DJI‘s Mavic series has been the gold standard for portable consumer aerial photography. With the Mavic 3 Cine edition, DJI injects true professional-grade video capabilities into the iconic folding form factor. The upgrades over a base Mavic 3 will cost you $1,599 more though.
In this in-depth review, I‵‵ll be examining if the boosted performance warrants that premium for serious flyers. You‵‵ll get my hands-on analysis after testing on everything from video quality to automated flight modes. Read on for the definitive Mavic 3 Cine spotlight.
Mavic 3 Cine Overview
The Mavic 3 Cine is positioned as an elite imaging drone for aerial filmmakers who need cutting-edge performance to create cinema-quality footage on the go. To deliver that, DJI enhanced the video capabilities of the already impressive Mavic 3 standard model.
Upgraded Video Features:
- Apple ProRes 422 HQ codec support for improved post-production editing flexibility
- Large 1TB built-in SSD storage for filming lengthy high-bitrate footage
- 10Gbps Lightspeed data cable for faster video transfers
Shared Flagship Features:
- Same outstanding Hasselblad camera system with 4/3 CMOS sensor
- Class-leading 46 minutes flight time
- Omnidirectional obstacle sensing with APAS and ActiveTrack
- 12MP tele zoom lens for revealing perspectives
So in essence, the Mavic 3 Cine specializes in enhanced video handling, building atop the Mavic 3‵‵s foundation of superb aerial image capture and smooth intelligent flight. Next let‵‵s scrutinize the camera performance.
Unmatched Image Quality
Hasselblad‘s reputation for photographic excellence shines through in the Mavic 3 Cine‘s camera system. You get two lenses – a main 20 megapixel wide angle for standard shooting, plus a unique 12MP, 28x hybrid zoom secondary tele lens.
Primary Wide Angle Camera
- Sensor – Four Thirds CMOS, Effective Pixels 20MP
- Lens – 24 mm (35 mm format equivalent), adjustable ƒ/2.8—ƒ/11 aperture
- Still Photography Modes – 20MP: 5472×3648 JPEG/DNG (RAW)/JPEG+DNG 20MP (4:3); 5472×3078 (16:9)
- Video Recording Modes – Apple ProRes 422 HQ: 5.1K – 5120×2700 24/25/30/48/50p, 4K – 4096×2160 24/25/30/48/50/60/120p; H.264/H.265: 5.1k – 5120×2700 24/25/30/48/50/60p
12MP Zoom Camera
- Focal Length – 162mm (35mm format equivalent)
- Aperture – ƒ/4.4
- 2x Optical Zoom, 28x Hybrid Zoom
I was blown away by the dynamic range and lifelike detail across various lighting scenarios. The large sensor soaks up ample light for clean footage with high color fidelity. And the electronically adjustable aperture affords nice control over depth of field.
DJI‘s color science renders vivid hues too. This professional camera delivers outstanding results rivaling my dedicated mirrorless ground units.
Real-World Photo Samples:
Footage is equally impressive – the samples below exhibit buttery smooth stabilized 4K video at high bitrates. Having tested both H.264 and ProRes HQ exports, the editing latitude of the ProRes codec in post stands out. The saturation and exposure adjustments it tolerated before breaking down beat the standard codec exports by a good margin.
Video Sample Clips:
All around, this is one of the best integrated drone cameras available today thanks to thesensor technology lifted from Hasselblad‘s world-class photography equipment.
Professional Video Capabilities
Now let‘s focus specifically on the enhanced video handling that defines the Mavic 3 Cine edition over the normal model.
Apple ProRes 422 HQ
This broadcast-tier codec outputs files with higher bit depth to preserve more color data and tonality for increased editing flexibility compared to standard compression formats. Filmmakers who color grade their footage will appreciate the extra overhead before banding or artifacts degrade the image.
Here‘s a more technical breakdown of how Apple ProRes 422 HQ differs from H.264:
| Video Codec | Max Bit Rate | Color Information | File Size | Editing Latitude |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| H.264 | 100 Mbps | 8-bit 4:2:0 | Smaller | Less headroom before quality loss |
| ProRes 422 HQ | 220 Mbps | 10-bit 4:2:2 | Larger | More grading flexibility |
You can read Eoshd‘s excellent ProRes ultimate guide here for an even more in-depth explanation of color sampling and chroma subsampling.
But in plain language, ProRes retains more high-frequency color and tonality detail through less "lossy" compression, storing perceiveable quality advantages over the standard H.264 codec. This makes it a popular choice for commercial filmmaking.
1TB Internal Storage
Recording high bitrate video requires proportionally large storage capacity. So DJI equipped a massive 1TB SSD within the Mavic 3 Cine to account for Apple ProRes‘ larger file sizes compared to H.264 footage.
Here‘s an example bitrate and runtime storage comparison between the codecs:
| Video Codec | Avg. Bit Rate | 30 Min Recording Takes Up | Max Record Time on 1TB Drive |
|---|---|---|---|
| H.264 | 100 Mbps | 22.5 GB | 1,555 minutes (25 hours) |
| ProRes 422 HQ | 220 Mbps | 49.5 GB | 697 minutes (11.5 hours) |
You can see how the superior ProRes encoding‘s higher throughput necessitates extra storage real estate to contain a usable amount of filming. So if you tried recording HQ video using the base Mavic 3‘s 50GB internal SSD, you‘d top out at just 60 minutes!
Having 1TB onboard the Mavic 3 Cine allows capturing hours of broadcast-grade aerial shots without swapping drives. This is invaluable for documentary shoots, real estate listings, and other environments where re-landing to offload footage could mean missing important moments.
Professionals will also appreciate the flexibility to record different combinations of lower resolution ProRes or H.264 as backups simultaneously thanks to the generous capacity. No more missing epic shots because you ran out of space mid-flight!
Lightspeed 10 Gbps Data Cable
The last video-centric enhancement is the Lightspeed USB data cable. It justifiedly earns the "Lightspeed" branding through rated transfer rates up to a staggering 10 Gigabits per second.
In practical use for offloading the aerial video files, I achieved speeds between 400 – 800 Mbps depending on file size. This allowed copying 30GB of ProRes footage in around 5 – 10 minutes. Expect 40x faster transfers than using the plain USB-C cable that ships with the base Mavic 3.
So while computer interface bottlenecks prevent hitting the cable‘s max rated performance, it‘s still transpformatively quicker compared to normal USB. Faster transfers get you back in the air quicker after stopping to dump footage.
Intelligent Filming Modes
Despite the advanced imaging capabilities, DJI‘s signature user-friendly flying modes make capturing complex shots simple even for beginners. These include:
MasterShots – My personal favorite. Pick a subject and the drone plans and executes a short film recording various highlights completely autonomously. The creative shots get stitched together instantly into a ready to share video.
Hyperlapse – Constructs silky smooth timelapses as you manually fly or along automated flight paths. Way less effort than trying to achieve the same motion stabilization manually.
ActiveTrack 5.0 – Locks onto a chosen subject when they move, keeping them centered without input. Helpful for action shots.
QuickShots – Pre-programmed punchy flight maneuvers like orbiting reveal shots.
These assistance modes work as reliably as I‘ve come to expect from DJI. The computer vision powered subject tracking and obstacle avoidance gives you confidence to capture ambitious footage safely without much piloting skill. And they‘re a treat when showing off the Mavic 3 Cine‘s visual talents for audiences like real estate presentations and events.
Who Should Buy The Mavic 3 Cine?
The Mavic 3 Cine edition makes the most financial sense for:
Professional filming enterprises – Cinematographers, documentary producers, real estate mapping, etc. – who want to consolidate production equipment into one highly portable unit rather than lugging cinema cameras and lenses around. At under 3 pounds, the Mavic 3 Cine is exponentially lighter than traditional rigs, making it ideal for covering events and accessings confined shooting locations.
Well funded prosumers – Serious hobbyists who don‘t necessary need overkill enterprise capabilities, but appreciate owning top-shelf gear and money is no concern. The Mavic 3 Cine will provide overkill quality for YouTube channels and personal projects most pilots can‘t fully exploit. But if you want the very best, here it is.
For most buyers though, the $2199 base Mavic 3 bundle better aligns with recreational videography needs at over 60% cheaper. Rest assured it still captures absolutely gorgeous, professional-level aerial footage and photography without the Cine‘s advanced but niche ProRes and 1TB storage overkill. Casual flyers should divert those saved dollars towards accessories like ND filters and spare batteries instead for the standard model and get 90% the capability at a far better value.
Deals & Shopping Tips
As DJI‘s cutting edge flagship drone priced at a hefty $5000, the Mavic 3 Cine unsurprisingly hasn‘t seen huge discounts since its late 2021 launch. But some savings can be found from select authorized dealers:
Cheapest Price Now:
Amazon – $4599 renewed premium combo
Going the Amazon Renewed route nets 16% off retail for an effectively brand new unit with the same 1 year DJI warranty. The peace of mind of Amazon‘s renown customer service and return policies further helps ease potential hesitations about buying refurbished.
Otherwise, B&H Photo and Adorama have matched the full $4999 MSRP for over a year if you prefer purchasing directly from specialty AV sellers. One benefit there is some lenses offer financing options to ease the Mavic 3 Cine‘s premium cost over time rather than one huge upfront outlay.
I don‘t expect huge deals given how newly released this still is. But mid-late 2023 could usher price cuts once the "newness" wears off if a Mavic 4 unveiling seems imminent. Regardless, DJI products hold resale value exceptionally well should you ever decide to upgrade and recoup costs by reselling.
What‘s Next for the Mavic Series?
With foldable consumer drones already delivering such excellent flight autonomy and imaging competence, subsequent generations will likely focus on iterative upgrades rather than massive capability leaps. Based on the current state of camera and sensing hardware beyond the Mavic 3 Cine‘s specs, we could see things like:
- 6-8K Video Resolution
- Wider Aperture Lenses For Improved Low Light Shooting
- 60+ FPS High Frame Rate Support for Cinematic Slow Motion
- Panoramic Photo Shooting & Stitching
- Longer Maximum Flying Range
- Higher Top Speeds in Sport Mode
- Faster Battery Charge Times
- More Robust Weatherproofing
But we‘re really getting into marginal gains territory for most buyers. The Mavic 3 Cine hitting 5.1K resolution, 1TB storage, 40+ minute flight batteries, and sub 250 gram weights pushes portable hybrid filming drones nearly as far as physics allows.
Companies seem to be shifting attention towards developing larger professional cinematography drones. So I wouldn‘t expect completely new consumer models more than every 2-3 years now that capabilities like collision avoidance, subject tracking, stabilized 4K video, and half hour flight times meet recreational demands.
FAQs
What accessories do you recommend getting?
I‘d recommend 2 extra batteries for longer shoots ($159 each), ND filtering pack for proper daytime exposure ($149), propellor guards if filming around people ($89), and charging hub for powering everything at once ($129).
Does the 1TB SSD allow footage deletion during flight?
Yes! You can selectively delete clips or batches in playback mode while still in the air to clear space.
Can the Mavic 3 Cine withstand high winds?
It‘s stable in conditions up to 24mph sustained winds, and 40mph gusts thanks to the low profile design. I successfully tested flying in 20mph winds with smooth footage.
How far can you fly the Mavic 3 Cine?
It has an FCC approved unobstructed range of 15 kilometers (9.3 miles) – basically as far as you can see! Enough to cover huge distances.
Is this drone ok for beginners to fly?
With robust collision detection and user-friendly intelligent flight modes, yes! But maximizing its video capabilities does demand some existing photography/videography skill and knowledge.
A year into availability, the DJI Mavic 3 Cine retains best-in-class imaging and aerial filming capabilities for professionals needing prosumer portability. You‘d be challenged finding another all-in-one solution that delivers:
- Cinema grade 5.1K Apple ProRes HQ footage
- Massive 1TB internal storage
- 46 minutes flight time
- Long 9 mile transmission range
- High speed maneuverability
- And intelligent shooting modes
…All within an under 3 pound signature folding chassis to slip in any camera bag.
So for filmmakers wanting cutting edge production simplified, the DJI Mavic 3 Cine certainly warrants its towering $5000 price. Enthusiasts should consider cheaper Mavic 3 models though with similar performance minus the Cine‘s niche features. Either way, DJI yet again sets the pace for innovation consumers can now airlift.
