Hi everybody,
I own a Phantom 4 for 1 month now. The unit was bought specially for a professional project (I'm photo/videographer).
As I work in the video industry for many years now I quickly identified some major issues concerning footage quality of the P4 camera. And I'm not alone...Many users across internet reported difficulties to achieve constant quality footage in 4k (and other situation but I'll discuss mostly about 4K). There are also many question about D-Log quality and I hope this topic will be the perfect place to sum up issues, solutions, and best of the best, maybe to have official words from DJI.
Before I start, I would like to precise that I'm used to work with many type of cameras and footage, from dslr, red, alexa, sony's F3 F5 Fs7 Fs5, OZO etc...We also have a post-production unit at our office and we do pro level editing and color grading for TV/Film industry. Moreover I want to mention that my P4 is in perfect condition, no crashs, no shocks, and firmware updated.
So for almost 1 month now, I'm testing the unit and the footage. My conclusion is pretty simple, the Phantom 4 4k + D-log quality is poor and unconsistant.
From day one and my first flight I quickly saw some "pulsing" or "flickering" artifact on the footage. Many others users have reported the same issue. It's mostly present in shadow and small detailled area (grass, rocks, water, foliage). It's not related to the aircraft nor camera movements, it can occur on stable shot as well. It's not related to ISO or light condition, I experienced this issue during many different type of flights and places.
This "flickering/pulsing" problem never appeared on 2k and HD footage.
I suspect that the problem come from the resolution and I must confess I didn't tested D-log versus others profiles. Simply because as a professional my goal is to shoot D-log to achieve the best quality for post and grading.
Without any clear answer or clarification from other pilots, DJI or google, I finally decided to do a true comparaison test in the video below.
WORKFLOW :
All these shots have been done with the same unit during 2 differents days.
Always the same camera setting, lights change are naturals, clouds etc.
ISO 100 - 1/60s @ 29,97fps
Everything manual - Sunny WB fixed
3D noise reduction off
ND8/pl for test 1, ND4/pl for test 2 (porlapro cinema collection)
D-Log + custom -2;-2;0 (sharpness;contrast;saturation)
Recorded in P4 MOV
Transcoded in proRes
Edited in PremierePro (last version)
Exported as ProRes Master and youtube H264.
First of all, as I wanted to compare 3 resolution in the same video so I edited in a timeline with the setting of the smaller one.
By reducing the 4k and 2k footage to 1080p these artifact/pulsing/flickering are less visible than the original resolution of each one.
Moreover I just realized that the youtube export and online compression tend to also smooth them. It's more present on the original file than what you see on youtube player.
Saying that, even in a final 1080p output, my proRes master file is really flickering/pulsing with 4k footage.
I also exported some segment of 4k 2k and HD in their native resolution. Same results. (video bellow)
I did the same job using non-transcoded media, editing with native h264 and exporting as is. Same results, as well as exporting as proRes (non senses but I tried).
I exported graded/ungraded footage, same results.
I tried anti flickering filter, no success (and not a solution, I want a clean 4k on my 1600$ drone)
I finally tried on FCPX just to be sure...same results.
I also see less detail/sharpen in 4k than 2k and less in 2k than HD. 4k < 2k < HQ.
Keep in mind that everything described in the video is just more clear on masters and original files.
(I would ike to upload those proRes masters and other original files used, but unfortunatly, for the purpose of the shoot I'm in an area with really slow internet connexion. Giving you this video was already difficult.)
Conclusion :
On a big part of my 4k footage I have flickering/pulsing/artifact problem. From original media to edited output. No matter what are my camera setting or light condition, altitude, speed etc.
I don't think is a D-log problem because D-log is great on 2k and HD. I'll try 4k with other profile in the next days.
Even if I'm sure it's on the original media, as you can see, I tried a lot of differents things. Differents editing method, different output, video player etc. Same results.
My biggest regret in this post is the fact that youtube compression minimize a lot what I describe, so please look and read carefully.
Some people on internet said that 4k is just an electronic blow up of HD footage, if it the case, DJI did misleading advertising IMO.
4k to 4k segment
1- I would like to know if it's a problem with my unit, with some or with all P4. (pretty sure i'm not alone, after all the posts I saw accross the web)
2- I would like to know if there is any tricks that can help or mistakes I maybe do.
3- What do you think of your 4k footage ?
Best regards.
ps: original files will be available for download asap.
I own a Phantom 4 for 1 month now. The unit was bought specially for a professional project (I'm photo/videographer).
As I work in the video industry for many years now I quickly identified some major issues concerning footage quality of the P4 camera. And I'm not alone...Many users across internet reported difficulties to achieve constant quality footage in 4k (and other situation but I'll discuss mostly about 4K). There are also many question about D-Log quality and I hope this topic will be the perfect place to sum up issues, solutions, and best of the best, maybe to have official words from DJI.
Before I start, I would like to precise that I'm used to work with many type of cameras and footage, from dslr, red, alexa, sony's F3 F5 Fs7 Fs5, OZO etc...We also have a post-production unit at our office and we do pro level editing and color grading for TV/Film industry. Moreover I want to mention that my P4 is in perfect condition, no crashs, no shocks, and firmware updated.
So for almost 1 month now, I'm testing the unit and the footage. My conclusion is pretty simple, the Phantom 4 4k + D-log quality is poor and unconsistant.
From day one and my first flight I quickly saw some "pulsing" or "flickering" artifact on the footage. Many others users have reported the same issue. It's mostly present in shadow and small detailled area (grass, rocks, water, foliage). It's not related to the aircraft nor camera movements, it can occur on stable shot as well. It's not related to ISO or light condition, I experienced this issue during many different type of flights and places.
This "flickering/pulsing" problem never appeared on 2k and HD footage.
I suspect that the problem come from the resolution and I must confess I didn't tested D-log versus others profiles. Simply because as a professional my goal is to shoot D-log to achieve the best quality for post and grading.
Without any clear answer or clarification from other pilots, DJI or google, I finally decided to do a true comparaison test in the video below.
WORKFLOW :
All these shots have been done with the same unit during 2 differents days.
Always the same camera setting, lights change are naturals, clouds etc.
ISO 100 - 1/60s @ 29,97fps
Everything manual - Sunny WB fixed
3D noise reduction off
ND8/pl for test 1, ND4/pl for test 2 (porlapro cinema collection)
D-Log + custom -2;-2;0 (sharpness;contrast;saturation)
Recorded in P4 MOV
Transcoded in proRes
Edited in PremierePro (last version)
Exported as ProRes Master and youtube H264.
First of all, as I wanted to compare 3 resolution in the same video so I edited in a timeline with the setting of the smaller one.
By reducing the 4k and 2k footage to 1080p these artifact/pulsing/flickering are less visible than the original resolution of each one.
Moreover I just realized that the youtube export and online compression tend to also smooth them. It's more present on the original file than what you see on youtube player.
Saying that, even in a final 1080p output, my proRes master file is really flickering/pulsing with 4k footage.
I also exported some segment of 4k 2k and HD in their native resolution. Same results. (video bellow)
I did the same job using non-transcoded media, editing with native h264 and exporting as is. Same results, as well as exporting as proRes (non senses but I tried).
I exported graded/ungraded footage, same results.
I tried anti flickering filter, no success (and not a solution, I want a clean 4k on my 1600$ drone)
I finally tried on FCPX just to be sure...same results.
I also see less detail/sharpen in 4k than 2k and less in 2k than HD. 4k < 2k < HQ.
Keep in mind that everything described in the video is just more clear on masters and original files.
(I would ike to upload those proRes masters and other original files used, but unfortunatly, for the purpose of the shoot I'm in an area with really slow internet connexion. Giving you this video was already difficult.)
Conclusion :
On a big part of my 4k footage I have flickering/pulsing/artifact problem. From original media to edited output. No matter what are my camera setting or light condition, altitude, speed etc.
I don't think is a D-log problem because D-log is great on 2k and HD. I'll try 4k with other profile in the next days.
Even if I'm sure it's on the original media, as you can see, I tried a lot of differents things. Differents editing method, different output, video player etc. Same results.
My biggest regret in this post is the fact that youtube compression minimize a lot what I describe, so please look and read carefully.
Some people on internet said that 4k is just an electronic blow up of HD footage, if it the case, DJI did misleading advertising IMO.
4k to 4k segment
1- I would like to know if it's a problem with my unit, with some or with all P4. (pretty sure i'm not alone, after all the posts I saw accross the web)
2- I would like to know if there is any tricks that can help or mistakes I maybe do.
3- What do you think of your 4k footage ?
Best regards.
ps: original files will be available for download asap.