DJI releases the Air 2S drone with 20-megapixel camera

DJI releases a lightweight drone with new one-inch sensor that was available on larger drones.  The DJI Air 2S is the first drone of its size to capture 20-megapixel still images or video in 5.4K video at 30fps or 4K at 60fps and 150Mbps.  The one-inch sensor is larger than the sensor on the original Mavic Air 2 and offers a larger pixel size of 2.4μm.  

Three new photo modes have been added for DJI Air 2S: HDR(merge several images together), Hyperlight (low-light scenarios) and Scene Recognition (identify several common settings and apply camera adjustments).  The standard photo options like Timed Photo, AEB and Panoramas are still available. 

DJI Air 2S drone has several creative options for Pro-programmed modes.  These creative options include MasterShots, FocusTrack, QuickShots, and HyperLapse.  After the user activates the  MasterShots mode, the drone will autonomously plan a flight path, and user can choose from three different image capture modes, including Proximity, Portrait or Landscape.  For FocusTrack, user need to select the subject by drawing a square around it on the mobile device, then choose from Point of Interest 3.0, an autonomous flight path around the subject.  User can choose the ActiveTrack 4.0 which is a tool that tracks the subject and keeps it in the frame; or Spotlight 2.0, where the drone movement is controlled by the pilot while it locks the subject into the frame.

The drone is using a new digital zoom that supports 4X zoom at 4K 30fps, 6X at 2.7K 30fps, 4X at 2.7K 60fps, 6X at 1080P 60fps and 8X at 1080P 30fps.  DJI Air 2S now has 8GB of internal storage.  Depending on your  preferences for image detail and storage capacity, you have an option to choose to record in H264 or H265.  There are three video color profiles such as Normal (8 bit), D-Log (10 bit) or HLG (10 bit). 

Technical Specs

Sensor: 1” CMOS Effective Pixels: 20 MP; 2.4μm Pixel Size
Lens: FOV: 88°; AF, 35 mm Format Equivalent: 22 mm; Aperture: f/2.8; Shooting Range: 0.6 m to ∞
ISO Range: Video: 100-6400 (Auto); 100-12800 (Manual); 10-Bit Dlog-M Video: 100-1600 (Auto) 100-3200 (Manual)

Photo: 100-6400 (Auto); 100-12800 (Manual)
Still Image Size: 20 MP; 5472×3648 (3:2); 5472×3078 (16:9)
Still Photography Modes
Single shot: 20 MP; Burst shooting: 20 MP (continuous burst); Auto Exposure Bracketing (AEB): 20 MP, 3/5 bracketed frames at 0.7 EV bias; Timed: 20 MP, 2/3/5/7/10/15/20/30/60s; SmartPhoto (including HDR and HyperLight): 20 MP

HDR Panorama:

• Vertical (3×1): 3328×8000 (width×height)
• Wide-angle (3×3): 8000×6144 (width×height)
• 180° (3×7): 8192×3500 (width×height)
• Sphere (3×8+1): 8192×4096 (width×height)
• JPEG/DNG (RAW)

Video Resolution
5.4K: 5472×3078 @ 24/25/30 fps; 4K Ultra HD: 3840×2160 @ 24/25/30/48/50/60 fps; 2.7K: 2688×1512 @ 24/25/30/48/50/60 fps; FHD: 1920×1080 @ 24/25/30/48/50/60/120 fps; MP4/MOV (H.264/MPEG-4 AVC, H.265/HEVC)
Max Video Bitrate: 150 Mbps
Supported File System: FAT32/exFAT; Supports a microSD card with a capacity of up to 256 GB.
Digital Zoom: Zoom recording is not available while recording 10-bit videos and 120fps videos. 4K/30fps: 4x; 2.7K/60fps: 4x; 2.7K/30fps: 6x; 1080p/60fps: 6x; 1080p/30fps: 8x

Takeoff Weight: 595 g
Dimensions Folded: 180×97×77 mm (length×width×height); Unfolded: 183×253×77 mm (length×width×height)
Diagonal Length: 302 mm
Max Ascent Speed: 6 m/s (S Mode); 6 m/s (N Mode)
Max Descent Speed: 6 m/s (S Mode); 6 m/s (N Mode)
Max Service Ceiling Above Sea Level: 5000 m
Max Flight Time (no wind): 31 minutes
Max Hovering Time (no wind): 30 minutes
Max Flight Distance (no wind): 18.5 km
Max Flight Speed (near sea level, no wind): 19 m/s (S Mode); 15 m/s (N Mode); 5 m/s (C Mode)
Max Wind Speed Resistance: 8.5-10.5 m/s
Max Tilt Angle: 35° (S Mode); 25° (N Mode; 35° under heavy winds)
Max Angular Velocity: 250°/s (S Mode); 90°/s (N Mode)
Operating Temperature Range: 0° to 40°C (32° to 104°F) (upward sensors and camera AF will be disabled at -10°C or lower)
Operating Frequency: 2.4 GHz; 5.8 GHz

GNSS: GPS+GLONASS
Compass: Single Compass
IMU: Single IMU
Internal Storage: 8 GB

Capacity: 3500 mAh
Voltage: 11.55 V
Battery Type: LiPo 3S
Weight: 198 g
Charging Temperature Range: 5° to 40°C (41° to 104°F)
Max Charging Power: 38 W

DJI Air 2S is available for purchase today.  The standard combo retails for $999 USD and includes the drone, remote controller, one battery and all the cables and parts needed to get into the air. The Fly More Combo retails for $1299 USD includes everything from the standard combo with the addition of 2 batteries for a total of 3, ND filters, a charging hub and a shoulder bag.