ok so ive been going back and forth on this for like two weeks and im driving myself a little crazy. basically i want something i can travel with but also get decent footage, not just vacation snapshots but like actual usable clips for short films and stuff

my budget is flexible but not unlimited, the Air 3 is obviously the better drone on paper but is it that much better in real shooting conditions for someone whos not a professional. i keep reading specs and then reading forums and getting different answers depending on who i ask

the 1/1.3 inch sensor on the Air 3 is appealing but the Mini 3 Pro footage ive seen looks really good too, maybe im just rationalizing saving money idk. anyone who has actually used both or switched between them would be really appreciated here

had the Mini 3 Pro for about a year before upgrading to the Air 3 and honestly the difference is real but whether its worth it depends a lot on when you fly. in good midday light the Mini 3 Pro footage is great and you might not even notice much difference. but if you ever shoot in the early morning or late evening or in overcast conditions the Air 3 sensor handles the low light noticeably better and you get a lot more room in post to recover highlights and shadows

the dual camera thing on the Air 3 is also something i use way more than i expected, being able to switch between focal lengths mid shoot is genuinely useful. but if most of your flying is in good light and you want to keep the weight down for travel the Mini 3 Pro is honestly still a really solid camera drone, dont let anyone tell you its a bad choice

the Air 3 is heavier so depending where you travel there can be more registration hassle. just something to keep in mind if you go to europe a lot, the sub 250g thing still matters in some countries. not saying get the mini just for that but worth factoring in