DJI Zenmuse X7 with Super 35 Sensor

Teddy_Dem

Teddy_Dem

Well-known member
Interesting new release from DJI

http://www.dji.com/zenmuse-x7

http://nofilmschool.com/2017/10/copy-dji-releases-its-highest-resolution-drone-cinema-camera-yet

Shipping early November 2017
Super 35 sensor
6K CinemaDNG
5.2K Apple ProRes
14 Stops of Dynamic Range
24MP Stills

Zenmuse Camera: $2,699
Lenses (16 mm, 24mm and 35 mm): $1,299 each (50 mm): $1,199.
All 4 lens combo can be purchased for $4,299

DJI — Introducing the Zenmuse X7
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMc05tLYV-E


DJI — Zenmuse X7 Showreel
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3Y1C2bf4-I


DJI — Riders: A Short Film Shot with the Zenmuse X7
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2VzKWJ_NlQ


DJI — Riders: Behind the Scenes with the Zenmuse X7
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0BterbOfOgg


DJI — Stelvio Pass: A Short Film Shot on the Zenmuse X7
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R52dzPhnAFA


Dynamic Range Comparison with RED Weapon 8K
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=159&v=amCVI-vPq7M


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They can track objects with the flying cameras, shouldn't be a big leap of technology to allow the gimbal to track a face. Might make the device slightly larger to handle the additional computing power, but it should be more than possible if they think their is enough interest to offset the design costs.
 
Greg_E said:
They can track objects with the flying cameras, shouldn't be a big leap of technology to allow the gimbal to track a face.
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The way I see it, there are miles between (almost literally) tracking an object from far away where the goal is simply to point the camera in the right direction and getting quality AF on a S35 size sensor, where the distance to the camera is much, much closer. And the thing about AF is that it really needs to be very, very good or you'll never want to use it.

It would be a crazy oversight by DJI to not launch a compatible handheld gimbal. While drones are impressive, their usage is getting more boxed in by the hour. A handheld Osmo-X7 could be used for everything from Pro use to Family vacations/playgrounds/zoos. It's small enough that nobody cares.

And seeing that it requires (initially) the new lenses, there's a huge additional market to tap into if they can open it up to something more than just drone use.

I'll forever remain cautiously optimistic—I'm actually pretty sure they'll release a handle for it.
 
The issue with an Osmo that's compatible with the cameras for the Inspire 2 (X4S, X5S and now X7) is the actual image processing pipeline is largely IN THE INSPIRE 2.

So, the Osmo 2 or whatever they'd call it is going to need to have a CineCore processor inside of it. It's not just a dumb handle that provides power and a mic jack. So, it's likely not going to be a $100 handle... it's going to be a $600-1200 handle (based on the price of the Inspire 2).

It's also going to require that you buy ProRes or DNG licenses for the handle as well... since those are tied to the processor and not the camera.

How many people are _really_ going to pay that kind of money so they can use their green foliage destroying DJI camera on a handle (vs. the multitude of other cameras they have available to them)?
 
AndreeOnline said:
I think a bundle with the X7 and an updated handle for $3495 would sell like… something that sells really well.
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I’m not sure. DJI cameras are known for being good “for drone cameras” but they certainly have their issues.

Also, you’d need a lens for that $3500 handlecam.

And a CineSSD.

And the CineStation reader.

And the ProRes and CinemaDNG licenses.

So, that handle + X7 + lens set ($4300) + ProRes/CineDNG license bundle ($1500) + CineSSD 480GB ($900) + reader ($150) ... $10,350

Even if you only bought ONE lens... that’s still $7350... or about the cost of the C200 or FS7.
 
jbregar said:
I’m not sure. DJI cameras are known for being good “for drone cameras” but they certainly have their issues.

Also, you’d need a lens for that $3500 handlecam.

And a CineSSD.

And the CineStation reader.

And the ProRes and CinemaDNG licenses.

So, that handle + X7 + lens set ($4300) + ProRes/CineDNG license bundle ($1500) + CineSSD 480GB ($900) + reader ($150) ... $10,350

Even if you only bought ONE lens... that’s still $7350... or about the cost of the C200 or FS7.
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Those prices are just insane and won't work for the majority of the crowd in this forum.
 
Even for 10k, that's easier than putting my weapon on a gimbal, plus you get a nice B camera. For serious gimbal use you really want a separate setup ready to go on the gimbal in addition to your main rig.
 
Jarek Zabczynski said:
Even for 10k, that's easier than putting my weapon on a gimbal, plus you get a nice B camera. For serious gimbal use you really want a separate setup ready to go on the gimbal in addition to your main rig.
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+1

If the image quality is there, having the simplicity of an Osmo, with the capability to cut in smoothly with a regular A camera - that's a big deal. Gimbals are a nightmare on set unless you have a second, conventional camera so that each can stick to its designated duties.

If this can get us there for around $10k? Then it's an easy sell for a lot of people.
 
And just think... when DJI releases the X9 and Inspire 3 next year you can re-buy all those lenses (and probably the camera) AGAIN.

DJI's track record for maintaining mount compatibility through generations (I1 -> I2, M600, M200 series, etc.) is not great. I'm not sure I'd want to dump $10k into their ecosystem vs. just putting a C200 or FS5/FS7 on a Helix or Ronin. At least you know Canon isn't going to abandon EF nor Sony abandon E when they feel like it.
 
proprietary lens mount

proprietary lens mount

jbregar said:
And just think... when DJI releases the X9 and Inspire 3 next year you can re-buy all those lenses (and probably the camera) AGAIN.

DJI's track record for maintaining mount compatibility through generations (I1 -> I2, M600, M200 series, etc.) is not great. I'm not sure I'd want to dump $10k into their ecosystem vs. just putting a C200 or FS5/FS7 on a Helix or Ronin. At least you know Canon isn't going to abandon EF nor Sony abandon E when they feel like it.
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Why would you need to buy different lenses. It looks like DJI settled on their own mount . I think it's a great move. What are they going to use? Sony(e)? Olympus(M43)? Why not their own? I think it's weird that Panasonic is using Canon mount on their camera (EVA1).
They can make it as shallow as they want and establish their own communication instead of trying to second guess Sony or Olympus. I like it...
 
optitek said:
Why would you need to buy different lenses. It looks like DJI settled on their own mount . I think it's a great move. What are they going to use? Sony(e)? Olympus(M43)? Why not their own? I think it's weird that Panasonic is using Canon mount on their camera (EVA1).
They can make it as shallow as they want and establish their own communication instead of trying to second guess Sony or Olympus. I like it...
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People said the same thing "they've standardized on a new camera mount!" when the Inspire 1 came out. (I'm talking about the actual camera-to-bird interface)

Guess what? When the Inspire 2 came out, they standardized again! :|

They can't even keep their camera mounts standard between their lines when they're physically compatible (the M200 will mount the X7, but appears to be incompatible electronically... the Osmo handle uses the same physical connector as the Inspire 1, but you can't take an Osmo camera--either the X3 or the X3 Zoom--and mount it to an Inspire 1). My point is that DJI doesn't have a stellar track record of "standardizing" on nearly anything... so it's not risk-free to invest $4300 in their new "cinema" DL-mount glass.

I'd also guess the resale value on the DL glass is going to be horrible, so getting your investment back OUT is going to be somewhat difficult.

Olympus doesn't own Micro-4/3 btw... it's an open standard. Which is why you can get m43 lenses from several brands and both Olympus and Panasonic make cameras in the mount (as does JVC).

On a side note, I'm not really sure what the move to Super 35 really buys. Over the X5S the X7 gets you:

- 1.2 more stops of dynamic range
- 0.8 "K" more resolution
- Slightly better low-light (maybe?)

I know... you're gonna say "better DOF control" but you'd be wrong... because the X5S uses m43 lenses that are normally between f/1.7 and f/2.0 and the DL mount lenses are all f/2.8 the effective DoF control is actually the same or worse.

Let's take the DL-mount 16mm f/2.8 and Olympus 12mm f/2.0 since they're both 24mm equivalent lenses and assume we're focusing at 100 feet:

16mm f/2.8 on Super 35 near limit is 13.5' and the far limit is infinite
12mm f/2.0 on m43 near limit is 13.6' and the far limit is infinite

On the tele end, let's take the 50mm f/2.8 DL and the Olympus 45mm f/1.8. Since the DL mount has nothing as long as the 45mm, we're just using the most tele one from each mount.

50mm f/2.8 on Super 35 near limit is 60.5' and the far limit is 289.1' for a total DoF of 228.7'
45mm f/1.8 on m43 near limit is 75.5' and the far limit is 148.2' for a total DoF of 72.8'

How about right around 50mm effective... the 35mm DL mount vs. the Olympus 25mm f/1.8:

35mm f/2.8 on Super 35 42.8' far limit infinite
25mm f/1.8 on m43 near limit 43.4' far limit infinite
 
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Bruce Watson said:
Do you mean "kuchen"? If I remember my German from a thousand years ago, that's German for cake, yes?
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"Küche" is kitchen, "Küchen" is plural (kitchens).

Küchel is fried pastry, a German version of an American doughnut.

"Puder" is powder, "Zuker" is sugar ... hmmm, I wonder if Krispy Kreme is still open. I figure, with all this drone talk, drone delivery can not come soon enough,
 
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