The best all-round DJI Air 3S settings are Pro exposure, ISO 100, 4K in 10-bit D-Log M (H.265), and a shutter about double your frame rate, using the ND8/32/128 filters in daylight. For photos, shoot 50 MP RAW on the 1-inch wide camera at ISO 100 and use AEB (up to 7 frames at 12 MP) for high-contrast scenes.
Best Air 3S video settings
| Setting | Recommendation | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Exposure | Pro | Lock ISO, shutter and white balance |
| Resolution | 4K at 24, 30 or 60 fps | 4K/120 slow motion is available in H.265 |
| Color | D-Log M for grading, Normal for quick edits | 4K is 10-bit in every color mode |
| ISO | 100 | Normal reaches 12800; D-Log M and HLG reach 3200 |
| Shutter | 1/50 (24 fps), 1/60 (30 fps), 1/120 (60 fps) | Use ND filters in sun |
| White balance | Manual, about 5500K in daylight | Keeps clips consistent |
Max bitrate is 130 Mbps. If you grade, apply DJI's official LUT; see Air 3S LUT.
Best Air 3S photo settings
- Resolution: 50 MP on the wide camera (48 MP on the 70 mm tele) for detail. Use 12 MP for low light, faster capture and long exposures of 2.5 to 8 seconds.
- Format: RAW (DNG) plus JPEG.
- ISO: 100. Photo ISO goes to 6400 at 12 MP and 3200 at full resolution.
- AEB: 3, 5 or 7 frames at 12 MP, or 3 or 5 at full resolution, in 0.7 EV steps. Use 5 or 7 frames for sunsets and interiors-to-sky real estate shots.
- Burst and Timed: Burst offers the same frame counts as AEB. Timed shots run every 2 to 60 seconds at 12 MP.
Does the Air 3S have a native ISO?
DJI doesn't publish native ISO values for the Air 3S. In practice, use the lowest ISO the scene allows: ISO 100 in daylight. D-Log M starts at ISO 100 on the Air 3S, so there's no need to raise ISO for log. DJI rates the cameras at up to 14 stops of dynamic range.
Air 3S night settings
The Air 3S has no separate Night video mode. Instead, Normal color video reaches ISO 12800. For dusk and city lights, set 4K at 24 or 30 fps, shutter 1/50 or 1/60, and let ISO rise only as far as needed. Use the 1-inch wide camera, which gathers far more light than the tele. More in Air 3S night mode.
Speed and control settings
- Flight modes: Cine for smooth video, Normal for general flying, Sport for top speed (21 m/s, about 47 mph). Obstacle sensing is off in Sport.
- Gain and Expo Tuning in DJI Fly control settings lets you lower max speed, yaw rate and gimbal tilt speed per mode for gentler moves.
- RTH altitude: default is 100 m. Set it above the tallest obstacle before you fly.
Display aids
Turn on the histogram, overexposure warning and peaking in Settings, Camera. Turn on Anti-Flicker under artificial lights.
To transfer files fast, use QuickTransfer to your phone over Wi-Fi in DJI Fly. For the full spec sheet and pricing, see our Air 3S guide or shop the DJI Air 3S.
Related guides
- Best DJI Air 3 camera settings for photo and video
- DJI Air 3S photo and video quality: what to expect
- Which ND filters for the DJI Air 3S? Settings guide
- 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
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