After extensive research of three months and after obtaining my drone license, I concluded that I should buy the DJI Air 2S (Fly More Combo), after comparing and researching all the drones from this specific company (as I only wanted theirs). It is the first drone I own, but I have read a lot about it and I can give you a comprehensive overview.
Firstly, I believe (and it is proven) that this particular drone is the best drone for its price range (up to €1,350). But why? Read on.
1) First of all, does a drone require a license to fly?
Do not listen to the misinformation that many people spread, saying that if the drone weighs up to 250g, it does not require a license. This is incorrect. The truth is that any drone with a recording camera (it doesn't matter if it weighs only 2 grams) requires the operator to have a license. Furthermore, there are different types of licenses corresponding to different purposes of use and drone weights. You can learn more about this in the Regulations Support for Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
2) Why didn't I choose one from the "mini" series (mini 2 or mini 3 pro)?
I wasn't too concerned about the camera (especially the one on the mini 3 pro, which is somewhat similar in quality to the AIR 2S), but I was bothered by the fact that it doesn't have as much resistance to wind as the Air 2/2S, etc. The Air 2S can withstand up to 5 Beaufort, unlike the mini drones that can withstand only 2-3 Beaufort.
3) Why did I choose the "Fly More Combo" version?
Initially, I was considering not getting it and just sticking with one battery. The price difference was around €200. However, I researched and found out that buying a second battery costs €110 for just one battery. Whereas the "Fly More Combo" version gives you 2 extra batteries (a total of 3), 4 ND filters (which normally cost €70), extra propellers for replacements, extra USB cables, and a charger that can charge all three batteries simultaneously (which is a big advantage, as each battery takes about 1-1.5 hours to fully charge individually). So, the extra €200 for the "Fly More Combo" is not a significant cost.
4) How is it in terms of construction?
In terms of construction, from the moment I received it, from the packaging, the way everything is placed inside the carrying bag, and the material and method of construction of the drone itself, I was very impressed. It may be made of plastic parts, but they have done an excellent job (extremely professional).
5) How does it look?
It is very nice and more unique compared to other drones. The top sensors give it a different appearance as it is the only one in this price range that has top sensors. It weighs 595g, although it feels slightly heavier when holding it in your hand. It is much smaller than it appears in photos or videos you have seen. After watching so many videos, I imagined it to be much larger. So, if this is considered small, imagine how much smaller the mini drones are. With the arms folded, the Air 2S is about the size of your open palm.
6) Is it easy to use for the first time (settings, updates, connectivity)?
It is quite easy. The DJI app, "DJI FLY," is fantastic in terms of design and responsiveness, and it helps you a lot by guiding you step by step to connect the drone to your controller. As for the Updates, it notifies you every time an update is needed and it's a piece of cake. It is good to connect the drone to the controller before your first flight and make the necessary adjustments before you go to fly it.
7) Is it easy to fly???
I have only flown once with the Air 2S a few days after I bought it. I had the misfortune to encounter bad weather with gusts of 44km/h, which is about 6 Beaufort. I would like to remind you that the manufacturer recommends a maximum wind resistance of 5 Beaufort for the Air 2S during flight. Although I was initially afraid to fly it, I wanted to make sure that the drone is okay in terms of its propellers, motors, etc. Let me tell you this: Not only did it fly, but it flew with such ease that I was amazed! It made me trust it during the flight and the anxiety disappeared. The maximum height I reached was 50 meters and at a distance of 250 meters, the drone didn't feel a thing! It was stable in all shots, although it sometimes resisted the wind in order to stay in its exact position (which is normal). The drone returned to its initial position with the "Return To Home" function on its own, with a maximum deviation of 1-2 meters (almost zero deviation). The handling is easy, but in order to achieve great shots and nice movements, you will need hours of flight experience (practice, guys) :-)
8) How long does the battery last???
With the 6 Beaufort wind in the area, the battery lasted about 21 to 25 minutes, and sometimes I had to quickly bring it back, so I can say that I slightly drained the battery.
9) Does it capture nice footage???
In the "D-log" mode, it captures footage with muted colors as it is intended for cinematic purposes. However, in normal mode, it captures fantastic footage and emphasizes the colors so beautifully that when combined with a 4K TV, they look incredible. It also captures footage in 5.4K, but here you need to be very careful: In 5.4K, it uses H.265 encoding, which is still "experimental". H.265 compresses the video quality less compared to H.264, making the footage look closer to reality. However, there is a big "but" here. Because it is an "experimental" encoding, in order to process (and sometimes play) it on a device (e.g., a computer), the graphics card needs to support this video format and the computer needs to have exceptional characteristics = a very expensive machine. When my computer, which cost around 1,000 euros two years ago, cannot handle this video format, imagine what is needed, not only to handle it but also to process it comfortably. So essentially, one could say that the 5.4K mode is useless on the one hand (it is too advanced for our time). I now continue to capture footage in 4K, which has H.264 encoding (but also H.265 for those who want it). Also, be careful: The automatic functions it has (Focustrack) only record videos up to 1080p (so for those who want 4K footage, they will have to shoot manually).
10) Are the files it captures large???
In 4K and 5.4K, the files are quite large. A 1.5-minute video in 5.4K took up 2GB on the SD card. Also, you shouldn't use just any random micro SD card. You need at least a U3 class micro SD card. I bought this and I am very satisfied with the recording/transfer speed: https://www.skroutz.gr/s/32100748/Samsung-Pro-Plus-2021-microSDXC-128GB-U3-V30-A2-UHS-I-%CE%BC%CE%B5-%CE%B1%CE%BD%CF%84%CE%AC%CF%80%CF%84%CE%BF%CF%81%CE%B1.html?from=featured&product_id=104468348 .
I will provide more information after the next flights.
Follow me on my page @ActiveDroneTrack on social media (Instagram, Youtube, Facebook) where I will soon upload my shots and videos.