DJI Mavic 3 Classic review 2024: affordable flying camera

The DJI Mavic series has advanced significantly in a short period of time, ushering foldable drones into the mainstream and bringing industry-leading technology along with it. The DJI Mavic 3 Classic is the most recent model in the line; it was introduced less than a year after the first two Mavic 3 models, but with two significant differences: a cheaper price and a single camera.

Due to the telephoto camera’s removal, the DJI Mavic 3 Classic provides users with a more affordable option than the DJI Mavic 3 and Mavic 3 Cine variants. Despite having a 162 mm equivalent focal length, this supplementary camera is unnecessary for many users because to its limited settings.

We’re here with our DJI Mavic 3 Classic review. The Hasselblad 20MP 4/3 camera, which is more practical and spectacular, is included inside the Mavic 3 Classic. The Mavic 3 Classic’s crowning glory is unquestionably its camera.

This offers considerable control over settings, a 3x digital zoom, and the ability to take photographs in JPEG or Raw. It also delivers superb image quality for both photos and films. And this can be captured in video at 5.1K and up to 50fps.

DJI Mavic 3 Classic specifications

DJI Mavic 3 Classic review: Design

When not in use, the DJI Mavic 3 Classic folds up in the same manner as all other Mavic models, making it smaller and more compact. The drone weighs 895 g (31.5 oz) when folded and measures just 221 x 96.3 x 90.3 mm when unfurled for flight. Its folded dimensions are 347.5 x 283 x 107.7 mm.

Similar to the original models, the batteries being used have a flying time of up to 46 minutes, which in practise translates to about 30 minutes. The absence of the telephoto camera with a 162 mm equivalent focal length, which distinguishes the Mavic 3 Classic from other Mavic 3 models, is the primary distinction.

The Classic has the same total weight as the Mavic 3 but only houses the more practical 4/3 20MP Hasselblad camera, which is all most customers need. Depending on your needs and budget, two controllers are available. The DJI RC-N1 controller, which is also utilized with the Mavic Mini 3 Pro, Mavic Air 2, and Air 2S, is used by the less priced kit, though not significantly.

This is a typical controller with a retractable phone holder at the top and no LCD screen. The second kit includes the DJI RC smart controller, a convenient device with a 5.5-inch touchscreen that enhances overall user experience. You can buy this camera from its official website

DJI Mavic 3 Classic review: Controller

The two models have the same 3-axis gimbal capabilities and range for obstacle recognition and avoidance. The Mavic 3 line uses the O3+ transmission system from the corporation for highly precise control.

This system has a great range before the signal weakens and enables a controller to receive 1080 30p or 60p footage for composition and exposure correction. There’s no way I’d fly a drone at that distance to verify this, especially since a drone must always be in visual range.

The claimed maximum transmission distance with minimal interference is 15 kilometres in the United States. According to chats with PetaPixel, DJI appears to be aware of this and claims the sole reason it is included is to demonstrate the company’s faith in the signal strength.

DJI Mavic 3 Classic review: Image and Video Quality

The Mavic 3 Classic only has one camera, but it is a fairly impressive 4/3 CMOS Hasselblad sensor with a 20MP resolution. The Mavic 3’s additional 1/2-inch CMOS (12MP) sensor houses the digital zoom lens. The Mavic 3 Classic’s camera includes a 4-degree field of view, a 24-mm-equivalent lens, and an aperture range of f/2.8 to f/11, allowing you a lot more control than you would have with rival drones.

The ISO spans from 100 to 6400, however as with most other cameras, you start to see a lot of graininess around ISO 3200 and above. The video and photos from the Classic were crystal-clear and vivid, much like with the Mavic 3, which I used to fly the drone outside on a few bright fall days.

DJI Mavic 3 Classic review: Smart Features

Other aircraft have used DJI’s pilot assistance, and the Mavic 3 Classic’s APAS 5.0 is excellent. A noteworthy feature is object avoidance that avoids obstacles rather than stopping at them. On a shrub, we experimented with the Normal and Nifty settings. In both instances, it hopped over it and continued on without going back to the previous level.

The Nifty mode also came dangerously close, but that is the point and having the option is beneficial. (One of the modes that wasn’t added until the May 2022 update was Nifty.) We also enjoy the fact that DJI has been enhancing the subject tracking and smart shot features of the Mavic 3 over time by including modes like HLG and D-Log.

These kinds of elements frequently urge you to create the typical profile. Subject tracking is outstanding and was developed with usability in mind, despite the fact that we were able to trick it once.

DJI Mavic 3 Classic review: Performance

There are no additional flying modes in the Mavic 3 Classic when compared to the Mavic 2 Pro and Mavic Air 2. The Mavic 3 Classic, like its predecessors, has the ability to lock onto a target and fly a number of pre-programmed patterns while keeping the target in the centre of the frame.

The Mavic 3 Classic is better at monitoring objects independent of how they move, and DJI claims that its algorithms can also react more quickly to subjects’ motions. Another incredibly brilliant feature of this is that the drone can continue tracking you even if you briefly disappear from view, like if you walk behind a tree.

The Mavi 3 Classic’s object tracking is still effective; the drone followed me around a field and even kept track of me if we briefly ducked behind a tree. We were very grateful for the drone’s all-around obstacle avoidance sensors, which prevented the Mavic 3 Classic from colliding with trees as we were walking through a forest.

Final Words

With its $1,499 price tag, the DJI Mavic 3 Classic fills a sizable gap in DJI’s drone lineup. Before its release, the business had a significant price difference between the $2,049 Mavic 3 and the $999 DJI Air 2S.

The biggest compromise is its 28X digital zoom, but most people won’t find it to be a major loss, and budget-conscious videographers will still like its 4/3 camera sensor and incredible flying duration.

This drone may soon top the list for videographers. For people who just want a drone to fly around and have some fun, we still believe that the DJI Mavic 3 Classic will likely be overkill; these users would be better off with the Air 2S.

FAQs

Is DJI Mavic 3 Classic worth it?

The DJI Mavic 3 Classic is everything you’d expect it to be, with outstanding image quality and the most advanced capabilities that are currently available, but at a price that is more appealing than that of other Mavic 3 versions.

Is the Mavic 3 a professional drone?

Professional content creators have access to a vast array of options with Mavic 3 Cine. Encoding in Apple ProRes 422 HQ, Apple ProRes 422, and Apple ProRes 422 LT are all supported, and the device has a maximum data transfer rate of 3,772Mbps.

What are the issues with Mavic 3?

The constraints imposed by the D-log colour profile, the decreased flying time, and the difficulty of catching the drone by hand are all difficulties that frequently arise with the DJI Mavic 3. Additional drawbacks include geofencing as a result of the DJI Flysafe, a straightforward controller, and the prohibitively high cost of the drone.