DJI announces dual-camera, 50MP Air 3S

DJI has officially announced the $1,699 Air 3S, the latest addition to its Air series of drones, with the company pitching the new aerial tool as ideal for travel photography.

The Air 3S features a 1-inch CMOS sensor, capable of capturing 50-megapixel still images and 4K video at 60 frames per second. This is an upgrade from its predecessor, which used a smaller Type 1/1.3 (4.8 x 3.6mm) CMOS sensor.

DJI says this new sensor is designed to improve low-light performance, and it features both a wide and a telephoto lens, which allows for greater flexibility when framing shots. Its cameras can capture up to 14 stops of dynamic range, according to DJI. 

Both cameras can capture video at up to 4K/120p or 4K/60p when shooting HDR. All video can be captured in 10-bit, even in regular color mode, and D-Log M and HLG modes are available.

The Air 3S offers an extended flight time of up to 46 minutes per charge, thanks to a high-capacity battery and refined design. It also has a maximum range of 12 kilometers.

The Air 3S also comes equipped with DJI’s OcuSync 4.0 technology, which the company says ensures stable video transmission even in less-than-ideal environments.

In addition, the Air 3S also includes obstacle sensors that provide 360-degree detection. The Advanced Pilot Assistance System (APAS) 5.0 also allows the drone to navigate around obstacles autonomously.

The DJI Air 3S is available to order from store.dji.com/au and authorised retail partners in the following configurations:

• The DJI Air 3S RC-N3 retails for $1699 AUD and allows pilots to check the live feed and flight status using their smartphone.
• The DJI Air 3S Fly More Combo (DJI RC-N3) retails for $2129 AUD and includes the DJI RC-N3 remote controller, an ND filter set, two additional batteries, a battery charging hub, a shoulder bag, and more.
• The DJI Air 3S Fly More Combo (DJI RC 2) retails for $2429 AUD and includes the DJI RC 2 remote controller with a 5.5-inch 1080p 700-nit high-bright screen, an ND filter set, two additional batteries, a battery charging hub, a shoulder bag, and other accessories.