REVIEW: DJI's Zenmuse X7 is Hands Down the Best Camera for Aerial Cinematography Under $10K

Zenmuse X7 Camera Gimbal
DJI's 6k Super 35mm Zenmuse X7 drone camera. Credit: Randall Esulto
For under $10K—including the drone—indie filmmakers can now create truly cinematic aerial images. 

The Zenmuse X7, the latest camera from drone market leader DJI, puts cinema-quality image making capability into the hands of aerial cinematographers and filmmakers at more indie-friendly prices than previously available. The Zenmuse X7 is a 6K, Super 35mm camera designed and optimized for drone use (specifically the Inspire 2 platform). Boasting a 6016x3200 resolution (when shooting Adobe Cinema DNG RAW), 14 stops of dynamic range, and a set of four proprietary, DL-Mount lenses (16mm, 24mm, 35mm, and 50mm), the Zenmuse X7 camera system was certainly worth investigating to see just how much quality is now within reach of indie filmmakers who, until recently, have had to sacrifice footage quality to get their aerial shots unless working with a large budget.

Our Review

For our review, DJI provided an Inspire 2, the Zenmuse X7, and all four of the DL Mount prime lenses. The goal of this review was to see what kind of images you can expect to get out of the Zenmuse X7 in real-world situations, rather than to compare the X7 to larger, more expensive cameras that are not purpose-built for aerial cinematography.

In order to explore the full potential of the Zenmuse X7, I decided to shoot all my footage in Adobe DNG RAW at 6K, 30fps. Videos posted below attempt to show you what the ungraded footage looks like straight out of the camera as well as how much control you have over the look of your final image by grading it and applying LUTs. Some of the videos begin with the ungraded version and then transition to the version with a LUT applied and others show it to you in split-screen fashion. So, without further ado, here's what we found.

The quality difference between footage from this camera and footage from the smaller sensors that we've gotten used to seeing from drones is astounding.

Build Quality

The Zenmuse X7 camera body is compact and well made. The attached gimbal arm feels solid and completely encloses any cables connecting the camera body to the processing engine in the drone. The connection terminal at the top of the gimbal arm is recessed and seems resistant to damage from frequent travel. The attachment points that lock into the drone feel strong and durable. The gimbal lock on the drone feels very secure, and the lens release button on the camera body feels equally solid.  

Zenmuse X7 Gimbal Connector
The gimbal connector seems well designed and capable of handling the rigors of travel and transport. Credit: Randall Esulto

Even though I knew that the lens bodies were constructed from carbon fiber, I was surprised at how light weight they actually are. Typically, better lenses feel heavier than less expensive and poorly made ones and so I felt a little cognitive dissonance when I first took them out of the case and they felt so light in my hand. Then again, these are not typical lenses. They're lenses designed for the purpose of being carried by an Inspire 2 drone while remaining balanced in flight and compromising as little flight time as possible, so weight reduction is a critical consideration and constructing the lens housings out of carbon fiber went a long way toward that goal. When they lock onto the body with a satisfying "click", the entire system appears well-engineered and reliable.

DJI DL Mount Lenses for Zenmuse X7
DL Mount prime lenses for Zenmuse X7 include: 16mm, 24mm, 35mm, and 50mm focal lengths available individually or as a set. Credit: Randall Esulto

I had one friction point when attaching the camera to the body. After having attached and reattached the gimbal several times and flying the drone, I traveled to a new location and when I went to attach the gimbal, it wouldn't seem to line up. Finally, I realized that I had to turn the inside of the connection terminal on the drone to be perpendicular to the nose in order for me to be able to attach the lens (this caveat is spelled out in the Inspire 2 manual, by the way).

The terminal being able to rotate out of alignment with the mounting position is a side effect of one of the design innovations of the Inspire 2. The Inspire 2 is designed to rotate itself around the gimbal to prevent a stoppage in rotation in the event the gimbal reaches its rotational limit. To do that, the gimbal attachment point must be free to move independently of the drone. Taking a quick look at its position before attempting to mount the camera and rotating it into position if it has moved will avoid any hassles. 

The Super 35mm sensor lends a more cinematic and shallow depth of field than is found in the majority of drone footage. 

Ergonomics

Because the Zenmuse X7 camera is mounted on the drone and controlled via the app, its ergonomics only really come into play when mounting it to and detaching it from the drone or while changing lenses, but its design makes all of those manual functions feel intuitive and easy. Adding & removing ND filters is straight-forward—just screw them on and off. A hood that covers the threads must first be removed from the front of the lens and it's easy to take off and put back on (a quarter turn counter-clockwise unlatches it).

Sharpness

All four lenses looked sharp edge-to-edge and the focus rolloff looked great. The Super 35mm sensor lends a more cinematic and shallow depth of field than is found in the majority of drone footage. Between the Super 35mm sensor and the 6K resolution, you can capture details in small, far-off and out of focus objects (like leaves, tree branches, bricks) that would look like dappled watercolors on a smaller sensor with higher compression. 

Video is no longer available: vimeo.com/243989746

The Zenmuse X7 preserves even the smallest details
Shown here, applying a LUT to the Adobe DNG footage reveals every tiny detail.Credit: Randall Esulto

Chromatic Aberration

As you can see in the pictures below by looking at the edge of the color checker against the white wall, there's hardly any apparent chromatic aberration. Looking at the table shows that the focus rolloff is shallower and more cinematic than is attainable from smaller Micro 4/3 sensors.  

Chromatic Aberration & Depth of Field of the Zenmuse X7
As you can see by looking at the edge of the color checker, there is little to no apparent chromatic aberration. The depth of field is also shallower and more cinematic than is typically attainable from smaller sensors. Credit: Randall Esulto

High ISO Performance

One of the most exciting promises of the Zenmuse X7 was that the Super 35mm sensor would yield superior low light performance to previous models. DJI claimed that we could expect to be able to get clean footage even at ISO settings as high as 1600. To test the claim, I achieved appropriate exposure at f/2.8, and then continued to stop the lens down while bumping my ISO up in full-stop increments. I began my tests at ISO 200 because that was the lowest ISO I could use to maintain an appropriate exposure (based on the exposure meter reading of +/- 0.0 EV) and continued stopping down until I reached ISO 1600 (1600 is the upper ISO limit when shooting in the new EI color mode. (Note that shooting in normal mode will allow for ISO settings up to 6400 but since the EI color mode is one of the improvements DJI has made with the release of the Zenmuse X7, I wanted to test it out to see how it handled.) No LUTs have been added in the video below because I wanted to show the unaltered video as it was captured. 

Video is no longer available: vimeo.com/243854333

Then, to get a more real-world sense of the kind of imagery we can expect from the X7 in low-light, high contrast situations, I took it on a little flight through the hallways of the Art Factory in Paterson, NJ to see what kind of highlight & shadow detail we'd have and how much noise we'd have to contend with. I shot the clip below on the DJI 16mm DL mount prime lens at 1/60th, f/2.8, ISO 1600 in EI mode. With nice highlight rolloff and details in both the shadows and the highlights and nearly no observable noise, I was impressed. In the video below, I've split the screen such that the ungraded footage is on the left, and the footage with a LUT applied is on the right. 

Video is no longer available: vimeo.com/244001648

Later on, I ran into some guys shooting a music video at the factory and asked them if they'd mind me shooting a bit of their session with the drone. I'm really happy they were game for it because I was able to see the the X7 in a real-world setting and application.

Video is no longer available: vimeo.com/243992281

The frame below was shot with the 16mm lens wide open at 2.8 and I had the ISO set to 1600 (a touch over exposed IMO). I didn't apply a LUT to this because I wanted to show that I was starting to get some flare from the light in the back left and, though the lens hood helped manage it, you can start to see some of its effect manifesting as noise creeping into the darkest shadow areas in the upper left part of the frame. 

Low light handling capability of the Zenmuse X7 drone camera
Noise and flare are acceptable even when shooting wide open at 2.8 at ISO 1600Credit: Randall Esulto

Bokeh

While it's unrealistic to expect bokeh like you'd find in anamorphic lenses, the images below show the bokeh is soft and nicely shaped. While there is observable fringing in the bokeh areas, that's common for fast prime lenses and, being that there's hardly any in the in-focus areas (except for where the light is refracting through the front and back parts of the wineglass rim), these images are completely acceptable.  

DJI 50mm f/2.8 DL Mount Prime Lens

DJI 50mm DL Mount Prime Lens Bokeh Test
Bokeh is soft and nicely shaped. While there is observable fringing in the bokeh, this is common for fast-primes and is completely acceptable. Credit: Randall Esulto

DJI 35mm f/2.8 DL Mount Prime Lens

DJI 35mm f/2.8 Prime Lens Bokeh Test
Credit: Randall Esulto

DJI 24mm f/2.8 DL Mount Prime Lens

DJI 24mm f/2.8 Prime Lens Bokeh Test
Credit: Randall Esulto

DJI 16mm f/2.8 DL Mount Prime Lens

DJI 16mm f/2.8 DL Mount Prime Lens Bokeh Test
Credit: Randall Esulto

 

Conclusion

The Zenmuse X7 is a great choice for indie filmmakers and drone ops who don't have tens of thousands to spend on flying a high-end cinema camera and glass. The quality difference between footage from this camera and the footage from the Micro 4/3 (and smaller) sensors that we've gotten used to seeing from drones is astounding. In terms of cameras used in aerial cinematography, the Zenmuse X7 sits alone in a space between the smaller, Micro 4/3 sensor cameras like the X5/X5R/X5S and much larger cinema cameras like RED (the closest comparisons would be the 4.5k Raven or the 5k Scarlet-W Dragon) or ARRI's Alexa Mini (shoots up to 2.8k at 30fps vs 6k @ 30fps like the Zenmuse X7).

But with any of the larger cameras, you're looking at an investment that is exponentially higher than this setup. Could the X7 beat those other cameras in a shoot out? Probably not, and if you already have one of those cameras and an aerial platform to fly them, then you'd probably only be interested in the Inspire 2/Zenmuse X7 if you were looking to get aerial footage in spaces that might be too tight for your heavy lift rig (like inside a building). 

If you are an independent filmmaker or drone operator who wants to be able to create truly cinematic images but doesn't have 20-60 grand to spend on a larger cinema camera, glass, a gimbal, and a drone to carry it all, the Zenmuse X7 is, indeed, the best cinematic drone cam on the market today.      

Check Out: Today’s Deal Zone Deals – these great deals are valid for just 24 hours – usually discounted by over 50%, so it’s always worth a look !!

With any & every B&H purchase You will automatically be entered into the Monthly Gift Card Raffle.

Your Comment

13 Comments

Probably be DJI who ends up making the cinema camera we all dream of.

November 22, 2017 at 8:58AM

0
Reply
Richard Krall
richardkrall.com
2143

Well, they partnered with/bought Hasselblad so I think the next couple years are gonna see some very interesting things coming from DJI.

November 22, 2017 at 9:17AM

0
Reply
avatar
Randall Esulto
Licensed sUAS Pilot, Photographer, Creative Professional
234

Ok DJI, let's get this thing on an OSMO II and work out all the bugs. My back is ready to throw my Ronin off a cliff.

November 22, 2017 at 9:34AM, Edited November 22, 9:34AM

6
Reply
avatar
DC
Director, Cinematographer
771

Gut feeling: that will be on shelves in the next 12-18 months

November 22, 2017 at 5:54PM

0
Reply
avatar
Randall Esulto
Licensed sUAS Pilot, Photographer, Creative Professional
234

Are we going to ignore that major vulnerabilities have been found in DJI's security and their response to it so far has been to make threats against the person who pointed out the problem? Was personally looking to buy the X7 and drone until realizing this issue:

https://petapixel.com/2017/11/20/man-finds-dji-customer-data-exposed-get...

November 22, 2017 at 9:44AM

25
Reply

Randall, this is an excellent write up, brother. Definitely will check this out with you soon!

November 23, 2017 at 3:37AM

0
Reply

I've always wanted to like the zenmuse line as a potential replacement to the Movi or Ronin, however, I tested the X5r and X5s with an Osmo and was horribly let down. The way it handled the skin tone was atrocious, being built for aerial rigs, I think their color science probably is more optimized for the sky and foliage. I will be curious to see if the X7 handles the skin tone any better, or if they can eventually switch out color science like the Reds can to get a better rendition of the skin tone on actors if filmmakers ever want to use it as a Steadycam replacement and not as an Aerial drone.

November 25, 2017 at 1:45PM, Edited November 25, 1:45PM

0
Reply
avatar
David Sharp
Video Editor, Cinematographer, Teacher
370

More sponsored content...

If you're looking for a great drone but dislike DJI for their unethical ways (massive security oversights, blatant theft of American and European IP's, etc, etc) I highly recommend a company called Autel Robotics. I bought their X-Star Premium drone and couldn't be happier. I don't work for them and did a fair amount of YouTube research before buying it.

November 25, 2017 at 2:20PM

0
Reply
K W
929

Pretty tasty, and really nice write up (and great analysis... really well done) ...

I gotta say it's impressive how far they have come ... I started out with a phantom with a gopro years ago, and I think it still holds up https://cineclast.com/2015/01/04/best-settings-for-perfect-drone-footage...

looking forward to when they ender the camera market only...

November 27, 2017 at 10:40AM

11
Reply
avatar
Roberto Serrini
Director • Editor
751

Really looking forward to seeing this tech hit handheld gimbals / camera combos - DJI has some incredible pedigree with their aerial gear and gimbals, and seem to be making a step towards REALLY good image capture as well. Looking forward to what they do over the next few years. Also, this is a great and fully fleshed out gear review - kudos!

November 29, 2017 at 8:56PM, Edited November 29, 8:56PM

0
Reply
avatar
Adam Rahn
Producer / Director
95

Here is another review of the Z7 with a bunch of footage taken with the camera:

https://www.airvuz.com/video/AirV%C5%ABz-ReV%C5%ABz-DJI-Zenmuse-X7?id=5a...

February 11, 2018 at 8:17PM

3
Reply

Hi Randall, thanks for this great overview. I am going to purchase the inspire 2 with znemuse X7 in the next couple of weeks. Goal is to make commercial pictures and movies with it. Can you advice, if choosing 2 lenses which ones to buy? Maybe the olympus 17mm f1.8 and panasonic MFT 25mm f1.7? Or would you stick to the DJI lenses? and why? thanks for the help!

March 12, 2018 at 6:19AM

24
Reply

Except a full cinema setup does cost $20K... actually about $21,700. The $10K package omits important elements. Note that the drone costs $3,000 and the other components (many of which the drone cannot operate without) are grossly overpriced.

Question: Do other companies make 3rd party alternatives to these other components?

March 17, 2018 at 2:10AM, Edited March 17, 2:12AM

0
Reply