The best all-round DJI Air 3 settings are Pro (manual) exposure, ISO 100, 4K at 24, 30 or 60 fps in 10-bit D-Log M, and a shutter speed about double your frame rate, with an ND filter in daylight. For photos, shoot 48 MP RAW (DNG) at ISO 100 and use AEB when the sky and ground are far apart in brightness.
Best Air 3 video settings
| Setting | Recommendation | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Exposure mode | Pro | Auto changes exposure mid-shot, which shows as flicker |
| Resolution | 4K | Both cameras record 4K up to 60 fps, or 100 fps slow motion (H.265) |
| Frame rate | 24 or 30 fps for cinematic, 60 fps for action | Match your edit timeline |
| Color | D-Log M (10-bit) or HLG (10-bit) | More room to grade; Normal is 8-bit |
| Codec | H.265 | Required for 10-bit color |
| ISO | 100 | Cleanest image; D-Log M and HLG top out at ISO 1600 |
| Shutter | 1/50 at 24/25 fps, 1/60 at 30 fps, 1/120 at 60 fps | Natural motion blur (the 180-degree rule) |
| White balance | Manual, around 5500K in sun | Prevents color shifts between clips |
The Air 3 records at up to 150 Mbps. Choose D-Log M if you will color grade and apply a LUT (see our Air 3 LUT guide). Choose Normal if you want footage that looks finished straight out of the drone. In bright sun you can't hold 1/50 or 1/60 at ISO 100 without ND filters, so read which ND filters to use on the Air 3.
Best Air 3 photo settings
- Format: RAW (DNG) plus JPEG. RAW keeps the most highlight and shadow detail.
- Resolution: 48 MP for landscapes and prints, 12 MP for better low-light results and smaller files. The 12 MP mode also unlocks simulated long exposure from 2.5 to 8 seconds.
- ISO: 100. The range is 100 to 3200 at 48 MP and 100 to 6400 at 12 MP.
- AEB: 3 or 5 frames at 0.7 EV steps. Merge them later for HDR sunsets and real estate shots.
- Burst and Timed: Burst takes 3, 5 or 7 frames at 12 MP. Timed shots run every 2 to 60 seconds at 12 MP, or 5 to 60 seconds at 48 MP.
Helpful display settings
In DJI Fly, open Settings, then Camera. Turn on the histogram and overexposure warning so you can see clipped highlights on the small screen. Turn on peaking if you use manual focus. Set Anti-Flicker when filming under artificial lights.
Flight settings that improve footage
- Use Cine mode for slow, smooth moves.
- Under Settings, Control, Gain and Expo Tuning lets you lower max speed, yaw smoothness and gimbal tilt speed for gentler camera moves.
- Set the gimbal and yaw speeds low before a reveal shot, then practice the move once before you record.
Air 3 Wi-Fi settings (QuickTransfer)
The Air 3 can send files straight to your phone over Wi-Fi at up to 30 MB/s with QuickTransfer. Turn on Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and location on the phone, open DJI Fly and accept the prompt to connect. You don't need a Wi-Fi password. Full speed needs the 5.8 GHz band; on 2.4 GHz it drops to about 6 MB/s. The DJI RC 2 screen controller doesn't support QuickTransfer, so use your phone.
Is there an Air 3 settings PDF?
Yes. DJI publishes the Air 3 user manual as a PDF on the Air 3 downloads page. It lists every setting and spec in this guide.
For the full specs, price and flight time, see our Air 3 guide, or shop the DJI Air 3.
Related guides
- Best DJI Air 3S camera settings for photo and video
- Best DJI Avata 2 camera settings for photo and video
- Best DJI Flip camera settings for photo and video
- Best DJI Mavic 3 Classic camera settings for photo and video
- Best DJI Mavic 3 Pro camera settings for photo and video
- Best DJI Mavic 4 Pro camera settings for photo and video
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