DJI has unveiled the Inspire 3 , a professional multi-purpose cinema drone equipped with a 161° FPV night vision camera and a full-frame main camera that can shoot 8K at 75 fps in Apple ProRes RAW format.
According to DJI, the Inspire 3 is the only cinematic-grade drone that supports both RTK-based Waypoint Pro (RTK is DJI’s high-precision navigation and positioning system) and omnidirectional sensing for safer, more accurate flights.
Compared to the Inspire 2, there are upgrades and changes across the board, from the body to the camera system, as well as drone controls.
DJI Inspire 3: New design
DJI reports that the Inspire 3 has been completely redesigned from its predecessor to create a lightweight chassis that is still portable despite its rugged build and improved hardware on board.
An FPV camera, visual sensors, positioning antennas, and a memory card slot are all built into the body, which the company says looks minimalist. The result is a strong, aggressive overall aesthetic.
The Inspire 3 uses new hot-swappable dual TB51 smart batteries that allow the drone to stay in the air for up to 28 minutes. These batteries power the propulsion system that allows the Inspire 3 to fly at speeds of up to 94 km/h, ascent and descent speeds up to eight m/s.
Full frame 8K sensor
DJI has upgraded the Inspire camera system and claims the new full-frame Zenmuse X9-8K Air Gimbal camera is the lightest ever. It features the latest CineCore 3.0 imaging engine, which supports internal CinemaDNG video recording up to 8K resolution at 25 fps, as well as 8K Apple ProRes RAW video at 75 fps.
In addition, in S&Q mode, the X9-8K Air supports full-frame ProRes RAW video recording up to 4K 120 fps without cropping directly to the card.
The X9-8K Air supports Dual Native ISO and offers EI 800/4000 full-frame shooting at 30fps and below, also supporting 24fps commonly used in cinematography and 25fps used in commercial and TV applications. projects. Above 30fps, the EI 320/1600 is available, which DJI says delivers ultra-clear footage for low-light scenes while still delivering great detail.
The X9-8K Air compensates for more than 14 stops of dynamic range, and the extended dynamic range also allows for more post-processing options, which the company says preserves natural colors even after significant exposure adjustments.
In essence, the X9-8K Air takes the power of the Nikon Z 9 camera to the sky.
Sees in the dark
The Inspire 3 FPV camera features a 161° ultra-wide-angle lens with a 1/1.9” type 3µm night vision sensor and resolution up to 1080p at 60fps live.
DJI says this provides a clear, stabilized view with ultra-low latency to keep an eye on what’s going on and for added flight safety day and night.
Precise Smart Modes
The DJI Inspire 3 integrates high-precision RTK positioning technology, which DJI says is already being used in industries such as architecture and surveying, for centimeter accuracy. The company says that RTK not only makes flight more stable, but also enables more accurate route planning, greatly improving efficiency.
The integrated 3 GNSS system (GPS + Galileo + BeiDou) works with two built-in ceramic RTK antennas that provide precise flight maneuvers even in difficult conditions. By activating the RTK network or setting up the D-RTK 2 mobile station, users can achieve accurate flight without installing any additional modules. They also provide orientation for the Inspire 3, eliminating the need for compass calibration in most scenarios.
In addition, DJI says this feature enables the use of the all-new Waypoint Pro feature, which allows flight route planning and shooting with a wide range of customizable options.
Omnidirectional intelligent control
The Inspire 3 has nine visual sensors, providing it with the most advanced comprehensive control system to date. It can detect obstacles in all directions to provide protection during flight.
They are configurable and horizontal, upward and downward obstacle detection can be turned on and off independently. The obstacle warning range can be set manually according to different scenarios.
Easy job on set
DJI assures that the main goal of the Inspire 3 is to allow it to be easily integrated into a professional film set. As such, it has Timesync support via the 3.5mm jack for high-precision control on set.
In addition, the Inspire 3 can be connected to one RC Plus and one high-brightness remote monitor, and the DJI Tri-Channel Tracking Focus can also be connected to the RC Plus to enable remote focus and iris control on the Zenmuse X9-Air camera.
Four new lenses
The Zenmuse X9-8K Air Gimbal camera in the Inspire 3 uses the DJI DL mount, but the company says it will also support the E-mount version.
DJI has announced four new lenses for DL-mount: 18mm f/2.8 ASPH, 24mm f/2.8 ASPH, 35mm f/2.8 ASPH, and 50mm f/2.8 LS ASPH. Later, the company will also release a telephoto lens (focal length is not yet known).
Video presentation
What about the prices?
The DJI Inspire 3 is priced at $16,499 and will be available by the end of June. This price includes: drone itself, Zenmuse X9-8K Air Gimbal camera, RC Plus remote controller, six TB51 batteries, charging hub, PROSSD 1TB, trolley case, three foldable quick-release propellers (pair), lens carrying box , remote control. Plus a strap and other accessories.
The DJI DL 18mm f/2.8 ASPH, 24mm f/2.8 ASPH, 35mm f/2.8 ASPH lenses will retail for $1299, the 50mm f/2.8 LS ASPH for $1199.
