Rumor: DJI and Black Magic are working on a camera for the Inspire

SimonMW · Aug 9, 2015

Sounds very interesting!

Brendan · Aug 9, 2015

damoncooper said:
Two sightings of this being tested in Honolulu and Oahu.

Apparently it had DJI and BM markings, was an all in one unit (camera + z3 gimbal)

It was apparently all black and the camera was bigger than the current camera.

Any pictures of it? That sounds really exciting

damoncooper · Aug 9, 2015

Brendan said:
Any pictures of it? That sounds really exciting

None that I'm aware of.

pepeticos · Aug 11, 2015

I would love to see a blackmagic micro cinema camera with gimbal for Inspire!!

Whodatdere · Aug 12, 2015

would be great, but, I won't hold my breath.

pepeticos · Aug 13, 2015

Also it would be nice if they add more choices with the 2 custom buttons on the back of the TX, i mean that you can select more things like roll gains or adjustment.

CoastalBird · Aug 16, 2015

Sign me up for a better camera. The current camera is the biggest drawback of the system - mostly it's the encoding that needs to be beefed up. The image can really fall apart over complicated scenes - it seems to have special difficulty with water surfaces on occasion, and as an 8-bit image, it does not grade well before beginning to show additional noise in post. It gets the job done, but it could be better. I'm not talking "new" features, just better performance.

On the other hand, DJI and Blackmagic make questionable bedfellows. While they are both out in front on technology, they also both tend to promise products and features that are late to arrive, if they ever do. I can only imagine how those kinds of problems will be exacerbated when they are trying to work together on something new.

m00se · Aug 17, 2015

IrishSights said:
I agree the prices are high. They are not inverted colours. They are special cameras for agriculture monitoring using the IR band. The colours represent the amount of chlorophyll in the plant which indicates if the plant is under stress and needs appropriate action to be taken by the farmer to correct. The colours represent the NDVI. (Normalised Differential Vegetation Index). It's a very specialised use of IR.

Back to the cost. It does sound a lot. They have either replaced the built in IR cut filter next to the sensor with a IR pass filter or even removed the cut filter and coated the lens instead. Coating technology is expensive. Taking the camera apart might also be time consuming. Some cameras are harder to take apart and rebuild. I have not done it with the Inspire camera only GoPros and Canon.

Cost is relative to value. If it's possible to increase the yield of crop by say 15% by remedial treatment by sensing the NDVI value then the price is worth it. It's also worth it to offer this service to farmers and a great business opportunity for UAV operators.

do you have a link to such a camera?

Quadpilot · Aug 17, 2015

m00se said:
do you have a link to such a camera?

http://www.aerialmediapros.com/store/ndvi-camera-unit-for-inspire-1-and-matrice-100/dp/838

m00se · Aug 17, 2015

thank you , is there any info floating about that they have used in order to perform the mod? or have the "invented" it?

Quadpilot · Aug 17, 2015

m00se said:
thank you , is there any info floating about that they have used in order to perform the mod? or have the "invented" it?

I would suggest contacting them to get that info.

The Editor · Aug 17, 2015

Hmmmm..... Interesting thread.
My disappointment at the quality of the Inspire camera has been voiced over the forum previously.
As Coastalbird mentions above, what I find interesting (amusing) is that DJI have chosen to jump into bed with a camera manufacturer who has a history of promising features and not providing them at launch but assuring customers a future firmware release will give them what they want.

Oh wait a minute.....

m00se · Aug 17, 2015

The Editor said:
Hmmmm..... Interesting thread.
My disappointment at the quality of the Inspire camera has been voiced over the forum previously.
As Coastalbird mentions above, what I find interesting (amusing) is that DJI have chosen to jump into bed with a camera manufacturer who has a history of promising features and not providing them at launch but assuring customers a future firmware release will give them what they want.

Oh wait a minute.....

that seems like a sound marketing tactic

AerialMediaPros · Aug 17, 2015

We have been working the last couple weeks to provide more details regarding the NDVI camera conversion on our website, thank you for your patience. Please see the updated link for more information: http://www.aerialmediapros.com/store/ndvi-camera-unit-for-inspire-1-and-matrice-100/dp/838

Our tech team can also modify your own camera, give us a call or send us an email if you would like to send your camera in to be converted to NDVI.

Cheers!
[email protected]
888-557-6791

ianwood · Aug 18, 2015

damoncooper said:
Two sightings of this being tested in Honolulu and Oahu.

Apparently it had DJI and BM markings, was an all in one unit (camera + z3 gimbal)

It was apparently all black and the camera was bigger than the current camera.

I would be over the moon if Black Magic and DJI worked together on a camera system for the Inspire. Where are you finding this information?

Genhawk · Aug 18, 2015

Well it was finally confirmed by a Moderator, or whoever "Dave" is, who obviously has DJI ties...

http://forum.dji.com/thread-27723-1-1.html

SimonMW · Aug 19, 2015

The Editor said:
Hmmmm..... Interesting thread.
My disappointment at the quality of the Inspire camera has been voiced over the forum previously.
As Coastalbird mentions above, what I find interesting (amusing) is that DJI have chosen to jump into bed with a camera manufacturer who has a history of promising features and not providing them at launch but assuring customers a future firmware release will give them what they want.

Oh wait a minute.....

Blackmagic used to be like that. But recently they have been pretty on the ball. I own Blackmagic cameras and I am extremely happy with them. The firmware updates have been fantastic adding in extra features in the case of the URSA that are beyond its original advertised specification such as the high frame rates.

Bringing a new camera to market is very difficult, and Blackmagic learnt that lesson early on. But now they have got their act together for the most part with unified firmware. They have always been clear about features that need to be added with firmware later. Sony do the same BTW and have done for a number of years starting with their XDCAM system back in 2004. Yet I don't hear of anyone berating them!

DJI and BMD would make great partners and the picture quality from the BMD cameras is sublime. Even going down to their Pocket Cinema Camera, which is such a close match to the colour science and dynamic range of the Arri Alexa that DPs like Rodney Charters are happy to intercut it freely with that camera in difficult to film places. Frankly I think that the combination of BMD and the Inspire 1 would send an earthquake through the market.

Aside from the most likely lack of lens interchangeability, the quality would be so good that it might make people question why they would need to fly a GH4 etc in many circumstances. Especially if the camera in questions allows 4K Prores HQ and/or Raw shooting. A distinct and most definite possibility if the rumour is true.

Spectra71 · Aug 19, 2015

SimonMW said:
Blackmagic used to be like that. But recently they have been pretty on the ball. I own Blackmagic cameras and I am extremely happy with them. The firmware updates have been fantastic adding in extra features in the case of the URSA that are beyond its original advertised specification such as the high frame rates.

Bringing a new camera to market is very difficult, and Blackmagic learnt that lesson early on. But now they have got their act together for the most part with unified firmware. They have always been clear about features that need to be added with firmware later. Sony do the same BTW and have done for a number of years starting with their XDCAM system back in 2004. Yet I don't hear of anyone berating them!

DJI and BMD would make great partners and the picture quality from the BMD cameras is sublime. Even going down to their Pocket Cinema Camera, which is such a close match to the colour science and dynamic range of the Arri Alexa that DPs like Rodney Charters are happy to intercut it freely with that camera in difficult to film places. Frankly I think that the combination of BMD and the Inspire 1 would send an earthquake through the market.

Aside from the most likely lack of lens interchangeability, the quality would be so good that it might make people question why they would need to fly a GH4 etc in many circumstances. Especially if the camera in questions allows 4K Prores HQ and/or Raw shooting. A distinct and most definite possibility if the rumour is true.

I agree. BM have upped their game. Firmware upgrades ADD features and FIX issues. Although my 2 Pocket Cameras are great without any further updates...I'm very happy with BM!