NEW inspire camera - DJI revolutionize AP AGAIN

WOW.. Its official,  DJI have just rocked the AP world, by blending a DJI gimbal with a m43 camera and a INSPIRE 1, this is without the most exciting news for aerial video & photography this side of Christmas.    
Even better there is a RAW version of the new Zenmuse X5,  the Zenmuse X5R with 1.7gpbs bandwidth and a 512 gb storage module. 

UPDATE.. it now appears that the new Inspire camera / gimbal the Zenmuse X5 will retails for roughly $1699 which frankly is a very good price for a GH4 aerial camera solution.  keep in mind, here you get the GH4 sensor and a Zenmuse gimbal.  Read on for the low-down.

You may remember me being VERY excited last year, when DJI joined the m43 standards association,  I said that may be one of the biggest things to happen with the next inspire.    and then I hoped.. and hoped... well guess what.  it appears that we did hope for something good.

 

Until today,  the Panasonic GH4 have been the benchmark for aerial video, requiring a large copter and a gimbal able to handle about 1.5 pounds or more.   DJI have wrapped a GH4 into a 530 grams plug-n-play gimbal, ready to fly.   that is already making a new benchmark..   By also releasing the RAW edition, DJI have made the inspire a legit CINE production kit. (the x5R is 580grams)

 

VIDEO options
UHD: 4096×2160 (24/25p)
3840×2160 (25/30p);
2704x1520 (25/30p) 
Notice DJI is not bothering with 1080p or 720p.  
X5 shoot video: MP4, MOV (MPEG-4/AVC/H.264F)
X5raw shoot video: MP4, MOV (MPEG-4/AVC/H.264F), JPEG-Lossless(RAW)

The X5 have 60 Mbps and the RAW have the mind-boggeling 2.4Gbps (Average: 1.7 Gbps) spec.

SINGLE FRAME
Even the still-photography options are pretty well stocked
Single shot
Burst shooting: 3/5/7 frames
Auto Exposure Bracketing: 3/5 bracketed frames at 0.7EV bias
Time-lapse (3/5/7/10/20/30/60 sec)

GIMBAL:  The Zenmuse X5 
Looks to be well build,  there is a larger vibration dampening plate under the inspire than what we have on the stock inspire, I'm sure the heavier camera require that.    also notice the pitch axis is supported on both sides,  that is a great sign and suggest a very stiff gimbal able to stay stable in fairly rough flying conditions.  the motors look bigger than the current inspire gimbal motors, but we would expect that with a heavier camera.

 

LENS Options
The lens appears to be a known factor.   Im seeing the Panasonic Lumix 15mm f1.7  "Leica Summilux" lens,  thats a very highly rated m43 "wide" lens, remember in terms of FOV, m43 15mm translates to 30mm on a full-frame sensor.      
More importantly for "street cred"  this is one of the series of Leica designed lenses that is being manufactures under license by Panasonic,  as you may know, panasonic manufacture Leica's "consumer" cameras, everything below the "M" series of cameras.  part of that relationship is that Panasonic have access to manufacture a series of "LUX" lenses with Leica designs, those are phenomenally good lenses and bench-mark setting..  
Honestly, this is a great lens for aerial, and sharp enough to be relevant for both stills and 4K video.   also fast enough that you can do a crane shot up behind some trees and get the near details nice and soft.  this lens should please indie production crews looking for "cine-look" in their aerial video shots.
PS.... the lens is clearly imprinted with the DJI logo, so this is obviously included in the kit.

At the moment the Zenmuse X5 can support 3 lenses.  
The DJI and Pana-leica is probably the same lens.
DJI MFT 15mm f/1.7 ASPH
Panasonic Lumix 15mm f/1.7
Olympus M. ED 12mm f/2.0 

This is a surprise to me, as DJI traditionally have only supported one lens, however the Olympus 12mm f2 is probably the same weight as the pana-leica 15mm 

 

CONCLUSION......
Yaah what the heck to conclude..  whats not to like...  I want one... My inspire-1 is desperately wanting a X5 camera.. (yesterday)

 

AVAILAIBILITY:
DJI announced shipping dates for the complete INSPIRE PRO's will begin end of September..
Inspire RAW should start shipping end of the year. 
The X5 Camera and Absorbing Board thats required to upgrade current inspire owners will be available in October.  (I suspect the X5RAW will be shipping at the same time as the inspire RAW)

 

Comments

[Bo Lorentzen]

Hey Mark, I think they are only shipping the X5 cameras in the inspire-Pro kits so far. pretty sure Jon Kilburn have some in stock. don't expect the X5 osmo or stand-alone kits for the old inspire for another couple weeks or so.
*they sure got nice once they got in bed with Panasonic. :-)

[Mark Honer]

Hey Bo,
Are they not shipping the x5 cameras yet? on bh photo it says pre-order still.
also, I bought an OSMO with the x3 camera but now I'm wondering if I should ship it back and
just wait for the OSMO with x5 option. I don't think those are shipping yet either.
Would love to hear your thoughts on this.
thanks
Mark

[Ken Keenan]

Nice looks great !

Ken