It was just a year ago that DJI announced its compact-but-capable Mavic Air 2 quadcopter. Now, the company has shortened the name and doubled the image sensor size, with the 5.4K/30fps-capable Air 2S.
Like its predecessor, the DJI Air 2S features propeller arms that can be folded down for transport, front and rear obstacle avoidance sensors, and a variety of intelligent shooting modes.
Whereas the Mavic Air 2 has a half-inch sensor that allows it to shoot 4K/60fps video, however, the Air 2S sports a 1-inch CMOS sensor and a maximum video resolution of 5.4K/30fps. It can still also shoot 4K/60fps, along with 2.7K/60fps and 1080p/120fps slow motion. That said, the Mavic Air 2 offers an even slower 1080p/240fps.
The still photo resolution is also actually down a bit on this model, decreasing to 20 megapixels from the Mavic Air 2's whopping 48. Both stills and video are recorded on 8 GB of internal storage.
The whole thing weighs 595 g (1.3 lb), has a top forward speed of 19 meters per second (62 ft/s), and a stated flight time of 31 minutes per charge of its 3,500-mAh/11.55-volt lithium-polymer battery. By contrast, the Mavic Air 2 manages a marginally better 34 minutes.
As mentioned, the Air 2S can be set to a number of pre-programmed flight/image-capture modes, most of which it shares with the Air 2 and other existing models. New to this drone, however, is a function known as MasterShots.
In this mode – after the user selects the subject on an accompanying app – the quadcopter will autonomously fly around that subject while executing 10 separate maneuvers in sequence, all while keeping the subject centered in the shot. The software will then proceed to put together a short video, combining shots from the different maneuvers.
Users can also opt for modes such as Spotlight 2.0, in which the camera stays centered on the subject as the pilot manually flies the drone; ActiveTrack 4.0, in which the drone autonomously follows the subject while avoiding obstacles; and Point of Interest 3.0, wherein the copter autonomously flies in a circle around the subject while keeping it centered.
The DJI Air 2S is available now, with a package consisting of the drone, its controller and one battery priced at US$999 – the Mavic Air 2 is also still available, for $799. You can check out footage shot with the former, in the video below.
Source: DJI
