DJI Air 3 vs. Mavic 3 (Right here’s my Alternative) – Droneblog

• Good 4K video high quality with 100 fps functionality
• Vertical taking pictures mode for straightforward social media content material creation
• The selection between 12 MP and 48 MP stills
• It’s the lightest among the many fashions, making it appropriate for informal customers and vacationers
• Prolonged transmission vary and dual-camera setup
• Good low-light efficiency and evening mode
• Gives 360-degree impediment avoidance for advanced photographs

• It’s not the perfect for skilled filmmakers as a result of much less superior digicam choices
• Restricted vertical taking pictures mode capabilities
• 48 MP decision achieved by means of Quadbayer know-how, which can lead to compromises in picture high quality

Launched in Might 2023, the Mavic 3 Professional can also be current. It’s the identical as the unique Mavic 3; the one distinction is that it has three cameras as an alternative of two. It prices virtually the identical because the OG Mavic 3, so there can be no cause to contemplate the OG Mavic 3 at this level.

Beneath are the principle options of the Mavic 3 Professional:

• Triple digicam system – As talked about earlier, the Mavic 3 Professional contains a three-camera system, the primary in DJI drones, aside from the multispectral ones. These cameras embrace Hasselblad, 24MM, 4/3 CMOS digicam, a 70mm, 1/1.3-inch, 48 MP (3x) lens, and a 166mm, ½-inch, 12MP lens.
• Variable aperture – Moreover having completely different cameras, the Mavic 3 Professional additionally has a variable aperture starting from f2.8 to f11. Nevertheless, that is solely obtainable within the 4/3 sensor. The 1/1.3 sensor has a hard and fast aperture of f2.8, whereas the ½ sensor has an f3.4 fastened aperture.
• Zoom – The zooming functionality on the Mavic 3 Professional is among the options that make it stand out. With zooming capabilities of 3X, 7X, and as much as 28X, you possibly can observe your topic from a distance and nonetheless take beautiful photographs with out getting too shut.
• Most video decision – The Mavic 3 Professional can shoot as much as 5.1K at 50 fps or 4K at 120 fps with the 4/3 Hasselblad sensor and 4K at 60 fps with the opposite sensors. Nevertheless, it will possibly additionally shoot footage in DCl, UHD, and FHD. You too can use HLG for HDR and change between 10-bit, D-Log, and D-Log M, relying on the pliability you need in post-processing.
• Impediment avoidance – The Mavic 3 takes impediment avoidance a notch larger with sensors throughout and an APAS 5.0 system that allows the drone to decide on the perfect route when flying in areas with obstacles.
• Gimbal lock – The Mavic 3 Professional contains a gimbal lock mechanism that locks the gimbal from shifting on its axes, including an additional layer of safety to the gimbal when there are too many vibrations. This characteristic shouldn’t be obtainable within the Mavic 3 Basic.
• Flight time – DJI advertises the Mavic 3 Professional to have a 43-minute flight time, however we’ll see how this holds in comparison with the opposite drones.
• Controller – The Mavic 3 Professional is bought with the DJI RC, however there’s an choice to get the RC-N1 or the DJI RC Professional.
• Vary – The Mavic 3 Professional options the OcuSync 3+, which guarantees a spread of as much as 9 miles.

Beneath is a long-term overview of the Mavic 3 Professional and its comparability to the earlier OG Mavic 3 and the brand new Air 3.

The Cine model is much like the Mavic 3 Professional, and so they have been launched on the identical day. The one distinction is that the Cine model helps ProRes 422 HQ and 422 LT and has 1TB of inside storage in comparison with the Mavic 3 Professional’s 8 GB.

As such, the Mavic 3 Professional Cine’s goal market is skilled filmmakers and cinematographers.

• Triple-camera system with versatile lenses for various views
• Variable aperture starting from f2.8 to f11
• Gimbal lock mechanism for cover towards vibrations
• 12-bit coloration, HLG, D-Log, HCNS, and D-Log M choices for professional-grade footage
• Superior digicam capabilities are appropriate for skilled videographers and photographers
• Compatibility with a number of controller choices, together with RC-N1 and RC Professional
• OcuSync 3+ transmission with a spread of as much as 9 miles
• Appropriate for cinematic initiatives with ProRes assist and ample storage (Cine model)

• Heavier weight in comparison with Air 3 and Mavic 3 Basic
• Larger pricing, particularly for the Mavic 3 Professional Cine model
• Barely shorter flight time in comparison with Air 3 and Mavic 3 Basic

Launched in November 2022, the Mavic 3 Basic is the OG Mavic 3 however with one digicam. It was launched as a less expensive model of the OG Mavic 3, making it the proper drone for anybody in search of knowledgeable drone with out the bells and whistles of a twin digicam system.

Nevertheless, now that we’ve the Air 3, is it nonetheless price upgrading to the newer drone or getting the Mavic 3 Basic model? We are going to talk about that intimately.

However first, under is a quick overview of the options that stand out within the Mavic 3 Basic.

• 4/3 Hasselblad sensor – Hasselblad cameras are identified for his or her high-quality imagery, which is what you possibly can count on from the Mavic 3 Basic. This sensor permits the Mavic 3 Basic to take stills of as much as 20MP and video resolutions of as much as 5.1K.
• Zoom – Because it solely options one digicam, it helps a zoom of as much as 3X, which remains to be nice however not as nice as within the Mavic 3 Professional.
• Adjustable aperture – Moreover the professional-grade Hasselblad digicam, you possibly can alter the aperture between f2.8 and f11, supplying you with a whole lot of room to regulate the digicam settings relying on the lighting circumstances. This characteristic additionally permits you to get inventive along with your photographs.
• Clever flight modes – The Mavic 3 Basic consists of modes like ActiveTrack, Night time Mode, Hyperlapse, Panorama, Waypoints, QuickShots, and MasterShots, permitting you to create cinematic footage simply.
• Prolonged flight time – With a flight time of as much as 46 minutes, you should have sufficient time to report your footage, and with three batteries and a 96-minute charging time, you possibly can fly with out operating out of juice.
• 360-degree impediment avoidance – The Mavic 3 Basic senses obstacles in all instructions, permitting you to drag off advanced photographs in areas with a number of obstacles.
• Vary – Due to the OcuSync 3.0, the Mavic 3 Basic can obtain a spread of as much as 9 miles.

Beneath is a quick overview of how the MAVIC 3 Basic compares to the Air 3.

• Hasselblad 4/3 CMOS sensor for high-quality imagery
• Adjustable aperture for inventive management over photographs
• Appropriate stability between weight and performance
• Longer flight time in comparison with Mavic 3 Professional and Cine variations
• Variable aperture for flexibility in several lighting circumstances

• Lacks the triple-camera setup and superior digicam choices of the Mavic 3 Professional

Let’s see how these drones evaluate in varied points.

Pricing is among the most essential elements to contemplate when getting a drone. With that in thoughts, under are the costs of those drones:

• DJI Air 3 – $1,039 with RC-N2, $1,349 with the DJI RC 2, and $1,549 for the Fly Extra Combo with the DJI RC 2.
• DJI Mavic 3 Basic – $1,599 with the DJI RC-N1 and $1,749 with the DJI RC controller. The Fly Extra equipment is bought individually and prices $649. This equipment consists of two extra batteries, a charging hub, a automotive charger, further propellers, and a carrying bag.
• DJI Mavic 3 Professional – $2,199 with the DJI RC, $2,999 for the Fly Extra Combo with the DJI RC, and $3,889 for the Fly Extra Combo that features the DJI RC Professional.
• DJI Mavic 3 Professional Cine – $3,715 with the DJI RC Professional and $4,799 for the Fly Extra Combo, together with the DJI RC Professional.

When evaluating these DJI drones based mostly on pricing, the Air 3 and Mavic 3 Basic present inexpensive choices for shoppers seeking to entry superior options and high-quality imaging.

The Mavic 3 Professional fashions, together with the Professional Cine variant, cater to professionals and filmmakers who prioritize distinctive digicam capabilities and are prepared to spend money on a premium drone expertise.

The selection between these fashions is determined by your particular wants, funds, and desired degree of digicam efficiency.

Based mostly on the overviews above, all these drones have wonderful digicam capabilities, so it is going to come all the way down to what you’re in search of.

The Mavic 3 Professional is a superior alternative for skilled videographers and photographers who demand top-notch video high quality. Its 5.1K video decision, a number of zooming choices, and variable aperture settings present unparalleled flexibility in capturing footage beneath various lighting circumstances.

The triple-camera system, together with the Hasselblad 4/3 digicam, additionally empowers creators to discover various views. Some customers have claimed the one drone that might match the Mavic 3 Professional’s video and picture high quality is the Encourage 3, which fits for $17,000, so the Mavic 3 Professional is at the moment the perfect drone you will get in order for you the very best high quality footage with out spending a number of thousand {dollars}.

However, the Air 3 gives an prolonged transmission vary of as much as 12 miles, making it ideally suited for aerial fans who prioritize distant exploration and long-distance flights. Its dual-camera setup and superior flight modes additionally cater to hobbyists looking for a flexible but user-friendly expertise.

The vertical taking pictures mode can also be a wonderful addition for individuals who wish to shoot and put up content material on their social media channels on the go together with minimal edits.

Nevertheless, the vertical taking pictures on the Air 3 is proscribed to 2.7K at 60 fps and doesn’t work in addition to within the Mini 3 Professional. That’s as a result of the digicam doesn’t change to portrait mode. As a substitute, the drone routinely crops the footage, however in a comparability between the Air 3 and the Mavic 3 drones that lack this characteristic, the Air 3 has the higher hand.

Because it has a hard and fast aperture, you’ll need to funds for ND filters to compensate for when there’s an excessive amount of mild. However some ND filters are included within the Fly Extra Combo.

The Mavic 3 Professional Cine caters particularly to skilled filmmakers, providing ProRes assist and ample storage for in depth cinematic initiatives.

In the meantime, the Mavic 3 Basic supplies an economical answer for individuals who worth high-quality imaging and Clever Flight Modes with out the complexity of a triple-camera system. That’s since you get all the different options which are within the Mavic 3 Professional, aside from the triple digicam system.

The flight modes, flight time, aerodynamics, 4/3-inch Hasselblad digicam, adjustable aperture, and 5.1k decision are all helpful for skilled or high-end content material creation.

These drones characteristic a folding design, making them simpler to pack in a smaller bag. Nevertheless, they’ve some weight variations.

The Air 3 is the lightest, weighing 720 grams, adopted by the Mavic 3 Basic, which weighs 895 grams, and the Mavic 3 Professional and Mavic 3 Professional Cine, weighing 958 grams and 963 grams, respectively.

As such, the Air 3 makes the proper alternative for informal customers and vacationers preferring a lighter drone since they transfer round loads.

The Mavic 3 Basic balances weight and performance, making it a really perfect alternative for most individuals. The Mavic 3 Professional and Mavic 3 Cine are for professionals who don’t thoughts the additional weight since they are going to be getting wonderful digicam performance that they won’t get from every other drone inside this value vary.

It’s additionally essential to notice that these drones would require FAA registration since they weigh greater than 250 grams, however that shouldn’t be a problem contemplating what you can be getting from them.

Within the UK, nonetheless, the foundations are fairly completely different. These drones are categorized from C0 to C4 relying on their weight.

Drones weighing lower than 900 grams, such because the Air 3 and Mavic 3 Basic, are within the C1 class and may fly in additional areas in comparison with drones weighing greater than 900 grams (C2), such because the Mavic 3 Professional and the Mavic 3 Professional Cine.

The Mavic 3 drones use the O3+ transmission that gives a spread of as much as 9 miles, whereas the Air 3 options the latest transmission know-how, the OcuSync 4, which guarantees a spread of as much as 12 miles.

Nevertheless, in most filming purposes, chances are you’ll by no means need to fly that removed from the controller, however the Air 3 would carry out higher in circumstances the place it’s important to. The newer O4 system additionally guarantees higher efficiency in areas with interference, however the 03+ shouldn’t be that far behind.

On this case, the vary in any of those drones shouldn’t be a deal breaker.

The Mavic 3 drones are suitable with the DJI RC N1, DJI RC, and DJI RC Professional.

The DJI RC and DJI RC Professional have built-in screens, eliminating the necessity for a smartphone, however the DJI RC Professional is brighter and extra versatile.

However, for the reason that Air 3 comes with a extra superior transmission system, it additionally has new controllers: the DJI RC 2, an improve to the DJI RC, and the RC-N2, an improve from the RC-N1. These newer controllers have extra antennas and improved total efficiency, making them higher than the earlier variations.

Nevertheless, they give the impression of being comparable and really feel much like the older fashions, so you’ll not be compromising on consolation or ergonomics by selecting both.

Nevertheless, there’s one subject: controllers that characteristic the O3+–the DJI RC, RC Professional, and RC-N1–are incompatible with the O4, so for those who get the Air 3, you possibly can’t use its controllers with different drones, or vice-versa.

DJI did state that they may make these newer controllers extra suitable with different drones. When you’re in search of a drone whose controller is suitable with different DJI drones, at the moment, the Air 3 wouldn’t be a really perfect alternative.

The Air 3 and the Mavic 3 Basic have a flight time of about 46 minutes, although, in precise flying, chances are you’ll get round 35 to 40 minutes, which remains to be a very long time for a digicam drone.

Nevertheless, as a result of further weight and cameras, the Mavic 3 Professional and Mavic 3 Professional Cine final 43 minutes on paper and about 30 to 40 minutes in an precise flight.

Contemplating the high-end options you get from the Mavic 3 Professional and the Cine model, the shorter flight time shouldn’t be a problem. Simply ensure you purchase further batteries by getting the Fly Extra Combo.

The Air 3 stands out for its superior transmission vary and dual-camera setup, ideally suited for aerial fans and people looking for versatile taking pictures capabilities. It additionally has the very best ascending and descending velocity (10m/s), which can come in useful when you have to get your self out of emergencies.

The Mavic 3 Professional fashions excel in skilled imaging with triple-camera programs, variable apertures, and enhanced impediment avoidance, catering to photographers, filmmakers, and professionals. The Mavic 3 Basic balances high quality and options, making it an economical alternative for individuals who worth clever flight modes and high-quality imaging.

These drones characteristic comparable clever flight modes like Cruise Management, ActiveTrack, Waypoints, Night time Mode, and MasterShots, and so they additionally all have 360-degree impediment avoidance, so you can be getting only a few new options by selecting both.

The DJI Mavic 3 Professional is the perfect drone due to the triple digicam system, superior imaging capabilities, and a Cine model that helps ProRes and added storage for skilled filmmakers.

With out the triple digicam system, many different options are usually not that completely different from the opposite drones on this comparability. The flight time, although shorter than that of the Air 3 or Mavic 3 Basic, remains to be sufficient to perform your duties, and there’s at all times an choice to get further batteries.

Nevertheless, selecting the perfect drone for you’ll rely in your wants. The Air 3 presents a extra versatile, inexpensive, and moveable choice for informal customers, with the added benefit of twin digicam capabilities.

The Mavic 3 Basic is an economical choice with superior imaging capabilities, wonderful flight time, and nice total efficiency with out the complexities of a twin or triple-camera system.

As you’ll understand, these drones don’t include ample inside storage, so you’ll need to get exterior storage, also referred to as SD playing cards.

When getting an SD card, search for the next elements:

• Reminiscence dimension – It is best to think about the dimensions of footage you can be recording earlier than getting an SD card. If you can be taking pictures in 4K or 5.1K more often than not, it’s ideally suited to get no less than 64 GB, however I favor the 128 GB or 256 GB. It’s at all times higher to get pairs of SD playing cards. As an example, if you need a 256 GB SD card, get two 128 GB SD playing cards and again up the footage so that you simply don’t lose all of the footage if you lose the drone.
• Write velocity class – That is the velocity at which the SD card shops the footage. The upper the velocity, the higher. An SD card labeled U1 or C10 means the SD card can write at speeds of as much as 10MB/s. An SD card labeled U3 can write at speeds as much as 30MB/s. The Air 3 reportedly has a most video bitrate of 150 Mbps, translating to about 18MB/s. However, the Mavic 3 sequence drones have a most bitrate of about 24MB/s (200 Mbps). As you possibly can see, a U3 card will likely be ample for all of the drones on this comparability.
• Video velocity class –This metric can also be used to point out the minimal velocity at which an SD card can write footage and is proven by a capital V. An SD card with a V6 label means it will possibly write at 6 MB/s, V10 is 10 MB/s, and so forth. Since all of the drones on this comparability have a bitrate of 18 MB/s or extra, an SD card labeled V30, V60, or V90 will likely be ideally suited.

Based mostly on these elements, the perfect SD playing cards for these drones are under.