Is anyone impressed by the Phantom 4 Pro's still image quality?

[Moonwalker]

Hello back! ;-) Thanks for posting the image against the sun - most useful regarding flare. That is a problem as I like to include the sun in panoramas - have a look:

https://www.natur-und-landschaft.ch

I find that the Nikon Coolpix A is excellent RE flaring. Anyway, drone image quality seems to have improved a lot lately. All the best!

Juerg

Juerg,

I've taken lots of panoramas during the last two years. Some are here:

Loading…

utopia-photography.ch

Three more are here:

Loading…

utopia-photography.ch

They have been taken with the Phantom 3 Pro and Phantom 4. In many panoramas a few of the stitched images contained the sun and it never has been a problem (note: part of the sky is artificial in my 360°x180° panoramas for obvious reasons ).

When you stitch a couple of images containing the sun, the stitching process (e.g. in PTGui) eliminates most of the reflexes. I don't know yet if the Phantom 4 Pro is really worse in that respect (I get that impression though; the advantages still outweigh that minor disadvantage). The image with the famous Langwies train bridge I shared really looks awful, but most others are ok.

A few people attach a lightweight sun hood to the camera which seems to help (created with a 3D printer for example). If you really are interested in the P4Pro, you can contact me and we could do a flight together to see how good or bad it performs.

Best wishes,

Markus

 

[hakin]

Hey

I was wondering if the Phantom 4 pro is worth the money difference to Phantom 4? Is it worth upgrading?

 

[LarryO1]

Hey

I was wondering if the Phantom 4 pro is worth the money difference to Phantom 4? Is it worth upgrading

As of January 18 the Phantom 4 is no longer in production.

 

[danny006]

So this is for taking stills, and what about video? How do you focus correctly?

I thought you only need to do it once when shooting from the same distance, like broad landscape shots and than the camera retains its focus. Do you have to re-focus by touching the screen every time before each new shot?? That would imply that the focus changes by itself after each shot. I can't blieve that that is the case, or is it ??

In theory, you are correct mmarian. I wouldn't be surprised if there was a focus shift after a couple of images though (see further down my posting).

My workflow:

1) I touch the screen once until the green rectangle appears (signaling the AF is now activated). You have to do that once before taking your series of images.

2) Then I take the image with the release button.

3) For the next shot, I softly press the release button (sort of half-press like with a DSLR) without touching the screen at all. The green rectangle changes size for a second and a beep sound can be heard, both signaling AF has been adjusted for the next image. Then I hard press the button and take the image.

For the next image, again, I first "half-press" to refocus and watch whether the green rectangle chances size for a second. Then I hard press and so on.

So I only touch the screen one time at the very beginning of a new flight. It's basically like with a DSLR. The only difference: You have to touch the screen once when you start taking your series of photos (without it AF is not enabled at all).

Now if you do it like you suggested, there is the risk of screwing up focus because the camera might misinterpret pressing the button as a half-pressing of the button and if there is white snow in the AF field, autofocus might get screwed (sorry about my English).

Best wishes,

Markus

--
http://alexalpha.wix.com/alex-birdpictures

 

[Moonwalker]

My workflow:

1) I touch the screen once until the green rectangle appears (signaling the AF is now activated). You have to do that once before taking your series of images.

2) Then I take the image with the release button.

3) For the next shot, I softly press the release button (sort of half-press like with a DSLR) without touching the screen at all. The green rectangle changes size for a second and a beep sound can be heard, both signaling AF has been adjusted for the next image. Then I hard press the button and take the image.

For the next image, again, I first "half-press" to refocus and watch whether the green rectangle chances size for a second. Then I hard press and so on.

So I only touch the screen one time at the very beginning of a new flight. It's basically like with a DSLR. The only difference: You have to touch the screen once when you start taking your series of photos (without it AF is not enabled at all).

Now if you do it like you suggested, there is the risk of screwing up focus because the camera might misinterpret pressing the button as a half-pressing of the button and if there is white snow in the AF field, autofocus might get screwed (sorry about my English).

Best wishes,

Markus

A follow-up: I've changed my workflow. I only follow steps 1) and 2), then I leave the AF mode by touching the small green square in the upper menu. The green square then changes to exposure mode. Refocusing is not necessary for most purposes once AF is set. On the contrary, refocusing every shot is causing problems with the AF motor in my drone.

Markus

 

[Moonwalker]

Hey

I was wondering if the Phantom 4 pro is worth the money difference to Phantom 4? Is it worth upgrading?

From a photographer's point of view the answer is a definite "yes". Image quality is much better when compared to the Phantom 4 or Phantom 3 Pro. As for the rest of the drone, even the Phantom 3 Pro is still a marvelous machine.

Markus

 

[Tom Frerichs]

My workflow:

1) I touch the screen once until the green rectangle appears (signaling the AF is now activated). You have to do that once before taking your series of images.

2) Then I take the image with the release button.

A follow-up: I've changed my workflow. I only follow steps 1) and 2), then I leave the AF mode by touching the small green square in the upper menu. The green square then changes to exposure mode. Refocusing is not necessary for most purposes once AF is set. On the contrary, refocusing every shot is causing problems with the AF motor in my drone.

Markus

If you do some quick DoF calculations with a 1" sensor and an 8.8 mm lens, even at f/2.8, you'll see that the camera at anything over (say) 8 feet focuses as well as a Kodak Brownie. Meaning, DoF covers a multitude of sins once you're in the air.

Unless, of course, you insist on flying 4 feet away from something. (grin)

Tom Frerichs

 

[lickity split]

Recently upgraded from a Phantom 3 Pro and have thus far been a bit let done in the improvements of the image quality and overall sharpness of the 4 Pro's images. Would love to see some examples of your best shots so far!

Sorry I cant compare to any other drone because this is my first but I'm happy with it as soon as I heard DJI was upping the megapixels I pre-ordered .









--

https://www.flickr.com/photos/lickitysplit11111/

 

[riwong]

Sunrise at Gasworks park pano stitch in lightroom shot with p4p+

--
Later
Rick

 

[Oregon4KDrone]

I'm impressed as hell. Not as good as my Nikon D500, but close!

 

[red sled]

I'm impressed. Whenever I can find time to fly it. It's been my only drone since January and I've owned a Phantom since the first (that you attached your GoPro to the underbelly) and both P2s and a P3A.

Just recently I returned home after flying over some fellow farmers as they harvested their crops. Video and stills. I have cataracts and I was complaining to my wife that the stills looked soft (I'm used to my Nikon DSLRs) and her reply was that they looked fine. So I enlarged them 50% and then 100% and I could not believe the quality and sharpness. And these are JPGS.

There are a lot of camera settings, and I'm still playing with those. I also recently tried some 1080/60 fps video at night shooting the same machinery running in total darkness with only their operating lights for illumination. Focus was great and quality looks good even on our big screen tv.

Oh yes. I'm amazed by this camera and don't see any upgrades needed for this hobby flyer/photographer.

Repl

 

[junk1]

These "tests" are somewhat flawed - take shots with the drone on the ground so the props are not causing vibrations. I wonder if in the air you could turn off the motors, then very quickly snap a few shots, and turn the motors back on? It shouldn't fall far in a second or two...

I take aerials from a plane and turn the motor off and glide when taking still images. With the motor running more than minimally, the prop causes vibrations in my images (on my plane). for planes anyhow, it's the secret to great images versus amateurs. How they ever managed to get 4 props to not totally ruin stills is "beyond me". I surmise at some point they figured out how to make very well balanced props.

 

[lickity split]

These "tests" are somewhat flawed - take shots with the drone on the ground so the props are not causing vibrations. I wonder if in the air you could turn off the motors, then very quickly snap a few shots, and turn the motors back on? It shouldn't fall far in a second or two...

I take aerials from a plane and turn the motor off and glide when taking still images. With the motor running more than minimally, the prop causes vibrations in my images (on my plane). for planes anyhow, it's the secret to great images versus amateurs. How they ever managed to get 4 props to not totally ruin stills is "beyond me". I surmise at some point they figured out how to make very well balanced props.

Lol a free falling drone is far from an ideal shooting platform

 

[junk1]

Hardly would it instantly fall, ever heard of inertia? Could even have it going upwards slightly when you cut (or at least lower) the power.

 

[lickity split]

Hardly would it instantly fall, ever heard of inertia? Could even have it going upwards slightly when you cut (or at least lower) the power.

It fall like a two pound rock, and I seriously doubt you'll be able to get anything useful from a free falling aerial platform without the motors assisting you with the framing, picture setting a timer on your camera then throwing it out your window and hoping for a good image , not very likely

 

[junk1]

One would frame the shot and be ready to shoot before cutting the power...not rocket science.

 

[LesDMess]

These "tests" are somewhat flawed - take shots with the drone on the ground so the props are not causing vibrations. I wonder if in the air you could turn off the motors, then very quickly snap a few shots, and turn the motors back on? It shouldn't fall far in a second or two...

I take aerials from a plane and turn the motor off and glide when taking still images.

I am pretty certain none of these quad/hex copters will glide when motors are turned off. In fact, I am not sure that it would allow turning the motor off intentionally while in the air nor would I want to try.

These drones can be used to create pics and vids perfectly fine once you get the hang of it.

 

[lickity split]

One would frame the shot and be ready to shoot before cutting the power...not rocket science.

No not rocket science just common sense which you may be in dire need of since your so sure itll work why dont you just get your copter and give it a try and post your results , I'll be waiting....

 

[lickity split]

These "tests" are somewhat flawed - take shots with the drone on the ground so the props are not causing vibrations. I wonder if in the air you could turn off the motors, then very quickly snap a few shots, and turn the motors back on? It shouldn't fall far in a second or two...

I take aerials from a plane and turn the motor off and glide when taking still images.

I am pretty certain none of these quad/hex copters will glide when motors are turned off. In fact, I am not sure that it would allow turning the motor off intentionally while in the air nor would I want to try.

These drones can be used to create pics and vids perfectly fine once you get the hang of it.

Yes you can cut your motors in air but to try to frame and capture an image is impossible without your motors

 

[LesDMess]

These "tests" are somewhat flawed - take shots with the drone on the ground so the props are not causing vibrations. I wonder if in the air you could turn off the motors, then very quickly snap a few shots, and turn the motors back on? It shouldn't fall far in a second or two...

I take aerials from a plane and turn the motor off and glide when taking still images.

I am pretty certain none of these quad/hex copters will glide when motors are turned off. In fact, I am not sure that it would allow turning the motor off intentionally while in the air nor would I want to try.

These drones can be used to create pics and vids perfectly fine once you get the hang of it.

Yes you can cut your motors in air but to try to frame and capture an image is impossible without your motors

Good ol' utube has vids showing mid flight motor shutoff and restart - a DJI Mavic and Phantom. In both cases, the drones fell uncontrollably so they won't glide and they certainly would not make a more stable platform in that mode of operation.