Cinematic drones
DJI Inspire 3: the industry workhorse
Netflix-approved, full-frame 8K and crewed for TV, film and commercials. Flown by a team that's been in the air since 2012.
Why it's on every big production
The Inspire 3 took over from the Inspire 2, a drone that did six years of hard work on film sets. It's fast, efficient and small enough to work almost anywhere, and with a great lens selection it makes stunning images. Its price point, and how well it cuts with ARRI and Sony main cameras, have made it the flagship drone for UK television and film.
Netflix approved. In 2025 the Inspire 3 and its X9-8K Air camera became the first drone on Netflix's approved camera list for 4K Originals. Its footage counts as primary-camera footage on Netflix productions, not just B-roll. What Netflix approval means for your production.
For producers, it comes down to three things: safety, reliability and price. We can be out of the van and shooting in five minutes. That means more takes when the light is right, and less time with the cast and crew standing around.
From the pilot's seat, it's a drone we trust. A dedicated high-quality FPV camera means the pilot flies on a clear forward view while the main camera is framed independently. The full-frame camera can also be focused remotely, so we can get close for shallow depth of field, or pull wide to see everything, in seconds.
Single or dual operator
Dual operator
This is where we've built our name. One person flies while another frames the shot, working as a team with more than a decade's instinct for where the aircraft needs to be and where the light is about to land. We started flying when this was the only way to do it, and our heavy lift Alta X and Alta 8 still require it. Directors who've worked with us know the standard: we'd put it up against anyone in the country. We recommend dual operator for:
- Long-lens work, or tight framing on a moving subject.
- Complex moves where the flight path and the frame change at once.
- Choreographed action with vehicles, boats or stunt teams.
- When the director or DOP wants a live operator to talk to.
Single operator
The pilot flies the drone as if it's the camera. On smaller drones the camera faces forward, but the Inspire 3 also gives a single pilot pan control and active tracking, which we use when it's the right tool for the job. The Inspire 3 can also work as a hybrid of the two. We recommend single operator for:
- GVs and landscapes.
- Aerial opening and closing shots for scenes, used like a jib.
- Property shoots.
Not sure which you need? Tell us the shot and we'll give you a straight answer.
“On a recent UKTV shoot, flying single operator against the clock, we went up at dawn over a beautiful Devon location, straight into the sun. We gave the director several options in one go, and they were stunned by the flares coming through on the monitor. That's the Inspire 3 at its best.”
Lenses
We fly the Zenmuse X9-8K Air full-frame camera with the DJI DL lens set (18, 24, 35, 50, 75 and 90mm). Anamorphic and vintage glass are available on request. We come from the camera department, so we understand lenses from a DP's point of view, and we'll talk you through matching the look of your main unit.
On set now
The Inspire 3 flies with us year round on:
- Beyond Paradise (BBC)
- Bergerac (UKTV)
- Rosamunde Pilcher (ZDF, German television)
There's also cinema work we can't name yet.
What DJI built into it
Camera
Zenmuse X9-8K Air, 35mm full-frame sensor
Recording
Up to 8K CinemaDNG RAW and Apple ProRes RAW, internal
Gimbal
360° pan, with Tilt Boost for steep upward shots
Pilot view
Separate 1080p FPV camera with a 161° view
Wind
Flies in winds up to 14 m/s (about 31 mph)
Temperature
Works from −20°C to 40°C
Positioning
Centimetre-level RTK and Waypoint Pro for repeatable moves
Flight time
About 25 minutes a battery. We cycle 12 batteries through the day
Top speed
94 km/h (58 mph)
Day rates
Full crewed rates, including the pilot, aircraft, X9-8K camera, DL lens set and batteries for the day.
Single operator
from £1,520
Single operator, at sea
from £1,675
Dual operator
from £2,200
Dual operator, full spec
from £2,650
Prices exclude VAT. Day length, overtime, travel and cancellation follow our rate card.
Get the full rate card
For producers
Are you CAA authorised and insured? Yes. We hold a CAA Operational Authorisation (PDRA01) and carry £5m drone public liability insurance. We handle the risk assessment and flight plan, can arrange landowner permissions, including the National Trust, and share everything with your production before the shoot.
Do you handle location and airspace permissions? We can. On TV and film shoots the location team usually secures location permissions, and we work alongside them with our risk assessments and flight plans. Where there's no location team, we can arrange landowner and airspace permissions ourselves, for example near airports or in restricted airspace. We fly under a CAA Operational Authorisation (PDRA01), which allows us to work within 50 metres of people who aren't part of the shoot (30 metres for take-off and landing). For London, congested areas, or shots that need to get closer, we can fly under an Operating Safety Case (OSC) at additional cost, reducing separation to 10 metres from the public with the Inspire 3.
What about the weather? The Inspire 3 handles wind and cold better than most. We check the forecast with you beforehand and make the call early, so you're not paying for a wasted day.
How quickly can you set up? Five minutes from van to flying for single operator, and ten for the full dual-operator package.
Will it match our main camera? It shoots full-frame 8K RAW, and colourists tell us it grades well alongside ARRI and Sony cinema cameras. Tell us what the main unit is shooting on and we'll set up to match.
Do you travel? Yes. We're based in Cornwall but work UK-wide all the time. We've filmed in more than 30 countries, and have often been the first drone operators given permission to fly in a new country.
Tell us the shot
We'll tell you straight whether it's single or dual, and what it'll cost.
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