First shots from the DJI Z3 Drone Inspection Camera
DJI recently released another camera in their evolving lineup of swappable cameras for their Inspire 1 drone (this particular camera also works on their larger Matrice 600 heavy lift drone, for those who are particularly brave). In addition to the standard camera (X3), micro 4/3rds interchangeable lens camera (X5) and Flir thermal camera (XT), they now offer the Z3, which uses the same chipset and sensor as the X3 (standard on Inspire and Phantom 4), but features 3.5x optical and 2x digital zoom. This camera was meant to be used primarily for inspection, offering a great alternative to get close to subjects without actually having to fly close, or carry a larger camera that would drastically reduce flight time. DJI are well known for releasing great products with substandard marketing pushes behind them, so this camera went well under the radar when it was announced a few months ago. I got my hands on one, excited by some parallax video opportunities (more on that in a different post), but made sure to test its inspection capabilities as well.
These are a collection of photos that show the different rates of zoom, and give perspective on what you can accomplish with the camera from the air. Overall, a very impressive machine for monitoring and inspection considerations, especially at its <$1000 price point (not including the drone to mount it on).
Shot One — Parking structure
Shot Two — Bridge
Shot Three — Vehicles
Shot Four — Rooftop
Thanks for reading!
