DJI Inspire 3 Review

• In-depth review of the DJI Inspire 3;
• The DJI Inspire 3 integrates the new X9-8K Air gimbal camera, with up to 8K/75fps or 4K/120fps video recording; 
• Dual-native ISO, up to 14+ stops of dynamic range, and Waypoint Pro for automated and repeatable shots for streamlined aerial filmmaking; 
• Compatible with a range of lenses, including the new DL 18mm F2.8 ASPH;
• Centimetre-level RTK positioning for better flight stability and enhanced safety features, including omnidirectional obstacle sensing and ultra-wide night-vision FPV camera;
• Up to 28 minutes of flight time and battery hot-swapping;
• Compatible with the DJ RC Plus controller and upgraded dual control capabilities.

The DJI Inspire 3 is here - and this 8K camera drone will empower professional-level filmmakers.

Packed with a suite of upgrades on its popular predecessor, the Inspire 2, the new DJI Inspire 3 provides exciting new capabilities for top-class TV productions and film houses. Read our in-depth blog to find out how the DJI Inspire 3 compares to the DJI Inspire 2. 

The key features of the DJI Inspire 3 drone are in plentiful supply. The list below charts some of the headline capabilities - showcasing the drone's potential for cinematography:

• Tailormade full-frame 8K sensor: Introducing the new X9-8K Air gimbal camera, with max video resolution of 8192 x 4320 and max photo resolution of 8192 x 5456.
• Up to 8K/75fps or 4K/120fps video recording.
• CinemaDNG & ProRes RAW codecs. Licence available separately. 
• DL Mount Lens Group: New DL 18 mm F2.8 ASPH, or use the DL 24 mm, DL 35 mm, or DL 50 mm lenses already compatible with the Inspire 2. A new telephoto lens will be released at a later date.
• Dual-native ISO, up to 14+ stops of dynamic range, timecode sync with other cameras, and DJI Cinema Colour System to retain colour authenticity.
• Capture automated and repeatable footage through Waypoint Pro, with Repeatable Routes, 3D Dolly, and Spotlight Pro.
• Removable DJI PROSSD 1TB included.
• Enhanced safety: Ultra-wide night-vision FPV camera and omnidirectional sensing system.
• Centimetre-level RTK positioning for stable and reliable flight orientation.
• Extended 28 minutes of maximum flight time and battery hot-swapping capability.
• DJI RC Plus compatibility: Features a 7-inch, 1,200-nit high-bright display, battery hot swapping, up to six hours endurance with external battery, and DJI Pilot 2 app interface tailored to aerial filmmaking.
• O3 Pro cinematic-grade video transmission: Transmits 1080p/60fps at a max 8km (CE) in single-control mode; 6.4km (CE) in dual-control mode; and 4K/30fps live feed support for UHD monitoring and livestreaming.
• Upgraded dual control capabilities: Two remote controllers can receive independent live feeds and control relay is supported.

Keep reading this review for an in-depth look at the DJI Inspire 3. 

DJI Inspire 3 Camera: X9-8K Air

At the heart of the Inspire 3 is its camera, and the impressive X9-8K Air is a seriously impressive bit of kit.

DJI's lightest-ever full-frame three-axis gimbal camera has been custom-built for the Inspire 3 to enhance aerial filmmaking.

CineCore 3.0 And 8K Imaging Capabilities

Designed to meet the needs of top-class film houses, this tailormade 8K sensor boasts DJI's latest image processing system, CineCore 3.0, and supports internal recording of up to 8K/25fps CinemaDNG video and 8K/75fps Apple ProRes RAW video.

The CinemaDNG and Apple ProRes licence key is available separately.

The results are mesmerising: Delivering ultra-high-resolution footage with a clarity that is jaw-dropping.

The X9-8K also features S&Q mode. This supports internal recording of up to full-frame 4K/120fps ProRes RAW video without cropping, providing more creative options in the editing room.

Dual-Native ISO

The X9-8K Air supports dual-native ISO, allowing it to record images with exquisite details and minimal noise, even in low-light cityscapes or beaches. These capabilities put it on par with professional ground-based cinema cameras.

At full-frame 30fps and below, the X9-8K Air offers EI 800/4000, supporting the 24fps commonly seen in film productions and the 25fps used in commercial and television productions. At above 30fps, EI 320/1600 is available.

14+ Stops of Dynamic Range

The X9-8K Air covers 14+ stops of dynamic range, which captures rich highlight and shadow details in complex lighting scenarios like sunrises and sunsets.

High dynamic range brings more possibilities for post-editing, retaining genuine colours even after significant exposure adjustments.

DJI Cinema Colour System (DCCS)

The X9-8K Air benefits from the DJI Cinema Colour System, allowing it to retain authentic colours: Whether that's natural setting or urban landscapes, or accurately capturing skin tones in different environments and lighting conditions.

To help film production workflows, the DJI Cinema Colour System ensures colour matching between the X9-8K Air and ground-based cinema cameras, such as the Ronin-4D. This is advantageous as it delivers consistent colour styling from air to ground to help post-editing workflows.

With editing workflows in mind, use the Inspire 3's 3.5mm port to sync timecode between equipment in the air and on the ground. This streamlines the editing process, especially when dealing with footage from multiple cameras.

X9-8K Air Lens Compatibility

The X9-8K features a quality and comprehensive ecosystem of lenses, enabling versatile and top-class content creation.

One of the new additions as part of the DJI Inspire 3 launch is the new DL 18 mm F2.8 full-frame ultra-wide lens.

Specially made for aerial cinematography and with a full-frame DFOV of 100°, it is beneficial for capturing large subjects and vistas.

Built with high sharpness and well-controlled chromatic aberration, it allows users to record 8K imagery with richer details and true-to-life colours.

The X9-8K Air can also integrate with the full-frame lens selections of DL 24/35/50 mm F2.8, which are already compatible with the Inspire 2's X7 camera.

All of the lenses are available separately.  

A new telephoto lens is also planned for release.

Automated Content Creation

The DJI Inspire 3 has been designed to streamline and simplify the capture of top-class aerial content.

And through Waypoint Pro, operators can take advantage of flight-route and shot planning to automate specific operations through Repeatable Routes and 3D Dolly modes.

Repeatable Routes

Using Repeatable Routes, the aircraft will automatically fly on the same route and maintain all pre-set parameters such as altitude, speed, gimbal angle, and camera settings.

Repeating the same flight mission allows cinematographers to effortlessly perform difficult one-takes, or to fly at different times in the same place to easily create long-duration timelapses that capture transitions such as day to night or season to season.

3D Dolly

3D Dolly can simulate a crane, cablecam, or dolly - but with additional capabilities.

After planning a flight route, the cinematographer can manually control the aircraft to move along the route back and forth while adjusting parameters such as speed, gimbal angle, and more according to the needs of the shot.

This makes complicated cinema-grade camera movements easier and more efficient and can deliver improved visual effects.

Spotlight Pro

Spotlight Pro provides solo creators with more shot possibilities - supporting automated subject recognition and locking for people, vehicles, and boats.

The DJI Inspire 3's Spotlight Pro - which is upgraded from the version on the DJI Inspire 2 - has two modes: Follow and Free.

• Follow Mode: Engaging Follow Kode means that the aircraft and gimbal camera orient toward the same direction and remain locked on the subject. This means that the pilot can capture circling shots without having to make manual framing adjustments.
• Free Mode: Free Mode enables filmmakers to achieve complex camera movements more easily. Utilising the 360° gimbal pan of the Inspire 3, the gimbal camera can stay locked on a subject, while a solo pilot uses the drone's FPV camera to check the surroundings and control the flight route more responsively. 

DJI Inspire 3: Design And Performance

The DJI Inspire 3 is a professional camera drone that adopts a fluid new design that takes aerodynamics fully into consideration to reduce air resistance.

Indeed, the Inspire 3's lightweight, integrated body has been designed to significantly improve manoeuvrability and control.

Speed and Manoeuvrability

For a larger type of camera drone - which tips the scales at 4.31kg - the Inspire 3 is a great blend of speed, agility, and manoeuvrability.

The Inspire 3 can reach a top speed of 58.4 mph, while the maximum dive speed has increased to 10 m/s (the Inspire 2 was 9 m/s) and the vertical ascend/descend speed has increased to 8 m/s (from 6 m/s and 4 m/s on Inspire 2).

Battery Life

The drone has a maximum flight time of 28 minutes - utilising its new TB51 dual-battery system.

Engineered with the latest battery chemistry technology, the TB51 batteries are smaller, lighter, more streamlined, and higher voltage compared to the DJI Inspire 2's TB50 batteries.

The new battery charging hub can accommodate up to eight batteries at once. In Fast mode, it can charge two batteries to 90% in just 35 minutes and eight batteries to 100% in only 160 minutes. The included 65W USB-C port can also be used to charge the Inspire 3's RC Plus controller. More on this RC later on.

And for continuous flight, operators can benefit from the drone's hot-swappable capabilities.

It all helps to keep the Inspire 3 in the air for longer and help filmmakers capture more footage in a day's shoot.

Operational Envelope

The DJI Inspire 3 has been engineered to operate in versatile weather conditions, helping filmmakers capture a diverse range of content.

The drone handles temperatures from -20°C to 40°C.

On this note, if the temperature of the battery goes lower than 18°C , the battery will trigger an auto-heating function, maintaining adequate flight performance even in locations with temperatures as low as -20°C (-4° F).

The hardy Inspire 3 can handle wind speeds of 12m/s during take-off/landing and 14m/s during flight, while high-altitude propellers are available when the altitude is higher than 3,000m.

Storage Card

The storage card slot is integrated within the airframe.

The DJI Inspire 3 comes with the DJI PROSSD 1TB memory card, which can be removed and supports a maximum read speed of 900Mbps (measured using the included USB-C to USB-C data cable on Apple MacBook Pro 2021) and the footage can be read on a computer directly through the provided USB-C to USB-C cable without the need for a card reader.

Configuration 

Inheriting the classic transformable configuration of the Inspire series, the DJI Inspire 3 uses an all-new design that supports 360° Pan and Tilt Boost structures.

When the landing gear is lowered, the gimbal supports obstruction-free 80° upward-angle shooting, enabling cinematographers to capture strikingly innovative shots.

Foldable Propellers

The DJI Inspire 3 has new foldable quick-release propellers, which are easy to store and don’t require re-installation before each flight.

Precision Flight System With RTK Capabilities

A useful feature introduced on the DJI Inspire 3 is the integration of high-position RTK: A technology found on DJI's surveying drones to deliver centimetre-level accuracy.

These RTK capabilities with the DJI Inspire 3 make flying more stable and flight-route planning more accurate - especially compared with traditional metre-level positioning supported by Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS).

The RTK antennas are built into the airframe, and by activating an RTK network or setting up a D-RTK 2 Mobile Station - sold separately - users can achieve highly-accurate positioning without mounting any additional modules.

For the record, the differences between Custom Network RTK and the D-RTK 2 base station are:

• Custom Network RTK: Use custom network RTK directly in RTK-covered areas. Simply enable internet access on DJI RC Plus and connect to an NTRIP server to allow Inspire 3 to receive comprehensive data for fast and accurate positioning.
• RTK Base Station: In environments without network RTK coverage, the RTK function can be used by setting up a D-RTK 2 Mobile Station. Then, Inspire 3 can receive comprehensive data from the mobile station for accurate positioning. 

Please note that when RTK is disabled, DJI Inspire 3 uses GNSS positioning by default.

RTK is especially beneficial when used in conjunction with the new Waypoint Pro feature. RTK helps to complete repeated footage which previously would have required a cable cam system or jibs.

The RTK enables operators to fly paths and go through obstacles that were impossible to do before.

DJI Inspire 3: Control System

Control the DJI Inspire 3 with the DJI RC Plus remote controller, which was first introduced with the launch of the DJI M30 Series.

The controller is ideal for filmmakers, offering an enhanced viewing experience - especially in outdoor environments - thanks to its large 7-inch built-in screen, with a brightness of 1,200 nits.

Benefit from just over three hours of operating time with the controller's built-in battery, and extend this to six hours with an external WB37 battery. The controller also supports hot-swapping functionality.

With increased endurance in mind, the controller comes with a strap and waist support to provide more comfortable use over long durations.

The controller also features a HDMI out port, along with several buttons and dials on the front, back, and top, which enable fast and intuitive operation. Button functions can also be customised to fit users' habits and deliver a more smooth operating experience. 

New DJI Pilot 2 App

Use the new DJI Pilot 2 app, built especially for the Inspire 3.

On top of the classic flight control interface, a cinema-grade monitoring interface has been added to suit the needs of filmmakers, offering the ability to check information like camera exposure, video specifications, focal length and gimbal angle.

Enhanced Dual Control

The DJI Inspire 3 offers dual-control, and this functionality has been upgraded compared to that of the DJI Inspire 2.

Two remote controllers can receive live feeds and control the drone independently, so the pilot and gimbal operator can be at different positions on set.

This breaks Inspire 2's limitations of binding the primary and secondary control links.

If the pilot loses aircraft signal, the gimbal operator is now able to take control of the aircraft to safely return to home or land directly.

O3 Pro Video Transmission

The DJI Inspire 3 is equipped with O3 Pro: DJI's latest cinema-grade video transmission system.

It is a major step up from the DJI Inspire 2's Lightbridge video transmission system, yielding enhanced transmission distance, latency, and overall stability.

Indeed, O3 Pro enables:

• Max transmission distance of 8km (CE) in single control mode.
• Max transmission distance of 6.4km (CE) in dual-control mode.
• Gimbal camera and FPV camera support 1080p/60fps live feeds and an ultra-low latency of 90 ms.

And for the first time, 4K/30fps live feeds are also supported with a maximum 5km transmission distance to meet the needs of UHD monitoring and livestreaming on set.

Robust Safety Systems

Safety is a core component of the DJI Inspire 3's DNA.

As such, the drone features a suite of safety features, such as omnidirectional sensing system, dual-antenna orientation, and an ultra-wide night-vision FPV camera. It means that a drone of the Inspire 3's size can be safely flown through and in tight spaces.

Omnidirectional Sensing System

The DJI Inspire 3 has nine sensors, providing omnidirectional sensing which can detect obstacles in all directions.

Fisheye Camera

For the first time, a fisheye camera has been added to each of the four landing arms.

This innovative design helps to avoid obstruction from the airframe when the landing gear is raised and allows for horizontal obstacle sensing when the landing gear is lowered.

Customisable Obstacle Sensing

To ensure even greater flight safety, the Inspire 3 is equipped with a new customisable function.

Horizontal, upward, and downward obstacle sensing can be enabled or disabled independently, and an obstacle alert range can be manually set to suit different scenarios.

When active avoidance is turned off, users can still view the distance from an obstacle on the navigation display in real-time and receive an audio alert when an obstacle is within a set range without the aircraft performing an automatic avoidance movement.

This brings new possibilities to professional aerial teams that want to achieve more complex camera language.

Ultra-Wide Night-Vision FPV Camera

Inspire 3 is equipped with a new 1/1.8-inch-sensor FPV camera with a 3μm pixel size, an ultra-wide DFOV of 161°, and the ability to transmit live feeds at up to 1080p/60fps. Compared to its predecessor, the DFOV is approximately doubled.

This FPV camera delivers more impressive light-sensing capability, allowing pilots to observe their surroundings vividly and clearly, even at night, and ensure greater levels of flight safety.

Dual-Antenna Orientation

Both the front and the rear of Inspire 3 have a built-in stacked ceramic antenna, providing powerful anti-magnetic-interference capability to further improve flight accuracy and safety.

Transportation

The DJI Inspire 3 has a newly-designed trolley case which is equipped with an extendable handle, two side handles, and four 360-degree-movement wheels.

This design simplifies drone transportation.

Additionally, two numbered locks are equipped for added safety.

The trolley case can store one aircraft, one X9-8K Air gimbal camera, two RC Plus remote controllers, four lenses, twelve batteries, two battery charging hubs, three sets of propellers, and other items.

DJI Pro Ecosystem

A major focus of the Inspire 3 is its seamless integration into professional film sets. It features Timesync Support through a 3.5mm jack for high-precision control on set. When dealing with abundant footage from multiple cameras, timecode sync makes the editing process significantly more simplified and efficient.

The Inspire 3 can be paired with one RC Plus and one High-Bright Remote Monitor. The monitor becomes a link to the DJI Pro Ecosystem, offering compatibility with products such as the DJI 4D Hand Grips and DJI Master Wheels. This type of gimbal control experience is on par with DJI Ronin 2 to meet the operating habits of cinematographers.

The DJI Three-Channel Follow Focus can also be connected to the RC Plus to enable Remote Focus and Iris Control on the Zenmuse X9-8K Air camera.

DJI Inspire 3: Summary

The DJI Inspire 3 has been on the wish-list of filmmakers for a long time.

Now, it has here, and it duly delivers, offering unprecedented workflow efficiency, camera language, and creative freedom.

This all-in-one 8K camera drone will empower pro-level filmmakers to fully maximise the potential of any shot.

With a suite of upgrades on the DJI Inspire 2, the DJI Inspire 3 sets a new standard for top-class film and TV production.

To discuss the DJI Inspire 3 and to add it to your filmmaking workflows, contact us.