The DJI Mavic 3 Vintage introduced within the fall of 2022, nearly precisely three hundred and sixty five days after the release of the more-capable Mavic 3 and Mavic 3 Cine drones. The more recent style is designed to be extra reasonably priced for customers, and we’re happy that DJI controlled to carry the fee down with out sacrificing the digicam.

We’re additionally happy that DJI didn’t take away any flight or security features, touchdown the Mavic 3 Vintage at the listing of perfect drones round. Particularly, we’re speaking about all-direction impediment avoidance sensors, and over 45 mins of flight time.

DJI Mavic 3 Vintage review

Like maximum Mavic drones, the Mavic 3 Vintage is a folding quadcopter with a digicam placing below the nostril of the craft. All of the Mavic 3 sequence is slightly greater than the older machines. The additional dimension and weight permits for the bigger digicam, and a bigger battery. Rated for as much as 46 mins of flight time, we’d say it’s value it.

All-direction impediment avoidance sensors are sponsored through APAS 5.0, which is DJI’s most secure and maximum dependable self-guided flight device so far.

The Mavic 3 Vintage connects to a couple of older DJI faraway controls. A nice alternate from having to shop for new equipment each and every time. And it accepts maximum portions and equipment from the opposite Mavic 3 drones. In essence, if the Mavic 3 Vintage had introduced ultimate yr, we wouldn’t query the place it suits within the line: the Mavic 3 Cine is the most efficient of the most efficient, the Mavic 3 is solely as succesful, however with out an SSD, and the Vintage is the consumer-grade access.

In abstract, the Mavic 3 Vintage does now not get the secondary digicam with tele lens, can’t upload an inner SSD, and can’t report in ProRes structure, however is another way simply as succesful within the sky. The Micro 4 Thirds digicam is as excellent as maximum M4/3 DSLR cameras with related lenses. The lens at the Mavic 3 Vintage isn’t a devoted interchangeable mount despite the fact that.

What we love concerning the DJI Mavic 3 Vintage

We evaluation maximum drones first through their talent to fly, then through their talent to seize photograph and video from the sky. In either one of those classes, we give the Mavic 3 Vintage best marks.

The O3+ transmission device creates a beautifully solid connection to the faraway keep watch over, leading to near-immediate reaction at the sticks, and easy navigation within the sky. The Hasselblad 20MP digicam shoots silky clean 5.1K video, and transparent nonetheless pictures.

An important section about taking part in a drone is in reality flying it, in that the Mavic 3 Vintage shines. 46 mins of flight time is a large deal for many pilots. Nearly all of drones be offering not up to 33 mins of flight, making the Mavic 3 sequence a transparent standout.

The to be had equipment, together with ND Filters, and a Fly Extra Package with additional batteries, greatly prolong the usability of the Mavic 3 Vintage.

In any case, the Mavic 3 Vintage is a competent and protected drone, this is a laugh to fly, and produces high quality media from the sky. The beginning value is way more uncomplicated to swallow as opposed to the unique Mavic 3 drones, we expect DJI were given it proper!

What we don’t like concerning the DJI Mavic 3 Vintage

In standard DJI type, the Mavic 3 Vintage has restricted exact configurable portions. We completely remember the fact that the SSD within the Cine style is a significant improve, however there’s no technical reason that couldn’t had been a user-swappable section, with a easy firmware replace.

Pilots within the racing global perceive this concept. They purchase a body, then they’ll make dozens of portions and accent swaps over the lifetime of the craft. Testing other propellers is commonplace observe. So is swapping cameras. The Mavic 3 sequence is a specialised piece of kit, we don’t be expecting complete configurability, but it surely’s an enormous value leap to get from the Mavic 3 Vintage to the Mavic 3 Cine, we will have performed that during phases.

The DJI Encourage 2 is the top instance of this technique, the interchangeable payload has for the reason that airframe over six years of shelf existence. The Mavic 3 will most likely expire in part that point as more recent cameras change into to be had.

In truth, despite the fact that, those court cases don’t seem to be unique to the Mavic 3 Vintage. This craft in point of fact is a compelling device for any possible pilot.

DJI Mavic 3 Vintage efficiency

Proper from first boot, the Mavic 3 Vintage raced to flight-ready in excellent time. We had a big firmware replace to procedure, for the drone and the faraway, so we had just a little lengthen sooner than our first flight, however, that battery lasted during the replace, then nonetheless gave us about part hour within the sky. Our 2nd battery went just a little over 40 mins, touchdown with 12% ultimate.

With a best velocity of over 40 miles in line with hour, and massive tough motors, the Mavic 3 Vintage is a blast to fly. Horizontal motion is tempered through instrument controls, however the vertical take-off velocity is in large part unencumbered. Getting from the bottom as much as 400 toes takes little or no time. We didn’t in particular check this velocity, however one among our movies presentations about twenty seconds from about six toes as much as max felony altitude.

Impediment avoidance labored rather well. This time of yr there are lots of leaves falling and naked branches to be careful for. We’re happy to document 0 collisions or mishaps with the drone.

We’ve additionally had loopy wind in our flight house in recent years, we effectively captured solid video from the sky with winds as much as about 11 mph. We didn’t, alternatively, courageous the upper winds.

Once we speak about connectivity vary, the Mavic 2 Vintage makes use of O3+. That’s a brand new model of OcuSync, should you had been questioning what the “O” was once for. DJI’s proprietary era is now able to transmitting a 1080p video sign as much as 15KM. This must be offering a forged connection to as low as 1KM in a dense city house, which remains to be some distance past the felony line-of-site regulations in maximum international locations around the world.

DJI Mavic 3 digicam

The Micro 4 Thirds sensor at the Mavic 3 Vintage must now not be underestimated. It is a Hasselblad constructed unit with a 24mm lens, f/2.8 – f/11 aperture, 84 stage box of view, and a 3x virtual zoom.

It shoots 20MP stills, that’s 5280×3956 pixels, and as much as 5.1K video at 50fps. For the slow-mo fanatic, 4K gets you as much as 120fps, and 1080p can seize at 200fps. Additionally to not be underestimated, video will also be captured at as much as 200Mbps into the on-board garage, or high-speed microSD card.

The digicam gimbal has a pleasant quantity of vary. We had been inspired with how some distance upward it could possibly tilt with out getting the nostril of the craft in view. The gimbal has a much wider vary when running autonomously, however you’ve gotten controls to perform from immediately down (-90 levels) to 35 levels upward.

Must you purchase the DJI Mavic 3 Vintage?

The DJI Mavic 3 Vintage is the primary drone because the Mavic 2 Professional that we will be able to hopefully suggest to budget-constrained pilots who care extra about digicam high quality than flight options.

The beginning value of $1,469 remains to be within the higher vary for user drones, but it surely’s a DSLR-caliber digicam for a DSLR digicam value, and it could possibly fly. In fact, that value level does now not come with a faraway, you’re taking a look at $1,599 to incorporate the RC-N1 faraway, or $1,749 for the DJI RC faraway. From there, you’ll be able to purchase the drone on my own, then purchase the DJI RC Professional for $1,199 to get the most efficient imaginable keep watch over revel in.

If you wish to have extra, the DJI Mavic 3 and Mavic 3 Cine come with a secondary digicam. This additional unit is a Tele digicam, constructed into the similar gimbal. It provides as much as 28x zoom. The Cine style additionally features a 1TB inner SSD and the facility to report within the ProRes structure. For reference, the Mavic 3 Vintage can report video at as much as 200Mbps, whilst ProRes 422HQ runs at a whopping 3,772Mbps.

The Mavic 3 sequence continues the Mavic development of getting mounted cameras. should you require interchangeable payloads and lenses, the Encourage 2 remains to be best drone. Although, there’s rumor of an Encourage 3 within the close to long run. Sony’s AirPeak device may be a compelling attention.

If those are simply an excessive amount of in your wishes, or your pockets, the DJI Air 2S stays on the best of our listing of favourite drones. It squeaks in at just below $1,000. The Mini sequence is your subsequent perfect wager happening from there. The Mini 3 Professional is slightly succesful, however the Mini 2 remains to be the most efficient drone we’ve flown for only $500.

We in point of fact just like the DJI Mavic 3 Vintage. It’s simple to fly, feels solid and dependable, and we in point of fact just like the ensuing pictures and video from the sky. We recognize one of the finer handbook controls of the digicam, despite the fact that full-auto produces nice photographs. We expect you’ll like this drone as neatly.