The DJI Air 3 delivers sharp, clean 4K video and detailed 48 MP photos in good light from two matching 1/1.3-inch cameras: a 24 mm wide and a 70 mm medium tele. It records 4K up to 60 fps (100 fps slow motion), 10-bit D-Log M and HLG at up to 150 Mbps. Its weak spot is low light, where the smaller sensors show noise sooner than 1-inch-sensor drones like the Air 3S.
Video quality
- Resolution: 4K at 24 to 60 fps, plus 4K/100 slow motion in H.265. 1080p goes up to 200 fps.
- Bitrate: up to 150 Mbps, which holds detail in foliage and water better than lower-bitrate drones.
- Color: Normal is 8-bit. D-Log M and HLG are 10-bit, which reduces banding in skies and gives more room for grading.
- Matching cameras: both cameras use the same sensor size and offer the same frame rates and color modes. That makes cutting between wide and tele shots much easier than on drones with mismatched cameras.
- Vertical video: both cameras shoot 2.7K vertical at up to 60 fps for social media. See Air 3 vertical video.
Photo quality
- 48 MP or 12 MP: in bright light, 48 MP captures more fine detail for crops and prints. In dimmer light, 12 MP mode combines pixels for cleaner images and allows ISO up to 6400.
- RAW (DNG): gives the most latitude for recovering skies and shadows.
- AEB: 3 or 5 frames at 0.7 EV steps for HDR merges.
Expect excellent results in daylight and golden hour. For high-contrast scenes such as sunsets, shoot AEB and merge rather than relying on a single exposure.
The 70 mm medium tele
The tele camera is a big part of the Air 3's appeal. Its 35-degree view compresses distance, so mountains look closer to a foreground subject and buildings stack up dramatically. It also lets you film a subject from farther away, which is less intrusive. Its f/2.8 aperture gathers less light than the wide camera's f/1.7, so use the wide camera when light is fading.
Low-light quality
ISO 100 to 800 looks clean. Above about ISO 1600 noise becomes visible, especially in shadows. The Air 3's Night video mode raises the ISO limit to 12800 with stronger noise reduction at up to 30 fps. It helps, but it won't match a larger sensor. See Air 3 night mode.
How to get the best image quality
- Shoot in Pro mode at ISO 100.
- Use ND filters in daylight to keep a natural shutter speed.
- Shoot 10-bit D-Log M and grade with DJI's Air 3 LUT.
- Keep the lens clean. A fingerprint softens every shot.
Air 3 vs Air 3S image quality
The Air 3S swaps the wide camera for a 1-inch, 50 MP sensor, which is cleaner in low light and has more dynamic range. The tele camera is similar on both. If you mostly fly in daylight, the Air 3 is a strong value. If you shoot sunrise, dusk and city lights, the 3S is worth the extra cost. Read Air 3 vs Air 3S or shop the DJI Air 3.
Related guides
- DJI Air 3S photo and video quality: what to expect
- DJI Avata 2 photo and video quality: what to expect
- Best DJI Air 3 camera settings for photo and video
- Best DJI Air 3S camera settings for photo and video
- DJI Air 3 night mode and low-light video: what to expect
- DJI Air 3S night mode and low-light video: what to expect
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