The DJI Air 2S packs impressive features into a lightweight package – it’s a combo that’s convinced me to trade in my trusty Mavic 2 Pro.
I’ve been the happy owner of a DJI Mavic 2 Pro for a couple of years, and during this time I’ve been hugely impressed with its flying performance and camera. I’ve also flown and reviewed almost every consumer DJI drone released in the last few years, but it’s only now that I’m starting to think about upgrading my drone – and that’s all thanks to the arrival of the DJI Air 2S. As a reviewer who frequently handles some of the best new camera gear money can buy, it takes something truly special to catch my eye – otherwise I’d be pretty skint. Most recently it’s been the DJI Air 2S that has caught my attention; a drone weighing 595g and featuring a 20MP 1-inch sensor is a very attractive proposition to an outdoor photographer who often carries both stills cameras and a drone while out shooting. Getting the weight of my kit down is always a challenge, so the Air 2S raises a tantalizing question: should I sell my DJI Mavic 2 Pro (vital stats: 907g and 214×91×84mm folded) and use the cash to buy the brand new Air 2S, which weighs only 595g and folds down to only 180×97×80mm. Sure, the folded size isn’t dramatically different, but that weight saving of 312g (plus smaller and lighter batteries) simply can’t be ignored. And it’s not the only reason I’m looking to sell my Mavic 2 Pro. I’m primarily a stills photographer, so it’s my normal camera kit that takes priority in my bag while out shooting. When I was originally considering which drone to buy in 2018, I wanted something compact and lightweight, and the three best options at the time were the DJI Mavic Air, DJI Mavic 2 Zoom and DJI Mavic 2 Pro. I ended up buying the Mavic 2 Pro for a few simple reasons. Firstly, it’s smaller and lighter than the Phantom series thanks to its foldable design. It also offers a larger 1-inch sensor than the original Mavic Air and Mavic 2 Zoom. And lastly, its adjustable aperture could be used to increase depth-of-field alongside providing the ability to adjust exposure while shooting video on the fly. At the time, the Mavic 2 Pro was also producing the best quality images of all of DJI’s consumer drones. And to be honest, it’s still up there with the best, so I’m positive that buying this drone was indeed the best choice.
