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| Image credit: DJI |
DJI has long been a leading brand in the drone industry, with its Mavic line being one of the most popular series of drones on the market. In November 2021, DJI launched the latest addition to its Mavic series, the DJI Mavic 3. This drone has been creating a buzz in the drone industry due to its impressive features, including its fantastic camera, massive flight time, safe and capable flight system, and class-leading flight range.
The DJI Mavic 3 comes in two variants: the Mavic 3 and the Mavic 3 Cine. The Mavic 3 has a price tag of $2199, while the Mavic 3 Cine is priced at $4999. Both drones have impressive features that make them well worth their prices. The Mavic 3 Cine, in particular, is a top-tier unit that includes an internal SSD and the new DJI RC Pro remote control.
The Mavic 3 is a compact, folding quadcopter that picks up where the Mavic line left off. However, it is one of the largest in the Mavic series, particularly when unfolded, as the stance of the drone has changed. The Mavic 3 stands much taller, and the front propellers no longer spin over top of the drone. Instead, the arms are longer and lower, keeping the top of the drone completely clear of moving parts. The rectangular shape with a camera hanging from the nose remains the same as previous Mavic drones, as does the way the propeller arms fold in.
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| APAS 5.0 puts those sensors to work |
One of the key features of the DJI Mavic 3 is its obstacle avoidance sensors. New bug-eye sensors on the rear sit at 45-degree angles, and matched with angled sensors at the front, the Mavic 3 has all-direction obstacle avoidance. APAS 5.0 puts those sensors to work, now able to identify objects up to 200 meters away, to keep your drone safe and to autonomously plan routes when using the new ActiveTrack 5.0 features. The Mavic 3 offers a familiar auto-halt range of about 6 feet from objects and managed to identify a slim, bare tree branch that the pilot didn’t see in the yard.
Updates to the airframe and software are one thing, but the camera is another. The DJI Mavic 3 has a dual camera setup that captures up to 5.1K video and pushes things to the limit with a hybrid 28x zoom. The bump up to a Micro Four Thirds camera instantly makes the Mavic 3 comparable to DSLR cameras, where all previous Mavic drones were best compared to smartphones. The Mavic 3 Cine, in particular, has a great camera, with a long battery life and long transmission range.
Another highlight of the DJI Mavic 3 is the new flight time record for Mavic drones. The Mavic 3 is able to stay airborne for up to 46 minutes. Equipped with O3+ (DJI has shortened the name from OcuSync 3 Plus), the Mavic 3 is also able to get up to 15km (over 9.3 miles) away from the remote. While most of us are not able to fly beyond visual line of sight, that at least means one of the strongest connections between drone and remote we’ve seen yet.
While airborne, the Mavic 3 is rated for up to 30 km of ground cover per charge, which it does at up to 42.5 mph. However, cruising at around 33 mph is recommended if your purpose is to shoot silky smooth video. The drone is rated to manage winds over 25 mph, but doing so did require a lot of battery power, which means that it might not be able to cover the same distance as it would under normal conditions. It's always a good idea to keep an eye on the battery life and adjust your flight plan accordingly.
Video: DJI Mavic 3: Crazy High Wind Test!!!
Overall, the Mavic 3 is an impressive drone that offers advanced features and capabilities for aerial photography and videography. Its long battery life, obstacle avoidance system, and advanced camera features make it an excellent tool for professional photographers and videographers looking to capture stunning aerial footage.
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