DJI Mavic Air 2 & Active Track

I recently purchased a DJI Mavic Air 2 from a friend. The reason being was the significant improvement in image quality compared to the original DJI Mavic PRO, which I flew extensively until 2021. The first thing I did was test out the updated active track feature at Democrat Point at Robert Moses beach. Active track was able to keep the jeep perfectly centered in the frame while I controlled altitude and orientation using the joysticks. This performance was noticeably better than AT on the OG Mavic. I’m not sure if this is a universal improvement across all their products of specific to the Air 2. I also immediately noticed a substantial difference in dynamic range and low-light capabilities of the camera's sensor.
Additionally, I noticed the Air 2 is slightly smaller and lighter than the original Mavic. It’s convenient I can fit the drone, extra batteries and controller, into a small bag that easily fits inside my backpack.

My biggest issue was assuming that the new DJI smart controller, with the built-in display — would work seamlessly with the Mavic Air 2. Unfortunately, after making the purchase, I realized that it is only compatible with the Mavic Air 2S, which utilizes a completely different video transmitting system. While I don't necessarily mind using my phone as a display, it does sometimes lengthen the setup time, which can hinder capturing the perfect shot. Using a phone typically takes a few minutes to get ready and flying, unlike the smart controller, which you can simply turn on and go.

I decided to bring the Air 2 into the trails while mountain biking one day to further test obstacle avoidance and dynamic range capability. I used tripod mode to setup some static shots while I rode through. I’m really impressed with the color I was able to pull from DJI’s D-log format. The Air 2’s camera did very well in the bright and dark areas of this particular valley of the trail, rendering great color and exposure without severe image degradation or noise.

I captured this sunset at Cedar Beach to assess the sensor's performance under challenging lighting conditions. To maintain detail around the sun and achieve my desired motion blur, I used an ND 8 filter to decrease the exposure, while keeping my shutter speed at 1/30.

In general, I am quite satisfied with the image quality, battery life, and size of the Air 2 when compared to the original Mavic Pro. DJI has made remarkable advancements across their entire aerial lineup, and considering the price I paid, the Air 2 possesses all the features I currently seek.