A Bird's Eye View with Our DJI Inspire 3 Drone
No tool has revolutionized cinematography for budget-friendly filmmakers more than the aerial drone. We all love the wide-pan, bird' s-eye view establishing shots, but for the longest time, these scenes were reserved for blank-check blockbuster movie sets. If we had James Cameron money, we'd mount our cinema camera on a helicopter, too, but for our smaller shoots, we have the pleasure of using our DJI Inspire 3 drone instead.
The DJI Inspire Drone series is a popular choice for both professional and amateur drone enthusiasts. We chose the Inspire 3 model, the highest-tier drone that DJI offers, built to produce the best quality cinematography possible from an aerial drone. Since the first unboxing, we have collected some of our all-time favorite shots with this drone and would love to share our experience using the DJI Inspire 3.
About Tucker/Hess Productions: We are a production company based out of Los Angeles and the Bay Area, offering independent and commercial film production. Trusted by big names such as Google, Oracle, and Vans, our work is acclaimed and loved worldwide. Your Hollywood director may see you as a client, but we see you as a partner, and we are excited to work with you every step of the way.
Tucker/Hess Productions offers:
Full-service production services
Copyrighting
Video Branding
4k cinematography, 8k cinematography
Drone videography
Post production services
Animation
And more!
A DJI Background
DJI, a leading manufacturer of drones, has consistently pushed the boundaries of drone technology. The DJI Inspire series is no exception. Known for its high-quality build and impressive performance, the Inspire series is designed for serious drone users who demand the best.
The other popular drone series, the DJI Mavic, meets impressive standards for amateur production, but it's clear that the Inspire line is meant for serious film and TV projects. The integrated camera system offers 8k footage (which is beyond even our needs) and best-in-class low light performance, so you can get shots at sunrise, sunset, or fog. Without a doubt, the Inspire 3 is one of the best professional video drones one can get their hands on.
Key features of the Inspire 3:
Full-frame camera: The Inspire 3 has an 8K resolution camera that delivers stunning video quality. Whether we're shooting a tight action shot or capturing scenic landscapes, the 75 frames per second ensures that the footage is crisp and clear.
360-degree rotation: The Inspire 3's camera can rotate 360 degrees, allowing us to capture shots from any angle. This feature is handy for panoramic shots and dynamic video sequences.
RTK positioning: The Inspire 3 comes with advanced obstacle avoidance and stable flight technology. Compared to GPS routing, the RTK system allows us greater accuracy when pre-planning routes. This feature also helps prevent collisions, making it safer to fly in complex environments.
Long Battery Life: With up to 28 minutes of flight time, the Inspire 3 allows you to capture more footage without worrying about battery life. We also enjoy the 15km range that is available when using the control console.
Our DJI Inspire 3 Experience
When purchasing the best (and most expensive) cinematography drone on the market, you expect premium inside and out. Thankfully, DJI left no stone unturned when making sure the user gets a luxury experience from the second the delivery man comes to the very first shot.
The DJI Inspire 3 comes in a suitcase-like carrying case, with ribbed tough plastic to keep it secure. Everything inside is kept separate with molded foam and overall feels protected enough to take on a flight or load in a truck. However, for added safety and security, we transferred our drone to a specialized Pelican case, so we could have peace of mind knowing it was practically bomb-proof.
The drone itself is a monster and resembles more of a small helicopter than anything else. Each of its four rotors measures multiple inches in length, and "quiet" and "inconspicuous" are not two words we would use to describe the Inspire 3. Actually, at many of our public shoots, we had to rope off an entire section with caution tape to prevent people from coming and checking it out or touching the drone. It's more of an attention-getter than a bright red Ferrari.
The build quality is great, which should be obvious with the price tag. It's metal where it should be metal and plastic where it should be plastic. The ergonomics of the controller are well thought out, and there is even a way to mount it to a harness to prevent fatigue. The drone itself is burly is durable, and we love how it can click into landing mode automatically. This allows us to get under the drone easily and mount the camera, as well as remove it and gain access to batteries.
The Inspire 3's flight performance exceeded our expectations. The drone is highly responsive, and the controls are precise. Whether flying in calm conditions or dealing with moderate wind, the Inspire 3 remained stable and easy to control.
And finally, but most importantly, how does it shoot? Luckily for us, this drone creates breathtaking imagery and video, and we couldn't be happier with how things turn out in post. Sure, the average person would have no idea the difference between a 4k and 8k video feed, but we enjoy having the ability to shoot at the highest levels if needed. Additionally, since the quality is so good, you can't tell any difference when we switch from a shot from our Sony FX9 cinema camera to our DJI Inspire 3 drone. The whole commercial or film looks like it was filmed on one giant human eye. Check out some of our shots from our recent Gilroy Gardens commercial:
A Quick Word on DJI Inspire 3 Drone Filters
Filters are great accessories for enhancing drone videography, in the same way that they help videography from a standing camera. They help manage light, reduce glare, and improve the overall quality of shots. The DJI Inspire 3 is compatible with various filters that we like to use on occasion.
Types of Filters
Here are some of the popular filter categories for the DJI Inspire 3:
Neutral Density (ND) Filters: ND filters reduce the amount of light entering the camera, allowing for longer exposure times. This is useful for capturing smooth, cinematic footage, especially in bright conditions.
Polarizing Filters: Polarizing filters reduce glare and reflections from surfaces like water and glass. They also enhance the color and contrast in your photos, making them more vibrant and detailed.
UV Filters: UV filters protect the camera lens from dust, scratches, and UV rays. While they don't significantly alter the image quality, they provide an extra layer of protection for a camera.
Taking Flight with Tucker Hess Productions
The DJI Inspire 3 has proven itself to be an invaluable tool for our filmmaking needs, and we are eternally grateful to be in a position where we get to use it nearly every day. Whether capturing dynamic aerial sequences or smooth cinematic shots, this drone consistently delivers stunning results that elevate our projects to a professional level.
The investment in this high-tier drone has paid off in spades, allowing us to produce content that rivals big-budget productions without the need for helicopters or extensive crew setups. As we continue to explore the capabilities of the Inspire 3, we're excited to push the boundaries of what we can achieve in our future projects.
If you are looking for the highest production drone videography in California and beyond, we would love to speak to you! Whether for a small real estate showing or a large film, we are more than willing to put our Inspire 3 to work for you.
Tucker/Hess Productions has offices in Monterey California, and Los Angeles California, yet we travel across the world to film top-tier works for aviation, business, and creative industries. Don't hesitate to reach out for a quote or any other inquiries.
Thanks, and with love always,
Tucker/Hess Productions
