Review : Mavic 3 and Mavic 3 Cine drones from DJI

DJI’s Mavic 3 and Mavic 3 Cine drones are costly prosumer drones that fall just short of expectations.

The Chinese company’s latest drones, the DJI Mavic 3 and Mavic 3 Cine, have been launched. The new Mavic models are the successors of the Mavic 2 Pro and Mavic 2 Zoom, both of which were released in 2018. Both the Mavic 3 and Mavic 3 Cine have the similar design with omnidirectional obstacle detecting and a dual camera system supported by Swedish optics manufacturer Hasselblad. In terms of distinctions, the Mavic 3 Cine provides an enhanced experience with Apple ProRes 422 HQ compatibility and a built-in 1TB SSD.

Key Features

• 20MP CMOS sensor (4/3rds) Plus 12MP 1/2″ CMOS sensor
• On the primary camera, a 24mm (equiv.) lens with an 84o field of view and a variable F2.8-11 aperture with up to 4X digital zoom is used.
• Obstacle avoidance in all directions
• 162mm (equiv.) telephoto lens with a fixed F4.4 aperture and up to 28X digital zoom.
• HNCS Hasselblad
• ActiveTrack 5.0 with APAS (Advanced Pilot Assistance System).
• Video resolutions of 5.1K/50p, DCI or UHD 4K/120p, and 1080/200p are available.
• Cinematic capture mode ‘MasterShots’
• H.264 and H.265 at 200 and 140 Mbps, respectively.
• On the Cine model, the Apple ProRes 422 HQ codec is used.
• Flight time: 46 minutes
• Capture of 10-bit D-Log and HDR video
• Image capture in raw and JPEG formats
• Total weight: 895/899
• Image transfer with OcuSync 3.0 (O3) (15 km range).

The Mavic 3 and Cine have a flight time of up to 46 minutes. This outperforms the Mavic 2 and Air 2S by 15 minutes. It even outperforms the Autel EVO II, which has a flight time of up to 40 minutes. The top-tier Mavic 3 Cine, which costs $4999 for the ‘Premium Combo’ (the standard model costs $2999 for the Fly More combo), includes 1TB of internal storage and Apple’s ProRes 422 HQ (High Quality) codec: a codec that applies the least amount of compression to video files for the highest-quality imagery possible.

Comparision

The Mavic 3 and Cine outperform previous Mavic models in terms of camera sensor size, video resolution, zooming capabilities, and flying time. We’ve priced them as Fly More Combos since only the standard model is available as a basic model (without two extra batteries and accessories), while the Cine is only available as a Combo. The standard Mavic 3 costs $2199.

Controller and aircraft

The Mavic 3 has a somewhat bigger frame than the Mavic 2 series, measuring 221 x 96 x 90 mm (8.7 x 3.8 x 3.6″ folded). Because the legs are narrower and the body is smaller, it’s either 8 or 12 grams lighter for the standard and Cine, respectively. The propellers have been lengthened and feature orange tips. The 5000mAh batteries, which are installed at the back of the aircraft rather than the front, are longer and sleeker. The overall design is more aerodynamic.

For the Mavic 3, DJI has developed a more powerful obstacle avoidance system. The Mavic 2 series had obstacle detection sensors on the sides of the drone, although they were not always reliable and only operated while the drone was in Tripod mode. The Air 2S can avoid obstacles from the top, bottom, front, and back of the aircraft.

DJI outfitted the Mavic 3 with six fish-eye vision sensors and two wide-angle sensors, allowing the drone to avoid obstacles in 360o even when flying in Normal mode. This implies that the drone can identify impediments from the top and bottom, as well as from every aspect from the front, rear, and sides. Two extra sensors, as well as auxiliary lighting, are located at the aircraft’s bottom and aid with takeoff and landing in low-light conditions.

APAS 5.0, the most recent development of an autopilot system that recognizes obstacles automatically, will avoid them by constructing a path around them. DJI claims that APAS 5.0 has been improved to perform well in more complex conditions, such as a congested metropolis. In the beta version of the DJI Fly app, this capability was not yet accessible for testing.

Photographs and video

DJI collaborated with Swedish camera manufacturer Hasselblad to develop a customized L2D-20c camera for the Mavic 3 series. The primary camera, located on the bottom, contains a 20MP Four Thirds CMOS sensor, a 24mm (equiv.) lens with 84o FOV, and a variable F2.8-11 aperture. It is capable of shooting still photographs in 12-bit Raw format. A 3-axis mechanical gimbal supports the complete dual-camera setup.

A camera with a 12MP, 1/2″ CMOS sensor is seen just above. You may enable this function by entering Explore mode by clicking the binocular symbol in Photo mode. The primary camera has a digital zoom range of 1-4X. The hybrid zoom changes to the tele lens, which has a digital zoom range of 7-28X. A 162mm Hybrid Zoom (digital + optical) telephoto lens with a 15o field of view and a fixed aperture of f/4.4 can magnify a subject up to 28X. When you zoom close on a topic, it switches cameras, giving an optical zoom effect, similar to how Apple’s iPhone works.

Until the Mavic 3 series, mounting a camera with a Four Thirds CMOS sensor on a drone required purchasing a more costly, and substantially heavier, DJI Inspire and separately purchasing a Zenmuse X5 camera to attach on the drone’s gimbal. The Mavic 3’s camera also uses Hasselblad’s HCNS technology, which provides improved color accuracy.

The DJI Fly app, as well as the flying modes

The DJI Fly app, which also powers the Mavic Mini, Mini 2, Mavic Air 2, and Air 2S, is used by the Mavic 3 series. The simplified, straightforward interface was first launched in November 2019 with the Mavic Mini, and it displays all of the picture modes on the same screen. When you exit Auto mode and enter Manual or Pro mode, sliders in the bottom-right corner let you to alter white balance, ISO, shutter speed, aperture, and pick JPEG or Raw+JPEG pictures. When the ‘Video’ option is selected, the resolution can be changed.

Three dots in the upper right corner provide additional comprehensive options, such as selecting D-Log, video format, photo size and format, and whether you want to brake in front of or around obstacles. It lets you specify height and distance limitations as well as choose between Metric and Imperial units. You may also enable AirSense, a technology that alerts remote pilots to the presence of manned aircraft nearby.

The Mavic 3 has MasterShots, which was launched with the Air 2S. By just picking a few settings, such as proximity and portrait or landscape orientation, it generates ‘professional-grade’ film that is ready to broadcast on social media sites. It then flies independently and takes a range of pictures, which are subsequently stitched together on the app. You may then choose a soundtrack to add right away. At the time of writing, MasterShots was not yet available for testing on the Mavic 3 Cine, but we will update this evaluation as soon as feasible.

DJI has outfitted the Mavic 3 with ActiveTrack 5.0 to improve tracking accuracy during automatic flights. This is distinct in that it enables the drone to move in tandem with the subject. So, for example, you could set it up and go mountain biking, and the drone would follow you. If the subject moves out of frame, DJI claims the drone’s vision sensors will track it and intelligently reposition it. QuickShots such as Dronie, Circle, Helix, Rocket Asteroid, and Boomerang are featured. None of the features listed in this paragraph are currently available for testing on the Mavic 3, however we will update this review as soon as possible.

Ends and beginnings

The Mavic 3 can fly up to 30 km (18.6 miles) away from obstructions or interference when equipped with DJI’s OcuSync 3.0 (O3) transmission technology. Of course, you’d never want to travel this far, but it means that the transmission will be clear and the drone will be less likely to lose its connection, especially if it flies behind an obstruction. It, too, supports both the 2.4GHz and 5.8GHz frequency bands, as did its predecessor. It can fly for up to 46 minutes in perfect circumstances, which is 15 minutes longer than the Mavic 2 series or Air 2S. In Sport mode, the Mavic 3 can reach speeds of up to 75.6 km/h (47 mph).

The regular Mavic 3 accepts memory cards up to 2TB and has 8GB of inbuilt storage in case you forget or run out of space. The Mavic 3 Cine has a 1TB internal storage capacity as well as a memory card slot. If you’re recording a lot of ProRes footage, you may need to use the latter as a backup. If you’ve ever worried about running out of memory card space, experiencing corruption, or losing one, you’ll love this feature on the Cine.

Who is it for?

The Cine is a professional-grade camera having a 20MP Four Thirds CMOS sensor, a Hasselblad color profile, 1TB of internal storage, and Apple’s ProRes codec. This is why I’m baffled by DJI’s use of the Fly app to power it. As previously noted, this software debuted two years ago with the Mavic Mini — a beginner-friendly drone. Even if the Air 2S may be suitable for some professional applications, it is still priced at a range that makes it a viable choice for consumers.

Given its price, the Mavic 3 series is definitely geared at professional drone pilots. This is why I believe DJI should have continued to use the GO 4 app. Maybe Hasselblad’s HNCS technology is so precise that there’s no need to experiment with other White Balance settings like Sunny, Cloudy, and Incandescent. But what if I want to photograph in Shutter or Aperture Priority mode? Why does DJI’s Phantom 4, which was introduced more than five years ago, merit these advanced photographic settings when compared to a drone that costs much more?

I may have remarked in a review that the Autel EVO II has a clumsy software, but the makers had the correct idea by offering options that a professional photographer would want. Anyone willing to pay close to $5,000 for a drone, or $3,000 for the next model down, is serious about their images and is willing to devote significant time to navigating everything that a drone has to offer. The Fly app was designed with more casual users in mind. Why would it be included in a professional-level drone?

I’m also having trouble comprehending (no pun intended) the reality that DJI is selling a digital zoom rather than an optical zoom on such a high-priced drone. Even more confusing is the fact that the files can only be saved as JPEGs. Some professional photographers and filmmakers specialize on inspections and other industrial applications. Why does the Mavic 2 Zoom have optical capabilities that the Mavic 3 does not? Then there’s the matter of the lens’s unusual shape, but DJI may already have a solution for what’s mentioned below.

ARTICLE SOURCES

Brain Tech Solution compels authors to rely on original sources to back up their claims. White documents, government statistics, original reporting, and interviews with industry experts are among them. Where applicable, we also cite original research from other credible publishers. In our editorial policy, you can learn more about the criteria we use to provide accurate, balanced information.

• DJI, Accessed Nov 5, 2021.
• TV / News, Accessed Nov 5, 2021.