DJI Mavic 4 Professional Vs. Air 3S Drone: A Head-to-Head Comparability

You may assume the DJI Mavic 4 Professional outperforms the Air 3S drone in each method, however surprisingly, the Air 3S surpasses the Mavic 4 Professional in just a few key areas, together with features of picture high quality. After testing these drones head-to-head, I found some sudden outcomes. I bought each drones at full worth, and this overview isn’t sponsored.

Picture High quality

Major Digital camera Specs

The Air 3S incorporates a 1-inch sensor with a 24mm discipline of view, able to 4K video at as much as 60 frames per second (fps) in commonplace modes, with slow-motion choices mentioned later. The Mavic 4 Professional, geared up with a bigger 4/3 sensor, helps as much as 6K at 60 fps and has a 28mm discipline of view. Whereas the Mavic 4 Professional’s 6K decision affords better cropping flexibility (as much as 150%), the Air 3S’s wider 24mm discipline of view is a major benefit, particularly in tight areas the place backing up isn’t an possibility. That is one space the place the Air 3S outshines the Mavic 4 Professional.

Colour Profiles and Dynamic Vary

The Mavic 4 Professional can shoot in full D-Go surfing all its cameras, offering a flatter colour profile ideally suited for matching with ground-based cameras. This affords better flexibility in post-production colour grading. With the Creator Combo, you additionally get the All-I possibility, boasting a 1200 Mbps bitrate and 4:2:2 colour sampling. Nonetheless, when evaluating D-Log M to D-Log M, the distinction is minimal. The DJI Mavic 4 Professional’s bigger sensor delivers superior dynamic vary, which is clear in side-by-side comparisons.

Sluggish-Movement Capabilities

Each drones help 4K at 120 fps for slow-motion video. Nonetheless, the Air 3S can shoot 1080p at as much as 240 fps, whereas the Mavic 4 Professional is restricted to 4K at 120 fps or Cinema 4K at 120 fps, with a noticeable crop. For slow-motion fanatics, the Air 3S’s 240 fps functionality is a transparent win, relying in your use case.

Variable Aperture and ISO

The Mavic 4 Professional’s primary digital camera incorporates a variable aperture, permitting on-the-fly changes with out continuously altering ND Filters. It additionally affords 1/3-stop ISO increments, in comparison with the Air 3S’s full-stop increments, offering finer management. The Air 3S has a set aperture, which can require extra guide changes.

Telephoto Cameras

Each drones characteristic a 70mm telephoto digital camera (3x zoom on the Air 3S, 2.5x on the Mavic 4 Professional) with similar sensors and specs, able to 4K at 120 fps. This lens delivers gorgeous, compressed imagery, ideally suited for bringing backgrounds nearer to topics. The Mavic 4 Professional, nonetheless, helps full D-Log (not simply D-LogM), providing barely extra dynamic vary and adaptability for matching different cameras.

Further Digital camera on Mavic 4 Professional

The Mavic 4 Professional features a third 168mm digital camera, enabling distinctive, tight photographs with wonderful monitoring for stationary topics. It helps 4K at as much as 60 fps (or 100 fps in gradual movement) and full D-Log, making it a flexible software for artistic photographs. The Air 3S lacks this characteristic, giving the Mavic 4 Professional a major edge.

Vertical Video

The Mavic 4 Professional excels in vertical video, permitting the gimbal to rotate for full 6K sensor readout or shoot 4K in 9×16 mode with out rotation, sustaining full gimbal movement. The Air 3S, nonetheless, is restricted to 2.7K in 9×16 mode, cropping the edges. Whereas 2.7K is ample for social media, the Mavic 4 Professional affords superior decision and adaptability. DJI could add gimbal rotation to the Air 3S through a Firmware Replace, nevertheless it’s not at present obtainable.

Low-Gentle Efficiency

Testing in low-light circumstances (round 3:00 AM in Alaska), each drones carried out properly, however the Mavic 4 Professional’s bigger sensor offered higher outcomes, particularly at increased ISOs (100 to 12,800). For low-light taking pictures, the Mavic 4 Professional is the clear winner.

Picture High quality

The Mavic 4 Professional’s 4/3 sensor delivers 25-megapixel pictures, with a 100-megapixel mode through its Quad Bayer sensor. Nonetheless, the 25-megapixel mode affords higher dynamic vary, making it preferable for severe pictures. The Air 3S has a 12-megapixel sensor with a 50-megapixel mode, which gives extra element however sacrifices some dynamic vary. Facet-by-side, the Mavic 4 Professional captures considerably extra element, particularly in 25-megapixel mode, making it the higher selection for photographers.

The 70mm cameras on each drones provide 12-megapixel or 48-megapixel modes. Regardless of related specs, the Mavic 4 Professional’s up to date optics ship noticeably sharper and extra detailed pictures.

Write Speeds

The Mavic 4 Professional writes pictures shortly to its inside reminiscence, particularly with the Creator Combo. The Air 3S writes 12-megapixel pictures swiftly however takes longer for 50-megapixel pictures, which might decelerate your workflow.

Focus Monitoring

Each drones characteristic a spotlight monitoring system, akin to steady autofocus, which is especially helpful for tighter focal lengths. The Mavic 4 Professional advantages extra as a result of its bigger sensor, creating noticeable depth-of-field results when near topics, enhancing artistic prospects.

Flight Efficiency

Velocity and Battery Life

The Mavic 4 Professional reaches speeds as much as 60 mph in sport mode (after adjusting settings), whereas the Air 3S additionally hits 60 mph with a slight tailwind. Each have a max ascent and descent velocity of twenty-two mph. The Mavic 4 Professional affords 5–8 minutes extra flight time than the Air 3S, relying on flying circumstances.

Excessive-Wind Stability

In 38 mph winds, each drones carried out impressively, however the bigger, heavier Mavic 4 Professional maintained extra steady footage in comparison with the lighter Air 3S.

Clever Flight Modes

Each drones provide Grasp Photographs, QuickShots, and strong lively monitoring. The Air 3S’s monitoring is extra aggressive, sometimes resulting in much less clean actions, whereas the Mavic 4 Professional is extra refined. Each characteristic wonderful impediment avoidance, with the Mavic 4 Professional’s cameras requiring solely 0.1 lux (vs. 1 lux for the Air 3S), enabling higher efficiency in low-light circumstances. The Mavic 4 Professional additionally tracks barely sooner in lively monitor mode.

Portability

The Air 3S’s smaller dimension and lighter weight make it way more moveable, ideally suited for hikers or these touring in small plane. Within the European Union, its sub-900g weight reduces flight restrictions, a major benefit over the heavier Mavic 4 Professional.

Startup Time

In a cold-start take a look at, the Air 3S acquired GPS barely sooner than the Mavic 4 Professional, although the Mavic locked onto extra satellites for better accuracy. Startup instances have been nearer than anticipated, however the Mavic 4 Professional’s RC Professional 2 controller affords sooner switching between drones and a brighter 7-inch display, enhancing usability.

Noise Ranges

At arm’s size, each drones are comparatively quiet, however the Mavic 4 Professional has a lower-pitched sound that’s much less intrusive and fades sooner because the drone strikes away, in comparison with the higher-pitched Air 3S.

Worth

The Air 3S is roughly half the value of the Mavic 4 Professional throughout all configurations (standalone, Fly Extra, or Creator Combo). For professionals like me, the Mavic 4 Professional’s superior options justify the fee, however the Air 3S affords unbelievable worth for many customers as a result of its portability, responsiveness, and wonderful efficiency.

Conclusion Comparability DJI Mavic 4 Professional vs. Air 3S

The DJI Air 3S is probably going your best option for most individuals, providing portability, ease of use, and powerful efficiency at a cheaper price. Nonetheless, the DJI Mavic 4 Professional’s superior picture high quality, extra digital camera, and superior options make it ideally suited for professionals. Test the affiliate hyperlinks within the description to buy both drone, and watch my Mavic 3 vs. Mavic 4 Professional comparability.

For extra insights, be a part of my livestream each Wednesday at 4:00 PM Alaska Time (8:00 PM Jap) to ask questions.

Cheers!