extended flight time, it offers a blend of features that were previously exclusive to the more expensive Mavic series.
For the vast majority of content creators and travel photographers, the Air 3S is a near-perfect balance of portability, safety, and professional-grade imaging. While its slightly heavier weight (requiring registration in many regions) and the absence of 5.4K video resolution might be minor drawbacks for some, the overall package—especially the value-packed Fly More Combo with the intuitive RC 2—makes the DJI Air 3S the undisputed king of its category. It's a powerhouse that is easy and safe to fly, yet capable of delivering truly stunning, cinematic results.