{"id":1361,"date":"2021-11-29T18:22:56","date_gmt":"2021-11-29T18:22:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.kevindavisphoto.com\/blog\/?p=1361"},"modified":"2021-11-30T00:23:26","modified_gmt":"2021-11-30T00:23:26","slug":"mavic3-photo-quality","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.kevindavisphoto.com\/blog\/mavic3-photo-quality\/","title":{"rendered":"Mavic 3 Photo Quality vs. Mavic 2 Pro"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Although the Mavic 3 includes some groundbreaking new features, many reviewers will render their opinions about such things and I will not do so here.&nbsp; I am only analyzing the photo quality from Mavic 3 with comparison to the predecessor Mavic 2 Pro.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Mavic 3 includes two cameras. &nbsp;I am comparing the main camera to the camera of Mavic 2 Pro. The Mavic 3 main camera has a fixed-focal-length lens, 4\/3 image sensor, and variable aperture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Mavic 3 supports capturing photos in either JPEG format or JPEG &amp; RAW. While I almost always capture photos in RAW format and I do not need a JPEG, the initial release of MAVIC 3 will always save a JPEG.&nbsp; That could possibly change in a future firmware update.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>See the end of this post for a link to my 2018 comparison of Mavic 2 Pro image quality, compared to original Mavic Pro.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/www.kevindavisphoto.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/DJI_0004-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1373\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.kevindavisphoto.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/DJI_0004-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.kevindavisphoto.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/DJI_0004-340x255.jpg 340w, https:\/\/www.kevindavisphoto.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/DJI_0004-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.kevindavisphoto.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/DJI_0004-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.kevindavisphoto.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/DJI_0004-2048x1536.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption>Testing the Mavic 3 at sunset &#8230; f\\3.2, ISO 100<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The main camera of Mavic 3 uses a 4\/3 image sensor; this has implications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>The image rectangle has an aspect ratio of 4:3, which is same as Mavic 2 Zoom but is different than Mavic 2 Pro and Mavic Air.\u00a0 For me personally, this implies that I must crop each image and discard some pixels to obtain a final image of 3:2 aspect ratio.<\/li><li>Four-thirds and Micro Four Thirds (MFT) are established standards. The diagonal measure of a 4\/3 sensor can vary but is typically around 22mm.\u00a0 Compare this to Mavic 2 Pro and Mavic Air 2S, which each have image sensors with diagonal measure around 16 mm.<\/li><li>A larger sensor can allow for either more pixels or larger pixels.\u00a0 The Mavic 3 pixel resolution is not significantly different than Mavic 2 Pro.\u00a0 Likely the individual dot elements (pixels) are larger.\u00a0 Potentially that might translate to better ability to gather light, potentially reducing the signal-to-noise ratio.\u00a0 But that is theoretical.\u00a0 As the old saying goes, the proof is in the pudding.\u00a0<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Some online articles suggest that the larger image sensor \u201cgives Mavic 3 higher resolution and dynamic range\u201d but \u2026.&nbsp;higher resolution is a dubious claim and higher dynamic range is theoretical.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>DJI drones have historically employed Sony Exmore image sensors; DJI\/Hasselblad cameras are no exception. I must guess that the Mavic 3 is using the Sony IMX472-AAJK, but I have not confirmed this.&nbsp; That sensor can capture all 20 megapixels at 120 frames-per-second.&nbsp; Notably, this sensor uses \u201cstacked CMOS\u201d technology and is the first ever stacked CMOS sensor in the 4\/3 size.&nbsp; This sensor diagonally measures 21.77 mm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Mavic 3 user guide (available online) includes this disturbing note: \u201cBefore shooting important photos or videos, shoot a few images to test the camera is operating correctly.\u201d&nbsp;&nbsp; I shudder to imagine what might have happened during initial product testing to warrant such a warning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Pixel Resolution<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you want a final image to have3:2 aspect ratio, then any 3:4 image must be cropped and that includes Mavic 3. Technically, you end up with fewer pixels than Mavic 2 Pro and Mavic Air 2S.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Mavic Air 2S @ 3:2 aspect&nbsp; &#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&nbsp; 5472&#215;3648&nbsp; = 19.9 million pixels<br>Mavic 2 @ 3:2 aspect&nbsp; &#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230; 5464&#215;3640 = 19.88 million pixels<br>Mavic 2 @ 4:3 aspect (crop from 3:2)&#8230; 4852&#215;3640<br>Mavic 2 @ 16:9 aspect (crop)&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230; 5464&#215;3070<br>Mavic 3 @ 4:3 aspect&nbsp; &#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;.. 5280&#215;3956 = 20.88 million pixels<br>Mavic 3 @ 3:2 aspect (crop from 4:3)&#8230; 5280&#215;3520 = 18.58 million pixels<br>Mavic 3 @ 16:9 aspect (crop)&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;.. 5280&#215;2970<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Color<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Opening RAW images in Adobe lightroom, the color is a bit green. That\u2019s correctable but really annoying; I\u2019m guessing this problem is because Lightroom\/Photoshop\/CameraRAW do not yet include a camera profile for Mavic 3 (Hasselblad L2D-20c).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Looking at the JPEGs, the color looks good \u2013 not vibrant, but good.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Sharpness<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Comparing images from Mavic 3 and Mavic 2 Pro, at aperture f\\3.5 and f\\4.0, the two are equally sharp at center of the lens.&nbsp; However, away from center, toward the edges of the image, Mavic 3 exhibits improved sharpness over Mavic 2 Pro.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"673\" height=\"431\" src=\"https:\/\/www.kevindavisphoto.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Compare_sharpness_Lynnfield.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1364\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.kevindavisphoto.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Compare_sharpness_Lynnfield.jpg 673w, https:\/\/www.kevindavisphoto.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Compare_sharpness_Lynnfield-340x218.jpg 340w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 673px) 100vw, 673px\" \/><figcaption>High-magnification crop from the original RAW image                                   <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Image noise<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Considering all ISO 100 through 3200, Mavic 3 shows less luminance noise than Mavic 2 Pro. However, at any ISO, low light situations can result in considerable chroma noise in both shadows and midtones.&nbsp; It is worst at IS0 800, 1600, 3200.&nbsp; While it can usually be mitigated using noise-reduction in post-processing, the 4\/3 image sensor should not exhibit this problem. &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As the camera saves both RAW and JPEG, I looked at the JPEGs.&nbsp; Luminance noise is reasonably mitigated through ISO 1600; mitigation can be dicey at 3200.&nbsp; Chroma noise is essentially eliminated. However, not surprising, this noise reduction comes at a price &#8211;&nbsp; loss of sharpness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"697\" src=\"https:\/\/www.kevindavisphoto.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Mavic_noise_compare-1024x697.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1366\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.kevindavisphoto.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Mavic_noise_compare-1024x697.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.kevindavisphoto.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Mavic_noise_compare-340x231.jpg 340w, https:\/\/www.kevindavisphoto.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Mavic_noise_compare-768x522.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.kevindavisphoto.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Mavic_noise_compare.jpg 1317w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption>Luminance noise in shadows &#8230; ISO 400, daylight with ND4 filter &#8230; N0te: ambient light and altitude are not identical<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"671\" src=\"https:\/\/www.kevindavisphoto.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Motif1_Mavic3_0020-1-1024x671.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1365\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.kevindavisphoto.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Motif1_Mavic3_0020-1-1024x671.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.kevindavisphoto.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Motif1_Mavic3_0020-1-340x223.jpg 340w, https:\/\/www.kevindavisphoto.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Motif1_Mavic3_0020-1-768x503.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.kevindavisphoto.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Motif1_Mavic3_0020-1.jpg 1443w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption>Mavic 3 &#8230; chroma noise in low light &#8230; ISO 1600<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Chromatic aberration<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In some situations with high-contrast fine detail, Mavic 3 can suffer from chromatic aberration similar to the first-generation Mavic Pro.&nbsp; Although Mavic 2 Pro significantly reduced chromatic aberration, Mavic 3 is a step backward. This is observed with the clear DJI lens cover; I haven\u2019t tried it yet with the naked lens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"788\" height=\"714\" src=\"https:\/\/www.kevindavisphoto.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/compare_rockport.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1367\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.kevindavisphoto.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/compare_rockport.jpg 788w, https:\/\/www.kevindavisphoto.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/compare_rockport-340x308.jpg 340w, https:\/\/www.kevindavisphoto.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/compare_rockport-768x696.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 788px) 100vw, 788px\" \/><figcaption>Mavic 3 (RAW image) shows improved sharpness, but also shows chromatic aberration in railing balusters                                                   <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Shadow detail<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Considering detail in the darkest shadow areas, Mavic 3 has a slight advantage to reveal details that Mavic 2 Pro cannot. The difference is quite small.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>DJI has stated that the Mavic 3 main camera has 12.8 stops of dynamic range, which is not significantly greater than Mavic Air 2S or Mavic 2 Pro.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Highlight detail<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Both the original Mavic Pro and the successor Mavic 2 Pro often failed to resolve subtle detail in highlights. This commonly manifests in architectural details that are white,such as clapboard siding and trim mouldings.&nbsp; &nbsp;Mavic 3 does shows a slight improvement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Images captured with Mavic 2 Pro \u2013 particularly images that include architecture \u2013 have commonly required a great deal of effort to safeguard highlight details. At the time of capture, exposure bracketing saves an additional exposure wherein the highlights are rendered with reduced brightness.&nbsp; In post-processing, that exposure is developed carefully and specifically for hightlight details.&nbsp; Then those highlights are manually blended into the other exposure.&nbsp; Only time will tell if Mavic 3 eliminates the need for that extra work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Remote control<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Apart from the camera itself, I must mention the remote control.&nbsp; With the Mavic 2 Pro, I have very commonly used the camera control dial under the right index finger.&nbsp; With Mavic 3, the RC-N1 remote controller has no such control dial; exposure settings can only be controlled via touch-screen. The expensive RC Pro controller includes a dial for right index finger, which I vaguely believe controls camera zoom and I do not know if it can be used for exposure purposes.&nbsp; I did not spend the extra $1000 to get an RC Pro.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/www.kevindavisphoto.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Mavic3_iso400_0046-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1369\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.kevindavisphoto.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Mavic3_iso400_0046-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.kevindavisphoto.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Mavic3_iso400_0046-340x191.jpg 340w, https:\/\/www.kevindavisphoto.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Mavic3_iso400_0046-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.kevindavisphoto.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Mavic3_iso400_0046-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.kevindavisphoto.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Mavic3_iso400_0046.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption>Mavic 3 &#8230;  , daylight with ND4 filter, f\\4.0, ISO 400<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><br>Here is my investigation of the Mavic 2 Pro, back when that was released in 2018:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-wordpress wp-block-embed is-type-wp-embed is-provider-kevin-davis-photography\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"DPDSANFO3i\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.kevindavisphoto.com\/blog\/image-quality-mavic-2-pro\/\">Image Quality : Mavic 2 Pro vs. (original) Mavic Pro<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px);\" title=\"&#8220;Image Quality : Mavic 2 Pro vs. (original) Mavic Pro&#8221; &#8212; Kevin Davis Photography\" src=\"https:\/\/www.kevindavisphoto.com\/blog\/image-quality-mavic-2-pro\/embed\/#?secret=DPDSANFO3i\" data-secret=\"DPDSANFO3i\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Although the Mavic 3 includes some groundbreaking new features, many reviewers will render their opinions about such things and I will not do so here.&nbsp; I am only analyzing the photo quality from Mavic 3 with comparison to the predecessor Mavic 2 Pro. Mavic 3 includes two cameras. &nbsp;I am comparing the main camera to [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1369,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[124,125,28,10],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1361","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-aerialphotography","category-drone","category-pixels","category-raw"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kevindavisphoto.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1361","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kevindavisphoto.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kevindavisphoto.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kevindavisphoto.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kevindavisphoto.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1361"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.kevindavisphoto.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1361\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1378,"href":"https:\/\/www.kevindavisphoto.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1361\/revisions\/1378"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kevindavisphoto.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1369"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kevindavisphoto.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1361"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kevindavisphoto.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1361"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kevindavisphoto.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1361"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}