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Next up in our “Ask Drone Girl” series is a question about upgrading to a multi-camera drone. If you have a question for Drone Girl, contact her here.
I have a DJI Mini 4 Pro and am considering stepping up to a multi-camera drone for better pictures. There are two- and three-camera drones. Are the three-camera ones that much better than the two-camera ones? It’s a cost versus quality question. I’ve been a photographer since elementary school, so picture quality is key for me—especially for medium-size enlargements. Portability and obstacle sensing are also considerations.
I love the DJI Mini 4 Pro drone! But you’re right. There are better camera drones out there — assuming criteria like price or portability aren’t the most important to you.
A quick primer on multi-camera drones
The DJI Mavic 3 Pro has three cameras. Photo courtesy of DJI.
For the uninitiated who may be reading this, some drones have multiple cameras on the single aerial vehicle. The most well-known of those come from DJI: the DJI Air 3 and newer sibling, the DJI Air 3S, as well as the DJI Mavic 3 Pro.
The DJI Air 3 and Air 3S have two cameras: a wide-angle and medium tele camera. The DJI Mavic 3 Pro, meanwhile, has three cameras: a tele camera, medium tele camera and a Hasselblad camera.
So what’s the point of that? Merely versatility. With multi-camera drones, you’ll usually have a main camera for high-quality stills and video. In the case of the Mavic 3 Pro, that’s the Hasselblad camera (Hasselblad is a Swedish company known for its ultra-high quality digital medium format cameras and lenses. DJI acquired a majority stake in Hasselblad in 2017.)
Zoom cameras: what’s the point?
Generally speaking, that second (or third) camera is a tele camera — aka a zoom camera. Depending on what you need to photography with your drone, a zoom can be completely unnecessary or completely unnecessary.
Let’s start with the latter set of unnecessary uses of a Zoom. In many cases, simply flying your drone closer to the subject is better than zooming in. If you’re trying to photograph someone on the other side of the river, you might use a telephoto lens to clearly see them, as you wouldn’t cross the river. But, a drone could just fly over the river and get close. With a drone, there’s little cost to getting closer in many situations — whereas it might be impossible for someone on foot to getting closer.
That said, there are many situations where zoom is still critical with drones. If a drone can’t fly close to a certain spot, such as if it’s a safety issue, you’ll need zoom. Here are some key use cases involving a multi-camera drone with zoom:
Search and rescue: Zoom cameras allow rescuers to inspect hard-to-reach areas without putting themselves at risk.
Security: Drones with zoom lenses can monitor large areas or zoom in on specific details from a safe distance.
Dynamic shots in cinematography: A zoom lens allows drone operators to achieve cinematic effects like dolly zoom (vertigo effect) without moving the drone itself.
Infrastructure monitoring: Inspecting power lines, cell towers, bridges, and wind turbines may be safer when done from a distance with a zoom lens.
Non-intrusive wildlife observation: Researchers can monitor animals without disturbing their natural behavior.
Illegal activity monitoring: Conservationists use zoom drones to track poaching activity from afar.
Sports and other events: Zoom capabilities allow broadcasters to get close-up shots without interfering with the action.
Reconnaissance: Military drones use zoom cameras for intelligence gathering without being detected.
Other than that cinematography use case where you might want something like a zoom effect, zoom doesn’t necessarily entail “better” shots. Just different shots.
Is a multi-camera drone worth it?
Since you are coming at this from a photography perspective, here are three key considerations to make when weighing the extra cost of a multi-camera drone:
1. Image quality: The number of cameras doesn’t automatically mean higher resolution or better photos. The quality of the sensors and lenses matters more. If the sensors on the three-camera model are all high-quality (such as larger 1-inch sensors), it can be a huge advantage. You’ll have more framing options and can achieve sharper details across multiple focal lengths, which is great for medium enlargements.
2. Flexibility and versatility: Three-camera drones give you instant access to multiple perspectives without having to change lenses or get different shots in post-processing. This flexibility is especially useful when you want to capture multiple types of images on the fly — such as sweeping landscape shots followed by detailed close-ups.
3. Portability: You mentioned travel as a consideration. Multi-camera drones are often bulkier than the Mini 4 Pro, which is known for being lightweight and travel-friendly. If portability is important, upgrading to a larger drone may not be worth the trade-off in convenience.
Recommendations for a multi-camera drone (and other drones worth upgrading to!)
If you’re ready to step up from the Mini 4 Pro, here are a few options worth considering, and not every one is necessarily a multi-camera drone:
DJI Air 3S (dual camera): I absolutely love the DJI Air 3S as a great travel drone. It’s still relatively affordable compared to higher-end models. And yes, it does offer both wide-angle and telephoto lenses. That’s not the only reason I recommend it over the DJI Mini 4 Pro. It totally wins on flight time (45 minutes versus 31 on the Mini 4 Pro) plus other benefits like 42 GB of internal storage. No messing around with memory cards! Its camera is slightly better at 50 MP versus 48 MP on the Mini 4 Pro. And I like it for travel given its superior wind speed resistance.
DJI Mavic 3 Pro (three camera): This is definitely the powerhouse for photography with wide, telephoto, and medium-tele cameras. It’s pricier at $2,000 but offers versatility with those lenses. Though, still consider how much you need it. The main lens on the Mavic 3 Proo is 20 MP versus 50MP on the Air 3S. It has slightly lesser flight time, too.
Let me pit your current drone, the DJI Mini 4 Pro, side-by-side against these three recommendations so you can better do your own comparison.
Omnidirectional binocular vision system, supplemented with a 3D infrared sensor at the bottom of the aircraft.
Omnidirectional binocular vision system, supplemented with forward-facing LiDAR and an infrared sensor at the bottom of the aircraft.
Omnidirectional binocular vision system, supplemented with an infrared sensor at the bottom of the aircraft.
Omnidirectional binocular vision system, supplemented with an infrared sensor at the bottom of the aircraft.
What drone should I upgrade to?
A three-camera drone can be worth the extra investment if versatility and access to multiple focal lengths are essential for your photography. However, if you’re primarily focused on image quality for enlargements, prioritize sensor and lens quality over the number of cameras.
Sally French, The Drone Girl, with the DJI Air 3S and the DJI RC 2. (Photo by Hamilton Nguyen)
In your case, I’m inclined to recommend your next best upgrade go to the DJI Air 3S. Sure, it actually does have two cameras, but that’s not necessarily why I’d pick it for you. Its got a bigger image size on that wide-angle camera, offering that better image quality you’re looking for.
That’s not the only reason I like it for you. As a traveler, you’ll benefit from its relative portability (though be prepared that it’ll be a lot larger than the Mini 4 Pro you’re used to). I find features like 42 GB of internal storage to be such a lifesaver if I’ve forgotten my memory card. And it is more powerful in winds, something I’m regularly facing when flying over beaches and the like.
Of course, you could go with the Mavic 3 Pro, but it’s twice the cost and its specs are probably overkill, especially because you’re being prudent about price. I actually put together a guide comparing the DJI Air 3S versus DJI Mavic 3 Pro. It’s good for some use cases, but my guide proves that better isn’t necessarily more expensive.
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