While consumer drones have gotten smaller and lighter over the years, the models used on set for cinema production are still relatively large aircraft. The DJI Inspire 2 is a standard option since its introduction, and while it enjoyed a very long time in market thanks to an upgradeable camera system, DJI is finally retiring it in favor of a new model, the Inspire 3.
Big Drone for Full-Frame Cinema
The Inspire 3 shares its basic form and style with the Inspire 2. Both are quadcopters with bottom-mounted cameras and clever retractable landing gear. Putting the gimbal below the drone, instead of in the nose, allows the camera to rotate 360 degrees, without obstructions, for shots that you simply won't get with a backpack-friendly drone like the Mavic 3 Cine.
The new bird looks much like the old one, with a gray magnesium chassis and carbon fiber landing gear. The airframe itself is redesigned to be lighter and fly longer, with a 20% improvement in efficiency. The drone supports a top airspeed of 58.4mph, with up to 28 minutes of air time on battery charges. All-around obstacle avoidance is included, a welcome safety measure given the drone's power.
As for the camera, the Inspire 3 ships with a brand new camera, the Zenmuse X9-8K Air Gimbal. As its name implies, the X9 supports 8K recording, with 24/25fps available in CinemaDNG format, up to 75fps slow-motion in Apple ProRes Raw. The drone ships with a DJI PROSSD 1TB for storage.
The X9 supports swappable lenses and mounts. It can take DJI DL lenses or the more popular Sony E. DJI has a set of four primes for DL, but there are far more angles and looks to choose from in E-mount. Regardless of lens choice, footage benefits from the DJI Cinema Color System (DCCS) profile, and the CinemaDNG format offers ready room for color correction.
Built for Crews
While it's possible for single operators to fly the Inspire 3, it's full of features made for crews and two-person teams. The drone itself has a wide angle, onboard camera with color night vision, so a pilot can safely navigate the aircraft in all types of environments, while a camera operator can concentrate on getting shots with the Zenmuse X9. The drone is able to broadcast its feed to multiple receivers, too, so a director can view all the action.
For operators without assistants, automated shots are available too. The Inspire 3 supports programmable waypoint missions for repeated flights, plus a virtual dolly that simulates the cable cam look. Subject tracking is also supported, with a machine-learning-trained Spotlight system that promises cinematic tracking of single objects, so single operators can concentrate on flight controls.
Pricing and Availability
The DJI Inspire 3 goes on sale at the end of June for $16,499. The price represents a ready-to-fly kit, with the aircraft, X9-8K camera, RC Plus controller, six batteries, charging hub, 1TB SSD, trolley case, and sundries. A lens is not included; DJI DL primes cost between $1,200 and $1,300 each.