We are excited to announce a major upgrade to our drone fleet: the DJI Inspire 3. This cutting-edge drone will replace our Inspire 2 with the Zenmuse X7 camera, bringing significant advancements in performance, image quality, and on-set efficiency.
The Inspire 2 has been our workhorse for high-end TV and filming since we purchased our first one in March 2017, eight years ago! We bought it specifically for series 4 of BBC’s “Shetland” crime drama.
We still have the original (still maintained in perfect working order), and purchased a second one in 2021, keeping the original as a backup. We bought the Zenmuse X7 and the four lens set at the same time.
While the Inspire 2 with the Zenmuse X7 has been a very capable platform, the Inspire 3 takes things to a whole new level. Here are just some of the reasons we made the switch:
- Full-Frame 8K Camera: The Inspire 3 features the full-frame Zenmuse X9-8K Air gimbal camera, offering higher resolution, better dynamic range, and superior low-light performance with dual native ISO compared to the Super 35mm X7 which was very noisy above ISO 1600;
- CineCore 3.0 Image Processing: The Inspire 3’s CineCore 3.0 system enhances image processing, supporting ProRes RAW and CinemaDNG at up to 8K 75fps, and ProRes Raw 4.1K 120fps in S&Q mode;
- Improved Flight Performance: The Inspire 3 is more agile with faster climb and dive rates, and boasts increased flight time allowing us to get more takes before changing batteries;
- Hot-Swappable Batteries: Each battery can be removed independently so the drone doesn’t have to be shut down during battery changes. This will get us back in the air in under a minute, compared to over five minutes with the Inspire 2;
- RTK-Level Precision: With built-in RTK positioning (using the D-RTK 2 base station), the Inspire 3 offers centimetre-level accuracy, which is invaluable for precise positioning and the new Waypoint Pro, Repeatable Routes, and 3D Dolly features;
- Omnidirectional Obstacle Avoidance: Safety is paramount, and the Inspire 3’s enhanced omnidirectional obstacle sensing makes flights less risky and more reliable, even in complex environments and working close to talent;
- Upgraded FPV Camera: The Inspire 2’s FPV camera was very low quality making it difficult for the pilot to use. The Inspire 3 FPV camera has a much larger sensor, a wider field of view, and excellent low-light performance, essential for working in dual operator mode;
- Upgraded RC: The Inspire 3 uses the excellent DJI RC Plus controller with integrated 7″ high brightness touchscreen, and plenty programmable buttons for flight and camera features;
- All-New Transport Case: The new case holds the aircraft, two controllers, the X9-8K Air, four DL mount lenses, 12 batteries and two charging hubs, pretty much everything that’s needed for a full day on set. Thankfully with all that weight it has four wheels for moving it!
What This Means for Our Work
With these upgrades, our aerial cinematography will reach new levels of precision and quality. The Inspire 3’s advancements enable us to capture sharper, more detailed imagery while improving efficiency in our operations. Whether it’s high-end TV dramas, films or even corporate video productions, the Inspire 3 is going to be a game-changer.
Backwards Compatibility?
Although the Inspire 2’s TB50 batteries are not compatible with the new version, the upgraded TB51 batteries are lighter and have a higher voltage. We would have had to purchase another eight TB50s if we were to continue using the Inspire 2, so it’s not really a dealbreaker. At least three out of the four X7 DL mount lenses fit the X9-8K Air, protecting our investment for years to come.
Stay tuned for project updates as we put the Inspire 3 through its paces on set with Shetland series 10!
