DJI Announces New Micro Four Thirds Aerial Cameras Designed for Professionals

Zenmuse X5 and X5R cameras bring unprecedented quality and ease-of-use to aerial imaging

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Sep 10, 2015, 08:15 ET

LAS VEGAS, Sept. 10, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --

First commercially available aerial cameras featuring Micro Four Thirds sensors
Each camera offers 16 megapixel stills and 4k video on a stabilized 3-axis gimbal that integrates with the Inspire 1
Interchangeable lens options with remotely controllable focus and aperture
Zenmuse X5R records lossless CinemaDNG files to a solid state drive (SSD) and is the world's smallest lossless 4k camera

DJI, the world leader in creative aerial imaging technology, today announced two new cameras for its industry-leading DJI Inspire 1 professional aerial camera platform.

The new Zenmuse X5 represents the world's first commercially-available micro four thirds (M4/3) camera designed specifically for aerial use. With a large sensor, aerial image makers will be able to capture up to 13 stops of dynamic range, making it easy to capture high-resolution 16 megapixel photos or 4k, 24fps and 30fps videos in complex lighting environments.

Zenmuse X5 users will have even more options for capturing images in the sky through additional supported lenses and full wireless aperture and focus control. At the time of launch, the Zenmuse X5 will support 4 interchangeable lenses, including the DJI MFT 15mm f/1.7 ASPH lens, Panasonic Lumix 15mm G Leica DG Summilux f/1.7 ASPH lens, Olympus M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 12mm f/2.0 lens, and Olympus M.Zuiko 17mm f/1.8 lens. While the Zenmuse X5 is in flight, pilots can adjust both focus and aperture via the DJI GO app or through DJI's previously-announced Follow Focus system.

The camera's lightweight 340 gram (0.75 pound) body integrates with DJI's signature 3-axis Zenmuse gimbal technology, creating effortlessly smooth video and stabilized long-exposure photos (up to 8 seconds).

"The professional applications of the Zenmuse X5 are almost endless," said Eric Cheng, DJI's Director of Aerial Imaging. "In addition to shooting professional-quality photos and 4K video, the new camera can be used to create high-quality aerial maps and 3D models, and can also help industrial teams get even more detail from their aerial imaging pursuits, for example, in utility inspection using a drone."

DJI also announced the Zenmuse X5R camera, which shares the same sensor and lens compatibility with the X5, but records video both to an onboard microSD card as well as to a removable 512GB solid state disk (SSD) on the gimbal's top plate. The Zenmuse X5R records CinemaDNG (RAW) video to the SSD, and opens up lossless 4k video recording in a groundbreaking, compact form factor with video bitrates averaging 1.7Gbps (with a maximum of 2.4Gbps).

The Zenmuse X5R also offers a brand-new D-LOG mode that offers a broader array of color correction options in post production.

To support the management of Zenmuse X5R Cinema DNG files, DJI will release software to edit and convert RAW camera footage. CineLight, which will be available when the Zenmuse X5R camera is released later this year, simplifies users' workflows by offering offline proxy editing before converting the CinemaDNG files to ProRes.

"In order to achieve the quality of video produced by Zenmuse X5 and X5R, pilots used to have to spend many thousands of dollars for large, complicated aerial equipment," said Frank Wang, DJI CEO and Founder. "Now, pilots can simply mount the Zenmuse X5 series cameras to their Inspire 1, put on their props, get up in the air, and have full control of their shot while in flight. This saves valuable time on film sets and makes high quality imaging for industrial applications smaller, lighter and easier to manage."

By mounting a small, easy-to-install bracket, the Zenmuse X5 series cameras are fully compatible with existing DJI Inspire 1 platforms as an interchangeable option for the Inspire 1's standard Zenmuse X3 camera.

The Zenmuse X5 is available for pre-order at store.dji.com for $4,499 (EUR4,999), including a DJI Inspire 1 and DJI's MFT 15mm F1.7 ASPH lens, and will begin shipping before the end of September. The Zenmuse X5R will be available in Q4 2015 for $7,999 (EUR8,799). Both can be purchased as stand alone cameras with, or without lens. More information can be found at dji.com.

Both units are available to view at DJI's booths at IBC in Amsterdam and Interdrone in Las Vegas this week.

Photos

Video

Zenmuse X5 and X5R

Zenmuse X5 series photos

Introducing the Zenmuse X5 Series

Zenmuse X5R Colour Grading

Zenmuse X5 Series Showreel

About DJI

DJI is a global leader in developing and manufacturing innovative camera technology for commercial and recreational use. DJI was founded and is run by people with a passion for remote-controlled helicopters and experts in flight control technology and camera stabilization. The company is dedicated to making aerial photography and filmmaking more reliable and easier to use for creators and innovators around the world. DJI's global operations currently span North America, Europe and Asia, and its revolutionary products and solutions have been chosen by customers in over 100 countries; for applications in film, advertising, construction, fire fighting, farming, and many other industries.

For more information, visit DJI online: www.dji.com
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Comparison Table

Camera		Zenmuse X3	Zenmuse X5	X5 RAW
Sensor	Size	6.17 x 4.55 mm	17.3 x 13.0 mm (Aspect Ratio 4:3 )	17.3 x 13.0 mm (Aspect Ratio 4:3 )
	Type	CMOS	CMOS	CMOS
	Megapixels	12.4	16	16
	ISO range	100~3200	100~25600	100~25600
Lenses	Optics	20mm (35mm effective) f/2.8 infinite focus	Interchangeable (DJI 15mm)	Interchangeable (DJI 15mm)
	Aperture	F/2.8	F/1.7-F/16 (DJI 15mm)	F/1.7-F/16 (DJI 15mm)
	Field of View	94 degrees	72 degrees (DJI 15mm)	72 degrees (DJI 15mm)
	Equivalent focal length	35mm	30mm (DJI 15mm)	30mm (DJI 15mm)
	Distortion	0.90%	0.40%	0.40%
	Focus Range	Fixed	20cm - Infinity (DJI 15mm)	20cm - Infinity (DJI 15mm)
	Automatic Focus	N/A	Supported	Supported
Still Photos	Megapixels	12.4	16	16
	Burst	7 photos / second	7 photos / second	7 photos / second
	Shutter Speed	1/8000 – 8 seconds	1/8000 – 8 seconds	1/8000 – 8 seconds
	Exposure Compensation Range	-3~+3, 1/3	-3~+3, 1/3	-3~+3, 1/3
	Automatic Exposure	Supported	Supported	Supported
	Time Interval Shots	Supported	Supported	Supported
	Time Lapse	3/5/7/10/20/30 seconds	3/5/7/10/20/30/60 seconds	3/5/7/10/20/30/60 seconds
	DNG Raw Photos	Supported	Supported	Supported
Video	Resolution	4096x2160(25/24P), 3840x2160(30/25P), 1920x1080(60/50/48/30/25/24P) 1280x720(60/50/48/30/25/24P)	4096x2160(23.98p), 3840x2160(29.97/23.98p), 2704x1520(30/25P), 1920x1080(59.94/29.97p)	4096x2160(23.98p), 3840x2160(29.97/23.98p), 2704x1520(30/25P), 1920x1080(59.94/29.97p)
	Video Codec	MPEG4/AVC/H.264	MPEG4/AVC/H.264	MPEG4/AVC/H.264/JPEG-Lossless(RAW)
	Compression Rates	60Mbps @4096x2160(25/24P), 60Mbps @3840x2160(30/25P), 45Mbps @1920x1080(60/50/48/30/25/24P) 40Mbps @1280x720(60/50/48/30/25/24P)	60Mbps @4096x2160(23.98p), 60Mbps @3840x2160(29.97/23.98p), 45Mbps @2704x1520(30/25P), 40Mbps @1920x1080(59.94), 25Mbps @1920x1080(29.97p)	1.6Gbps @4096x2160(23.98p), 2.4Gbps @3840x2160(29.97/23.98p), 1Gbps @2704x1520(30/25P), 500Mbps @1920x1080(29.97p)
	Formats	MP4/MOV	MP4/MOV	MP4/MOV/Cinema DNG (RAW)
	Storage Formats	Micro-SD Class 10	Micro-SD Class 10	Micro-SD Class 10/SSD Default 512GB (RAW)
	3D Noise Reduction	Supported	Supported	Supported
	Stabilization	Supported	Supported	Supported
Other	Shooting Modes	P/S/M	P/S/A/M	P/S/A/M/C
	AE Metering	Auto / Spot	Auto / Spot	Auto / Spot
	Auto Exposure Lock	Supported	Supported	Supported
	White Balance	Auto / Default / Manual	Auto / Manual / Spot	Auto / Manual / Spot
	Focus Method	Infinity	AFS/AFF/MF	AFS/AFF/MF
	Automatic Focus Method	N/A	256-Area / Precision Focus (Touch Focus)	256-Area / Precision Focus (Touch Focus)
	AF Assist	N/A	Supported	Supported
	Auto Focus Lock	N/A	Supported (AF/AE LOCK)	Supported (AF/AE LOCK)
	Peak Focus	N/A	Supported	Supported
	Exposure Warning(Zebra)	Supported	Supported	Supported
	Regulator	Supported	Supported	Supported
	Colouring	sRGB,Color looks, LOG	sRGB,Color looks, LOG, Cine-D	sRGB,Color looks, LOG, Cine-D, D-LOG (RAW)
	Other features	HDR/Video DR	HDR/Video DR	HDR/Video DR
	Proxy	N/A	N/A	H.264 1080P/4K
	Software	N/A	N/A	DJI Cinelight