DJI’s New Inspire 3 Can See at Night and Shoots Full Frame 8K at 75fps
DJI has announced the Inspire 3, a high-end, all-in-one cinema drone that features a 161-degree ultra-wide night-vision first-person-view (FPV) camera and a main camera equipped with a full-frame sensor that can shoot 8K at 75 frames per second in Apple ProRes RAW.
According to DJI, the Inspire 3 is the only cinema-grade drone that supports both RTK-powered Waypoint Pro (RTK is DJI’s high-precision navigation and positioning system) and omnidirectional sensing to perform flight missions more safely and with higher precision.
There are upgrades and changes across the board from the Inspire 2, from the design of the body to the camera system both for shooting and piloting the drone.
A New Design
DJI says the Inspire 3 was completely redesigned compared to its predecessor to create a light, integrated body that is still portable despite a robust frame and improved hardware across the board.
The FPV camera, visual sensors, positioning antennas, and storage card slot are all integrated into the airframe for what the company describes as a minimalist look. The result is a strong, aggressive overall aesthetic.
The Inspire 3 uses new TB51 hot-swappable, dual intelligent batteries that allows it to stay in the air for up to 28 minutes. Those batteries power a propulsion system that lets the Inspire 3 reach a flight speed of up to 94 kilometers per hour, eight meters per second ascent and descent speed, and a dive speed of up to 10 meters per second.
A Full Frame 8K SensorDJI upgraded the Inspire’s camera system and claims the new full-frame Zenmuse X9-8K Air Gimbal Camera is the lightest ever. It is powered by the company’s latest image processing system, CineCore 3.0, which supports internal recording of up to 8K at 25 frame per second (fps) CinemaDNG video as well as 8K at 75fps Apple ProRes RAW video.
Additionally, in S&Q mode, the X9-8K Air supports internal recording of up to full-frame 4K at 120fps ProRes RAW video without cropping.
The X9-8K Air supports dual native ISO and at full-frame 30fps and below, it 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 which DJI says delivers ultra-clear footage for low-light scenes that still bring excellent detail.
The X9-8K Air covers 14+ stops of dynamic range and high dynamic range also brings more possibilities for post-editing, which the company says retains genuine colors even after significant exposure adjustments.
Basically, X9-8K Air puts the power of Nikon’s Z9 camera up in the sky.
Seeing in the Dark
The Inspire 3’s FPV camera features a new 161-degree field of view ultra wide-angle lens in front of a Type 1/1.9 night vision sensor with a 3μm pixel size and up to 1080p at 60fps live feed.
DJI says this ensures a clear, stabilized, ultra-low latency view for situational awareness and additional flight safety, day and night.
Intelligent Precision Modes
The DJI Inspire 3 integrates high-precision RTK positioning technology that DJI says is already deployed in industries such as architecture and surveying to deliver centimeter-level accuracy. The company says that RTK not only makes flying more stable, but also flight-route planning more accurate, significantly improving creative efficiency.
The integrated 3 GNSS System (GPS + Galileo + BeiDou) is powered by built-in dual-layered ceramic RTK antennas and ensures precise flight maneuvers even in challenging environments. By activating the RTK network or setting up a D-RTK 2 Mobile Station, users can achieve highly accurate positioning without mounting any additional modules. These also provide the Inspire 3 with internal orientation, eliminating the need for compass calibration in most scenarios.
Additionally, DJI says this feature enables the all-new Waypoint Pro function which enables flight-route and shot planning with a wide range of customized settings.
Smart Omnidirectional Sensing
DJI says that the Inspire 3 has nine visual sensors which makes it the most advanced omnidirectional sensing system to date. It can detect obstacles in all directions to facilitate comprehensive protection while flying.
These can be customized, and horizontal, upward, and downward obstacle sensing can be enabled or disabled independently, and an obstacle alert range can be set manually to suit different scenarios.
Seemless Integration on Film Sets
DJI says that a major focus of the Inspire 3 was to allow it to seamlessly integrate into a professional film set. As such, it features Timesync Support through a 3.5mm jack for high-precision control on set.
Additionally, the Inspire 3 can be paired with one RC Plus and one High-Bright Remote Monitor and 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-Air camera.
Four New Lenses
The Inspire 3’s Zenmuse X9-8K Air Gimbal Camera uses DJI’s DL mount, but the company says that it will also support an E-mount version.
For the DL mount, DJI has announced four new lenses: a 18mm f/2.8 ASPH, a 24mm f/2.8 ASPH, 35mm f/2.8 ASPH, and a 50mm f/2.8 LS ASPH. It will also release a new telephoto lens (focal length was not defined) at a later date.
The 18mm, 24mm, and 35mm will retail for $1,299 while the 50mm will cost $1,199.
Pricing and Availability
The DJI Inspire 3 is priced at $16,499 and will be available by the end of June. That price includes the aircraft, Zenmuse X9-8K Air Gimbal Camera, RC Plus remote controller, six TB51 batteries, a charging Hub, a PROSSD 1TB, a trolley case, three foldable quick-release propellers (Pair), Lens Carrying Box, RC Plus Strap, and other miscellaneous accessories.
