The rise of consumer drone industry makes aerial photography no longer exclusive to professional filmmakers. Instead, more ordinary consumers can re-discover the world from God’s perspective. In fact, aerial photography mainly involves two core points, namely, flying platform and imaging solution. Both of them are indispensable: on one hand, a drone’s safety, stability, operability and intelligent level are the basis for aerial photography; on the other hand, the aerial Cameras’s image quality can directly influence the final works.
Previous drones usually carry a mirrorless digital camera or digital single lens reflex (DSLR) such as GoPro, Panasonic GH4 or Sony A7 for aerial photography where the drone manufacturer and camera manufacturer work separately. In 2014, the drone maker DJI’s Phantom 2 Vision changed the situation, making the integration of camera and drone a trend. The all-in-one design can benefit the flight experience. Besides, the combination of camera with video transmission and app makes the operation and parameter settings more convenient.
This article will focus on one of the core points—camera, to discuss what attempts the drone manufacturers and camera manufacturers have made regarding the aerial camera solutions over the past 3 years.
Stage 1: The lighter one will be taken into the sky
The picture shows that DJI’s Phantom 2 with a platform camera has taken the headline
As four-axis drones can only bear limited weight, the small-size, lightweight and wide angle motion camera GoPro with complete functions becomes the first choice for drone makers. The first generation consumer drone — DJI Phantom 1 was equipped with the motion camera GoPro, so was 3DR SOLO.
Since the release of the first generation Phantom, DJI has released the gimbal compatible for GoPro camera, including Zenmuse H3-2D/Zenmuse H3-3D for GoPro Hero 3, and Zenmuse H4-3D released later for GoPro Hero 4. However, a third-party camera makes it inconvenient for video transmission and parameter control.
From Phantom 2 Vision, DJI starts to equip its consumer drones with aerial cameras. DJI’s cooperation with GoPro also changes. It is an inevitable result to develop drones with aerial cameras regarding the product’s oneness and long-term development demand.
Stage 2: Watch the TV Series “Where Are We Going, Dad?” more clearly with a professional camera drone
In Where Are We Going, Dad, many aerial scenes were captured by DJI drones
Professional filmmakers usually need professional camera drones for aerial photography. The ZERO-Steadi470 is customized according to the camera model. The ZERO-Steadi470 gimbal is compatible with different series of cameras including SONY 5N and Panasonic GH2.
DJI’s Zenmuse Z15 series gimbals can be used with popular DLSR/mirrorless cameras. These gimbals are compatible with DJI M600, S1000+ and other big flying platforms.
For business commercials or upscale weddings production teams, the combination of drones with DLSR/mirrorless cameras will undoubtedly contribute to their commercial aerial photography. In this way, they can capture higher quality shots at lower cost.
Stage 3: Flying film camera and medium format camera
On the 2016 NAB Show, DJI released its latest Ronin-MX 3-axis gimbal compatible with various professional cameras, such as RED DRAGON/RAVEN and ARRI ALEXA MINI. This gimbal can be fully combined with DJI Matrice 600 (M600) to apply professional film cameras in aerial photography.
In this July, DJI released its high-end aerial camera bundle, the first hybrid DJI/Hasselblad product introduced since DJI announced acquiring part of Hasselblad’s stock equity at the end of last year. The aerial camera-platform bundle consists of Hasselblad’s medium format camera A5D and DJI’s professional drone the M600 and 3-axis gimbal the Ronin-MX, available for drawing and commercial photography. The M600 comes fully equipped with 6 intelligent batteries, A3 flight controller, Lightbridge 2 Professional HD transmission system, a dust-proof propulsion system and powerful DJI GO app capable of checking real-time videos and various flight data. In addition, the M600 can send back low-latency video streaming at 1080p@60fps from 5 kilometers away and can mount the Hasselblad camera easily with its 6kg weight-carrying capacity. Hasselblad’s A5D camera lens comes in 50mm and its built-in sensors are almost twice the size of those used in today’s best 35mm DSLR cameras. Hasselblad Natural Colour Solution (HNCS) comes standard and can help optimize difficult colour gradations straight out of the box. This bundle can be seen as a “Perfect Match” in current drone field.
The A5D-M600 bundle is not sold on the market yet. But considering that the combination of DJI’s M600 and Ronin-MX costs more than 40,000 RMB, the A5D-M600 bundle must be very expensive.
The author reckons that more development of the two company’ cooperation can be expected on the following Phantom series and other new products.
M600+Ronin MX+Hasselblad A5D
Over the past three years, from carrying a GoPro to professional cameras, then to Red, ARRI and Hasselblad, DJI and other drone manufacturers have been working hard to provide new products and solutions with better image quality for their users. There are advantages for separate production of drones and professional cameras, but it also comes with disadvantages: for example, the video transmission and monitoring system need to be added and consumers only have limited access to these products, etc., which have been restraining the evolution of this seemingly “powerful combination” yet separate development approach.
Later we will publish “The Most Complete Aerial Cameras Development History (II) —Irresistible All-in-one Trend”. Taking DJI, the benchmark in drone industry as an example, the article will specifically analyze DJI’s development history of gimbal cameras. The all-in-one design trend can significantly make aerial photography down to the consumer marketplace and meet different levels of consumer demands, making aerial photography more and more popular.
The post The Most Complete Aerial Cameras Development History (I) appeared first on Drone Inner.
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