Short & Simple - What combination for best Mavic Pro cinematic settings (feel free to YouTube your work)

Video Size:
4096x2160 24fps?
3840x2160 24fps?
3840x2160 30fps?
2720x1530 24fps?
2720x1530 30fps?
1920x1080 60fps?
1920x1080 30fps?

Auto or Manual:
ISO xx?
Shutter xx?
EV xx?

Style:
Sharpness xx?
Contrast xx?
Saturation xx?

Color:
Normal?
Vivid?
TrueColor?
D-Log?
D-Cinelike?

White Balance:
Auto?
Sunny?
Cloudy?
Incandescent?
Fluorescent?
Custom?

ND Filter?
DJI Mavic Pro ND Filters
PolarPro DJI Mavic Pro Filters - Cinema Series - Vivid Collection
PolarPro DJI Mavic Pro Filters - Cinema Series - Shutter Collection
PolarPro DJI Mavic Pro Filters - Cinema Series - 6-Pack
PolarPro Cinema Series - Gradient Collection - Filter 3-Pack
PolarPro Exposure Collection - Filter 3-Pack  

Not sure if it's the 'best' but my preference with the MP/P camera settings (which changed from time to time) were: -
2.7K @ 30p
ISO 100
Shutter 1/60th
EV around -0.3
Sharpness was -1
Contrast 0
Saturation 0
Colour Normal
W/B sunny or cloudy
PolarPro DJI Mavic Pro Filters - Cinema Series - 6-Pack + DJI new one's as sold the 6 pack with my first MP
Note - that I found these settings to work for me when I didn't want to spend too much time working on the footage in post editing - which is most of the time!  

A CW Posted at 2018-6-20 14:12
Not sure if it's the 'best' but my preference with the MP/P camera settings (which changed from time to time) were: -
2.7K @ 30p
ISO 100

Thank you for the valuable input. I don't see DJI Mavic Pro Filters on the DJI website anymore, I wonder what happened? Is DJI not stocking the filters anymore because their coming out with a Mavic Pro II?

hope you get more participation it will definitely help me out greatly.

For my MP

3840x2160 @ 30p
ISO 100
Shutter 1/60th(Use Neewer ND Filters.  During the day I find I typically use a ND32)
EV around -0.3 to -0.7
Sharpness is usually 0.  If I feel like doing more post work then +1.
Contrast -1
Saturation -1
Colour D-Log
White balance Custom normally anywhere from 6300 to 6700 during the day.

I have a few LUT's that make post work very easy which is why I always use D-Log.  

SparksBird Posted at 2018-6-20 17:15
For my MP

3840x2160 @ 30p

Thanks SparksBird for your feedback, I guess D-Log is the premier format to use with doing post work? Do you know of any free Luts that are good to use with Premiere Pro 2018?

davidmartingraf Posted at 2018-6-20 18:15
Thanks SparksBird for your feedback, I guess D-Log is the premier format to use with doing post work? Do you know of any free Luts that are good to use with Premiere Pro 2018?

D-Log is indeed the best one to choose when doing post production editing, as of the available options it will retain the most color and sensor information.

Foxeuphoria Posted at 2018-6-20 19:24
D-Log is indeed the best one to choose when doing post production editing, as of the available options it will retain the most color and sensor information.

It's a catch 22 with D-Log, you take the time to capture your DJI Mavic Pro video but the actual raw footage is sort of unwatchable without re-rendering in post?

My answer is missing in the poll
And for best, I don't know, but I can share what I use after a year of flying and filming:
3840x2160 25fps
1 0 0
D-Cinelike
WB - Sunny (cloudy is also a good choice for more sunset-like results - auto is changing WB quite so often)
ISO - Auto
EV - -0.3/-0.7  depends on the situation
ND filter (DJI) depends on the light
Most important is way You move - limited bandwidth make all sudden changes unbearable on the screen so  slow and steady is Very important
And because filming is playing with light - Light is Very important - sunrise/sunset is the best and then the direction is crucial ...
And at the end - Subject The most essential part

I think I will try 2.7K soon.
See how that comes out

davidmartingraf Posted at 2018-6-20 14:55
Thank you for the valuable input. I don't see DJI Mavic Pro Filters on the DJI website anymore, I wonder what happened? Is DJI not stocking the filters anymore because their coming out with a Mavic Pro II?

They discontinued the old clip on plastic ones and upgraded them last year with these which are excellent quality and include 4 in the case
https://store.dji.com/product/mavic-nd-filters-set-new

Montfrooij Posted at 2018-6-20 23:10
I think I will try 2.7K soon.
See how that comes out

You can stream 1080p if you revert lower than 4K.

A CW Posted at 2018-6-20 23:30
They discontinued the old clip on plastic ones and upgraded them last year with these which are excellent quality and include 4 in the case
https://store.dji.com/product/mavic-nd-filters-set-new

Would you say these are better than PolarPro filters? I know DJI would be stock on the Mavic Pro.

Montfrooij Posted at 2018-6-20 23:10
I think I will try 2.7K soon.
See how that comes out

When you're done in addition to your own thread post your work here, as well.

davidmartingraf Posted at 2018-6-21 08:13
Would you say these are better than PolarPro filters? I know DJI would be stock on the Mavic Pro.

You get 4 compared to the 3 with PP and the DJI's ones are both cheaper and do the job very well. That said, the PP cinema ND's are better quality IMO due to the amazing coating materials - I never have to clean the PP filters and they don't scratch. You do get what you pay for.
I chose the PP cinema filters for my MA too

A CW Posted at 2018-6-21 08:49
You get 4 compared to the 3 with PP and the DJI's ones are both cheaper and do the job very well. That said, the PP cinema ND's are better quality IMO due to the amazing coating materials - I never have to clean the PP filters and they don't scratch. You do get what you pay for.
I chose the PP cinema filters for my MA too
[view_image]

Your setup looks mighty professional indeed - I can't get over how much the Mavic Air in Arctic White reminds me of the Star Wars Stormtrooper from The Empire Strikes Back.

davidmartingraf Posted at 2018-6-21 17:33
Your setup looks mighty professional indeed - I can't get over how much the Mavic Air in Arctic White reminds me of the Star Wars Stormtrooper from The Empire Strikes Back.

Hahahaha - I believe the MPII will be the head of Darth Vader LOL

A CW Posted at 2018-6-21 22:14
Hahahaha - I believe the MPII will be the head of Darth Vader LOL

Darth Vader - that's a good one :-)

Looking frwd to the 18th announcement - there are a lot of people speculating DJI may be configuring MP II with 4G LTE capability, which would essentially function as a back up to OcuSync? Somebody on YouTube did a 4G LTE modification to their Parot Disco - took it out almost 3 miles with no problem - the person said the next video will be how far it can actually travel?

A Mavic Pro II with 4G LTE that can fly for 35 minutes and travel 5+ miles sounds like a reality?

davidmartingraf Posted at 2018-6-21 22:50
Darth Vader - that's a good one :-)

Looking frwd to the 18th announcement - there are a lot of people speculating DJI may be configuring MP II with 4G LTE capability, which would essentially function as a back up to OcuSync? Somebody on YouTube did a 4G LTE modification to their Parot Disco - took it out almost 3 miles with no problem - the person said the next video will be how far it can actually travel?

Nothing would surprise me with these people mate. I think the main focal point of the next one will be the gimbal design and camera specs - which were always the achilles' heel of the MP but the upgrades will not stop there no doubt.

davidmartingraf Posted at 2018-6-21 08:45
When you're done in addition to your own thread post your work here, as well.

Hope I remember and be able to re find this one

I have settled upon UHD format ie 3840x2160 resolution but using the PAL frame refresh rate of 25fps. Apart from this I tend to set my white balance manually depending on the time of day and rake of the sun. I have the internal noise reduction off with a sharpness setting of -1. Oh and with the '180 rule' have a shutter speed of 1/50 second. I find using 25fps makes life easier when calculating frame ranges and timings - so 10 seconds of footage is 250 frames - and I like to calculate a run to the nearest 10 seconds approximately. A minute is 1500 frames. 10 minutes is 15000 etc.

Montfrooij Posted at 2018-6-21 23:26
Hope I remember and be able to re find this one

You'll make new ones I'm sure but try to let us know what settings you picked, since you do pick good ones Montfrooji

Lamplighter55 Posted at 2018-6-22 06:05
I have settled upon UHD format ie 3840x2160 resolution but using the PAL frame refresh rate of 25fps. Apart from this I tend to set my white balance manually depending on the time of day and rake of the sun. I have the internal noise reduction off with a sharpness setting of -1. Oh and with the '180 rule' have a shutter speed of 1/50 second. I find using 25fps makes life easier when calculating frame ranges and timings - so 10 seconds of footage is 250 frames - and I like to calculate a run to the nearest 10 seconds approximately. A minute is 1500 frames. 10 minutes is 15000 etc.

Good analysis of your settings, this is the kind of participation and feedback Mavic Pro owners need with improving their camera footage. Thanks!

davidmartingraf Posted at 2018-6-22 07:20
You'll make new ones I'm sure but try to let us know what settings you picked, since you do pick good ones Montfrooji

I'll do that
Still trying to figure out the optimal ones

Montfrooij Posted at 2018-6-23 00:33
I'll do that
Still trying to figure out the optimal ones

Me too - it is challenging but there's a way to set the camera for Mavic Pro to excellent cinematic settings - it's hard but rewarding and possible.

Do you use ND filters?

davidmartingraf Posted at 2018-6-23 00:43
Me too - it is challenging but there's a way to set the camera for Mavic Pro to excellent cinematic settings - it's hard but rewarding and possible.

Do you use ND filters?

I do have them, but have not used them so far.
I also like to take pictures and for those I need faster shutterspeeds.

4096x2160 because easily cropped
Manual
ISO 100
S 0 C0 Ev 0
Colour D Cinelike, or D Log
White balance manual
Polar Pro Cinema mostly use ND 16 find ND 8 works very well on slightly overcast days which can make everything look very cinematic.

Not sure there is a ''Best'' because of variability of filiming.  If you mean, ''Best'' as in good enough for general filming, then auto, TruColor, and no filter.

Montfrooij Posted at 2018-6-23 01:21
I do have them, but have not used them so far.
I also like to take pictures and for those I need faster shutterspeeds.

Which ND filters do you have? Polar Pro? DJI?

Montfrooij Posted at 2018-6-23 01:21
I do have them, but have not used them so far.
I also like to take pictures and for those I need faster shutterspeeds.

Which ND filters do you have? Polar Pro? DJI?

HedgeTrimmer Posted at 2018-6-23 08:37
Not sure there is a ''Best'' because of variability of filiming.  If you mean, ''Best'' as in good enough for general filming, then auto, TruColor, and no filter.

OK - I'll have to try that one day.

davidmartingraf Posted at 2018-6-23 11:02
Which ND filters do you have? Polar Pro? DJI?

PP normal version

Montfrooij Posted at 2018-6-23 11:11
PP normal version

Today there are so many Polar Pro ND filters that it makes for hard decision which one to go with? Any recommendations?

davidmartingraf Posted at 2018-6-24 02:30
Today there are so many Polar Pro ND filters that it makes for hard decision which one to go with? Any recommendations?

Shutter collection are good to go (ND4, 8 and16). They simply control the motion blur by allowing you to reduce the shutter speed without over exposing the image. I found polarisers almost pointless on drones. The cinema series are PP's finest range and the quality is exceptional.

davidmartingraf Posted at 2018-6-24 02:30
Today there are so many Polar Pro ND filters that it makes for hard decision which one to go with? Any recommendations?

I think the cinematic are the best, but make sure you make a custom set.
The I would recommend 8,16 and 32
PL I never used so far.

Suggest you experiment with various conditions, record each permutation, and create a chart to carry in your kit bag.    Here's an example of what Forum Member QuadKid shared: https://forum.dji.com/thread-148215-1-1.html  As you bring your images in to edit them, look at the Meta Data to 'remind' you of some of the settings you used for that particular image.  (using the time stamp on the file will help you match the image(s) to the settings-notes you kept.)

Great thread BTW David - always good to share these ideas and see what best suits

davidmartingraf Posted at 2018-6-24 02:30
Today there are so many Polar Pro ND filters that it makes for hard decision which one to go with? Any recommendations?

Have a look at Dylan's video here.  He explains it the best I have seen.  Really enjoy his videos.  

A CW Posted at 2018-7-12 05:41
Great thread BTW David - always good to share these ideas and see what best suits

A CW - I appreciate the kind feedback. The camera settings on the Mavic Pro are quite advanced - sometimes I get really good video and sometimes I don't. Each time I do get good video, I swear it wouldn't need color grading. Each time I don't get good results, color grading wouldn't even help.

I've seen some really amazing quality Mavic Pro video, although it's with heavy professional post-production color grading. My goal is to figure out how to achieve these similar quality camera and post-production results while one day using the Mavic Pro. That's basically the purpose and motive behind flying the Mavic Pro.

3480x2160 25 or 30 fps
ISO 100
Shutter 1/50 or 1/60
Sharpness +1
Contrast -3
Saturation -1
D-Cinelike (D-Log over-compresses information)
Custom White Balance
PolarPro's ND filters (the ones without polarisation, mostly)

Result (just the drone shots, of course. And back then I was using contrast -1 instead of -3):