DJI has announced the Zenmuse X7 camera for the Inspire 2 Professional Drone. The camera shoots in Cinema DNG RAW which allows for the utmost quality for the demanding videographer with up to 60fps at 3.9k resolution. Interestingly it does not support 4k at that frame rate as probably there is a hardware limitation for that last few rows of pixels to be saved at that quality.
Of note is the 4k DCI spec up to 30p and ability to shoot and save in Apple ProRes in 4k and 2k with more option in H.264 and the newer H.265 codecs. The biggest deal, however, is the ability to shoot 6k in DNG format at 6K: 6016×3200, 23.976/24/25/29.97/30p, 12-bit, full FOV. This is a first for a drone camera of this size and should be the ideal format for ultra resolution seekers.
Zenmuse X7 Main Specs:
Zemuse X7 Still Camera Specs:
| Sensor | Sensor Size (Still): 23.5×15.7 mm Sensor Size (Max video recording area): 23.5×12.5 mm Effective Pixels: 24 MP |
|---|---|
| Supported Lenses | DJI DL-S 16mm F2.8 ND ASPH (with lens hood and balancing ring/filter) DJI DL 24mm F2.8 LS ASPH (with lens hood and balancing ring/filter) DJI DL 35mm F2.8 LS ASPH (with lens hood and balancing ring/filter) DJI DL 50mm F2.8 LS ASPH (with lens hood and balancing ring/filter |
| Supported Micro SD/SSD Cards | MicroSD: Class 10 or UHS-1 rating with a writing speed of 15 MB/s required; Max capacity: 64 GB SSD: DJI CINESSD |
| Photo Sizes | 3:2, 4:3, 16:9 |
| Photo Formats | DJI CINESSD: DNG Micro SD: DNG, JPEG, DNG+JPEG |
| Operation Modes | Capture, Record, Playback |
| Still Photography Modes | Micro SD: Single Shot, Burst Shooting (3/5/7/10 shots), Auto Exposure Bracketing (3/5 bracketed shots at 0.7 EV bias), Interval SSD: RAW Burst (3/5/7/10/14/∞ frames), up to 20 fps when using RAW Burst (exact quantity is determined by storage card capacity and battery power level) |
| Shutter Speed | Electronic Shutter Speed: 1/8000 – 8s Mechanical Shutter Speed: 1/1000 – 8s (DJI DL-S 16mm F2.8 ND ASPH not supported) |
| ISO Range | Photo: 100 – 25600 Video: 100 – 1600 (EI mode on); 100 – 6400 (EI mode off) |
Zenmuse X7 Video SPECS:
| Video Formats | CINESSD: CinemaDNG, ProRes Micro SD: MOV, MP4 |
|---|---|
| Video Resolution | Aspect Ratio 17:9
CinemaDNG 6K: 6016×3200, 23.976/24/25/29.97/30p, 12-bit, full FOV ProRes H.264 H.265 6K: 5760×3240, 23.976/24/25/29.97/30p, 12-bit, full FOV ProRes 4K Ultra HD: 3840×2160, 23.976/24/25/29.97p, 10-bit, HQ/XQ, full FOV H.264 H.265 Aspect Ratio 2.44:1 ProRes H.264/H.265 |
As you can see there are a plethora of video codecs and recording options for the camera. 1080p and 720p video maxes out at 60fps and does not go to 120fps like in other cameras of the same breath. The Zenmuse X7 seems to be geared toward 4k and 6k shooters that need maximum resolution in a video format with enough latitude and grading ability for high-end film and TV production.
We would have liked a bit higher frame rates at lower resolutions from the camera but the product segmentation seems to be in conflict with delivering resolution rather than frame rate output. There is no question this camera is a big leap for professional drone shooters which demand ever higher resolving power.
Pricing & Availability:
Starting at: USD $2,699 (You will also need an inspire 2 drone sold separately)
20-25 business days from Today October 12th, 2017
More info at the DJI Page here!
Yes ist has 60 fps on 3.9k but only with narrow fov… there is no wide angle lens so far that compensates the increased crop factor…
Thanks for the insight!