This year, creatives saw the release of the DJI Avata and DJI Mini 3 Pro. Both drones fit growing niches and allow creatives to achieve aerial cinematography without needing to build custom FPV rigs or get licensed.
Today, the DJI Mavic 3 Classic arrives, giving filmmakers and pilots an affordable opportunity to own a Mavic 3 drone.
But how does it differ? Does the price cut mean that certain critical features are missing? Surprisingly, you get a whole lot of bang for your buck.
DJI Mavic 3 Classic
Like Beethoven or a painting at the Met, the Mavic 3 is officially a classic. What that means from a marketing standpoint is unclear, but what creatives are getting is most of the original Mavic 3 drone, at an affordable and enticing entry price.
Credit: DJI
The Classic does away with the additional telephoto lens from the original release but keeps the 20MP 4/3 sensor made by Hasselblad.
Hasselblad Natural Colour Solution (HNCS) is also included, which is a nice benefit of the partnership. The lens is equivalent to a 24mm lens and has an f/2.8 aperture, giving you an 84° field of view and 12.8 stops of dynamic range. Creatives will still get the O3+ Transmission system with a 1080p/60fps live feed that DJI claims will work up to 15 km.
A Hasselblad camera that shouldn't be underestimated.Credit: DJI
The 895g drone will get a 46-minute flight time, which can be extended with additional batteries. The Fly More Kits for the original Mavic 3 are all compatible with the Classic, which is a nice touch.
For video and stills, the DJI Mavic 3 Classic will do 5K still in either JPEG or DNG, and give you H.264/H.265 video up to 5.2K/50p in Normal, HLG, or D-Log. If you want a higher frame rate, you can get 200fps if you bump down to FHD resolution. All in all, the Mavic 3 Classic is still an impressive drone.
Backwards compatible batteriesCredit: DJI
Classic or Clearance?
The jaded among you could look at this release and think that DJI is trying to get rid of old Mavic 3 stock with a quick rebrand. Even so, it doesn't change the fact that the DJI Mavic 3 Classic is still a robust drone that can give creatives stunning videos for their digital content projects and even narrative films.
DJI Mavic 3 Classic
- Remote Control Not Included
- 20MP 5.1K Wide-Angle 4/3 CMOS Hasselblad
- 4K Slow Motion at 120 fps
- 10-Bit D-Log Color Profile & HNCS
- f/2.8 to f/11 Adjustable Aperture
- Omnidirectional Obstacle Avoidance
- Up to 9.3-Mile HD Transmission Range
- Advanced Return-to-Home Function
- Automated Shooting Modes
- Up to 46 Minutes of Flight Time
Whatever your thoughts are, at the very least, you'll want to keep this drone on your shortlist. The Hasselblad camera, long flight time, and backward compatibility make the Classic a worthwhile investment for drone shooters looking to level up a bit.
What do you think of this release from DJI? Did you get the Mini 3 Pro and now regret it? Let us know in the comments!
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