DJI Inspire New Cams... X5 and X5R

J

jb.

Veteran
So, DJI just announced the X5 and X5R camera/gimbal combos for the Inspire 1 (they're the headline at dji.com)

Both are m43 interchangeable lens. X5 does 60Mb like the original X3 that came on the Inspire, X5R does CinemaDNG RAW.

Sensor looks to be very similar if not the same as the GH4.

X5 is $2199 with their lens, $1699 without.
X5R is $5499 with the lens, $4999 without.

X5 records to microSD. X5R records to their own proprietary (included) SSD.

I'm a little underwhelmed with the X5 and it's 60Mb codec. Seems like putting a nice sensor in front of a 60Mb codec is a recipe to have your stuff not look that much better than the GoPro sensor on the original camera (using the same 60Mb codec).

I'd also have liked to see something between the two for the many of us who think 60Mb isn't enough and 1.7Gb is probably a little too much.

Also, $5k for a single-purpose aerial camera seems a little steep to me.
 
Yeah, $5500 is kinda steep. I have an inspire and have been waiting for a M4/3 camera. Raw is cool and all. I'm not gonna order either of these until I see some results. If they could bump that H.264 bitrate up to 150 Mbit that would be cool.

If they made a single handle adapter for this system for handheld work I would consider the X5R though.

But this with the new update for waypoint flying basically puts all other drones out of business. My opinion anyway.
 
I just jumped to the Inspire (from an S900 and a P3 Pro) and I'm in the same boat as you. The X5 with even a 100Mb codec would be an immediate buy for me... but at 60Mb, I'm not sure much of the benefit of that bigger sensor is going to make it into the recorded image. I mean, most of what you're getting from a bigger sensor in an aerial camera is dynamic range (since shallow DOF and low-light aren't exactly big "needs" on a copter), it seems silly to crush that 12 stops into a GoPro codec.

And I'm guessing the X5R's two recording choices are 60Mb GoPro footage and 1.7Gb RAW. So, if I want better than 60Mb, I don't like being forced to use RAW for everything because that makes my post workflow a huge headache.
 
jbregar said:
So, DJI just announced the X5 and X5R camera/gimbal combos for the Inspire 1 (they're the headline at dji.com)

Both are m43 interchangeable lens. X5 does 60Mb like the original X3 that came on the Inspire, X5R does CinemaDNG RAW.

Sensor looks to be very similar if not the same as the GH4.

X5 is $2199 with their lens, $1699 without.
X5R is $5499 with the lens, $4999 without.

X5 records to microSD. X5R records to their own proprietary (included) SSD.

I'm a little underwhelmed with the X5 and it's 60Mb codec. Seems like putting a nice sensor in front of a 60Mb codec is a recipe to have your stuff not look that much better than the GoPro sensor on the original camera (using the same 60Mb codec).

I'd also have liked to see something between the two for the many of us who think 60Mb isn't enough and 1.7Gb is probably a little too much.

Also, $5k for a single-purpose aerial camera seems a little steep to me.
Click to expand...

4K at 60/mbs, 4:2:0...

This camera does everything right, 4/3 sensor, lens options, better low light, and then they throw in a highly compressed 4K format. Why DJI, why?
 
alex1 said:
4K at 60/mbs, 4:2:0...

This camera does everything right, 4/3 sensor, lens options, better low light, and then they throw in a highly compressed 4K format. Why DJI, why?
Click to expand...

Because DJI is a toy company that started making cameras. They should have partnered with a real camera company.
 
It's really interesting watching the posters on the RC forums defend this 60Mb codec thing. "But you have to wait to see how great it is!"... no, a plumber can tell where the pipes are gonna clog up without flushing a diaper down the s*%tter.

And the other ones who're enamored of RAW, but really have no idea A) what they're in for shooting RAW video from a post workflow standpoint and B) why you'd use RAW video.

If money were no object, I'd snag an X5R and just deal with the workflow slowdown... but I'm also not super enthused with the idea of slapping a $5500 camera onto a $2500 quadcopter that has no redundancy if one motor/ESC/prop were to decide it was time to give up the ghost while the rig is 150' in the air.

With a bigger bird and a GH4 or the like you lose some of the convenience, but an S900 can lose a motor and still land your $10k safely. An Inspire that loses a motor is going to land quite a bit harder.
 
I think there is a lot of professional situation where the X5 will be good enough.
I work a lot for web communication (industry, collectivities) and 4K 60Mb is ok for me. And I'm conviced that it will be ok for docu I could work on.

With my Phantom2 + GoPro4, files are heavy and sometimes hard to edit.
I bought the Inspire X5 Pro yesterday.
I also own a F550 + RX100 4 since few months : I'm sure I will use a lot more my Inspire, because it is a much easier Ready To Fly solution.

If at some point advertising or cine work is requested, I will probably rent the X5R.
 
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jbregar said:
It's really interesting watching the posters on the RC forums defend this 60Mb codec thing. "But you have to wait to see how great it is!"... no, a plumber can tell where the pipes are gonna clog up without flushing a diaper down the s*%tter.

And the other ones who're enamored of RAW, but really have no idea A) what they're in for shooting RAW video from a post workflow standpoint and B) why you'd use RAW video.

If money were no object, I'd snag an X5R and just deal with the workflow slowdown... but I'm also not super enthused with the idea of slapping a $5500 camera onto a $2500 quadcopter that has no redundancy if one motor/ESC/prop were to decide it was time to give up the ghost while the rig is 150' in the air.

With a bigger bird and a GH4 or the like you lose some of the convenience, but an S900 can lose a motor and still land your $10k safely. An Inspire that loses a motor is going to land quite a bit harder.
Click to expand...

Thinking the same thing. 60/mbs 4K is barely use able.
 
5mars said:
With my Phantom2 + GoPro4, files are heavy and sometimes hard to edit.
Click to expand...

The X5 shoots the same codec and bitrate as your GoPro 4 (assuming it's a Black).

The point is, for $2300, I'd expect a little better than 60Mb... even if it's "good enough."
 
Yes it's a black one.
Oh I didn't expect that.. Thanks. So yes, for me it's good enough.
Just wondering why 4K GoPro files are so difficult to edit and preview, compared to GH4 4K files.
 
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jbregar said:
The X5 shoots the same codec and bitrate as your GoPro 4 (assuming it's a Black).

The point is, for $2300, I'd expect a little better than 60Mb... even if it's "good enough."
Click to expand...

It's good enough for youtube but not good enough for higher end clients.

The X3 suffered from flickering and oversharpened/muddy looking footage. It was not "good enough" for broadcast or some of the features I worked on. If you are working with any experienced DP they will notice the high compression right away.

The X5 needs a minimum of 100/mbs 4:2:2 to produce footage to correct these problems.
 
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