Mavic 3 Pro Takes Flight with Triple Camera System - DJI's Latest Drone for Video Professionals
Not long after the Inspire 3 was announced, DJI, the world's leading drone manufacturer, has just announced the release of their new Mavic 3 Pro drone. This latest addition to the Mavic series comes equipped with a new camera unit that features three cameras, a larger gimbal, and a longer battery life. The Mavic 3 Pro is available for pre-order now, with shipping expected to begin in May 2023.
One of the most striking features of the new Mavic 3 Pro is the camera unit, which some might say resembles the face of a droid from a Star Wars movie. The three cameras include a main Hasselblad-branded camera with a 24mm focal length, a medium telephoto camera with a 70mm focal length, and a telephoto camera with a 166mm focal length.
Main Features:
A tri-camera system with a 3-axis gimbal, providing stable and smooth footage
A Hasselblad 20MP 5.1K wide-angle 4/3 CMOS camera that captures stunning, high-quality images
Two additional telephoto lenses, including a 166mm 12MP 7x zoom lens and a 70mm 48MP 3x zoom medium telephoto lens
Seven intelligent flight modes that make it easy to capture cinematic shots
An impressive flight time of up to 43 minutes, providing video professionals ample time to capture footage
O3+ transmission with a range of up to 9.3 miles, ensuring a stable connection even in remote locations
Omnidirectional avoidance with APAS 5.0, helping the drone navigate around obstacles safely and efficiently
D-LOG, D-LOG M & HLG post-processing capabilities that allow for advanced editing options
The DJI RC remote is included, providing a convenient way to control the drone from a distance.
The cameras are mounted on a larger gimbal, which helps to stabilize them and ensure that your footage is smooth and steady. The main Hasselblad camera has a 20MP Micro four-thirds CMOS sensor and can shoot 12-bit raw photos with a dynamic range of up to 12.8 stops. It can also record video at up to 5.1K 50fps or DCI 4K 120fps. The medium telephoto camera has a 48MP 1/1.3” CMOS sensor and can take 48MP or binned 12MP stills, as well as video in up to 4K 60fps. The telephoto camera has a 1/2” CMOS sensor and can shoot video in 4K up to 60fps and take 12MP stills.
The Mavic 3 Pro has a takeoff weight of slightly over 900g and can fly for up to 43 minutes. However, the increased weight of the drone means that it will likely need to be classified as a C2 drone in Europe, which may have consequences for pilots operating in certain areas.
In addition to the new camera unit, the Mavic 3 Pro also comes with a range of new features and upgrades. One of these is the new "slightly less flat" D-Log M color profile, which gives video professionals flexibility when it comes to color grading their footage. The drone also comes with ND filters with balanced strengths, which can help to reduce glare and ensure footage is well-exposed.
There is also a Cine version of the Mavic 3 Pro, which comes with a built-in 1 TB SSD and the ability to record ProRes 422 from all three cameras. This version of the drone is designed for professional filmmakers and camera operators, offering even more flexibility and control when it comes to capturing and editing footage.
The Mavic 3 Pro weighs 958g, while the Mavic 3 Pro Cine is slightly heavier at 963g. To compare, the Mavic 3 weighs 895g or 1.97 pounds, and the Mavic 3 Pro Cine weighs 899g or 1.98 pounds. In terms of size, both the Mavic 3 Pro and Mavic 3 Pro Cine have the same dimensions when unfolded, which are 347.5mm in length, 290.8mm in width, and 107.7mm in height. When folded, they measure 231.1mm in length, 98mm in width, and 95.4mm in height.
The maximum speed of the Mavic 3 and Mavic 3 Cine in S mode is 21 m/s, which is just slightly faster than the Mavic 2 Pro's speed of 20 m/s in S mode. In terms of ascent speed, the Mavic 3 Pro and Mavic 3 Pro Cine have a maximum speed of 6 m/s in P mode and 8 m/s in S mode. The maximum descent speed is also 6 m/s in P mode. This means that the Mavic 3 Pro and Mavic 3 Pro Cine are not any quicker than their predecessors when it comes to ascending and descending.
As for wind speed resistance, both the Mavic 3 Pro and Mavic 3 Pro Cine can withstand wind speeds of up to 10.8-13.8/s.
The Mavic 3 Pro also comes equipped with Omnidirectional Sensing and APAS 5.0 technology, which uses eight wide-angle vision sensors to detect obstacles in all directions and plan a safe flight path. The drone also has a range of auto features, including ActiveTrack 4.0, which can track and follow a subject automatically, and Spotlight 2.0, which keeps your subject in the center of the frame no matter where you fly.
DJI has included a Return To Home (RTH) system in their drones for years, which automatically directs the drone back to its starting point if it runs low on battery or loses connection to the controller. Previously, the drone would fly straight back in a straight line, ascend high enough to avoid obstacles, and descend straight down to the home point. The Mavic 3 has updated and improved this system. Now, the aircraft can determine the shortest, safest, and most energy-efficient route to land back at its home point.
In addition, the drone measures the wind speed of the current environment and calculates the required power for returning home based on the wind speed and the return path in real-time. This feature provides videographers and camera ooperators with more time to fly safely before triggering the RTH action.
The Mavic 3 Pro, similar to the Mavic 2 Pro, is offered in various configurations, including:
Mavic 3 Pro Drone with DJI RC for $2,199 USD
Mavic 3 Pro Fly More Combo (DJI RC) for $2,999 USD
Mavic 3 Pro Fly More Combo (RC PRO) for $3,889 USD
Mavic 3 Pro Cine Premium Combo for $4,799 USD
Overall, the Mavic 3 Pro seems to be an impressive addition to DJI's lineup of drones. With its new camera unit, longer battery life, and advanced features, it offers a powerful tool for filmmakers, videographers, and drone enthusiasts alike.
You can read a lot more about the Mavic 3 Pro by visiting DJI's website directly here.
