My Favourite Equipment For The DJI Air 3S Drone

When you simply purchased a DJI Air 3S drone, I need to present you a few of my favourite equipment for the Air 3S or just about any of the drones I fly. We’re going to start out with ND Filters. These ND filters are from Freewell, and sure, they did ship these to me to maintain, however I’ve bought a ton of Freewell ND filters prior to now as a result of I actually like them. I like their high quality, and relating to the Air 3 or the Air 3S on this case, they’re one of many few corporations that make them in a break up filter setting. What which means is, as a result of you’ve got a 1.8 aperture on one digicam and a 2.8 aperture on the opposite, you want the ND filters to come back in two completely different strengths. On this one, you may see that the highest filter is a special power than the underside filter. This one is an ND32 for the principle digicam and ND64 on the underside. What that lets you do is ready your correct settings so that you just all the time get the proper gentle, regardless of which digicam you’re utilizing. These are actually well-made, tremendous sturdy, they usually clip on similar to every other filters would or like the unique UV filter that DJI made.

Why ND Filters Are Essential

ND filters are essential since you need to get correct movement blur. I made a complete video about it—it’ll be linked up within the nook right here—however should you don’t get correct movement blur, it’s not going to seem like we count on it to with our eyes. For instance, should you’re doing this, you need to have the ability to see that your fingers or fingers are blurry. It’s not proper now as a result of I’m capturing on a digicam with a very excessive shutter pace because it’s so shiny. Primarily, should you’re shifting quick and also you need the stuff in movement to really feel prefer it’s shifting rapidly with out a stuttery impact, ND filters will repair that for you.

They’ll additionally allow you to get correct publicity or mean you can do long-exposure images if that’s your purpose. As an example, with a correct shutter setting and ISO setting—say ISO 100, the bottom you may go, and a shutter pace of two occasions my body fee, on this case, 1/60—the footage is totally blown out. It’s simply white as a result of I’m in a snowy space with lots of shiny daylight. But when I placed on the 64 and 128 mixture filter, you may see the publicity is totally good, giving us that good movement blur.

Movement Blur Examples and Preferences

Right here’s an instance of some footage with out movement blur, and subsequent to it, you may see footage with movement blur. Each film you’ve ever seen and the way in which we course of imagery—movement blur is the proper method. Now, I’m not saying it’s important to do it that method; you are able to do no matter you need. However to get your footage to look the way in which it ought to and the way in which it might if a skilled drone pilot like me shot it, having movement blur is essential—until you’re doing VFX. If you wish to know extra about that, you’ll need to watch that different video.

Touchdown Pads for Practicality

I hand-launch and hand-takeoff with my drone loads as a result of typically that’s simply probably the most sensible factor. However one accent I take advantage of fairly often after I’m out in soiled areas like this—snow, sand, mud, or something related—is a touchdown pad. Whereas there are some actually low-cost ones on Amazon that type of work, this one by Hoodman is by far one of the best I’ve discovered. It’s heavy sufficient that it received’t be blown away by the drone while you’re taking off and touchdown, which is an actual downside with a budget ones. It’s additionally waterproof, created from some nice materials, and it opens up and folds down actually simply. It’s acquired a inexperienced facet and an orange facet. Hey, actual fast—should you’re having fun with or getting worth out of this video, think about subscribing. I am going out and check and examine tools in probably the most real-world circumstances I can discover right here in Alaska, the place I dwell, and I offer you ideas and tutorials on the way to use it.

Prolonged Sticks for Precision with the DJI Air 3S Drone

One other factor I don’t use on a regular basis however do use loads are these prolonged sticks. All these things might be linked within the description. Generally I simply run with the common DJI sticks, however these prolonged sticks make an enormous distinction. You may see the peak distinction between these two is large. As a result of you’ve got longer journey right here versus shorter journey with the common ones, it offers you extra exact management over what the drone is doing. Particularly should you’re a pinch controller like I’m, it lets you enlarge actions whereas having the drone reply much less, so that you might be extra exact when making an attempt to do actually technical, sophisticated photographs. I discover the longer sticks assist me fairly a bit after I’m centered on flying a drone exactly and properly. Numerous occasions, I simply roll with the common DJI sticks as a result of they’re within the controller and I all the time have them with me. Often, if I’m simply doing one thing like Lively Observe, I’ll take off and use my thumbs to get the drone the place I would like it with out even placing the sticks in. However should you’re going to do something lengthy and exact, these sticks will assist fairly a bit.

Display Protectors for the DJI RC2

Whereas we’re with regards to controllers, should you acquired your Air 3S with the great DJI RC2, which I completely love, I extremely suggest getting a display protector for it. It takes little or no—like dropping one thing on it simply the best method or having one thing fall on it—to crack the display. A good display protector is tremendous cheap on Amazon and can save your controller display if one thing hits it a little bit too arduous or in simply the flawed spot. They’re like 10 bucks, value nearly nothing, and are tremendous price it to ensure your controller display is protected.

Protecting Batteries Heat in Chilly Climate

When you function in chilly areas like I’m right now—the place it’s single digits and fairly chilly, despite the fact that it appears to be like good—you’ve acquired to maintain your drone batteries and controller battery heat. I take advantage of these Zippo electrical hand heaters. They’re rechargeable and have a little bit USB out if you might want to emergency cost one thing. I run them on the bottom setting to maintain batteries and the drone heat whereas I’m mountain climbing or out and about. This retains my batteries heat so after I’m able to fly, each the controller and the drone are heat sufficient to fly with no need to hover for some time to warmth up.

Energy Banks for Further Juice

One other factor I take with me loads to recharge controller batteries or the drone battery are these Anker energy banks. They’ve a few USB-C outs, and I take advantage of these items a ton. There’s a bigger and a smaller model—that is the 20,000 mAh one, and the 27,000 mAh one can also be excellent. Each might be linked within the description. You may recharge a drone battery with this or get a little bit extra battery life out of your drone or controller if you might want to. These go along with me all over the place as a result of they’re tremendous useful, particularly after I’m restricted on what number of batteries or issues I can take with me.

Wrapping Up

Subsequent, you’re going to look at this video proper right here. I’ll see you over there. As all the time, you probably have questions, you may ask me within the feedback beneath or be a part of my livestream, which occurs most Wednesday nights at 4:00 p.m. Alaska time, 8:00 p.m. Jap—at the least after I’m not out in a spot like this and need to hike a bunch of miles to get house. I’ll see you once more quickly within the subsequent one. Cheers!