DJI Mavic 3 Pro night mode and low-light video: what to expect

The DJI Mavic 3 Pro has a Night video mode: in DJI Fly, tap Shooting Modes, choose Video, then Night. It records 4K at 24, 25 or 30 fps with ISO from 800 to 12800 and stronger noise reduction, on the Hasselblad and 70 mm cameras. The 166 mm tele doesn't support it, and obstacle sensing is turned off while Night mode is active. The drone has no thermal or infrared camera, so it can't see in the dark like night vision.

What Night mode does

Normal video on the Mavic 3 Pro stops at ISO 6400. Night mode raises the limit to 12800 and applies extra noise reduction, which gives cleaner city scenes and twilight landscapes than pushing ISO in Normal video. DJI calls it Night Shots in the manual.

Limits from DJI's manual

4K at 24, 25 or 30 fps only. No 5.1K, 60 fps or slow motion.
Obstacle sensing is disabled. Fly with extra caution.
It exits when RTH or landing starts, and isn't available during RTH or auto landing.
FocusTrack isn't supported.
Hasselblad and 70 mm only. The 166 mm camera isn't listed for Night mode.

Best low-light settings

Twilight (Normal video, Hasselblad camera)

4K or 5.1K at 24 or 25 fps, shutter 1/50.
Aperture f/2.8.
D-Log M or HLG work up to ISO 1600; Normal goes to 6400.
White balance fixed, around 3200K to 4500K for warm streetlights.

After dark (Night mode)

4K at 24 or 25 fps for the slowest normal shutter, 1/50.
Use the 24 mm Hasselblad: its Four Thirds sensor is far larger than the 70 mm's 1/1.3-inch sensor.
Let ISO rise only as far as needed.
Fly slow, steady moves. Fast pans smear in low light.

Photos

RAW at ISO 100 to 400, f/2.8, long shutter. The Hasselblad goes to 8 seconds; the tele cameras to 2 seconds.
Hover in calm air and use AEB (3 or 5 frames) for bright signs against dark sky.

Flying the Mavic 3 Pro safely at night

Scout in daylight. Note trees, wires and towers, and plan your path around them.
Set RTH altitude above every obstacle before takeoff. Vision sensors work poorly in the dark even outside Night mode.
Keep the drone in sight. The built-in lights help you track orientation.
Land early. Batteries lose capacity in cold night air.

The rules for night flying

Recreational flyers can fly at night if the drone has lighting that shows its location and orientation. Part 107 pilots need current training and anti-collision lights visible for 3 statute miles; add a strobe if the built-in lights don't meet that. Check airspace before every flight with LAANC. Full details in can you fly a drone at night.

How it compares

The Mavic 4 Pro takes a different approach: no separate Night mode, but Normal video up to ISO 12800 and obstacle sensing rated down to 0.1 lux. See Mavic 4 Pro night mode.

For all camera settings, see best Mavic 3 Pro settings, or shop the DJI Mavic 3 Pro.