DJI Zenmuse L3 LiDAR Payload
W-9 and vendor pack with every quote
Shipped direct from the manufacturer
DJI's long range aerial LiDAR. A 1535 nm laser reaching 950 m on 10 per cent reflectivity targets, dual 100 MP RGB mapping cameras, and a post-processed POS system, in a 1.6 kg payload. Where the Zenmuse L2 tops out around 500 m, the L3 is built for corridor and large area work flown high and fast.
Accuracy, with the conditions attached
| Flight altitude | Vertical (RMSE) | Horizontal (RMSE) | Point cloud thickness |
|---|---|---|---|
| 120 m | 3 cm | 4 cm | 1.2 cm at 1σ |
| 300 m | 5 cm | 7.5 cm | 2 cm at 1σ |
DJI measured these in a laboratory environment on a field with obvious angular features, with the M400 linked to a position-calibrated D-RTK 3, an Area Route flown at 15 m/s with Calibrate IMU enabled, gimbal pitch at -90 degrees, straight segments under 3,300 m, checkpoints on exposed hard ground conforming to the diffuse reflection model, and DJI Terra post-processing with Optimize Point Cloud Accuracy enabled. Thickness was measured in Linear scanning on 80 per cent reflectivity targets with no optimisation or downsampling. Expect field performance outside these figures. For 6σ, multiply the thickness by six.
Range
| Condition | Detection range |
|---|---|
| 10% reflectivity, 350 kHz | 700 m |
| 10% reflectivity, 100 kHz | 950 m |
| 80% reflectivity, 100 kHz | 2,000 m |
| Minimum effective distance | 10 m |
Range is defined by DJI as the distance at which 50 per cent of emitted pulses are detected, tested at 100 klx ambient light with 23 km atmospheric visibility, perpendicular incidence, in the central field of view. The maximum detection range is capped at 900 m by default; DJI unlocks further on request. If a beam hits more than one subject the transmitter power splits and the achievable range falls.
Wire detection
- 300 m on 21.6 mm steel core aluminium stranded wire, at 100 klx and 350 kHz.
- 100 m on 18.4 mm black PVC insulated wire, same conditions.
Measured as the distance at which a fully scanned section reaches four points per metre, flying along the wire at 15 m/s in Non-Repetitive scanning, on clean unaged wire.
Full specification
| Laser wavelength | 1535 nm |
|---|---|
| Laser safety class | Class 1 (IEC 60825-1:2014) |
| Ranging accuracy | ±10 mm absolute, under 5 mm repeatability at 1σ, at 25°C, 350 kHz, 80% reflectivity, 120 m and 300 m |
| Beam divergence | 0.25 mrad (1/e²) |
| Laser spot size | 41 mm at 120 m, 86 mm at 300 m (1/e²) |
| Pulse emission frequency | 100 kHz under 500 m, 350 kHz under 300 m, 1000 kHz under 100 m, 2000 kHz under 50 m |
| Returns | Up to 16 at 100 and 350 kHz, up to 8 at 1000 kHz, 4 at 2000 kHz |
| Scanning modes and FOV | Linear 80° by 3°, Star-shaped 80° by 80°, Non-repetitive 80° by 80° |
| RGB mapping camera | 4/3 CMOS, 100 MP at 12288 x 8192, 28 mm equivalent, f/2.0 to f/11, mechanical shutter rated 500,000 actuations |
| Combined horizontal FOV | 107°, from two cameras at a 45° optical axis angle |
| RGB ground sampling distance | 3 cm average at 300 m nadir |
| POS update rate | 200 Hz, GNSS at 5 Hz |
| Attitude error (post-processed, 1σ) | Yaw 0.02°, pitch and roll 0.01° |
| Positioning accuracy (RTK fix) | Horizontal 1.0 cm + 1 ppm, vertical 1.5 cm + 1 ppm |
| Gimbal | 3-axis, angular accuracy ±0.01°, controllable pitch -120° to +60°, yaw -80° to +80° |
| Weight | 1.60 kg, plus 145 g for the single gimbal connector |
| Dimensions | 192 x 162 x 202 mm |
| Power | 64 W typical, 100 W maximum |
| Ingress protection | IP54 |
| Operating temperature | -20° to 50°C |
| Storage | CFexpress Type B, 1500 MB/s sequential write |
| Supported aircraft | DJI Matrice 400 only, with the Zenmuse L3 single gimbal connector |
| PPK differential formats | DAT from D-RTK 3 or D-RTK 2, RINEX v2.1x and v3.0x, RTCM v3.0 to v3.3, OEM4 and OEM6 |
Against the Zenmuse L2
| Zenmuse L3 | Zenmuse L2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Detection range | 950 m at 10% reflectivity | 250 m at 10% reflectivity, 450 m at 50% |
| System accuracy | 3 cm vertical, 4 cm horizontal at 120 m | 4 cm vertical, 5 cm horizontal at 150 m |
| RGB camera | Dual 100 MP, 107° combined | Single 4/3 CMOS |
| Weight | 1.60 kg | 905 g |
| Supported aircraft | Matrice 400 only | Matrice 300 RTK and Matrice 350 RTK |
| Price | $17,400 | $15,490 |
The L3 has not replaced the L2 and DJI still lists both. Choose the L3 when the work is corridor or large area and you are flying high enough that range decides the sortie count. Choose the L2 if you already fly a Matrice 350 RTK, because the L3 will not fit it.
What you also need
- DJI Matrice 400 airframe. The only supported aircraft.
- Zenmuse L3 single gimbal connector. Required for mounting.
- D-RTK 3 Multifunctional Station for the quoted accuracy, or a base within 15 km supporting more than two GNSS constellations for PPK.
- DJI Terra for post-processing. Exports PNTS, LAS, LAZ, PLY, PCD and S3MB.
- CFexpress Type B card rated at 1500 MB/s sequential write.
Talk to us before you order this one
Tell us what you are surveying and at what altitude, and we will tell you honestly whether the L3 earns its money over an L2 on your work. Sometimes it does not.
Call +1 888 850 6533, Monday to Friday, 9 to 5 Mountain Time. Email support@mysurveyingdirect.com. Purchase orders accepted, W-9 and vendor pack attached to the quote.
Every specification on this page is taken from DJI's published Zenmuse L3 specification, read on 31 July 2026, with DJI's own test conditions quoted alongside each figure.