DJI Product History Timeline (Drones, Gimbals, Cameras, & More)

I was doing an internet search for a consolidated timeline of DJI product releases over the past few years because I was curious about how often they come out with new drones, gimbals, and cameras. I couldn't really find any page that had a consolidated list... all I could find with product release dates was their news archive. So, I went ahead and while I was "relaxing" and watching a movie one evening, compiled a list of (most of?) DJI's product releases of interest since July 2012 based on their press release archive.

Aerial Photography, For Photographers, DatabaseDan ZeeffNovember 2, 2022DJZ Photographyaerial, drone, drones, photography, dji

DJI Announces the Mavic 3 Classic

Aerial Photography, Camera Gear, Drones, For Photographers, Industry NewsDan ZeeffNovember 2, 2022dji mavic 3, dji, mavic 3, drones, drone, camera

DJI Announces the new Mini 3 Pro Camera Drone with Rotating Camera

DJI, the world’s leader in civilian drones and creative camera technology, today introduces DJI Mini 3 Pro, its most powerful lightweight and portable camera drone.

My Gear List

I have written a few articles that mention the gear that I use, but I wanted to make simple list of the gear I use for different scenarios. My list includes cameras, tripods, lighting, lenses, backpacks, drones, and more.

DatabaseDan ZeeffMarch 29, 2022gear, gear list, cameras, drones, tripods, camranger

DJI Mavic 3 vs. DJI Air 2S - Image Quality Tests, Comparison and Review

Well it’s finally here… the DJI Mavic 3! This announcement was exciting (if you’re a camera nerd like me) because it is the first time I’m aware of that we have a compact, foldable drone with a 4/3 sensor (17.3mm x 13mm). This size sensor was previously only available on a Zenmuse X5, which requires an Inspire to use. Ever since the Phantom 4 Pro was released in 2016 any drones smaller than an Inspire maxed out with a 1” sensor (13.2mm x 8.8mm).

Having a larger sensor should mean less noise and more detail. So naturally I wondered… does the new DJI Mavic 3 beat my previous compact favorite, the DJI Air 2S?

DJI Announces the Dual-Camera Mavic 3 Drone

Mavic 3 is redesigned from tip to tail as worthy of the Mavic series’ reputation as the world’s best and most popular drones. From its 4/3 CMOS Hasselblad camera and 28x hybrid zoom camera, to its omnidirectional obstacle sensors with a maximum 200-meter range, [1] to its redesigned batteries that provide up to 46 minutes of flight time, Mavic 3 provides unprecedented flight performance and a peerless content creation experience.

Autel Robotics Announces Evo Lite and Evo Nano Foldable Drones

Autel Robotics has announced their new Nano and Evo series of foldable drones to compete with DJI’s Mavic and Mavic Air series drones.

Aerial Photography, Camera Gear, Drones, For Photographers, Industry NewsDan ZeeffSeptember 29, 2021autel, evo, nano, product, announcement, drone, drones

Canon Officially Announces their Most Technologically Advanced Full-Frame Mirrorless Camera - the EOS R3

The core of the EOS R3 features a Canon designed and manufactured 24.1-megapixel back-illuminated stacked CMOS sensor. The sensor is the first of its kind from Canon, and when combined with the DIGIC X processor, delivers a high-speed readout allowing for continuous blackout-free shooting1 at up to 30 fps in electronic (silent) shutter mode and up to 12 fps in mechanical shutter, with minimum rolling electronic shutter distortion. The combination also increases the high sensitivity, light-capturing efficiency of a native ISO range of 100-102400, expandable up to 204,800 for still images. Like the EOS R5 and R6, the camera features the improved Dual Pixel CMOS AF II with 1,053 AF Points and evolved EOS iTR tracking down to EV -7.5 for subjects such as eye, face, head, animals2, and select cars and motorcycles. In addition, the camera features up to 8 stops3 of in-body image stabilized (IBIS) shake correction.

Camera Gear, For Photographers, Industry NewsDan ZeeffSeptember 14, 2021camera, canon, product, announcement, r3, eos, mirrorless, Full Frame

Sony Enters the Drone Game with the Airpeak S1 Professional Drone

Sony Electronics Inc. today announced their first-ever professional drone, the "Airpeak S1"i. An introductory model in the new Airpeak line, the S1 is the world's smallestii drone that can be equipped with a full-size mirrorless interchangeable-lens Alpha camera, opening up a new world of creative possibilities.

Pelican 1400 Protector Case - A Customizable Waterproof Case for DJI Mavic Series Drones

A review of the Pelican 1400 Protector Case, which is a waterproof hard case perfectly sized for the DJI Mavic series of drones.

DJI Air 2S Review: Has DJI Finally Created a Superior Successor to the Phantom 4 Pro??

DJI has released the “DJI Air 2S” as the latest drone in the Mavic series. It has the same size sensor and photo resolution as the Mavic 2 Pro and the Phantom 4 Pro with 4K video @ 60fps or 5.4K video @ 30fps. Has DJI finally released a travel-sized drone that can replace my 4-year-old Phantom 4 Pro???

An In-Depth Review of Canon's RF 600mm & 800mm f/11 IS STM Lenses

Canon raised a lot of eyebrows when they announced the extremely affordable RF 600mm & 800mm f/11 IS STM lenses. “An 800mm lens for $899??? But it’s f/11??? What’s going on here??” Canon has so far been unique in this sub-$1,000 venture, especially considering the 800mm lens. What are the real trade offs with these smaller & cheaper f/11 600mm and 800mm lenses?

Camera Gear, For Photographers, Original Article, ReviewDan ZeeffMay 3, 2021camera, cameras, lens, lenses, telephoto, extender, rf, r5, r6, canon, eos, review, test

Is the DJI Air 2S Fly More Combo a Good Value vs. the Basic Package?

If you are going to purchase the new DJI Air 2S, which is the same size and shape as the Mavic Air 2 but with a camera sensor as big as a Mavic 2 Pro’s, you will probably encounter the “Fly More Combo” option. This expanded set is available on DJI’s website and Amazon.com. I thought I would break down the cost of the accessories included in the combo so others could decide if they need or want to spend the extra money.

DJI Officially Unveils the DJI Air 2S (Previously Known on Rumor Sites as the Mavic Air 2S)

DJI today has officially announced the DJI Air 2S, an updated version of the Mavic Air 2. It is the same compact size as the Mavic Air 2, and is only slightly heavier (595g vs 570g).

I am thrilled to see they upgraded the camera sensor size to 1-inch like the Phantom 4 Pro and the Mavic 2 Pro. It actually shoots higher resolution video than any of their other sub-$2,000 drones, using every pixel of the sensor to shoot 5.4K video! Barring the much larger, heavier, more expensive professional/enterprise drones like the Inspire 2 and Matrice series, this drone looks to be their new flagship (for now).

Canon Announces Development of the Full-Frame Mirrorless EOS R3

The Canon EOS R3 will join the current lineup of EOS R full-frame mirrorless series cameras. This camera will usher in a new category to the EOS R system, positioned squarely between the EOS R5 and EOS-1D X Mark III cameras. The camera will put great emphasis on superb AF performance and speed, with fast-moving subjects. It is being designed to meet the reliability and durability demands of professionals, even when working in challenging conditions.

Camera Gear, For Photographers, Industry NewsDan ZeeffApril 14, 2021canon, r3, Full Frame, mirrorless, product, announcement

How to Take the Free FAA Part 107 Recurrent Exam Released in April 2021

After a few minor delays, the FAA Part 107 free online recurrent exam is now available. It includes a few questions about new regulations for possibilities like Remote ID, flying over people, and flying at night.

I originally got my FAA Remote Pilot Certificate in 2017, and took the recurrent exam in 2019. Both of those tests cost around $150 and had to be done at an FAA-authorized testing center. Fortunately for us drone pilots the new recurrent training & testing is all free, and can be done from the comfort of home!

Nikon Announces Development of the Nikon Z 9

Nikon Inc. is pleased to announce the development of the first flagship model for which the Nikon Z mount has been adopted: The Nikon Z 9. The full-frame (Nikon FX-format) mirrorless camera is scheduled for release in 2021, and represents a significant leap in technology and performance.

Camera Gear, For Photographers, Industry NewsDan ZeeffMarch 15, 2021nikon, z 9, product, announcement

Real Estate Photography Techniques for Beginners

If you did what I did when I first got started in real estate photography, you may have taken your first paying job without knowing what you were doing and made a lot of mistakes. For my first real estate photoshoot, I took the photos as single shot JPEG’s on a $20 tripod, using my good old Canon Digital Rebel T1i. I didn’t have a clue what I was doing… I just knew that if you put a camera on a tripod you could take longer exposures than if you hand-hold it, which would be useful indoors. I wrote this article to help others learn a few things that I didn’t know when I first started, and hopefully your first photoshoot will have better results than mine!

DJI Releases the New "DJI FPV" - A First-Person View Drone Capable of 87 mph Flight

DJI, the global leader in civilian drones and creative camera technology, today launched an entirely new type of drone with an intuitive, immersive flight experience never available until now.

Aerial Photography, Camera Gear, Drones, For Photographers, Industry NewsDan ZeeffMarch 2, 2021dji, fpv, drone, drones, announcement

How to Make a 360 Walk Through Tour for Real Estate: The Easy Way

If you are in the business of real estate photography, it won’t be very long before someone asks you to do a 360 tour for a listing. You should be prepared to offer the service, and understand how the photoshoot and hosting processes work ahead of time. It would probably a good idea to have a pricing structure in mind as well! This article takes a look at the steps involved in creating a 360 real estate tour (a.k.a. a virtual tour) without spending a fortune.

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