DJI Mavic Classic Drone Launch: A Cheaper Version of its Predecessor with One Hasselblad Camera
Hello, editor Liam here from Tech & Geek, co-piloting for today’s big DJI launch.
I’ve been covering and testing DJI drones for years, so I’m looking forward to seeing what they announce today. The ‘Explore Vivid’ event doesn’t give much away, but the Hasselblad camera in the teaser poster presumably hints at a new drone.
If you’re looking for a new flying camera (or just want to find out where they’re flying next), pull up a chair and join us as we countdown to take off. The rumored DJI Mavic 3 Classic might be the DJI Mavic 3 Classic since it includes a Hasselblad camera.
I have had the chance to assess the DJI Mavic 3 Classic after it landed yesterday. It’s an excellent new option for individuals who care more about image quality than portability. The Mavic 3 Classic is much less costly than the Mavic 3 and includes most of the same features, with one exception: a telephoto lens. The Mavic 3 Classic is now accessible in more bundle variations than its flagship drone, as the DJI RC controller (the one with a built-in screen, which doesn’t steal your phone) is now compatible with the original Mavic 3. The DJI Mavic 3 Classic is a huge leap forward from the Mini 3 Pro (RC Controller) bundle in terms of image quality and is now available at a much lower price than the DJI Mavic 3.
I’m pleased to see a CE C1 label on a DJI drone at last. Europe has been waiting for this for years! You can see it clearly on the DJI Mavic 3 Classic (above). It will be critical for future drone laws starting December 31, 2022. As mentioned by @JasperEllens (above), European drone fans will be pleased to know that this drone has the CE C1 label, which means it will be appropriate for future drone legislation. These CE Class certifications were first introduced in December 2020, but their criteria were not confirmed until this year, leaving virtually all new drones in uncertain territory. The original DJI Mavic 3 received its ‘C1’ certificate in August via a firmware update, and the new Mavic 3 Classic has it marked on its arm.
What about pricing?
You can now pre-order the DJI Mavic 3 Classic for $1,469 / £1,309 / AU$2,299 (drone only) or $1,749 / £1,529 / $2,599 with the excellent DJI RC controller. It appears that shipping will be ready in 3-7 days, depending on where you live, based on the DJI store.
The Mavic 3 Classic’s Four Thirds camera can still shoot 5.1K/50p, 4K/60p, and 1080p/60p video, as well as 4K/120p and 1080p/200p slow-motion modes. The 24mm equivalent focal length lens’ adjustable aperture can be set between f/2.8 and f/11, making it easy to adjust exposure in mid-air.
The DJI Mavic 3 Classic has officially been released
As predicted, this drone features the same 20MP Four Thirds CMOS camera, 46-minute flight time, and O3+ transfer technology as the original Mavic 3 drone—without the telephoto lens.
If you’re not prepared for DJI’s big reveal, you have about a minute to secretly open the live stream above on your work computer and get seated. We’re about to find out if the DJI Mavic 3 Classic rumors were correct, and how much money we’ll need to collect via eBay sales in the next month to afford it…
Ok guys. These ARE the #dji #Mavic3 #Classic #prices as leaked by a retailer website. Sorry I made some tax and remote mistakes. Next time I will just post a screenshot. Doh.@OsitaLV @DroneXL1 @DroneDJ @techdronemedia @DealsDrone @dronemodelismo @TheDroneGeekPA @IshveenaSingh pic.twitter.com/qm6hxudaTT
— Jasper Ellens – 27 Leaks (@JasperEllens) October 31, 2022
The most important question concerning these DJI Mavic 3 leaks is how much you will miss that telephoto lens. The Mavic 3’s 162mm lens is inferior to its main camera in terms of image quality, there is no doubt about that. Despite that, the unique zoom on the drone, which includes a dramatic ‘parallax effect’ that makes the background appear to move quickly behind your subject, has been responsible for some of the most interesting drone videos I’ve seen on YouTube and elsewhere. Despite the difficult financial times, that extra cost for the standard Mavic 3 is significant, and the Mavic 3 Classic may offer good value if the leaked pricing is accurate. All things considered, the Mavic 3 is still a flying Micro Four Thirds camera.
It’s nice to finally see a CE C1 label on a DJI drone. Europe has been waiting for this for years! @DJIGlobal pic.twitter.com/S4HsUBABFs
— Jasper Ellens – 27 Leaks (@JasperEllens) November 2, 2022
As noted by my pal @rquandt (on Twitter), the Mavic 3 Classic dropped 4 grams in weight thanks to the removal of its Telelens.
Here’s a look at the Mavic 3’s video quality, as seen in our DJI Mavic 3 review. To get a sense of what to expect from the rumored DJI Mavic 3 Classic, we’ve included some test photos in the video above. If the Mavic 3 Classic has the same sensor (but without the drone’s telephoto lens), then we’ll have a good idea of what to expect. According to our review, the Mavic 3’s sensor produces outstanding stills and video images, and there isn’t a drone in its weight class that matches its 20-megapixel CMOS sensor in terms of image quality.
The DJI Mavic3 Classic prices have been leaked by a retailer’s website, I’m sorry I made some tax and remote mistakes. Next time I’ll just post a screenshot. Doh. OsitaLV, DroneXL1, DroneDJ, techdronemedia, DealsDrone, dronemodelismo, TheDroneGeekPA, IshveenaSingh
Recently, I wrote about whether I would regret buying the DJI Mini 3 Pro if the DJI Mavic 3 Classic rumors were true. I’m not at all unhappy with my Mini 3 Pro – it is a terrific little drone that was an excellent companion on a recent trip to the Lake District in the UK. The Mavic 3’s larger frame is more stable in windy conditions, and getting that Four Thirds sensor for less money than the current model will make it an appealing alternative if you often fly in gloomy conditions.
Despite some fresh competition from Autel, DJI is still by far the largest maker of consumer flying cameras – and its range is now split into four sub-brands. There are four sub-brands in DJI’s range.
The DJI Mini 3 Pro is the head of the ‘Mini’ series, which is the smallest and least expensive. Although the ‘Air’ series’ name suggests otherwise, they are slightly larger and have larger cameras (like the 1-inch DJI Air 2S, which previously topped our list of the greatest drones you can buy). The ‘Mavic’ series began in 2016 with the DJI Mavic Pro.
The DJI Mavic 3, which packs a huge Four Thirds sensor into a compact body, is the spiritual successor to the original model. It isn’t cheap, which is why rumors about a DJI Mavic 3 Classic launching today are so prevalent. The DJI Avata is a new FPV drone. It’s a lot of fun to fly FPV for the first time, but it is a bit more niche than what we expect to see today.
There’s a link to DJI’s official YouTube channel on the placeholder above, which will announce the launch today at 9am EDT / 1pm GMT. That puts it at 12 am AEDT on November 3 in Australia. That gives us plenty of time to look into the Mavic 3 Classic rumors and see if they add up to a great Christmas present. As someone who bought a DJI Mini 3 Pro earlier this year, I have some opinions on the subject. We’re now just five hours away from the official liftoff, so we have plenty of time to dig into those rumors.
