DJI - Mavic 3 Classic

My current drone is the Mavic 3 and id say it's the best drone ive ever owned.

Avata 2! It's super easy to learn the standard controller. Picture quality is excellent in the head set. I have no complaints about mine. I fly a Mavic 3 also and of course it's a far more advanced drone, but the Avata can be more fun sometimes. If I just want to cruise around and try tricks- Avata 2. Pics and videos- Mavic 3. The neo is cute but I don't see it as a good purchase.

I live in the USA and already sold my Avata 2 on eBay after having it less than a year. Between congress messing around and the general stupidity I see on a regular basis where people are flying in places they shouldn't be I figured it is just a matter of time before recreational drones are effectively banned. I still have my Mavic 3 Classic, but even that I think I might just sell and move on to a different hobby.

I recently got a waiver for ops over people with a mavic 3. I got the ParaZero parachute designed for it along with the prop guards and anti collision lighting. I submitted a waiver request for my area to last 2 years with my equipment and some operational guidelines and it was approved after about 6 weeks.

Honestly, if you go Mavic 3 Pro, I dunno. Mavic 3 classic or Air 3s should be your internal debate IMO, on budget. A year of flying the classic a lot, and I've wished I had a pro less than five times. Either way, both are phenomenal drones, while the Mavic-3 Pro is AMAZING, it's probably overkill and overspend. FWIW - from a selling footage standpoint, my lowly Mini-3 is the only one that has made money - clearly not as good quality as every other drone I have.

Buy one on Facebook marketplace. You'll get a great deal and find one that someone flew 2-3 times. Bought my Mavic 3 that way. Saved over $1000 of what I would have paid retail

Mini 4k Pro is my recommendation for beginners - I started with a Mini-3 and because of feature gaps, I went to to a Mavic 3 and haven't looked back. I probably wouldn't have a Mavic 3 at all if I got the Mini 4k Pro in the first place. FPV - I love my Avata 2. Neither Mavic-3 (or Mini-4k pro) or Avata-2 suffer from any quality including videography. If your budget is 2.5k, I think you'd be pretty close to a fly-more package for BOTH if memory serves me - if not pretty darn close.

without question I would get something that had a telephoto lens like an Air 3 or Mavic 3 or Mavic 3 Pro. With a wide angle lens like an avata you'll never get closeup that would be the kind of thing you'll want. The 3x tele on the Mavic 3 Pro would be the best lens although the 7x might be excellent if you have room to frame it. Keep in mind you can't fly over people with out special permissions. You'll want to look into those rule and of course you have to have a Part 107 certificate to do this. Don't shoot into the sun or with the sun toward the front and you will be fine with regard to lens flare. If you don't have that Part 107 you'll really need to take some time and get it.

DJI Mavic Mini Pro 4 with RC controller (or refurbed 3 if a better budget fit). These are so small and basically take the place of a lens in your bag. The RC remote means faster time from bag to air rather than connecting up your phone. Also it is underweight for certain legal recreational mandates. You may want to hurry. Serious talk of DJI pulling out of US.

I've been using a DJI Mavic 3 classic for the past 2 seasons and have been happy with it. I will, however, be upgrading to the mavic 3 or 4 for the flexibility of having multiple focal lengths

incidental transit over people is not really encouraged but ~~technically within regs~~ also not really enforced. with a mavic 3 I would recommend staying far away and using the telephoto lens if you want to do everything by the books for OOP you need prop guards, approved chute (if >250g), RID, and possibly everyone in the venue needs to sign an acknowledgement disclaimer that a drone will be flying over them. kind of a PITA IMHO the best drone for OOP would be something like a DJI neo with RID module, hoverair X1 w RID module, or similar super light drone w guards already installed from factory

Used Mavic 2 Pros can be had for great prices and have a very good camera if you are happy with a 28mm equivalent. Mavic 3 or Mavic Air 3(s) if you're looking for the option of a longer focal length which can be useful for landscape photography. Mavic 4 if money is no object. The upcoming Mini 5 Pro is going to be interesting as it will combine the IQ of a 1' sensor and the operational flexibility offered by sub-250g drones.

Mavics are so good!

It really depends on your **rates** and **specialties**, since cinematic FPV fly-throughs and aerial videography/photography give very different looks. Either way, it's going to be a bit pricey, especially in the U.S. now with the new tariffs in effect (as of May 1st). The **Avata 2** is solid but honestly a bit too big for tight fly-throughs. The **Avata 1** is a better size, but if you're serious about fly-throughs, I'd suggest looking into a **Cinewhoop** - something like a 2", 3.5", micro, or tiny whoop with an O3 or O4 unit. You can pull off cool, unique shots that ground cameras just can't match. Just a heads-up though: it's an expensive hobby. You'll need the right gear, and I really recommend practicing acro mode on a simulator before flying a real Cinewhoop. Crashes happen, and repairs can add up fast. For aerial photography, the **Mini series** is a good place to start - I started with the first-gen Mini myself and later moved up to the **Mavic 3** when my work picked up. And of course, make sure you're following the local rules and regs if you're planning to do any commercial projects!

You need to provide some more information, but generally speaking: 1) If you are wanting to fly with minimal or no licensing/registration requirements and in neighborhoods (depending where you live), then your only choice is the Mini series. The Mini 5 Pro is expected later this year with a significant upgrade to a 1" sensor, otherwise Mini 4 Pro is the way to go there. 2) If you don't plan on doing much post processing and if your client delivery resolution is 4K or below (I'm guessing it's 1080P or less for real estate work), then you will not be using what you are paying for in the large 4/3 sensor Mavic 3 (Mavic 4 will be announced in April, just around the corner here). In that case, go with the Air 3S for the 1" sensor which also matches the sensor size of your P4P. The Air 3S is the best overall drone on the market right now by far, assuming you do not have very specific requirements and aren't doing advanced editing on 10bit LOG footage needing every last drop of DR. I imagine whatever licensing/permissions you need to fly your P4P in neighborhoods will carry over, so that side of things might not be an issue at all for you. 3) If you are an advanced user doing heavy post processing and extracting every last little bit of detail and dynamic range out of your shots, and always shoot 10bit LOG, then the 4/3 sensor from the Mavic 3 or upcoming 4 might appeal to you. The M3 can also shoot in 5.4K if you need resolution greater than 4K for anything. The stills photos are also better than the quad bayer 1" or 1/1.3" sensors used on the other drones. If you do any travelling to Europe, note that the cutoff there for 'relaxed' drone rules is 900g, and the Mavic series is heavier than that (Air series is below that threshold). It would be helpful to know a little more about your use case, specifically with your delivery requirements and how much post processing you do on both the photo and video side. If the end usage of all your work is web-sized images and low resolution video viewed on platforms that destroy the quality of it anyway, you don't need to pay up for a Mavic 3/4.

I got the part about being a photographer...I just didn't get "so," unless your post continues an earlier one. I don't think anyone knows what's going to happen. I think most of us hope that all current drones will remain approved and will continue to be supported and sold by DJI in the US Even if that case scenario doesn't happen and they no longer sell here, we still hope that the FCC or others can't find a way to make flying difficult or illegal. This administration is like no other in our lifetime (or perhaps even in the history of the US), so who knows what they will try to do. I have a Mini 3, Mini 4 Pro and Mavic 3 and I have no plans to sell them. Actually, I am considering also getting the Mavic 4 as well as I shoot for film/tv. Even if the worst happens and we have to give up our drones (which seems unlikely), one hopes that we can use eBay to sell them to buyers outside the US at a discount so they aren't a total loss.

✅ **Mavic 3 series** (Mavic 3, Mavic 3 Cine, Mavic 3 Classic, Mavic 3 Pro) → D-Log & D-Log M ✅ **Air 3** → D-Log M ✅ **Mini 4 Pro** → D-Log M ✅ **Avata 2** → D-Log M ✅ **Inspire 2** (with X5S or X7 camera) → D-Log ✅ **Inspire 3** → D-Log ✅ **Phantom 4 Pro / Pro V2.0** → D-Log ✅ **Phantom 4 RTK** → D-Log ✅ **Matrice 30 series** → D-Log ✅ **Matrice 300 RTK** (with Zenmuse H20N, P1, or L1 payloads) → D-Log ✅ **Matrice 350 RTK** → D-Log ✅ **Zenmuse X7, X5S** cameras → D-Log Thank God for Chatgpt and here you go!

it's not even up for discussion. Without a doubt DJI. For a specific one I'd suggest [DJI mini 3](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BL3T49JF/). It's not too expensive but if you want something better there's always the mini 4 pro. Even more professional is mavic 3 classic or even better than that is the Mavic 3 pro.

I picked up a Mavic 3 Classic a few months ago. The files are fairly flexible. Theres not much room to crop, and there's a bit of chromatic aberration if you're shooting an object into the light. Iirc the widest lens on the Mavic 3 pro and 4 pro are the only ones that use the 4/3'ed sensor (correct me if I'm wrong). I love it. It opens up a lot of new possibilities. If I need a massive print I'll just use AI upscaling.

Yea, I'm bummed out big time. I've had DJI drones since the phantom days. It does not look good. I'm getting ready to sell my Mavic 3 and Avata 2 while they're still valuable. I fear DJI will drop support to the US entirely soon. The pulled geofencing in January 2025, which had been done to appease the FAA. They didn't release the Mavic 4 here.. Canadians are about to have a whole bunch of drones available on eBay.

I got an open box mini 2 SE for really cheap it may have been 250.. It wasn't my first one but once I got that one it changed my thoughts about spending money on drones. I believe 2 days later I purchased the Mini 4 pro brand new and a couple weeks later I think I got Mav 3.. And now I have a bunch of DJI drones new/used and whole bunch that were open boxed drones. They all have the care package on them and started the day I got them. Really a good deal. But I do think it was a mistake for me to keep purchasing drones that were 40 to 230 that were not DJI. Atom and Loheer and maybe Contixo would be okay first drones because you can fly pretty good with those. But nothing like any DJI drones and the photo/video is hands down 100X better with DJI

They'll stop software updates, support/repairs will become difficult. I'm getting out sooner than later.

My Mini 2 was really struggling with 25mph wind. Mavic 3 is probably the only one I'd go for if you were really needing stability at 40mph gusts...but honestly that's risking a lot. Wind shear is a drone killer and its unpredictable.

I shoot a lot of large scale panoramas. I have a Mavic 3 that produces excellent results. I use to travel with it but it's just a lot to carry in the already bulked up gear bag. [Example](https://www.flickr.com/photos/tattrat/52411846639/in/album-72177720295759984) Now I only use it when I'm staying local. [Example](https://www.flickr.com/photos/tattrat/51796938182/in/album-72177720295759984) For travel, I have a Mini 4 Pro. I have been consistently impressed with the footage and photos I can get with it. Amazing little piece of kit. [Example](https://www.flickr.com/photos/tattrat/54255392468/in/dateposted-public/) Unless you're really pixel peeping, I think the Mini 4 Pro really holds it's own.

Most capable drone would be probably Mavic 4 Pro but based on your budget, I would say look into used Mavic 3 Pro. Mini 4 Pro is another great option. I do have an extra Mavic 3 for sale if you are in the USA. Let me know.

A Mavic isn't really going all-out. If you had the choice of hiring someone who could only bring a Mini or someone who had a Mavic, who would seem more serious to you? Who would you hire?

I have flown an Air 2S, Mini 3 Pro, Mini 4 Pro, Mavic 3, Mavic 3E and a Matrice M30. I get the best photos with the Mavic 3 and 3E since they both have a 4/3rds wide camera sensor. They are also good at night. The Mavic 3E has a mechanical shutter which none of the consumer drones have. This virtually eliminates rolling shutter effects and makes for sharper photos. The Air 2S has a 1" sensor and can shoot 5.1K video. Still shots are also very good. My Mini 4 Pro takes surprisingly decent video, but still photos have a lot of artifacts due to the compression and the small sensor. If you want DSLR level quality, you will need to go up to an Inspire 3 or an RTK 350 which can mount a number of really high end sensors.

US RPIC here waiting patiently... I've secured all the equipment I need for my business, but upgrading my analog FPV setup to digital has been challenging due to recent tariff and customs increases, which have significantly driven up retail prices. Because of that, I opted for an alternative FPV route and ordered both the DJI Neo and Avata 2 Fly More Combos received them within four days. I also have a Mavic 3 Classic, which gets the job done for now. Once prices stabilize, I definitely plan to upgrade to the Mavic 4!

If you want something like a DJI Mini/Air/Mavic, you're not going to get much from what are basically cheap knockoffs. If you want FPV pieces (frames/motors/transmitters...), or even full builds (Nazgul, BetaFPV...), AliExpress is pretty much the #1 source.

Go for the mini 4 pro. The sharpness can be reduced in the settings page and you can also use ND filters to decrease shutter speed to help make it look more natural. The convenience of having a drone weight <250g esp. when travelling overseas is unmatched. If the weight and needing a higher certification is not an issue, then go with the air 3/3s or Mavic 3 for better cameras.

An Air 3s is heavy enough to shrug off a lot of wind, and has sensors in every direction plus lidar for obstacle avoidance. You can also take off inside and fly it out through a doorway to do it's thing then it will RTH by itself through the doorway back to where it took off. The mavic 2/3s would also handle the wind but won't have such good obstacle avoidance. None of them are mini series quiet, my mini 4 pro is like a stealth drone, but they're also not avata noisy and don't get me started on the neo - damn thing is like a chihuahua when it comes to noise per pound. Doesn't sound like quiet is one of your big things though, more OA and wind handling.

I've basically stopped using my Mavic and use my Mini 3 Pro for most things now. Wind resistance isn't quite as good, but image quality is more than good enough and being under 250 g makes flying a lot easier (in Canada, might be different where you are). Some people assume 'bigger is better'. I've seen that in photography, where my Nikon D800 with huge lens gets more respect than a smaller camera. (So sometimes I'll being the bigger camera for show, use it for a few pictures while mostly using a smaller camera, and let people assume that the best pictures were taken with the bigger camera when in reality all the pictures came from the smaller easier-to-carry camera.)