DJI Inspire 3 announced with full-frame 8K sensor and $16,000 price tag

DJI has announced its new professional-grade Inspire 3 drone for aerial cinematography. This model has many improvements over its predecessor, from its design, sensor, connectivity and operation.

The new Inspire 3 features a full-frame Zenmuse X9-8K Air Gimbal camera sensor, which is their lightest yet, and supports DJI’s CineCore 3.0 image processing system. It can internally record up to 8K 25fps in CinemaDNG as well as 8K 75fps in Apple ProRes RAW. It can also do 4K 120fps ProRes RAW without cropping.

The X9-8K Air Sensor supports dual native ISO at EI 800 and 4000 under 30 fps, making it very capable of shooting in low-light situations. Above 30p the camera can still do EI 320 and 1600. The sensor has a claimed dynamic range of 14+_stops. DJI Cinema Color System (DCSS) is supported for accurate colors and skin tones, as well as color matching between other DJI cameras such as the Ronin 4D.

The Inspire 3 supports the DJI DL mount and the camera is compatible with an additional 18mm F2.8 full frame lens and a new telephoto lens designed for 8K as well as other DL mount options.

The Inspire 3 features a new lightweight and redesigned case. The FPV camera, visual sensors, positioning antennas and storage card slot are all integrated into the cell. The landing gear can be lowered during flight, providing an unrestricted 80 degree view when shooting upwards. The new propulsion system can reach speeds of 94 km/h, with a climb and descent speed of 8 m/s and a dive speed of 10 m/s.

The Inspire 3 also has an updated FPV camera. This is the camera the drone operator sees and the new model has a 161 degree FOV with a 1/1.8 inch night vision sensor and 1080p 60fps. The drone has a transmission range of 15 km with a controller and 12 km in dual control mode (pilot + gimbal control). It can do 1080p 60fps live stream with 90ms latency over 12km or 4K 30fps over 5km range.

The Inspire 3 comes with the DJI RC Plus controller with a 7-inch 1200 nits display and 3.3 hours of battery life, expandable up to 6 hours with a WB37 power bank. The drone itself supports dual TB61 batteries which provide a flight time of up to 28 minutes.

The flight system has been updated on the Inspire 3 with new Waypoint Pro options, including repeatable routes that allow the pilot to fly the drone through exact patterns and routes multiple times to capture the same shots multiple times or at different times of the day. The 3D dolly can simulate a crane, cable cam or dolly to emulate traditional mounted camera movement but with far fewer restrictions of the aforementioned setups.

The camera can do this with a new high-precision RTK positioning system and built-in 3 GNSS (GPS + Galileo + BeiDou), which allows the camera to move precisely anywhere in the world. New machine learning algorithms also provide single object recognition and tracking so the pilot can focus on the flight while the camera automatically tracks the subject, making solo flying and recording easier.

The Inspire 3 is designed to integrate seamlessly into high-end professional film sets, with timecode synchronization, the ability to pair with a high-brightness remote monitor with the RC Plus. The monitor allows compatibility with other DJI products, such as DJI 4D Handlebars and DJI Main Wheels for gimbal control.

The DJI Inspire 3 is priced at $16,499 and will be available in late June. It includes DJI Inspire 3 Aircraft, Zenmuse X9-8K Air Gimbal Camera, RC Plus Remote, 6x TB51 Smart Battery, Charging Hub, 1TB PROSSD, Rolling Case, 3 Quick Release Foldable Propellers ( pair), a lens carrying case, RC Plus Strap, and more. Lenses are sold separately.

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