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?

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.

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!

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!

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.

Photography Economics 101: Business Models for Real Estate Photographers

Over the years I have thought a lot about various business models for real estate media providers, because while I was pursuing one particular business model I regularly observed other photographers (and “photography chain” businesses) who operated under different models. I occasionally thought, “Am I pursuing the right business model? Should I think about changing models in the future? What do I ultimately want to pursue?”

I wrote this article because when I first started I would have benefitted from thinking through my photography business goals. In addition, once my schedule was full of photoshoots I should have reassessed sooner and made major adjustments to my business model.

What Camera & Lens Should I Buy for Real Estate Photography?

I sometimes get asked by people who are getting started in real estate photography what camera and lens they should buy. Do you need an expensive camera for real estate? Do you need an expensive lens? Is it better to spend more money on the lens than the camera? What focal lengths are typically used? This article will hopefully give readers an idea of what cameras are currently available, the pros and cons of various cameras, and some info about lenses. This information can be applied to really any genre of photography, and I will also talk a little bit about the state of the industry.

Canon EOS R5 vs 5D Mark IV: Canon has Upped their Game (And these Underexposed Photos)

When I switched from the 6D to the 5D Mark IV, I did notice a slight improvement in dynamic range and shadow handling. But this is a major advancement for Canon who had been previously been dabbling with small, incremental improvements here and there. Going from the EOS 5D Mark IV to the EOS R5 is not a small, incremental improvement… it’s like a whole new generation of technology.

Camera Gear, For Photographers, Original ArticleDan ZeeffSeptember 25, 2020canon, eos, r5, 5D Mark IV, 6D, dynamic range, shadows, exposure, night photography, vs, comparison

Megapixels vs. Sensor Size: Can the Mavic Air 2 Beat the Phantom 4 Pro?

I got ahold of a Mavic Air 2, and I just had to know how its higher resolution images compared to the 20 megapixel Phantom 4 Pro and its 13.2 x 8.8mm sensor. If the sensor sizes were the same, I would expect the sensor with more pixels to be the winner. But how do they compare when the higher resolution photos are from a much smaller sensor (6.4 x 4.8mm)? Let’s take a look.

The Good, the Bad, & the Beautiful - Using Teleconverters & Extenders

The Benefits, Disadvantages, & Considerations of Using Teleconverters/Focal Length Extenders with your Lenses.

Don't Let an Inadequate Tripod Do *This* to Your Photos! (Highly Detailed Rant)

An inadequate tripod can cause you problems you didn’t even know existed. This article looks at what types of tripods are available, and what you can expect at different price points.

If You're Shooting Architecture or Real Estate, Omni-Directional Lighting is Your Friend

A look at the benefits of using omni-directional globe lanterns for architecture.

How to Use an External Microphone with a GoPro Fusion or GoPro Max

Steps to using an external microphone with a 360 camera if there are no audio inputs.

Camera Gear, Original ArticleDan ZeeffFebruary 6, 2020360, gopro, fusion, max, rode, wireless, microphone, record, recording, audio, sync, insta360, ricoh, theta, video, nofeature

Godox V860II Flash vs. Godox V1 (A.K.A. Flashpoint Zoom Li-on X R2) Comparison

A look at the differences between the Godox V1 and the Godox V860II, with a brief look at the Godox AK-R1 Accessory Kit for Round Flash Head.

For Photographers, Camera Gear, Original ArticleDan ZeeffJanuary 15, 2020godox, flashpoint, flash, flashes, speedlights, round head, V1, V860II, Zoom Li-on, R2, nofeature

Canon 16-35mm f/4L IS vs. Canon 16-35 f/2.8L III - Which Lens is Sharper?

My philosophy for landscape photography (though I do love tilt shift lenses for architecture) is to get a small number of fast, sharp zoom lenses so I can cover any focal length I need without carrying a bunch of different prime lenses. That will save space in my camera bag and allow me to spend more time taking photos and less time changing lenses. The question I had was: Is the Canon 16-35mm f/2.8L III able to capture sharp photos without comatic aberration, and provide fast wide-angle coverage?

The Many Faces of the Godox AD200 (AKA Flashpoint eVOLV 200)

I previously wrote a post about the different lights that I use, and that article touched on the AD200 options briefly… but I wanted to look more specifically at some of the available AD200 accessories and how they affect the spread of light from the AD200 with it’s three different heads. Documenting these tests with images will help me know which heads and modifiers are best in various situations, and hopefully it will help others as well. Maybe you won’t have to buy as many accessories as I did!

Review: Pelican Air 1607 Protector Case (with Padded Dividers)

For Photographers, Original ArticleDan ZeeffFebruary 10, 2018pelican, air, case, review, equipment, luggage, carryon, lighting, travel, protection, nofeature

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