DJI, the renowned drone manufacturer, has just unveiled two upgraded versions of its best folding drones, the Mavic 3 and Mavic 3 Cine, despite only being in the market for 18 months. The Mavic 3 Pro and Mavic 3 Pro Cine have made a significant change from their predecessor, the double-camera Mavic 3, by adding a third camera stack that includes a 70mm telephoto lens nestled between the 24mm primary camera and the 166mm lens.
This upgrade is fascinating, especially since our review of the Mavic 3 pointed out that the telephoto camera’s picture quality was mediocre, making it an unconvincing selling point for creators. However, it remains valuable for structural inspections and other enterprise applications. Additionally, the Mavic 3 Pro’s addition of a third camera stack sets it apart from the Mavic 3 Classic, which only has the main Hasselblad camera, and starts at around $1,600 with a remote control.
In addition to the new camera, the Mavic 3 Pro retains all the original features. The drone boasts an extensive battery life of up to 43 minutes, while its primary camera utilizes a Four Thirds format sensor and Hasselblad color profile, producing stunning footage without color grading. For editors who prefer to handle their color correction, a 10-bit flat profile, D-Log M, is included.
The Mavic 3’s obstacle sensors provide 360-degree coverage, enabling it to navigate through complex environments and execute pre-planned waypoint flight missions autonomously. For added safety, the drone comes with GPS for precise positioning and automated return-to-home in the event of an emergency. The obstacle sensors also play a crucial role in subject tracking, with the Mavic 3 Pro supporting Active Track for the 70mm telephoto camera, allowing for a closer view of the selected target while the drone follows its movements. Although subject tracking with the 166mm camera remains unavailable, Spotlight and point of interest can still be used to capture automated shots and perform orbits.
The Mavic 3 Pro boasts compatibility with 8-bit H.264 and 10-bit H.265/HEVC recording, with footage stored on 8GB of internal storage or microSDXC cards. Meanwhile, the Pro Cine version takes things up a notch by adding support for more efficient ProRes 422 HQ, ProRes 422, and ProRes 422 LT compression, along with 1TB of internal storage and a 10Gbps Thunderbolt connection. The main camera of the drone captures footage at 5.1K50, while the two telephotos can go up to 4K60.
For still photography, the Hasselblad Four Thirds camera can take 20MP pictures, while the 166mm tele camera’s Type-1/2 CMOS sensor has 12MP resolution. The new 70mm telephoto uses a Type-1/3 chip with a Quad Bayer array, giving you the choice of full-size 48MP shots or downscaled 12MP photos. All three cameras support JPG and Raw DNG capture.
The Pro version of the Mavic 3 comes with the DJI RC as a default, which includes a built-in touch screen, eliminating the need for attaching a smartphone or tablet to fly the drone. This remote control is sold separately for $309. Meanwhile, the Pro Cine goes above and beyond by including the DJI RC Pro (which is sold separately for $1,199), featuring a brighter screen and extra buttons. Both remotes support O3+ transmission, a DJI system that offers up to a 9.3-mile range and 1080p60 transmission.
DJI’s Mavic 3 Pro now available for order at $2,199, with May delivery. The Fly More Combo package, which includes three batteries and a shoulder bag, costs $2,999. Another version of the Fly More Combo with the DJI RC Pro remote is priced at $3,889, while the Mavic 3 Pro Cine is exclusively sold in the Mavic 3 Pro Cine Premium Combo for $4,799. It is unclear whether the original Mavic 3 will remain in the market or receive a price cut, with no response from DJI on the matter.
