Back in the day, in order to get overhead footage, film directors largely had to use either cranes or an elevated platform (and still do). However, since about a decade ago, when it became legal and regulated, we’ve seen an increase in drone use in filmmaking. Aerial coverage via drone has been accomplished in high-profile projects such as Martin Scorsese’s The Wolf of Wall Street and Sam Mendes’ James Bond epic, Skyfall. It’s safe to say, creatives are having fun with these new possibilities while also seeing the drone’s benefits as a tool. Controversial when discussing privacy and the sort, drones are still nifty devices that allow us a birdseye perspective on the world. As one of the leaders in the space of consumer drones, DJI has now unveiled the Inspire 3.
When comparing this new model to the Inspire 2 (an impressive and innovative drone in its own right), it’s not even in the same ballpark; this third generation of DJI’s flagship drone is an entirely new segment of product made for professional filmmakers — not the casual enthusiast. The Inspire 3 offers full-frame coverage at 8K/75fps in Apple’s ProRes RAW format and 8K/25fps in CinemaDNG. The camera itself is a new 1/1.8-inch low-light FPV that features a 3μm pixel size, 161-degree ultra-wide DFOV, and low-latency live-feed shooting at 1080p/60fps. On top of the 360-degree pan capability, there’s also a Tilt Boost that lets you shoot upwards at 80°. Also, the Repeatable Routes feature offers more consistency as the drone can repeat exact flight routes, parameters, and camera settings multiple times in a row.
The use of these devices in cinema has made some ask about the legitimacy of drone shooting as an art form. On the other hand, these are, after all, controlled by human hands — much like a paintbrush or a guitar. DJI’s Inspire 3 bridges the gap even further by allowing the artist to unlock even more possibilities.
Right now, the DJI Inspire 3 is available for pre-order only, with shipment commencing on May 30 at the earliest. It’s priced at $16,499.
