DJI Phantom 4 Pro Drone High ISO Test

Drone Photography

DJI Phantom Pro 4 ISO Test

So after flying the DJI Phantom 4 Pro for over a month now I have run it through it paces in terms of the cameras capability. One of the important factors is how does the camera go when the ISO is increased. Below is a series of images shot during the day at Bronte Beach on Sydney’s Eastern Beaches over the local ocean baths.

The camera settings was F11 with a starting shutter speed of 1/200th of a sec. The camera was shot in aperture priority. Each image shutter speed corresponds exactly one stop with the ISO change.

With 3200 ISO for some reason the original image appeared one stop under exposed. So it has been adjusted for the purposes of viewing the noise. Same as 6400 ISO.

All the images are un sharped with no RAW processing and the crop is the image at 100% zoom. Before capture the camera was auto focused.

The time between each shot is about 5 seconds give or take to change the ISO.

DJI Phantom 4 Pro 100 ISO

DJI Phantom 4 Pro 100 iso

F11, 1/200th sec, 100 iso

Nice and clean image as you would expect. No visible noise in the shadow areas.

DJI Phantom Pro 4 200 ISO

DJI Phantom 4 Pro 200 iso

F11, 1/400th sec, 200 iso

Again a nice and clean image. No visible noise in the shadow areas.

DJI Phantom Pro 4 400 ISO

DJI Phantom 4 Pro 400 iso

F11, 1/800th sec, 400 iso

At 100% view you can see the start of noise pixelisation in the shadows but it is negligible.

DJI Phantom 4 Pro 800 ISO

DJI Phantom 4 Pro 800 iso

F11, 1/1600th sec, 800 iso

Noise pixelisation is clear through whole image, loosing sharpness. Personally for me all the images from here at this ISO would be un useable for large printing, just online promotion or small print.

DJI Phantom 4 Pro 1600 ISO

DJI Phantom 4 Pro 1600 iso

F11, 1/3200th sec, 1600 iso

Noise pixelisation is very clear through whole image, image capture sharpness lost. Un useable for large printing, just online promotion or small print.

DJI Phantom 4 Pro 3200 ISO

DJI Phantom 4 Pro 3200 iso

F11, 1/6400th sec, 3200 iso

Noise pixelisation is very clear through whole image, image capture sharpness lost. Web use only (small)

DJI Phantom 4 Pro 6400 ISO

DJI Phantom 4 Pro 6400 iso

F11, 1/8000th sec, 6400 iso (hit max shutter speed of 1/8000) Shutter speed should have been 1/12800. Has no bearing effect on ISO though just exposure. (image was brightened slightly to match the others)

Noise pixelisation extreme, file is un useable for use other than to show off a shot online.

Final Thoughts

The files from the DJI Phantom 4 Pro are impressive. I find that what ISO photographers find acceptable for their own personal work will vary. For me it is all about print quality. After this test and looking at the images I wouldn’t push the drone’s ISO above 400 if I want to use the images for printing. If the files have a lot of shadow area’s in them then this might worsen especially if the files required post production and to what level. Again a case of trial and error. But knowing my ISO limit with the drone is good to know so no time is wasted shooting above this.

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