reader response draft 3

 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 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 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 X7 because of its compactability and its ability to film up to 6k 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 X7, filmmakers and audiences will opt for the X7 as it performs better.

The super 35 camera from the 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 X5S which only allows it to have a dynamic range of 12.8 stops. Having a wider dynamic range makes the X7 more suitable for users when recording videos in low-light settings. Additionally, the super 35 camera also offers better Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) as compared to the 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 X7 provides better resolution as the super 35 camera has 24 megapixels while the X5S has 20.8 megapixels. This in turn allows the X7 to record videos in 6k resolution while the X5S can only record videos in 5.2k resolution because of the pixelation restriction (Kmia, 2017).

The four interchangeable lenses of the X7 are a notable change from the X5S, which has a standard fixed lens. 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 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 X7 and capture a variety of shots to fulfill their needs.

One other enhanced feature will be the Apple ProRes RAW from 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 X5S has to offer. Therefore, ProRes RAW is better than ProRes as it preserves the best quality for editing and postproduction purposes (Glass, 2023).

Conversely, X7 is expensive and not suitable for most consumers who have a tight budget. According to DJI (n.d.), the total cost of the Inspire 2 and X7, without the interchangeable lenses, is close to 7000 SGD.  The four interchangeable lenses from Amazon cost about 6500 SGD and this brings the total cost to about 13500 SGD for the entire setup (Amazon, n.d.). On the other hand, the total cost of the Inspire 2 and the X5S is slightly over 7000 SGD (DJI, n.d.). The Apple ProRes RAW system also requires a computer that has the computing power enough to process the information gathered from the system. Therefore, the significant upgrade justifies the hefty price.

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 professional filmmakers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reference list

Amazon. (n.d.) DJI DL & DL-S lens set for Zenmuse X7 camera (4 pieces). https://www.amazon.com/DJI-DL-S-Zenmuse-Camera-Pieces/dp/B077NL3Q42

DJI Store. (n.d.) Buy inspire 2 - DJI store. Buy Inspire 2 -. https://store.dji.com/sg/product/inspire-2?from=search-result-v2&position=0&total_result=184&vid=20221

DJI Store. (n.d.) Buy inspire 2 - DJI store. Buy Inspire 2. https://store.dji.com/sg/product/inspire-2?from=search-result-v2&position=0&total_result=184&vid=96891

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

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Self-introduction email

  Subject: self-introduction   Dear Prof Brad,   I am writing this email to introduce myself to you and I hope that you can get to know me better. My name is Quinian Foo, and I am a year 1 mechanical engineering student studying in Singapore Institute of Technology. I have a diploma in mechatronics, and I have a passion for engineering. Since I was young, I have always been a hands-on person. Fixing things and thinking outside of the box to seek out creative solutions to the problems I faced was enjoyable for me. What makes me unique is that I constantly think of ways to improve life through engineering. I took up design and technology as a subject during my O levels and proceeded to study mechatronics in Temasek Polytechnic. I excelled in engineering design and interned at Singapore Technologies Aerospace where I continued to apply my AutoCAD skills to work. I plan to specialize in design during my third year in university to refine my AutoCAD skills. Using AutoCAD durin...
Read more

Task 3: The Importance of communication skills for engineers

  “I contend that we (engineers) are undervalued because of our widespread inability to explain what we do to the general public (and why it is so important). It is one of the hardest goals to accomplish, to be able to boil down difficult concepts into a short and easily understood presentation or elevator pitch.” Marybeth Miceli, President, Miceli Infrastructure Consulting, USA (2011) After some discussion, my partner Shakthi and I have agreed to the statement above. 1.       The job of an engineer is important as they aim to solve the world’s problem by improving and innovating the technologies used in the different industries such as healthcare, finance, etc. 1.       It is important for the general public to know what the engineers do as they promote more job opportunities for the future generation and to bring in more investors into the industry as the world evolves, thus creating more world problems for engineers to so...
Read more

reader response draft 4

  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 X7 are the Super 35 camera with an integrated gimbal, a24-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 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 X7 because of its compactability and its ability to film up to 6k resolution. The filmmakers also made use of the functionality of the gimbal and detached it from the drone as it was small, stabilized, and could be handheld when the filmmakers were chasing the actors during filming.   The Zenmuse X5S ,  X7's predecessor, may be a cheaper alternative , but with the enhanced camera, four interchangeable lenses and the Apple ...
Read more