Their conclusions are puzzling, as DXO conclusions usually are. We need to remember than DXO is rating primarily SENSORS while practical photographers rate the resultant image quality which is affected by the overall system which also includes lenses etc.
I own a
P4P and while the image quality is surprisingly good, there is simply no way it can compete with cameras such as the 1D MkII or even the venerable old D2X, both of which DXO rates under the
P4P. I have owned all 3 of those cameras, and I would put the
P4P a definite 3rd in that list when judging the photos each produces.
The main limitation
P4P and all small cameras is the tiny lens whose physical size makes it subject to diffraction issues even when wide open. Little lenses make fuzzy pictures, fact of life. And sharpening only helps so much. IMHO diffraction limits the
P4P to about 5 megapixel sharpness, at best. But it's a very good 5 megapixel equivalent camera and that ain't bad and much better than any other consumer drone I know about. And the
P4P does have a dynamic range like no other drone camera, and that counts for a lot. Those raw files are a pleasure to work with and offer a range of interpretation possibilities beyond any previous Phantom model.
FWIW I have processed many still images from both an X5S and my own
P4P, and I have to say that for many subjects the
P4P STILL image quality is superior to the X5S, mainly because X5S suffers from pronounced blue/yellow fringing around the edges which I believe is more of a sensor issue than a lens issue. I have seen that with 15, 17, and 25mm lenses and on 2 different X5Ss. Image quality takes a hit when that fringing is removed in post. The X5S might be a bit sharper at the center, but while both the X5S and the
P4P fall off quite a bit toward the edges, the
P4P seems to have a less jarring difference between center and edge sharpness. But for video I would have to give a definite nod to the X5S.
But hey...the
P4P is a dream come true for anybody who has ever hauled around a giant octo with a 5lb, $6,000.00 dslr package just begging to drop 400 feet onto the nearest BMW. And that's a fact.