Why DJI Mavic 3 Cine is our choice
In the ever-evolving field of professional aerial production, drone photography, and post-production video work, selecting the right drone for each project is an essential decision that directly impacts the quality, efficiency, and overall success of the assignment. Within our carefully curated fleet of equipment, the Mavic 3 Cine occupies a central role, even though DJI has recently introduced the Mavic 4 Pro. Our choice is guided not by novelty alone but by a combination of practical operational considerations, legal compliance requirements, and the real-world performance of the drone in various filming and inspection scenarios across Prague, the Central Bohemian Region, and broader locations in the Czech Republic. The Mavic 3 Cine, weighing under 900 grams, falls into the C1 category according to Úřad pro civilní letectví (UCL) regulations, which significantly facilitates flight operations over urban areas, commercial sites, and inspections near people, while allowing for faster acquisition of necessary flight authorizations compared to heavier drones such as the Mavic 4 Pro, categorized as C2.
Although our team holds comprehensive A1/A3 and A2 drone pilot licenses, operating a drone under 900 grams provides clear advantages in terms of flexibility and administrative simplicity for all types of projects, whether it be aerial photography, technical inspections, video production, or content creation for post-production editing. In practical terms, this means the Mavic 3 Cine can often be deployed in cities such as Prague, in nearby towns and villages of the Central Bohemian Region including Kamenice, Říčany, and surrounding areas, without encountering unnecessary bureaucratic barriers. In contrast, the Mavic 4 Pro, despite its modern design, requires more extensive regulatory procedures for urban or populated locations. From a technical standpoint, both drones deliver exceptional performance, featuring advanced sensors, high dynamic range, stable gimbal systems, and high-resolution imaging suitable for detailed post-production workflows. Even though the Mavic 4 Pro offers a 360° rotating gimbal, the resulting footage from the Mavic 3 Cine, combined with careful color grading and professional editing, can achieve an equivalent cinematic quality for all types of projects, including promotional videos, technical inspections, and creative FPV sequences.
Another practical advantage of the Mavic 3 Cine is its support for ProRes recording, a feature not included in the Mavic 4 Pro. Both drones offer 10-bit D-Log for enhanced color depth, but ProRes provides additional flexibility during color grading, detailed editing, and post-production workflows, which is critical for creating visually consistent and professional outputs across all commercial and technical projects. When comparing costs, the fully equipped Mavic 3 Cine remains around 116,000 CZK, while the Mavic 4 Pro is currently around 90,000 CZK. Considering long-term investment, inflation, and the total operational cost, the Mavic 3 Cine continues to represent a highly rational choice for professional projects that require reliable aerial video, inspections, and photo production, while maintaining compliance with drone regulations.
For our projects in Prague, the Central Bohemian Region, and other locations within the Czech Republic, whether we are conducting aerial inspections, real estate filming, corporate video production, or creative FPV content, the Mavic 3 Cine remains a cornerstone of our workflow. Its combination of manageable weight, operational simplicity, regulatory compliance, ProRes recording, and high-quality sensors allows us to execute projects efficiently while delivering the highest level of professional output. Our drone pilots can focus entirely on capturing precise shots, executing creative aerial maneuvers, and ensuring that the final video and photographic outputs meet the demanding standards of clients, all while ensuring safety, reliability, and technical accuracy during every flight.
In conclusion, while the Mavic 4 Pro introduces some additional features and a newer design, the Mavic 3 Cine embodies the optimal balance between cutting-edge technology, operational flexibility, and administrative simplicity for our specific use cases. This strategic choice allows our team to dedicate energy and attention to professional aerial production, high-quality drone photography, inspections, post-production editing, and dynamic video creation without unnecessary regulatory or logistical hurdles. By focusing on the strengths of the Mavic 3 Cine, we ensure every project – from urban inspections in Prague to commercial video production across the Central Bohemian Region – is executed efficiently, professionally, and with the creative attention to detail expected from a skilled drone pilot in the Czech Republic.
