summary reader response draft 1
Zenmuse X7 is a camera that is made
especially for filmmaking and is mainly mounted on the DJI Inspire 2 drone. According
to DJI (n.d.), the main features of the Zenmuse X7 are the Super 35 camera with
an integrated gimbal, A 24-megapixel CMOS sensor, four prime lenses and the
Apple ProRes RAW. Filmmakers are now able to film up to 6k resolutions and with
great stability. In the article “No Escape” (Holben, 2019), the Zenmuse X7 was
praised when it was used to film the police drama 21 bridges. The article
mentioned that the filmmakers used the DJI Inspire 2 with the Zenmuse X7
because of it being compact and its ability to film in 4k resolution. The
filmmakers also made use of the functionality of the gimbal and detached it
from the drone as it is small, stabilized, and can be handheld when chasing the
actors during filming. The Zenmuse X5S may be a
cheaper alternative but with the enhanced camera, four interchangeable lenses
and the Apple ProRes RAW from the Zenmuse X7, filmmakers and audiences will opt
for the Zenmuse X7 as it performs better.
The super 35 camera from the Zenmuse
X7 is one of the main enhancements from its predecessors. According to DJI (n.d.),
the ability of the super 35 camera to have 14 stops of dynamic range supersedes
that of the Zenmuse X5S which only allows it to have a dynamic range of 12.8
stops. Having a wider dynamic range makes the Zenmuse X7 more suitable for
users when recording videos in low-light settings. The super 35 camera also
offers better Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) as compared to the Zenmuse X5S. SNR refers to the signal quality found in an
image and having better SNR is important as it brings better image quality. (Kumar,
2022) The Zenmuse X7 provides better resolution as the super 35 camera has 24
megapixels while the Zenmuse X5S has 20.8 megapixels. This in turn allows the
Zenmuse X7 to record videos in 6k resolution while the Zenmuse X5S can only
record videos in 5.2k resolution because of the pixelation restriction. (Kmia,
2017)
The four interchangeable lenses of the
DJI Zenmuse X7 are a notable change from the Zenmuse X5S. According to DJI
(n.d.), the lenses are meant for the DL-mount system which happens to be the
world’s first integrated aerial lens mount. The lenses are made of carbon fiber
which is lightweight and multiple times stronger than steel. The combination of
the Zenmuse X7 and Inspire 2 weighs about 4 kilograms and it is comparable to
those top-notch drones that can capture difficult shots. Its focal lengths
range from 16-50 millimeters and can record up to 8k resolution. The
16-millimeter lens has a Neutral Density (ND) filter that obstructs the light
and retains the light’s original color. (Newton, 2023) There is an on-off
switch for the ND filter and along with the different focal lengths of each
interchangeable lens, users will be able to fully optimize the features of the
Zenmuse X7 and capture a variety of shots to fulfill their needs.
One other enhanced feature will be the
Apple ProRes RAW from Zenmuse X7. ProRes RAW allows film editors to retrieve
all the information the camera’s sensor received. ProRes RAW technology also
allows for debayering which is the isolation of the red, green, and blue
channels from the recorded image, for editing. Apple ProRes RAW is the
enhancement of the Apple ProRes which is the editing technology the Zenmuse X5S
has to offer. ProRes RAW is better than ProRes as it preserves the best quality
for editing and postproduction purposes. (Glass, 2023)
Conversely, Zenmuse X7 is expensive and
not suitable for most consumers who have a tight budget. According to DJI
(n.d.), the Zenmuse X7 excluding the four interchangeable lenses, and the Inspire
2 which is the drone the Zenmuse X7 has to mount on for aerial filming, costs
about 2390 and 4444 Singapore dollars respectively. According to Amazon (n.d.),
the four interchangeable lenses costs about 6427 Singapore dollars and the cost
for purchasing all of these products are slightly above 13000 Singapore
dollars. The Apple ProRes RAW system also requires a computer that has the
computing power enough to process the information gathered from the system. Therefore,
I conclude that most of the purchases of the Zenmuse X7 and its counterparts
will come from filmmakers from the top film industries with a big budget.
In conclusion, the Zenmuse X7 has a
few enhanced features from the Zenmuse X5S that will significantly improve the videos
recorded. However, the Zenmuse X7 will not be for everybody because of its cost
but it will be a gamechanger for filmmakers if they can afford it.
Reference list
DJI DL & DL-S lens set for Zenmuse X7 camera (4 pieces). (n.d.). https://www.amazon.com/DJI-DL-S-Zenmuse-Camera-Pieces/dp/B077NL3Q42
Glass, T. (2023, July 17). What is Prores and Prores Raw? everything you need to know. https://www.adorama.com/alc/prores-raw/
Holben, J. (2019, December). No escape . https://paulcamerondp.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/21Bridges_ASC-Mag.pdf
Kmia, O. (2017, October 19). What are the differences between the DJI zenmuse x5s and X7 cameras and which one should you buy?. Fstoppers. https://fstoppers.com/aerial/what-are-differences-between-dji-zenmuse-x5s-and-x7-cameras-and-which-one-should-199965#:~:text=On%20a%20physical%20standpoint%2C%20the,should%20also%20display%20less%20noise.
Kumar, P. (2022, October 27). What is signal-to-noise ratio (SNR)? why is SNR important in embedded cameras? - e-con systems. What is Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR)? Why is SNR important in embedded cameras? https://www.e-consystems.com/blog/camera/technology/what-is-signal-to-noise-ratio-snr-why-is-snr-important-in-embedded-cameras/
Newton, M. (2023, May 16). ND filters – in depth guide for Beginners. The School of Photography - Courses, Tutorials & Books. https://www.theschoolofphotography.com/tutorials/nd-filters-in-depth-guide-for-beginners
Zenmuse X7 - DJI. DJI Official. (n.d.). https://www.dji.com/sg/zenmuse-x7
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