Mavic 3/4 Pro Alternatives

[Letac]

Hi.

Are there any adequate alternatives to Mavic 3 or 4 Pro? I understand there is no clear competitor, but perhaps something non-DJI that can match the quality of the footage (H.265 in Log) and stills (DNG) of Mavic 2 Pro? Thanks!

 

[Meta4]

Hi.

Are there any adequate alternatives to Mavic 3 or 4 Pro? I understand there is no clear competitor

You've already answered your question there.

 

[mavic3usa]

Hi.

Are there any adequate alternatives to Mavic 3 or 4 Pro? I understand there is no clear competitor, but perhaps something non-DJI that can match the quality of the footage (H.265 in Log) and stills (DNG) of Mavic 2 Pro? Thanks!

What's your budget looking like?

 

[moldorf]

it's Aug 28, 5:30PM and right now Adorama claims it has the Mavic 4 Pro available, in cluding a fly more combo. With the RC 2. $3100 for the drone, battery and RC; $4100 for the FMC

don't know it it's actually available and if it is, how long supplies will last

Adorama has the Matrice 4E available but the price has gone way up

as for alternatives to the Mavic 3/4 Pro, Autel is the only alternative and they aren't as good and cost is still high

if it's an alternative to the Mini 3/4, seems like Skyrover is getting a lot of solid reviews

https://www.amazon.com/SKYROVER-50000ft-Transmission-Obstacle-Sensing/dp/B0FCSN8R7S?th=1

 

[mavic3usa]

it's Aug 28, 5:30PM and right now Adorama claims it has the Mavic 4 Pro available, in cluding a fly more combo. With the RC 2. $3100 for the drone, battery and RC; $4100 for the FMC

And when it becomes available in October, the Creator Combo will be $6010 after tax for me. That's insane.

Might be time to start thinking about Skydio X10.

 

[AnzacJack]

ive operated with Autel and Skydio over the years but always default back to DJI.

 

[Cafguy]

I would ask about your Budget. DJI Drones are priced very cheap so as far as "competition" for the type of Drone you will be hard pressed to find anything close.
DJI however is not the industry standard for filming. If you want to pursue a career in Drone cinematography then you need to invest in a "lifter" such as a taurus. (they are the standard). Depending on what camera you purchase you can bring the cost below 5000 BUT most of my buddies have cams that cost upwards of 60 thousand on their Taurus.

 

[MavicAir2Marc]

I would ask about your Budget. DJI Drones are priced very cheap so as far as "competition" for the type of Drone you will be hard pressed to find anything close.
DJI however is not the industry standard for filming. If you want to pursue a career in Drone cinematography then you need to invest in a "lifter" such as a taurus. (they are the standard). Depending on what camera you purchase you can bring the cost below 5000 BUT most of my buddies have cams that cost upwards of 60 thousand on their Taurus.

Do you have a link for the taurus? Thanks!

 

[PINEBARON]

You probably know DJI are offering MP3 editions on discount right now if you can order and receive from anywhere outside the US.

 

[a2tomm]

DJI IS THE ONLY TRUE CHOICE AT THIS TIME ( AND THAT IS SO SAD ) THE INTEREST IS THERE ) MILLIONS WOULD GLADLY GET FROM UNDER DJI'S THUMB

 

[Cafguy]

You can find the latest model here, Did I mention they Do an easy 100mph.

iFlight Taurus X8 Pro Max 8S O4 Pro HD Cinelifter - Choose Receiver Type

Introducing the Taurus X8 Pro Max, a revolutionary cinelifter FPV that takes professional filmmaking to new heights. Taurus X8 Pro Max adopts an integrated design and aerodynamic low-drag structure, with a powerful flight system and extended flight time, providing a professional and stable...

pyrodrone.com

If you have tons of cash to spend, Heres a great cam for it.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1832303-REG/red_digital_cinema_710_0413_v_raptor_xl_x_8k.html/?ap=y&ap=y&smp=y&smp=y&store=420&smpm=ba_f2_lar&lsft=BI%3A514&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=1413797499&gclid=Cj0KCQjwn8XFBhCxARIsAMyH8BvD4nRV9l-YF_5nA8xKt0uy2sS_N4HWfEjqRHwthZxVVU_yoK2lYZMaAilhEALw_wcB

 

[MavicAir2Marc]

You can find the latest model here, Did I mention they Do an easy 100mph.

iFlight Taurus X8 Pro Max 8S O4 Pro HD Cinelifter - Choose Receiver Type

Introducing the Taurus X8 Pro Max, a revolutionary cinelifter FPV that takes professional filmmaking to new heights. Taurus X8 Pro Max adopts an integrated design and aerodynamic low-drag structure, with a powerful flight system and extended flight time, providing a professional and stable...

pyrodrone.com

If you have tons of cash to spend, Heres a great cam for it.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1832303-REG/red_digital_cinema_710_0413_v_raptor_xl_x_8k.html/?ap=y&ap=y&smp=y&smp=y&store=420&smpm=ba_f2_lar&lsft=BI%3A514&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=1413797499&gclid=Cj0KCQjwn8XFBhCxARIsAMyH8BvD4nRV9l-YF_5nA8xKt0uy2sS_N4HWfEjqRHwthZxVVU_yoK2lYZMaAilhEALw_wcB

Yeah not tons of cash to spend but I have been eyeing up a cinelifter for my FX-30 rig.

 

[Letac]

What's your budget looking like?

This drone would be shared by two departments in the organization. I need it to shoot pretty pictures and videos. They need it to do animal surveys. Very different needs. They settled on Skydio X10, but that doesn't work for me. It is a very expensive drone. They got an offer for over $16K and are willing to proceed if I agree. I won't agree, but now I'm looking at buying one for my department.

 

[moldorf]

And when it becomes available in October, the Creator Combo will be $6010 after tax for me. That's insane.

Might be time to start thinking about Skydio X10.

yeah, it has become a pretty expensive hobby, especially if you're looking to upgrade

But Skydio? After all they did to torpedo DJI and get the drone situation to where it is today? If you're not an enterprise customer, can you even get the X10....and from what I can see, the prices seem to start around $15,000

I think, if it was available, and I was willing to spend 6K+, I'd either go with the Mavic 4 with the RC Pro 2 (really like the RC design and 2000 nits)....or with the Matrice 4E. You can basically get a Matrice 4E FMC from Adorama right now for $6,600. The RC Plus 2E only has 1400 nits compared to the 2000 of the RC Pro 2, so that's a bit of a drawback but I've been operating for years with the 1200 nits of a Tripltek so it would be a slight improvement

I like the laser range finder on the Matrice; always wanted to have a way to accurately gauge AGL

BUT!....just returned from a 2 week camping trip and took several drone flights with my Mavic 3 Pro. Still flew flawlessly and came back with lots of great video. Hard to justify over 6K for another drone

 

[moldorf]

You can find the latest model here, Did I mention they Do an easy 100mph.

iFlight Taurus X8 Pro Max 8S O4 Pro HD Cinelifter - Choose Receiver Type

Introducing the Taurus X8 Pro Max, a revolutionary cinelifter FPV that takes professional filmmaking to new heights. Taurus X8 Pro Max adopts an integrated design and aerodynamic low-drag structure, with a powerful flight system and extended flight time, providing a professional and stable...

pyrodrone.com

If you have tons of cash to spend, Heres a great cam for it.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1832303-REG/red_digital_cinema_710_0413_v_raptor_xl_x_8k.html/?ap=y&ap=y&smp=y&smp=y&store=420&smpm=ba_f2_lar&lsft=BI%3A514&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=1413797499&gclid=Cj0KCQjwn8XFBhCxARIsAMyH8BvD4nRV9l-YF_5nA8xKt0uy2sS_N4HWfEjqRHwthZxVVU_yoK2lYZMaAilhEALw_wcB

am I reading the specs right....max 15 minute flight time with 0 payload; 7 min flight time with 6 pound camera?

that's a pretty narrow range

 

[mavic3usa]

BUT!....just returned from a 2 week camping trip and took several drone flights with my Mavic 3 Pro. Still flew flawlessly and came back with lots of great video. Hard to justify over 6K for another drone

Me too, used all 6 batteries for the Mavic 3 Pro yesterday and the video is awesome! I'm sure the M4P video is better but this still works for me for now.

 

[Letac]

But Skydio? After all they did to torpedo DJI and get the drone situation to where it is today? If you're not an enterprise customer, can you even get the X10....and from what I can see, the prices seem to start around $15,000

We got a offer last year for over $16K for X10, and this drone does not seem to come close to any DJI for creatives who need quality photo and video. Their specs offer few things about photo/video settings, which tells you who the target group is. For example, video is recorded at 60 fps, and that eliminates it for me.

 

[Letac]

Me too, used all 6 batteries for the Mavic 3 Pro yesterday and the video is awesome! I'm sure the M4P video is better but this still works for me for now.

Even my Mavic 2 still creates amazing quality video and stills.

 

[moldorf]

Me too, used all 6 batteries for the Mavic 3 Pro yesterday and the video is awesome! I'm sure the M4P video is better but this still works for me for now.

yep....I have a 4K Samsung TV and the videos I've finalized from the MP3 look awesome in 4K. Every once in a while there is a minor artifact, but generally, it just great viewing. So, when the video looks awesome in 4K, it's hard to believe that it could be noticeably more awesome from the MP4

 

[Cafguy]

am I reading the specs right....max 15 minute flight time with 0 payload; 7 min flight time with 6 pound camera?

that's a pretty narrow range

Yes, They need a few batteries and a good plan, but between "cuts" its adequate for their needs. Some of them "stack" a bigger homemade battery on it to get past the 20 min mark.