Drone Camera Megapixels: Do they Matter?

[Hammer Missions]

We recently undertook a case study comparing 3D models created using a 50 MP camera vs 20 MP camera shooting for the same GSD.

Here's what we found

Drone Camera Megapixels - Do they matter for photogrammetry? | Hammer Missions

A case study on drone camera megapixels and their impact on drone mapping and photogrammetry. Three 3D models were captured and processed using Hammer Missions and results were compared for data quality, flight time, setup time and dataset sizes.

www.hammermissions.com

Hope this forms an interesting read!

 

[Donnie Frank]

The linear math and correlations presented in the article isn't just predictable and intuitive, they're common sense.

Naturally, higher resolutions and narrower FOV's are going to equate to tighter GSD. Also common sense is that greater altitude or wider FOV is going to equate to less motion blur, which equals faster flight times, which equals shorter flights, which equals less batteries, yada, yada. Also common sense; Bigger equipment = greater set up time = more expensive = harder to transport, yada, yada. Higher resolution = more data = more disc space = high processing times, yada, yada. It's all about trade-offs and common sense, which anybody could predict. A camera twice as good flown twice as high is going to produce the same GSD as the lesser camera. It's almost like Ohm's Law for cameras. Watts/volts/amps all correlate.

While I appreciate the study, there's nothing revealing or revolutionary here. It reminds me of a $5M government study which determines that "A car driven twice as fast will reach its destination in half the time." Yeah? No kidding!

The answer to the question, "Drone Camera Megapixels: Do they Matter?" is "Yeah...how could they not???"

D

 

[Hammer Missions]

Hi Donnie, thanks for your comment. It's not immediately obvious from the maths what the results from a larger sensor higher MP from further away would be like when to compared to a smaller sensor smaller MP much closer. (shooting for the same GSD)

 

[Donnie Frank]

Hi Donnie, thanks for your comment. It's not immediately obvious from the maths what the results from a larger sensor higher MP from further away would be like when to compared to a smaller sensor smaller MP much closer. (shooting for the same GSD)

To truly get accurate numbers one would have to change a single variable. Changing multiple variables (Megapixels AND sensor size) makes it tough to extrapolate which variable matters more. I guess we can all take an educated guess... I understand that due to limited camera availability there's no way to change just one variable. But I wholeheartedly agree that the article is interesting.

D