DJI Mavic Air - The Best Travel Drone? - My Initial Thoughts and First Flight Impressions

Mavic Air from DJI: bit.ly/MyMavicAir
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In this video, I’m going to take a first look at DJI’s latest drone, the Mavic Air. We’ll be talking specs, where it fits in the DJI Lineup, my initial flight impressions, and if I think it deserves a spot in your filmmaking kit. Could it be the best 4k travel drone?

[@rapaent]

Awesome review as always! Would like to see a ND filter test of your favorite filters in the future. I have learned so much from you and your great videos. Great work and Thanks for being here!

[@Beakerzor]

great video, good job on the edits!

[@TimothySunday]

Thanks! Editing takes so long for me and is the part of filmmaking that I enjoy the least. So that means a lot!!

[@greenbeagle13]

Great video/review... New subscriber, new to drones...

[@AndySimpson1969]

lol...you got one!! I wondered if you were going to get the new Air...excited to see what's to come 👊

[@TimothySunday]

Sure did! I'm excited to be making content about it. Thanks for watching! See you Tuesday!

[@Vo-iDstudio]

Still pretty psyched with Mavic pro (alpine white). Pretty cool stuff on this new one but not enough for me to have buyers remorse on purchasing just a month ago. For example I had one flight where my phone froze an I was able to fly home with the remote’s built in lcd.

[@TimothySunday]

Yea, no buyers remorse needed for sure. Mavic Pro is still an incredible drone!

[@tmailone1]

What are your thoughts on the updated Mavic pro thats coming march or so ? you did not want to wait for it ?

[@TimothySunday]

I haven't heard about that one, honestly. I bought this to provide value and content here on the KZbin Channel and I'm honestly so happy with this that it will replace my current Mavic Pro

[@daisypatritio5413]

Under My Gear, I don't see what machine you use to edit 1080p @ 120mbs. Thanks for sharing your expertise.

[@TimothySunday]

Thanks for watching. Sorry, I don't understand your question though

[@IanKeegan]

Quick fire question Timothy!! - landscape photographer, living in one of the most beautiful countries in the world (Norway)...looking for his first drone that can deliver high quality images (RAW) and have a decent range...(No drop outs) Mavic Air or Mavic Pro? I've been procrastinating on purchasing one without knowing a bit more.

[@OutdoorsIQ]

Incredible review! The best I’ve seen and I must of watched at least 100 of them!

[@TimothySunday]

Thank you! Hope you'll consider subscribing. I've got a new video on the Mavic Air going live TODAY at 2pm EST

[@OutdoorsIQ]

I subscribed immediately after watching your video :) Looking forward to more!

[@TimothySunday]

Glad to have you a part of the community!

[@KushanVora]

What is the font on the thumbnail of this video?

[@TimothySunday]

It's called Rustico

[@rm1floyd]

I do a lot of bicycle riding in scenic areas, so portability is a big deal for me. The Air adds a lot versus the other DJI offerings. One question though: Can I use my iPhone as a controller, or must I always use the controller?

[@TimothySunday]

You can use your iphone only but control is tedious I think with just the controller. But setting up an active track or something would be easy to do from it. The controller allows you to have better control and range.

[@costfam]

Hi Tim, ok you convinced me to buy the Air (still love my Pro!), used your B&H link (more reliable shipping to Dubai!) , hope you get something from them! Look forward to more videos.Cheers Karl

[@TimothySunday]

Karl, Thanks so much for using the link! It does kick a few bucks my way at no extra cost to you. I'm sure you will love the Mavic air! Happy Flying!

[@RaceDayPhoto]

I think it’s neat. But if you already have a Mavic Pro, is it good enough to be worth replacing the Pro? All I read has made me think not, but I have never tested it. Yes it’s smaller, but flight time is less. For now I will stay with my Pro.

[@TimothySunday]

Unless the extra portability is a factor for you or the better image quality than the Mavic Pro will probably work just fine for you. Personally, I think this will be replacing my Mavic Pro.

[@TheRealNickDean]

between mavic pro and mavic air, which one you prefer?

[@TimothySunday]

Mavic Air, hands down!

[@ninjabic]

Heck ya man!! Got back from Mexico Monday. Sold my Mavic Pro today lol. Sooo ready for the 120 frames of sexyness on the Air.

[@ninjabic]

Also, is there a light indicator on the handheld remote to see how much of a charge it has left?

[@TimothySunday]

Yes there is. You can see how much battery the mavic controller has remaining. Have you already ordered your Mavic Air?

[@pixlplague]

I'm really tempted, since I travel so much, but I don't know what to do about my Mavic Pro... keep, sell, explode...?

[@TimothySunday]

It will be replacing my Mavic Pro as soon as I can get more batteries. You can always keep it as a backup or sell it to make the upgrade price not as much.

[@muselive100]

The mavic 2 when released will kill the re sale price on the Mavic Pro, just as the mav air has done to the spark , so it’s a gamble as when to sell or to keep

[@demitemudrin163]

Yo Tim ... sorry 4 the offtopic attack, but is that the Matterhorn on you iphone? Just askin caus Im from Switzerland and believed to recognize that Mountain ;) Greetings from Zürich, Switzerland

[@TimothySunday]

Sure is!!! It's on the top of my bucket list to see it in person one day. I put it there for motivation.

[@BenPhelps]

Ooooh, you may have convinced me to pull the trigger and buy the Air. Even though I have a LOT of Mavic Pro accessories... 😬 Nice review, TS!

[@TimothySunday]

Thanks, Ben. I never recommend products that I wouldn't buy myself. This is a great drone and I'm confident it would be a great addition to your kit!

[@carlosread5887]

This is just a curious question: Why is it pronounced "DGI", when it is a "J" ? I think that this is the drone for me. As time goes by, new technology features are developed. I can imagine the next Mavic Pro will have the camera protected, and the obstacle avoidance capability will be improved, and then some! Thanks for this video, I will be looking forward for the tutorials that you mention today!

[@TimothySunday]

Thanks for watching! I already have one video up on the obstacle avoidance. Hope you'll check it out. And I think I just say my J's like that so when I talk fast it slurs together. haha

[@ManfredBrauchle]

talking about bitrates: Mavic Air is 100 mega bits per second (not mega bytes)

[@TimothySunday]

You are correct! I didn't even catch that I said that in post editing. My bad.

[@Beakerzor]

Timothy Sunday that's still triple what KZbin suggests, so lots of extra info to crop down or zoom in with

[@cnyphotovideo]

The Mavic hair looks like a terrific drone… I ordered one myself. If someone doesn’t have a Mavic already then this will be a great purchase. But with the idea that it is likely that later in 2018 the Mavic 2 will be released. That will probably have a similar gimbal design and a larger sensor. That will blow everyone away. Otherwise if choosing between the three smaller drones, (Spark, Air and Pro) the Mavic air is the way to go.

[@TimothySunday]

totally agree. Right now, it's the best of the travel drones. There's always going to be something better down the road or coming later. But I don't think people should wait around on that. Dive in and make content in the now with the tools available!

[@DennisLovelady]

I have the Mavic Pro and the Spark. I don't see MA ticking enough boxes to make me push that button. If it'd had 4k/60 or a larger sensor, it'd already be in my pocket. But for now, I'll await M2P. And hopefully there'll be an M2 (not P) middle ground to tempt those pesky taste buds.

[@TimothySunday]

that's fair. I had a spark but I sold it and glad I did now. I will most likely be switching to the Air exclusively until a M2P comes out or something.

[@muselive100]

I have the mav and spark too, sold the spark as the price is dropping fast in the uk and bought the Air

[@MarvelousMarvFishingForLife]

Good Day Sir, I'm fairly new to the Youtubing world. I've watched several of your videos and have been motivated to produce even more content even though the videos I've posted don't receive many views, likes or subscribers as a result. Can you please provide any advice as to what may be the issue. I'm not in it for the money but it would be nice to mom now that the content I'm creating is enjoying. Please advise.

[@Beakerzor]

5:25 I think it's 100megabits/second, which is incredible, but 100MB/s would be faster than most memory cards can write

[@TimothySunday]

You are correct. I misspoke and missed it in post. My bad. But memory cards can write that fast. Mine writes at 450mbs. But that’s a cfast card meant for 4K recording. Haha.

[@Beakerzor]

Timothy Sunday yeah that's still a very impressive high bit rate.

[@Beakerzor]

Timothy Sunday yeah, I just picked up a card to capture the 400mbps rate that the Panasonic GH5 can write at

[@TimothySunday]

sweet! I never tried the higher bitrates on the GH5. The footage was so clunky to edit I never really needed it for KZbin content.

[@carlosread5887]

Ha ha ha! No, I don't think it is your pronunciation, Timothy. I have noticed it is a generalised way to pronounce it. Thanks again for your videos, technological improvements in this field will never stop, and it will be always exciting to learn about these changes.

[@TimothySunday]

Thanks for watching, Carlos!

[@rm1floyd]

The 100 meter distance and the 50m height are killers for me. Otherwise a very exciting product!!

[@rm1floyd]

Now I'm not so sure. Maybe I should plunk down the money.

[@TimothySunday]

Where did you hear those limits? It can go much further than that. For what you're doing with bicycle riding, I think this would be a perfect fit for you!

[@rm1floyd]

www.dji.com/mavic-air/info#specs Operating Frequency 2.400 - 2.4835 GHz 5.725 - 5.850 GHz Max Transmission Distance (unobstructed, free of interference) Distance: 80 m Height: 50 m Not sure this bother me anyway.

[@born2bwildne744]

Bob Floyd ReadySetDrone has flown the Air 2 km - video available on his channel....

[@rm1floyd]

Thanks for the follow up. That is very nice of you. I think the DJI info on that page must be bogus or labeled wrong or something. I went ahead and ordered a Mavic Air Fly More (as you suggested). I will probably sell my Mavic Pro as the portability of that drone is not as good in my bicycling application. Thanks again!

[@crd1105]

i jus got my 1st real drone.....DJI MAVIC AIR... omg i love this drone....lol am i a bad dad...(dnt even let my 11yr old son fly it....lol) guess i gotta buy him the SPARK' ..

[@TimothySunday]

NIce! I love the mavic air! Such a powerful little piece of kit. If you buy the spark, be sure and use those links in the description as they're a free way to help support the channel! 😉

[@ldcam21]

To small . The wind will take and you can't see it . To small

[@TimothySunday]

I was REALLY surprised to find that on my first flight it was actually very windy and it performed just as well as the Mavic Pro.

[@RaceDayPhoto]

I can barely see the mavic. Smaller might not be better. 🤓

[@born2bwildne744]

LARRY D Drone Film Guide has tested in some pretty windy conditions. His conclusion, which surprised him, was that Air did better that P4 (which he tested on same trip up into Scottish mtns). Vid available at his channel. Love Timothy’s approach to things and his presentation skills....

[@TimothySunday]

Thanks man! I appreciate you adding to the discussion here in the community!

[@RaceDayPhoto]

So it’s the Mavic Air. And not the Mavic Pro 2. I think i will wait to see what unfolds. Something is coming.

[@TimothySunday]

Right, no mavic Pro 2 yet

[@TimothySunday]

Are you guys excited for the Mavic Air?!?! Will you be getting one?

[@AndySimpson1969]

...now this is the one I might get BUT looking at the regulations in NJ for drones it sounds a lot of hassle!

[@AndySimpson1969]

...I hope you got insurance this time Tim ;O)

[@TimothySunday]

State Farm for the WIN!!!

[@TimothySunday]

It's worth it to have this one in your kit

[@AndySimpson1969]

Timothy Sunday .... admit it, you just wanted a new toy!