Hello everyone.
Wanted to share my disappointment with P3A stills quality. It appears, that my old cell, which is worth $100, far better photograps then the drone. To cut the short story long, here are 100% crops from the frame center of the same scene, captured by Cell and Drone:


When taking a picture, drone was sitting on a flat surface with props off (so no vibration could affect image quality). Shot was taken into RAW, 3:4 ratio and then the center piece was cut out in PS.
Once again, I am not comparing it to any DSLRs or Prosumer level cameras. I am comparing it to a dirt-cheap cell phone with 8MP sensor and "plasticky" optics. And the fact, that cell-phone makes far better stills, that an aircraft, which is dedicated for the purpose, upsets me very much.

I would really want to get comments fdrom DJI on wether they find such image quality acceptable.

For those, who want to check full-sized images, here is a link to download:
https://dropmefiles.com/Vt2WN

That is awful, even worse than mine!

My P3A produces _some_ really nice images, but in general I'm not that happy with it and I'm building a bigger ship to carry a 4/3rds camera...

It's a great platform, but it's not really a pro level camera..  Not even prosumer really.

kiwichrish Posted at 2015-10-2 16:43
My P3A produces _some_ really nice images, but in general I'm not that happy with it and I'm buildin ...

If you could share couple of DNGs for comparison, I'd really appreciate that

One of the source images for a pano I did On sunday.

http://logicalit.biz/forumimages/DJI_0025.DNG  

P3A, no adjustments..

Processed the file in Lightroom to create this:

http://logicalit.biz/forumimages/150927-pan.jpg  (31Mb JPG)

For this type of image I'm pretty happy with the results, but for other images it's so-so..

(The panorama stitch in lightroom is not the best either, but it's raw handling is great...)

Cheers, Chris H.

I have the same problem except , the video screen on my Ipad Mini 4 becomes choppy with grey pixels and unable to watch live video feed

Well, this is defenitly not the quality that the Phantom 3 camera can produce. Your camera is either defect or you still have the protective plastic on the lens. I don't want to say that the camera is as good as my Canon DSLR. it's not. But ist's a lot better than what you show.

bevsev,
I'd almost accuse you of leaving the clear plastic camera lens film protector on the camera!
This photo sucks!
The right side of the DNG seems a little more in focus, but I can find nothing in your photo that is sharp.
It looks like your P3 is stationary. Is it sitting on a structure. Not that it matters.

Just as a comment, I notice that in Duey's photo that he had configured a custom style to add in-camera sharpening ->

Sitting on a table inside? Looking out through a window? is the camera focusing on the window itself? Clearly (pun) it's out of focus.

kiwichrish Posted at 2015-10-2 17:29
One of the source images for a pano I did On sunday.

http://logicalit.biz/forumimages/DJI_0025.DNG  ...

Thank you!

I definitelly can see more details on your shot.

giant Posted at 2015-10-2 18:19
Well, this is defenitly not the quality that the Phantom 3 camera can produce. Your camera is either ...

Yeah. I would assume the same if I saw such a blurry pic. But there is no plastic film on the lens. neither any fingerprints or smudge or anything.... =(

Bartone Posted at 2015-10-2 23:45
Sitting on a table inside? Looking out through a window? is the camera focusing on the window itself ...

Nope. Sitting on a parapet. No glass between drone and buildings. No plastic film, No fog, rain, dust etc etc.

And, if there was a window glasss, shouldn't it affect a picture from the cell-phone as well?

P3A camera has a fixed focus, so there is no chance it can focus on anything exept eternity unless it is broken

Is this a photo  direct from the sd card and put in the PC as the quality will be better than a photo you are taking off of your phone - just a thought as another poster was having this problem and struggled to understand that the video on his phone was not the same file as the file on the SD card.

also just to state - I have a standard and the quality is far better than you have shown in your example so it could be you have a problem

Quite shocking to see the comparison. One of the reason might come from the gimbal when it tries to stabilize the camera. I've never tried to take a still image on a sitting drone, but it happens sometime when I take a still image on a tripod, I always have to switch my IS (image stabilization) or VR (vibration reduction). I might be wrong but see if it still giving bad result on the air.

Stan1970 Posted at 2015-10-3 00:55
Is this a photo  direct from the sd card and put in the PC as the quality will be better than a phot ...

Yes,

The crop you see was obtained in PS from the DNG, which was obviously copied from the SD card,

You can also find a link to an original DNG in my initial post.

Regards,
Ievgen

Bartone Posted at 2015-10-2 17:45
Sitting on a table inside? Looking out through a window? is the camera focusing on the window itself ...

Sorry, but the Phantom 3 camera doesn't focus at all. It's a fixed focus system. Everything from about 4  meters distance should be sharp.

bevsev Posted at 2015-10-2 18:33
Yes,

The crop you see was obtained in PS from the DNG, which was obviously copied from the SD car ...

Then I think you have a problem - have you spoken to DJI?

I agree. I have taken extended exposure (1.5-2 second) pictures in the evening that look better than that.

Stan1970 Posted at 2015-10-4 01:41
Then I think you have a problem - have you spoken to DJI?

DJI is on holiday, so no response yet. I aasume, nothing will happen before 8th of October

Stan1970 Posted at 2015-10-4 01:41
Then I think you have a problem - have you spoken to DJI?

Well, DJI came back to me and here is the response:

Dear Ievgen,
Thank you for the info.

Our camera specialist has look through it and this photo is normal.
If objects are not in the same plane,the front objects will be clearer than the behind ones.
If all the objects are in the same plane but you still get this problem, then it is not normal.

With best regards

DJI Product Application Technical Support

Basically, DJI has officially confirmed that shity camera is what you get for the money. So shall this topic be a warning to whoever wants to buy a P3A - it useless for still photos. You can achieve far better results with a cell-phone tied to a baloon, rather then with a designated aircraft.

Oh, and one more thing I dont't get, where DJI has seen a clear object on a picture at all?..

bevsev Posted at 2015-10-10 13:16
Well, DJI came back to me and here is the response:
Dear Ievgen,
Thank you for the info.Our camera ...

I, like most people who have answered are not having this problem.
So we all know and accept that it is not the best camera, nor the best lens, but the camera itself is probably accounts for 5% to 10% of the P3 total cost, if you really think about what you do get for your money:  And personally I am astounded at what you do get for your money.
A continuously variable height 0-120m tall tripod that travels at 30mph, can fly 1.2 miles in any direction, that beams back a live HD picture of the one you are about to take or of the scene you are about to film.  This is just about the best little aircraft you can possibly get.
Or take a look at the new Inspire Pro, but be prepared to shell out 4 times a much money.
Or buy a massive rig that will fly a Canon or Nikon DSLR and spend 10,000.
You have choices.

The people complaining about the quality really need to step up to a professional platform. These consuming quads do not have real cameras on them. Photographers understand this. Have they ever bought good glass for a thousand? I don't think so. Why would there be good glass in a quad that only costs 1k?

brycerichert Posted at 2015-10-11 14:33
The people complaining about the quality really need to step up to a professional platform. These co ...

OMG!
Did you read my initial post at all??? I am comparing my P3A camera to my cell phone only!!! And I honestly do not understand, why lo-level cell-phone makes FAR BETTER pictures with MUCH MORE details on them rather then a flying platform, designed for the purpose.
And I dont care how good and far it flies as long as I can not get a descent photo from it. The entire unit was bought as a flying camera, not as a RC toy.

liningiv Posted at 2015-10-10 23:51
I, like most people who have answered are not having this problem.
So we all know and accept that i ...

Looking at the cost of gimbal separately, I would assume camera is somewhat around $100... Which is too much for a shity camera nowadays.
Camera module(yes yes, entire module with lens, AF, etc) used in my cell costs $12 with shipping included. I can only imagine, how little it costs in bulk volumes.  And it kicks DJI's ass when you make a side-by-side comparison of images you get.  
Therefore, I totally don't understand, what religion restrcits DJI to use any of the modern cell-phone sensors in their P3A. Technology is already there and it costs couple bucks only.

I suggest always shooting 5-brackets and combine into a HDR photo.

bevsev Posted at 2015-10-11 07:40
OMG!
Did you read my initial post at all??? I am comparing my P3A camera to my cell phone only!!!  ...

..........And I honestly do not understand, why lo-level cell-phone makes FAR BETTER pictures with MUCH MORE details on them rather then a flying platform, designed for the purpose.
And I dont care how good and far it flies as long as I can not get a descent photo from it. The entire unit was bought as a flying camera, not as a RC toy.

You are saying you do not understand, but you have some good advice to go on from the comments to your question on the quality of the camera.  A normal Phantom 3 camera does not look like your example.  You have a problem for sure!  Not sure what DJI was talking about in their response to you.

"Therefore, I totally don't understand, what religion restrcits DJI to use any of the modern cell-phone sensors in their P3A. "

The sensor used in the P3P camera is the same as that used in the GoPro Hero 4, and is an excellent sensor, far better than any of those used in phones. As has been said many times, unless you have done something accidentally to the shot, the cameras on other people's aircraft are producing far better quality shots than that.

liningiv Posted at 2015-10-10 22:51
I, like most people who have answered are not having this problem.
So we all know and accept that i ...

Wow! Beautiful shot here.

brycerichert Posted at 2015-10-11 13:33
The people complaining about the quality really need to step up to a professional platform. These co ...

Two of my best Canon lenses that I use for professional work are my 100mm Macro (non L) and that cost me about $600.00.  With that lens I got published in national geographic.  Well under a $1000.00.  The other is my Canon 85mm (non L glass) and that cost me $400.00.  These lenses are two of the top lenses Canon makes, they are spectacular lenses!  I had the 85mm L which cost an arm and a leg, got rid of that for the 85mm non L because it is just as good.  Same deal with the macro lens, absolutely stunning image quality.  

So... you must be a professional photographer then, correct?  Go to B& H photo and read the reviews on these 5 star rated lenses.

When I buy something I expect to get what is advertised... you don't?  You have things backwards.  Companies need to deliver what they advertise, it should never be any other way than that.

duey101 Posted at 2015-10-14 22:06
Two of my best Canon lenses that I use for professional work are my 100mm Macro (non L) and that c ...

"Our camera specialist has look through it and this photo is normal.  If objects are not in the same plane,the front objects will be clearer than the behind ones. If all the objects are in the same plane but you still get this problem, then it is not normal.
With best regards
DJI Product Application Technical Support"

They told me the same thing.  Then I took it back to the dealer where we did a side by side comparison with a new P3P.  My camera was absolutely awful!  The other one from the new P3P... really clear and sharp.  They swapped the camera from the new P3P for me right on the spot.  

DJI has no camera experts, they know nothing of DOF, minimum focusing distance, focal plane, on and on.  They tried to give me this same white wash, very bad in the tech support department.

duey101 Posted at 2015-10-14 11:13
"Our camera specialist has look through it and this photo is normal.  If objects are not in the sa ...

My Nikkor 105mm AIS macro lens is sharper than the newer autofocus version. Same for the 55 macro AIS verses the 60mm autofocus lens.

I have the P3P and had hoped that the 12mp camera would give me images good enough to be able to market. Didn't happen that way.

When DJI came out with the new camera for the Inspire 1, I had high hopes that we'd got close to DSLR quality. From the pics I've seen, it's much better with the 4/3 sensor (17.3X13.0mm) 16mp camera, but still 2/3 the size of a DX Nikon sensor (23.2X15.4mm) 24.2 mp, or the FX based D810 with (35.9X24.0mm) 36.3 mp.

I ended up purchasing another platform and once I get it squared away will be using it as my  sole photography platform.

If the OP has a camera that isn't delivering a sharp still image, what does the video look like? Is it also blurry or is it sharp?  Are you sure that the images are DNG RAW and not JPEG? Even JPEG should be much better than that.

To me, the unit would be going back to DJI for evaluation.

The link to your photo's has expired.

I have to say, I have the phantom p3 and I think the stills are abysmal, I have plenty of canon L lenses that cost less than $1000, all very sharp... I think the issue is possibly that some phantom cameras may be better than others, I'll upload a couple of images and see what everyone thinks but I think the video on my p3 pro is amazing but the stills are truly depressing, here's a couple of stills and a link to a video i did as well with the same camera.

stills in a folder on dropbox: stills dng from camera

liningiv Posted at 2015-10-10 11:51
I, like most people who have answered are not having this problem.
So we all know and accept that i ...

That's a FANTASTIC photo!

I suspect best results are from a RAW DNG processed by someone with reasonable experience working with RAW.
In general I'm pleased with it but close scrutiny does show a certain lack of resolution.



I'm often surprised by how well a screengrab from the video turns out. (e.g.)





What can you expect from a tiny sensor on a camera that absolutely must be as light as possible.
It's astonishingly good (unless you have a dodgy one!)

liningiv Posted at 2015-10-10 16:51
I, like most people who have answered are not having this problem.
So we all know and accept that i ...

Exactly well put. You cant please all the people all of the time only some of the people some of the time.Im DJI pleased all of the time and im not ever pleased easily.The evidence is all around just take a look at some of the excellent photography that's been taken with DJI equipment  

This is a pano taken with my P3A:    https://www.dropbox.com/s/5rkaiogfai36qno/Pano_4_enh.jpeg?dl=0

Having a good camera unit makes the difference.  The one that came with my unit was horrible, the new one... very good.  Now my P3P makes some very usable images although not great, but with a working over in Light Room 6 you can make some nice enough shots given you exposed manually and used your histogram accordingly.  I always shoot in RAW because it is only way you can get quality edits.  A test image...



And a test video, which is quite good...

You are comparing apples and oranges. All RAW images appear soft before processing. The RGB grid direct from the sensor is out of phase and has no sharpening applied. All cameras, even cellphones have extensive processing to align the 3 channels and apply sharpening to produce the final image. When you shoot raw you must use the RAW import module in Photoshop (or something similar) with a healthy dose of sharpening to make a finished image for comparison.