DJI has spent the last few years doubling down on its imaginative powers, tripling it in this case. And it makes sense. Aside from the underlying fun of flying these things, all of the more immediate consumer/prosumer applications revolve around taking pictures and video.
The new Mavic 3 Pro Embrace the prosumer side of that dichotomy with a triple camera system. At its heart is a Hasselblad camera – naturally, since the drone giant bought a majority stake in the much-loved Swedish camera maker back in 2017. It's the same 4/3 CMOS model found in the standard Mavic 3 series, which is capable of taking 12-bit RAW images.
The three-camera system seems to offer a lot more optical flexibility than you'll find on other consumer drones, with a trio of 24mm, 70mm, and 166mm focal lengths. The system can record up to 5,1K at 50 FPS and 4K at 120 FPS.
All of this is enhanced by the video software that DJI has created over several generations, which allows for pre-programmed cinematic shots. Sure enough, you can get something professional looking with a couple of clicks, or you can take manual control yourself. You can also fly based on waypoints or via a preconfigured route, while using built-in obstacle avoidance to avoid falling out of the sky.
The powerful 43-minute battery life should also help. Flight time has traditionally been a sticking point in these systems, but 43 minutes is generous. The batteries can also be changed to continue flying; if the Fly More package is purchased, you get two more.
As expected, it's not cheap. The Mavic 3 Pro starts at $2.200. The Fly More combo, which also includes a battery charging hub, costs $800 more. Another $889 will get you the DJI RC Pro controller with built-in 1080p display.
