Hi everyone!

I usually shoot in DNG + jpg and I've found that it takes much time to record pictures and while this operation, it doesn't allow to modify the camera settings.

I use the microSD that comes with the aircraft.

Anyone tried to use some more performing microSD and noticed some difference.

A faster card won't improve the situation as the bottleneck is the speed the camera writes to the card.
Do you NEED to shoot DNG?
If you shoot  jpg only, it will be much faster.

labroides@yahoo Posted at 2016-4-25 13:55
A faster card won't improve the situation as the bottleneck is the speed the camera writes to the ca ...

Yes, I need DNG because I usually post-process them in Lightroom and the jpg to have a firstly evaluation.

Nicola90s Posted at 2016-4-25 22:11
Yes, I need DNG because I usually post-process them in Lightroom and the jpg to have a firstly eva ...

Well, that's the downside of DNG on the Phantom

Hello Nicola, theoretically, higher writing speed could reduce the time.But what's more, you can also try to set short exposure time. It also helps.

Just two comments to gain some speed: first, why take jpeg? You can make the jpeg copies in Lightroom later (the Lightroom previews from DNG are fine), and second, shoot in AEB bracketing mode (the camera settings will be changed automatically). Then a thought: reformat your SD card regularly (especially if you are taking a lot of videos along with the photos). Lastly, I noticed some improvement in write speed for my P3P with the recent updates.
Have fun!

DJI-Paladin Posted at 2016-4-26 12:54
Hello Nicola, theoretically, higher writing speed could reduce the time.But what's more, you can als ...

A 12MP photo will take the same time to write to the SD card regardless of the exposure time.

johnsr Posted at 2016-4-26 09:14
Just two comments to gain some speed: first, why take jpeg? You can make the jpeg copies in Lightroo ...

Hi johnsr, thanks for your advice! I didn't know about AEB mode, I tried it and it is just what I need but it could be better if it keep the ISO and change only the exposure time. I used in the night setting ISO 100 (to reduce noise) and long exposure time (ex 1.6 s) but instead of keeping the ISO fixed it keep the exposure time fixed, this I don't like much.

Nicola90s Posted at 2016-4-29 09:36
Hi johnsr, thanks for your advice! I didn't know about AEB mode, I tried it and it is just what I  ...

Nicola, under normal lighting conditions the AEB mode keeps the ISO fixed and steps through the exposure times: as an example a series shot at 100 ISO would be 1) 1/40 sec, 2) 1/60 sec, 3) 1/25 sec, 4) 1/100 sec, and 5) 1/15 sec. So it starts at the chosen value and alternatively steps away by 0.7 IL steps. Flying after 30 minutes post sunset is illegal in France, so I don't have experience with night shots. It may be that if the exposure times are too long, it switches to ISO steps (I'll check this at home and add the answer later).
Have fun & good flying!

Nicola90s Posted at 2016-4-29 09:36
Hi johnsr, thanks for your advice! I didn't know about AEB mode, I tried it and it is just what I  ...

Nicola, after checking with my P3P in a darkroom, I found that indeed as you posted for long exposures the AEB bracketing holds the long exposure time fixed while stepping alternatively through the ISO values. As an example for 1 sec exposure: 1) 200 ISO, 2) 123 ISO, 3) 324 ISO, 4) 81 ISO, and 5) 492 ISO.

DJI-Paladin Posted at 2016-4-26 03:54
But what's more, you can also try to set short exposure time. It also helps.

It really doesn't, unless you want noisey images to save fractions of a second during exposure.

nigelw Posted at 2016-4-30 17:30
It really doesn't, unless you want noisey images to save fractions of a second during exposure.

Yes, the problem is the time used for save picture.

Nicola90s Posted at 2016-5-1 17:50
Yes, the problem is the time used for save picture.

I think you're probably stuck with it.  I'd suggest not recording jpg & just stick with DNG only.

nigelw Posted at 2016-5-1 18:55
I think you're probably stuck with it.  I'd suggest not recording jpg & just stick with DNG only.

Ok, I need to make some tests and try this, than make jpg preview with Lightroom as @johnsr suggest.

I have a 64gb Sandish Extreme Pro, which is one of the fastest cards on the market right now, and it makes no difference in my shooting...but as your card fills up, the writing time is longer, I don't get that....I shoot in both RAW and JPEG, but a word of caution, as your microSD gets filled up, you will start to get transmission errors and signal lost and extreme lagging and freezing of your live feed....

meetjoeasian Posted at 2016-5-2 06:21
I have a 64gb Sandish Extreme Pro, which is one of the fastest cards on the market right now, and it ...

Really the fact that the microSD start to be full, influence the transmission feed between the RC and the aircraft? Do you feel that  with this kind of microSD you use, the process of saving pictures, is faster than the microSD that comes out with the aircraft?

meetjoeasian Posted at 2016-5-2 05:21
I have a 64gb Sandish Extreme Pro, which is one of the fastest cards on the market right now, and it ...

I've never had these problems, even with my cheap crappy shops-own brand cards completely full.  If I'm not taking photos, I'm recording video even if I'm not interested in the subject, just in case I can use part of a clip later, so the card actually does fill up completely.  Mine's a P3P though, so not sure if it's model-specific.

nigelw Posted at 2016-5-2 18:56
I've never had these problems, even with my cheap crappy shops-own brand cards completely full.  If ...

I did not have this problem with my P3P...it was only in my P4 that I experienced this problem.  Do you save in both RAW and JPEG?

Nicola90s Posted at 2016-5-2 15:45
Really the fact that the microSD start to be full, influence the transmission feed between the RC a ...

You know how when you click the top right button of your transmitter to take a photo, and you see that light that runs around the circle on your screen indicating that it is taking and saving a picture?  Well, when I went from using my Sandisk Extreme Pro to the Panasonic card that came from the factory, I kinda felt that the Panasonic took maybe a tad bit longer.  But that could just be in my head though....and I mean JUST a tad bit

meetjoeasian Posted at 2016-5-2 16:17
I did not have this problem with my P3P...it was only in my P4 that I experienced this problem.  D ...

I used to shoot Raw + jpg but stopped because there seemed little point in capturing jpg's.

meetjoeasian Posted at 2016-5-2 17:19
You know how when you click the top right button of your transmitter to take a photo, and you see  ...

Ok, thanks for your feedback!

nigelw Posted at 2016-5-2 17:51
I used to shoot Raw + jpg but stopped because there seemed little point in capturing jpg's.

But jpg is useful in order to have a fast preview

Nicola90s Posted at 2016-5-2 18:29
But jpg is useful in order to have a fast preview

On what platform?  There is a jpg embedded into the DNG file that many programmes can read.

nigelw Posted at 2016-5-2 20:13
On what platform?  There is a jpg embedded into the DNG file that many programmes can read.

I use a Mac so also with preview I can watch the DNG but it's quite slowly to open and brows them.

Nicola90s Posted at 2016-5-3 12:52
I use a Mac so also with preview I can watch the DNG but it's quite slowly to open and brows them.

Ah, I was going to suggest Irfanview if you were on Windows.  I use a Mac also & it's a Windows only program that I miss a lot.

I think you just need to decide where you want to wait a little, shooting or viewing.  I find Lightroom fast enough for me if I plan it right.