Knowing how to take RAW photos is incredibly important for professional photography work and for delivering final products to clients. The reason is simply because it allows you to bring more out of your pictures when you’re editing them later.
It’s why professional drone pilots will usually tweak their drone’s settings to shoot raw images instead of JPGs.
Now, not all drones have the ability to shoot raw, which is why I’ve made this article on the top 5 drones right now that have the ability to shoot raw photos as well as the drones that shoot raw videos.
If you’re tight on time or simply don’t like reading a lot, I got you. Out of all the drones that we’ll cover in detail here, here are my top 3 based on category:
DJI Mini 3 Pro
DJI Mavic 3
DJI Mini 2
Not every drone that shoots raw pictures have the ability to shoot raw video (footage), here are the top 3 drones that can shoot raw videos:
DJI Mavic Air 2s
DJI Mavic Air 3
DJI Mavic 3
If raw photos and videos are basically just brute worse-looking deliverables than the normal stuff you’re familiar with, why would you want to shoot raw?
Raw photos and footage are perfect because the additional info from the camera sensor is ideal for editing. It can be used by apps like Photoshop to create higher-quality altered photos and footage, which in the end appear better than usual footage.
It’s because when shooting a video or taking a picture in a non-RAW format, your drone’s camera does all the processing automatically and bakes it into the finished deliverable.
This is kind of a random process because depending on the lighting and many other factors, your photo or image could turn out either good or bad.
It’s not that you can’t edit it afterward, but editing a raw image is much easier to shape according to your want than a non-RAW image for example.
These are all some of the best drones out there that shoot raw photos and footage…
But how do they compare with each other? You don’t have to dig on the internet as I’ve already compiled the ultimate comparison table for you below:
| Specs | Mavic 3 | Air 2s | DJI Mini 3 Pro | DJI Mini 2 | Autel Evo II Pro | DJI Inspire 2 | DJI Mavic Air 3 |
| Sensor size | 4/3 CMOS | 1'' CMOS | 1/1.3-inch CMOS | 1/2.3-inch CMOS | 1" CMOS | 1/7.5-inch CMOS sensor | 1/1.3” |
| Pixels | 20 MP | 20 MP | 48MP | 12MP | 20 MP | Changeble | 48MP |
| F Stops | 12.8 | 12.6 | 12.6 | 12.6 | - | - | - |
| FOV | 84° | 88° | 82.1° | 82° | 82° | 84° DFOV | 82° |
| Aperture | f/2.8 to f/11 | f/2.8 | f/1.7 | f/2.8 | f/2.8–f/11 | - | f/1.7 |
| 5k Res | 5.1K/50fps | 5.4K/30fps | 4K 60FPS | 2K | (6K video at 30fps) | 5.2k / 60FPS | 5.4K/30FPS |
| 4k FPS | 120 fps | 50 fps | 60FPS | 2K | (5k at 60fps) | 5.2k / 60FPS | 4K/60FPS |
| Battery | 46 min | 31 min | 47 min | 31 min | 40 min | 27 min | 46 mins |
| Max Hover | 40 minutes | 30 minutes | 47 min | 30 min | 40 min | 46mins | |
| Range | FCC: 15 km CE: 8 km | FCC: 12 km CE: 8 km | FCC: 10 km CE: 8 km | FCC: 10 km CE: 8 km | FCC: 10 km CE: 8 km | 3.5 Km | 20 km |
| Weight | 895 g | 595 g | 249 g | 249 g | 1191 g | 3440 g | 720g |
| Folded Size | 221×96×90 mm | 180×97×77 mm | 145×90×62 mm | 138×81×58 mm | 230*130*108mm | L:42.7cm x H:31.7cm x W:42.5cm | 180×97×77 mm |
| Unfolded Size | 347×283×107 mm | 183×253×77 mm | 171×245×62 mm | 159×203×56 mm | 457*558*108mm | L:42.7cm x H:31.7cm x W:42.5cm | 183×253×77 mm |
| Obstacle Sensing | Omnidirectional | Omni w/o lateral | Forward, Backward, Bottom | Down only | Omnidirectional | Tri-directional obstacle sensing | Tri-directional |
| Max Speed | 75 kph | 68.4 kph | 35.7mph | 35.7mph | 45 mph | 58 mph | 75.6kph |
| Max Altitude | 6 km | 5 km | 6km | 6km | 6km | 5km | 5km |
| Wind Resistance | 43 kph | 38.5 kph | 24mph | 24mph | Force 8 wind | 10 m/s | 38.5 kph |
| Temperature | -10° to 40° C (14° to 104° F) | 0° to 40° C (32° to 104° F) | 14° to 104° F or -10° to 40° C | 0 to 40 degrees | 5~45℃ | -4° to 104° F | 0° to 40° C (32° to 104° F) |
| Internal Storage | Mavic 3: 8 GB Mavic 3 Cine: 1 TB | 8 GB | 1.2GB | N/A | 8GB | none | 8GB |
| Image size | 5k | 5k | 8k | 5k | 5k | - | 5k |
| Raw videos | YES | YES | YES | No | YES | YES | YES |
| Raw Photos | JPEG / DNG (RAW) | JPEG / DNG (RAW) | JPEG / DNG (RAW) | JPEG / DNG (RAW) | JPEG / DNG (RAW) | JPEG / DNG (RAW) | JPEG / DNG (RAW) |
| Video Transmission | O3+ | O3 | O2 | O2 | 2.4~2.4835GHz | Lightbridge | O3 |
| App name | DJI Fly | DJI Fly | DJI FLY | DJI FLY | - | DJI FLY | DJI FLY |
| Remote Res | 1080p/30fps 1080p/60fps | 1080p/30fps | Full HD 1080p resolution | 720p | Full HD 1080p resolution | - | Full HD 1080p resolution |
4k
47 Minutes – Plus Battery
10 km
3-axis gimbal
Pros:
Cons:
The DJI Mini 3 Pro is known for its powerful 4k camera packed into its very lightweight and small size, as well as low price.
Which is perfect as it allows pilots to take cinematic footage and photos, while still staying on a budget.
Another benefit of having a powerful yet cheap drone like the Mini 3 Pro is that it’s advanced enough to actually get paying gigs with it, which makes it more than pay for itself.
I’ve personally tried the drone and its footage is can’t be told apart from that of higher-priced drones like the Mavic 3. You can check my full in-depth review over here.
5K
40 Minutes
15km
3-axis gimbal
Pros:
Cons:
The DJI Mavic 3 boasts excellent image quality for photos and videos with its 5.1k Hasselblad camera.
By making colors more vivid and more true to nature. The Mavic 3 allows pilots to seize the full spectrum of natural colors in their shots, giving you the perfect canvas to express your unique vision in every project.
Here is a quick demo of the drone’s footage.
Another cool thing about the DJI Mavic 3 is the 40-minute flight time.
Since you’ll mainly be flying to shoot footage, 40 minutes gives you ample time to take all the shots and footage you need. And if you need more? You can just swap in the hot batteries available for the Mavic 3.
If you’re curious whether you can actually keep the drone up for the full 40 minutes, this guy tested it so you don’t have to.
2.7K
30 Minutes
10km
3-axis gimbal
Pros:
Cons:
The DJI Mini 2 boasts a powerful 4K camera and is priced at only $349.
Giving you the ability to capture breathtaking and cinema-worthy raw footage, while not breaking the bank.
In fact, most people won’t be even able to notice the difference between the footage of a Mini 2 and a DJi Air 2s, here’s a video of me comparing the two.
Not only is the camera powerful, but it also comes with a 31-minute battery and great wind resistance.
Meaning you can take your time planning out those perfect shots mid-air, without worrying about the wind or running out of battery.
I personally tested the wind resistance compared to other DJI drones and it’s clearly better than the Mini 1 and very similar to the other larger drones.
I’ve also rarely ever had a need to use a secondary battery during my flights.
6K / 8K
40 Minutes
10km
3-axis gimbal
Pros:
Cons:
The Autel Evo II Pro is one of the few DJI alternatives that can boast a 6K@30fps shooting camera at this price range.
Giving you a truly powerful tool to shoot cinematic and professional footage that is almost indistinguishable from very expensive cameras, without opting for higher priced models like say the DJI Inspire 2.
These guys have done a great job comparing it to the very loved DJI Mavic 3, and the results might actually shock you.
There is almost no difference in the footage. And in some cases, the Autel Evo II pro came out on top when it came to photos, because of its higher resolution.
It also boasts a 360-degree obstacle-sensing camera (something the Mavic 3 has as well).
This would allow most pilots who like shooting in large cities or in mountainous terrain to be able to fly without the anxiety of their drone crashing into a skyscraper or large tree.
You can check that 360-degree obstacle sensing in action in this video.
5.4k
31 Minutes
10km
3-axis gimbal
Pros:
Cons:
One of the main selling points of the Mavic Air 2S is its O3 transmission coupled with a Full HD live video feed that’s up to 12 kilometers.
This is perfect if you’re more into wildlife and national parks photography, as it’ll allow you to fly the drone further away, keeping a strong signal even with the trees and mountains, and capturing more breathtaking shots.
Now we all know one of the FAA laws is to always maintain line of sight with your drone, so I’m not saying to actually fly the drone 12 km away from you (but I’m just saying that you can).
Another great feature about it is its camera’s performance in low light settings.
This allows you to take the allure of the world, even as it darkens. Thanks to the camera’s accurate color reproduction, even low-light scenes are sharp and vibrant.
Here’s a video comparing the night footage of the Air 2s against the Air 2.
5.4k
46 Minutes
10km
3-axis gimbal
Pros:
Cons:
One standout feature of DJI's latest Air model is the impressive battery life – it can keep going for up to 46 minutes.
This is perfect if you're using the Mavic Air 3 for filming as it gives you plenty of time to capture all the shots you want without the stress of a ticking clock.
While the full 46 minutes is achievable under ideal conditions, in everyday use, I typically saw around 35 minutes of flight before the return-to-home warning kicked in, depending on flight style and wind conditions. With three charged batteries, I could generally keep flying throughout the day.
Another neat feature is the ActiveTrack 5.0. We first saw this upgrade on the Mavic 3, and now it's available on the Air 3 too!
This is a huge plus for "active" pilots who enjoy filming themselves during activities.
I've tested it myself, and the enhanced omnidirectional obstacle avoidance and APAS 5 support allow the Air 3 to smoothly navigate around trees, poles, fences, or whatever else might be in its way.
6k
27 Minutes
10km
3-axis gimbal
Pros:
Cons:
The DJI Inspire 2 boasts a processing system of CineCore 2.1, and records video up to 6K in CinemaDNG/RAW and 5.2K in Apple ProRes when used with the Zenmuse X7 camera.
This lets you capture incredible details in your filming and experience true cinematic performance, with a drone and camera that are a fraction of the cost of professional cinema tools.
While slightly old, the drone still contends with the newer models with footage like this.
If you’re wondering what even is raw photos, put simply…
A RAW photo is one that is created by combining all of the raw data from the camera sensor into one image – making it perfect for professional modification in programs like Adobe Photoshop and Affinity Photo.
Think of it like a negative picture in a red room…
The raw image data can be endlessly tweaked to get the end look you want. For example…
Exposure can be altered, the white balance changed, the frames can be sharpened, and images can be corrected for color, shadows, and highlights.
This means there is a lot of room to correct errors made during shooting. Allowing you to change the shape and feel of your photos.
Usually, RAW photos from DJI drones are saved as .DNG files, so search for those when importing images from your micro SD card.
Raw video is pretty much the same as raw photos in that they are unedited or “raw” as their name suggests.
RAW video is the camera’s sensor data before any image processing. When shooting RAW, the camera does no processing. To view the footage, post-production is required.
In a single-sensor camera, color creation follows an intriguing process. Every pixel undergoes filtering, resulting in distinct red, green, or blue values.
These values represent the raw and unrefined video output, like a negative film of sorts.
RAW video is that negative film in our case, as it can be processed in a multitude of different ways.
If you’re wondering how you can take raw DNG pictures from your DJI drone, I’ve found the perfect video that outlines this process.
If you’re the impatient type and don’t have time to watch the full video, follow these simple steps:
Now with all that out the way, let’s get into the top 5 drones that have the ability to shoot raw.
As you can see, there are all sorts of drones that fit different needs. The key is knowing exactly what type of projects you’ll be undertaking with your drone, and then getting the appropriate drone for it.
In most cases though, an all-rounder drone like the DJI Mini 3 Pro will be more than enough for most professional filming or photography projects.
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