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  • Hey all, just changed over the backend after 15 years I figured time to give it a bit of an update, its probably gonna be a bit weird for most of you and i am sure there is a few bugs to work out but it should kinda work the same as before... hopefully :)

DJI Zenmuse X5R Review

Nice. More of a commercial than review. DJI did well to hook you up
 
Hey, I got nothing bad to say about it. It's the camera I have been looking for since custom building a single rotor and throwing a Panasonic GH2 on it. Honestly, if there were any issues with this camera it would have killed me to have to wait longer. I hate waiting and this has been a 3-4 year wait.

No issues, I'm beyond pleased. I like hiking and keeping my kit small. It's just (finally) the best of both worlds. The Inspire is awesome at this point and small enough to go anywhere...the camera was always the issue. X3 camera was OK...X5 was garbage IMO. It was essentially the X3 with the ability to change lenses. There should have been a jump in video data rates at least.

The X5R is my dream camera and I have no problem giving that some props :)
 
Fair enough - footage looks ok. Wondering, were you compensated in any way for the review?
 
I think the footage looks amazing in my opinion. Luke After I saw Into Summer a couple days ago, I immediately pulled the trigger on the x5r cam and gimbal as well as the 45mm and 12mm lens. Im beyond excited for it.
 
Have you used an X5? When shots are ruined due to flicker you would think it's a little better than "OK" :)

What's in the video is my honest opinion and that's all you need to know, Z.
 
Domenic Barbero said:
I think the footage looks amazing in my opinion. Luke After I saw Into Summer a couple days ago, I immediately pulled the trigger on the x5r cam and gimbal as well as the 45mm and 12mm lens. Im beyond excited for it.
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You'll love it! I think the Olympus 25mm is essential as well. The 45mm is pretty tight and if you get the drone going too fast you will get some jello. It can be taken out with Warp Stabilizer set to Advanced but not everyone wants to do that.
 
which 25mm? I know the firmware only support certain lenses yea?
 
Domenic Barbero said:
which 25mm? I know the firmware only support certain lenses yea?
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This one is supported: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1026123-REG/olympus_v311060bu000_25mm_f_1_8_m_lens.html

Also, here is a list of the (currently) supported lenses:

[FONT=&quot]DJI MFT 15mm f/1.7 ASPH *[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Panasonic Lumix 15mm f/1.7 *[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Olympus M. ED 12mm f/2.0[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Olympus M.Zuiko 17mm f/1.8 *[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Olympus M.Zuiko ED 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 EZ *[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot](photography only)[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Olympus M.Zuiko 25mm f1.8[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Olympus M.Zuiko 45mm f1.8[/FONT]
 
Luke Neumann said:
What's in the video is my honest opinion and that's all you need to know, Z.
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If that is directed at me then . . . since you are the one posting on RED User what looks to be a commercial for a competing product to RED and calling it a "Review", then it seems fair to answer the simple question: were you compensated in any way for the review? No big deal if you were but full disclosure is the honorable thing to do.
 
Zeb B said:
If that is directed at me then . . . since you are the one posting on RED User what looks to be a commercial for a competing product to RED and calling it a "Review", then it seems fair to answer the simple question: were you compensated in any way for the review? No big deal if you were but full disclosure is the honorable thing to do.
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I have never been compensated for promoting a product. This is no different. Inspire 1 RAW pre order paid in full, just like everyone else.

The fact that you went so far as to say that I am lacking "honor" by not disclosing personal details of my life and work to you is pretty ridiculous, man. It's a little insulting, if I'm being completely honest.

If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all. If I don't like a product, I don't review it. So the few reviews we do upload feel more like promotions because...well, we are literally promoting a product that we use and like. Simple. We have a lot of free products sent to us. Most of them are returned to sender with no review uploaded. I think the companies appreciate that. I don't like burning bridges, so rather than upload a poor review, I just don't promote it in any way.
 
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Footage looks great!

What's your method in ACR for processing DNGs so that you're not getting flickering but still grabbing all the DR out of the files / camera? I've always been getting flicker in some way so I'm going through Resolve now to process them.

Agree with you completely on the X5R, it's an exceptional camera.

C
 
Charles Bergquist said:
What's your method in ACR for processing DNGs so that you're not getting flickering but still grabbing all the DR out of the files / camera? I've always been getting flicker in some way so I'm going through Resolve now to process them.

C
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Thanks! I created a few ACR presets that solve the flickering and will be releasing them with a LUT pack (that also includes ACR presets and Neat Video noise profiles for most ISO values).

http://neumannfilms.net/?product=10353
 
Luke Neumann said:
The fact that you went so far as to say that I am lacking "honor" by not disclosing personal details of my life and work to you is pretty ridiculous, man. It's insulting.
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Never said or asked that. Perhaps read my post more slowly.

If online reviewers are compensated for a their sunshine and kittens "reviews" - we have every right to know if their production was funded by others. If that personally offends anyone then they need to get over it.

All that aside, I would never buy a first gen DJI product since experience, and massive forum feedback, suggests that the first gen has a range of issues that will be worked out in the second gen. Add to that, DJI has recently taken a financial position in Hasselblad so that mirrorless cam Hassy just released will more than likely replace the X5R in some video derivative. Perhaps with a real cine codec

Phantom 3 kicks ass . . . 1&2 not so much
 
Zeb B said:
Never said or asked that. Perhaps read my post more slowly.
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OK...insinuated. Same thing to me.

You literally don't have any "rights" to know that stuff. Maybe you think you SHOULD. But in reality, no, you don't have any actual rights to that information.

First version Inspire and camera were a long time ago. X5R is the third camera by DJI and Inspire 1 RAW is actually the 2nd or 3rd iteration of that drone. New motors, new design.

As I said, they got it all right with this one. Take it or leave it.

Good day...

PS. This isn't your first time pissing someone off on RU, is it?

Maybe you should choose different words instead of encouraging people to "read your comments more slowly". That seems like the most logical solution for someone that has to post a "troll disclaimer" on their profile page! Find the root of the problem, it's not how people read your posts...it's how YOU type them. Logically, that's just where I would go.

Double good day...
 
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Luke, I just want to say I really appreciate the review. Thanks. I thought I read in a review by you or someone that the 512GB SSD is only good for 5 min of 4K footage. Then somewhere else, I read it was good for 20 min. Can you confirm the real world time for 4K footage at 24 FPS?

Also, have you made any more progress on on your telescoping pole for the X5R?

Thanks. -a
 
Ah come on Luke. Listen to your video's narrative to understand how someone might question the veracity of its claims:

"Recently DJI customer service reached out to me and delivered what has been some of the best personal customer service that I have ever received. So on all fronts DJI is really starting to knock it out of the park"

If you posted this as a Commercial you just did I would say "Nice one Mate!"

Since you posted it as a Review I judge it as such. A bit too sticky sweet and cozy for my taste. Nothing personal meant by it. I just question the answers - and your video has a bunch of sweeping answers and summary statements without critique. It's an infomercial and a good one at that.

So well done and, darn it, I will have a double good day!
 
Zeb B said:
Ah come on Luke. Listen to your video's narrative to understand how someone might question the veracity of its claims:

"Recently DJI customer service reached out to me and delivered what has been some of the best personal customer service that I have ever received. So on all fronts DJI is really starting to knock it out of the park"

If you posted this as a Commercial you just did I would say "Nice one Mate!"

Since you posted it as a Review I judge it as such. A bit too sticky sweet and cozy for my taste. Nothing personal meant by it. I just question the answers - and your video has a bunch of sweeping answers and summary statements without critique. It's an infomercial and a good one at that.

So well done and, darn it, I will have a double good day!
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I'm not very good at reviews, I think that's what it boils down to. People ask if we can sum up thoughts on gear we use sometimes. Usually I title them "Impressions" which is probably more fitting but these are my actual thoughts on the camera. I didn't feel like taking the time to go into it in more depth. I could have, I just felt like summarizing. Equivalent of me going "I like it...I suggest buying it". I mean, that's what I wanted to get across. 5 star review because that's how I feel about it. I love it!

As I said, I have been dreaming of this setup since we custom built a GAS powered single rotor. Small enough to backpack into crazy locations, stable enough to use a 50mm-90mm lens, 4K/RAW, good dynamic range, and all on a system that a monkey could fly. Seriously, the Inspire 1 and app are pretty flawless now.

Add to that the ability to remove the camera from the drone and plop it on the Osmo in 90 seconds and then place the Osmo on a tripod, or a lightweight jib....it's versatile as hell and the size of an apple. See...that all kind of sounds like a commercial but it's my honest opinion so take what you will from it.

I love it, I think they knocked it out of the park...finally. As I said, X3 was average, X5 sucked...X5R is everything I want. Sorry if it's too positive of a video but those are my thoughts. It checks off all requirements that I personally had. Nothing bad to say about it...at all.

I offered a little critique about the DNG format but that is easily overcome by using proxies. That would be like someone complaining about R3D's. If they did, you would know that they simply didn't know their stuff. DNG is slow, obviously. That's why you use proxies.

Whether I titled it "Impressions" or "Review"...it's the same thing. I like it. If we used a star system I would give it 5 stars. Not much more to say.
 
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Luke Neumann said:
OK...insinuated. Same thing to me. To everyone. You know what you meant and what you were saying. Don't hide behind the wording.

You literally don't have any "rights" to know that stuff. Maybe you think you SHOULD. But in reality, no, you don't have any actual rights to that information.

First version Inspire and camera were a long time ago. X5R is the third camera by DJI and Inspire 1 RAW is actually the 2nd or 3rd iteration of that drone. New motors, new design.

As I said, they got it all right with this one. Take it or leave it. I don't give a personal fuck.

Good day...

PS. This isn't your first time pissing someone off on RU, is it?

Maybe you should choose different words instead of encouraging people to "read your comments more slowly". That seems like the most logical solution for someone that has to post a "troll disclaimer" on their profile page! Find the root of the problem, it's not how people read your posts...it's how YOU type them. Logically, that's just where I would go.

Double good day...
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I don't care whether you were paid or not and wouldn't ask.... but it actually is required by law to disclose if you are getting free product or paid to promote, so Zeb wasn't totally off base: https://www.socialmediaexplorer.com/content-sections/news-and-noise/disclosures-for-bloggers-and-brands/

https://www.ftc.gov/tips-advice/business-center/guidance/ftcs-endorsement-guides-what-people-are-asking

Your review was top notch and looks like a high end advertisement, so I get where he's coming from. I love what you did and not knocking you at all. Just trying to clarify.
 
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