Many users believe that one of the recent Inspire 1 Pro firmware upgrades (after 1.4 version) introduced some noticeable video quality degradation (details articulation, noisy shadows, smudged contours, posterisation, overall sharpness etc. These issues are clearly visible with 4K resolution, particularly when dealing with D-log footage. Many users also believe that Phantom 4 camera outperforms Zenmuse X5 ...
True or not, it's a matter of disscussion. Is it caused by X5 technology limitations (bitrate) or indeed the compression algorithm or whatever else have been messed up at some point?

Nobody knows for sure, and that's the problem. It's all the same blah-blah, whining, complaining, demanding, begging ... By far DJI didn't denied nor confirmed these speculations, leaving us in darkness. I'm beginning to be a little bit annoyed by yet another complaining videographer, raging about poor X5 performance ... And not a single word from DJI, elaborating on the issue.

How about an researched answer from competent department, dear DJI? Is it broken or not? Is it fixable or not?

Or, at least "we love you too" answer?

  

Hi Dobmatt, I can understand that.
To locate the issue, could you please provide some details such as your current firmware version, original photos, videos?

DJI Mindy Posted at 2016-12-5 01:42
Hi Dobmatt, I can understand that.
To locate the issue, could you please provide some details such as your current firmware version, original photos, videos?

Mindy , with all due respect , this is not the answer the OP was looking for .  

donnie

Unfortunately, they've moved on to the Inspire 2 and all the growing pains that will be associated with it.  We Inspire 1 owners are all has beens now.

Hello DOBMATT,

Thank you for writing and very well put ,  I Do believe that DJI will never answer this issue  or  engage  an open discussion about this topic in any detail at all.  I already faced the facts and the  Inspire 1 pro is last years news and now forgotten .  I will just have to make the upgrade once more and take the loss, DJI WINS

Great product but very worst ever support ever.

DJI ONCE AGAIN , THIS IS NO LOYALTY TO CUSTOMERS WHO HAVE PURCHASED MULTIABLE DRONES .

Hi Dobmatt

It seems to be the question that is not going to be answered by DJI. Mindy is asking for an example, so you have one this would be the time to deliver with your message. I understand the frustration and heard this before. I do not have the X series camera to help you on this quest.
DJI has come out with many undocumented fixes with the GO App and now they have a new Go App 4.0 and a new update for Go 3.1 ... I wonder if you try these new App's and see if they have fixed the image issue?
Rich

DJI Mindy Posted at 2016-12-5 00:42
Hi Dobmatt, I can understand that.
To locate the issue, could you please provide some details such as your current firmware version, original photos, videos?

OK, please give me some time to prepare a few examples ...

DJI Mindy Posted at 2016-12-5 00:42
Hi Dobmatt, I can understand that.
To locate the issue, could you please provide some details such as your current firmware version, original photos, videos?

Here are two cropped 4K frames, captured off D-Log and D-Cinelike unprocessed footage made with Olympus 12mm lens. The artifacts are clearly visible in shadows area. Naturally any color grading and sharpening process apllied will make these artifacts worse. The camera is working on latest Inspire 1 Pro Firmware v1.9.1.30., Go app 2.8.4.

I do not expect miracles here, knowing the limitations of X5 camera. All I want to know if this is normal. All I want to know if this is absolutely the best we can get from X5. Simple ...

Dobmatt Posted at 2016-12-6 12:34
Here are two cropped 4K frames, captured off D-Log and D-Cinelike unprocessed footage made with Olympus 12mm lens. The artifacts are clearly visible in shadows area. Naturally any color grading and sharpening process apllied will make these artifacts worse. The camera is working on latest Inspire 1 Pro Firmware v1.9.1.30., Go app 2.8.4.

I do not expect miracles here, knowing the limitations of X5 camera. All I want to know if this is normal. All I want to know if this is absolutely the best we can get from X5. Simple ...

Could you please upload the original images to dropbox and send me the link?
I'll help to check it.

DJI Mindy Posted at 2016-12-5 23:25
Could you please upload the original images to dropbox and send me the link?
I'll help to check it.

here we go:
https://s20.postimg.org/e2e2z4ue ... 4_5568_Still003.png
https://s20.postimg.org/mlxgww2q ... _16781_Still001.png
https://s20.postimg.org/47mxswqfx/DJI_0010_MP4_4455_Still001.png

Dobmatt Posted at 2016-12-7 13:03
here we go:
https://s20.postimg.org/e2e2z4ue ... 4_5568_Still003.png
https://s20.postimg.org/mlxgww2q ... _16781_Still001.png

Hi Dobmatt, I'm trying to help to report this issue.
But the images in your links are not original files.
Our engineers will need to check the original images to locate the issue.

DJI Mindy Posted at 2016-12-6 23:29
Hi Dobmatt, I'm trying to help to report this issue.
But the images in your links are not original files.
Our engineers will need to check the original images to locate the issue.

Mindy, what do you mean "not original"? These are frames exported from original footage in Adobe Premiere Pro CC, unprocessed in any way. What else you want me to do?

Dobmatt Posted at 2016-12-7 14:35
Mindy, what do you mean "not original"? These are frames exported from original footage in Adobe Premiere Pro CC, unprocessed in any way. What else you want me to do?

We need the original files in the SD card. Without any edit.

DJI Mindy Posted at 2016-12-7 01:41
We need the original files in the SD card. Without any edit.

Dear Mindy, I don't know where and how to upload 4+Gb video file for you to examine. I don't know how many times I stated that the provided sample frames are grabbed directly from not edited original file, opened in one of the most respected video editor software known to mankind (Adobe Premiere Pro CC). What you see on these samples is what I see here on my iMac 27" Retina monitor, and it's going to be definitely worse after all color grading will be applied and rendered to output file.

DJI Mindy Posted at 2016-12-7 01:41
We need the original files in the SD card. Without any edit.

OK, Mindy, I've figured out this Dropbox stuff. Here's the link to 4Gb video file:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/bm0ysq ... _4k%20Dlog.MP4?dl=0

Please examine shadowed areas in particular.

Dobmatt Posted at 2016-12-8 15:28
OK, Mindy, I've figured out this Dropbox stuff. Here's the link to 4Gb video file:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/bm0ysqgqwi2g34f/silos%2001_4k%20Dlog.MP4?dl=0

The video is still uploading in your link.

DJI Mindy Posted at 2016-12-8 03:19
The video is still uploading in your link.

Mindy, please pardon my ignorance, I didn't know the principles of Dropbox. Now the file should be accessible by everyone.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/bm0ysq ... _4k%20Dlog.MP4?dl=0

Dobmatt Posted at 2016-12-8 18:21
Mindy, please pardon my ignorance, I didn't know the principles of Dropbox. Now the file should be accessible by everyone.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/bm0ysq ... _4k%20Dlog.MP4?dl=0

The larger files take awhile to fully upload into the dropbox folder. Mindy will just need to check back when the file is completely available to download.
Thank you for following through with this situation dobmatt

Rich

Dobmatt Posted at 2016-12-9 10:21
Mindy, please pardon my ignorance, I didn't know the principles of Dropbox. Now the file should be accessible by everyone.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/bm0ysq ... _4k%20Dlog.MP4?dl=0

Sorry for the late reply.
I'll download your video and pass it to our engineers to check.
Thanks for your cooperation.

Dobmatt Posted at 2016-12-8 18:21
Mindy, please pardon my ignorance, I didn't know the principles of Dropbox. Now the file should be accessible by everyone.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/bm0ysq ... _4k%20Dlog.MP4?dl=0

Good job dobmatt and nice follow up for this issue. At least DJI will have some video footage showing the trouble you are having with the X5 after the new FW update.

Rich

RichJ53 Posted at 2016-12-11 21:16
Good job dobmatt and nice follow up for this issue. At least DJI will have some video footage showing the trouble you are having with the X5 after the new FW update.

Rich

Rich, I'm not really sure if these issues popped up after recent FW update or earlier ... I was not experimenting with 4K video recorded on various shooting modes before, therefore I can't compare anything. All I know is that people are reporting significant video quality degradation when compared with footage made on previous FW versions, and I can see these artifacts on my footage. It's absolutely possible that DJI's code writers accidentally messed up a line or two during one of numerous FW fixes. For change some Mavic users aren't happy with standard 1080 video quality, while 4K video seems to work fine. Go figure ...   

Dobmatt Posted at 2016-12-12 00:11
Rich, I'm not really sure if these issues popped up after recent FW update or earlier ... I was not experimenting with 4K video recorded on various shooting modes before, therefore I can't compare anything. All I know is that people are reporting significant video quality degradation when compared with footage made on previous FW versions, and I can see these artifacts on my footage. It's absolutely possible that DJI's code writers accidentally messed up a line or two during one of numerous FW fixes. For change some Mavic users aren't happy with standard 1080 video quality, while 4K video seems to work fine. Go figure ...

Dobie , Let us know if Miss DJI Mindy follows up on the " DJI Engineers " will look at it .   

donnie

Donnie Stugots Posted at 2016-12-13 03:19
Dobie , Let us know if Miss DJI Mindy follows up on the " DJI Engineers " will look at it .   

donnie

I'll definitely do my best to get to the bottom of this issue ...

Dobmatt Posted at 2016-12-12 14:47
I'll definitely do my best to get to the bottom of this issue ...

Keep your fingers crossed !!!! if you will hear anything back from DJI-Mindy

Just Purchased a X5R Camera as The prices are dropping,  Figured The Raw version is all I need.

Can't deal with X5 issue any more , Just an over priced X3 with a removable lens.

If you do a seach on youtube for X5 video's , Look at the date's when posted .

For sure you can  tell the diffence in the videos .. look for video's from 2015's  with the older firmware installed to the time period of FW 1.4

I am not trying to be rude,  No one is listening at DJI

Hello Dobmatt, our engineers had checked your video. It's normal.
And you can use these Transcoding Tools to transcode your video.
Please have a look at this link: http://www.dji.com/cn/zenmuse-x5/info#downloads

Here is the "At least He loves you from DJI "

Dobmatt Posted at 2016-12-12 11:47
I'll definitely do my best to get to the bottom of this issue ...

Dobmatt

they released the new FW update for the Inspire 1 :: WM610_FW_V01.10.01.40

It may help with some of the issues you experienced, but please note that you will not be able to go back to FW 1.8.1 after making these changes.

All the best
Rich

RichJ53 Posted at 2016-12-16 02:39
Dobmatt

they released the new FW update for the Inspire 1 :: WM610_FW_V01.10.01.40

Rich, where do you see this update? I have Inspire 1 Pro and the most recent firmware version for this model is hidden in Zenmuse X5 department of downloads.

Inspire 1 Pro Firmware v1.9.1.30

DJI Mindy Posted at 2016-12-15 16:53
Hello Dobmatt, our engineers had checked your video. It's normal.
And you can use these Transcoding Tools to transcode your video.
Please have a look at this link: http://www.dji.com/cn/zenmuse-x5/info#downloads

Thank you, Mindy, case closed. I'll study the transcoding tools issue ...  

Dobmatt Posted at 2016-12-15 11:32
Rich, where do you see this update? I have Inspire 1 Pro and the most recent firmware version for this model is hidden in Zenmuse X5 department of downloads.

Inspire 1 Pro Firmware v1.9.1.30

that is a good question, the new update is for the Inspire 1 and I used the X3 camera to install the update. I know this should work for everyone with the Inspire 1 X3 set up but maybe not while using the X5 camera.  I do not have the X5 camera but the Inspire body is the same as the pro (V2)  

http://www.dji.com/inspire-1/info#downloads

Dobmatt Posted at 2016-12-15 11:32
Rich, where do you see this update? I have Inspire 1 Pro and the most recent firmware version for this model is hidden in Zenmuse X5 department of downloads.

Inspire 1 Pro Firmware v1.9.1.30

Dobmatt... I'm seeing the 1.4 update on the Inspire 1 download page

flighttime1 Posted at 2016-12-16 06:39
Dobmatt... I'm seeing the 1.4 update on the Inspire 1 download page

Correct, but this is NOT Inspire 1 PRO firmware, I believe...

Dobmatt Posted at 2016-12-15 14:50
Correct, but this is NOT Inspire 1 PRO firmware, I believe...

I have to agree. It's not being recognized by my I1P.

Dobmatt Posted at 2016-12-15 14:50
Correct, but this is NOT Inspire 1 PRO firmware, I believe...

Let me correct that. I think it actually is for the I1P but they screwed it up and will have to release a version that works. lol

Dobmatt Posted at 2016-12-15 14:32
Rich, where do you see this update? I have Inspire 1 Pro and the most recent firmware version for this model is hidden in Zenmuse X5 department of downloads.

Inspire 1 Pro Firmware v1.9.1.30

Same here (I1P): I updated the DJI GO-App and Controllers. The overall status in the App indicates that Camera (X5 in this case) and Aircraft require an Upgrade. I've uploaded the 1.10.01.1.40 to the SD card, but the aircraft remains blinking YELLOW (not connected to Controller).

DJI Mindy Posted at 2016-12-15 01:53
Hello Dobmatt, our engineers had checked your video. It's normal.
And you can use these Transcoding Tools to transcode your video.
Please have a look at this link: http://www.dji.com/cn/zenmuse-x5/info#downloads

Mindy, would you please remove my additional post/reminder?

http://forum.dji.com/forum.php?m ... D380%26typeid%3D380

Dobmatt Posted at 2016-12-16 12:34
Mindy, would you please remove my additional post/reminder?

http://forum.dji.com/forum.php?mod=viewthread&tid=76296&extra=page%3D1%26filter%3Dtypeid%26typeid%3D380%26typeid%3D380

Yeah, of course. :-)

DJI Mindy Posted at 2016-12-15 09:53
Hello Dobmatt, our engineers had checked your video. It's normal.
And you can use these Transcoding Tools to transcode your video.
Please have a look at this link: http://www.dji.com/cn/zenmuse-x5/info#downloads

Great. "It´s normal".
Don´t you think, customers who spend thousands of Euro/Dollar deserve some explanation for that?
i.e. "its because only 60MBit" , "thats technically the best we can do for the x5 via firmware".

Mindy, could you pls ask your engineers one simple question : "Is ist possible to upgrade via the Firmware for X5 to 100MBit?" And if the the answer is "No" they could give us some brief explanation.
Thats what i call communication with customers. Not "No" or "It´s normal".
Dont you agree?

BTW, for me as a Mac User, where is my trancsoding Tool?

Skyclip Posted at 2016-12-16 22:50
Great. "It´s normal".
Don´t you think, customers who spend thousands of Euro/Dollar deserve some explanation for that?
i.e. "its because only 60MBit" , "thats technically the best we can do for the x5 via firmware".

Dear Skyclip ... I tend to agree that brief "It's normal" answer may be received by many westerners as a bit ... hmm ... unsatisfying. Or arrogant, intimidating, irritating, nonchalant ... for the lack of better description.

However, when communicating with DJI at any level, we must take several factors into consideration. IMHO, first and perhaps the most important aspect is the language barrier, magnified by huge cultural offset. I don't imply that Western culture is better or superior in any aspect when compared to Asian cultures. It's just a different world, mentality, different ways of conducting a business. The standards of good customer service we're accustomed to for centuries aren't adopted there fully. It will take another decade or so ... or arise of an serious competitor ...

On the Trump-ish side of the issue ... After decades of suicidal labor and technology export to China, West practically lost the ability to develop or manufacture anything. Companies like DJI are capable to deliver products and technology most of Western ventures of such size can't even dream of ...

Do you believe that such scenario will result in friendly and carrying customer service environment? Do you believe that the entire DJI engineering department will drop everything they're working on and start addressing my worries the moment Mindy arrived there? Grow up, my friend ...  

Dobmatt Posted at 2016-12-16 15:06
Dear Skyclip ... I tend to agree that brief "It's normal" answer may be received by many westerners as a bit ... hmm ... unsatisfying. Or arrogant, intimidating, irritating, nonchalant ... for the lack of better description.

However, when communicating with DJI at any level, we must take several factors into consideration. IMHO, first and perhaps the most important aspect is the language barrier, magnified by huge cultural offset. I don't imply that Western culture is better or superior in any aspect when compared to Asian cultures. It's just a different world, mentality, different ways of conducting a business. The standards of good customer service we're accustomed to for centuries aren't adopted there fully. It will take another decade or so ... or arise of an serious competitor ...

DOBMATT,

I am somewhat in agreement with you about the X5 Bitrate , and this is the reason I just puschased the X5R .

Please explain why are there earlier posting of videos with much clearer details with the FW 1.4 ?

Please research the older posting and YouTube video's online .

Not to beat a dead horse to death .