Night video question

Bruce Hammond · Dec 27, 2016

I just flew my Phantom 3 Standard at night at 2.7k, 24 fps. It is kind of grainy. Is this normal for a night video? The actual video viewed with QuickTime actually has faint horizontal lines, but after uploading it to YouTube it is just kind of grainy. I guess I was expecting something sharper with a 2.7 k resolution but I don't know much about filming yet so I don't know really what to expect.

Here is the video.

Solly747400 · Dec 27, 2016

Is this from your SD card or from your mobile device?

CrispyClaret · Dec 27, 2016

It is normal, the cameras on drones or for that matter most small digital cameras will not give fantastic night quality. It is down to how the imaging chip works. They don't really have variable iso, its all done by electronically boosting the signals which increases heat in the chip and gives you the grain effect, the software also interpolates the signal adding to the degradation. This is exacerbated by the tiny (relatively) size of the chip.
Before you compare to an all bells and whistles modern dslr remember that the drone cameras are not exactly cutting edge, more money has gone into the gimbal stability than image quality.
So, it's pretty much, be grateful you get any sort of image and wait around a lot of years for things to improve.

PhantomDoc · Dec 27, 2016

Doesn't look that bad. Also the more streetlights or other lit structures the better. I.e. Town/city centres (where allowed) and seafronts look nice at night.

Sent from my iPhone using PhantomPilots

tevek · Dec 27, 2016

Also when I upload my footage to either YouTube or Facebook, I downgrade my footage to 1080 as this is the more preferred method of managing uploads. I shoot with the same settings as the OP, clean it up with adobe premiere and post it up.

Jimmers · Dec 27, 2016

I'm a photographer and with the cameras on the standard you can't go over 400 ISO without lots of grain. The sensors in theses drones are micro 4/3 so basically the same size of a cell phone camera sensor. The P4+ has a 1 inch sensor which would be stunning for night video. For best results at don't shoot with anything higher than 400iso (800 if absolutely needed) in 2.7k and downgrade footage to 1080.

Sent from my iPhone using PhantomPilots

Jimmers · Dec 27, 2016

This is a video I did at night. 400iso recorded in 2.7 downgraded to 1080. Watch in HD.

Sent from my iPhone using PhantomPilots

Jimmers · Dec 27, 2016

One more thing to get the best night video, shoot at the lowest frame rate possible to allow for a slower shutter.

Slower shutter = more light to sensor = lower ISO needed

Sent from my iPhone using PhantomPilots

Matts175 · Dec 27, 2016

Mine looks a little grainy at night too. But I'm still 100% happy with it.

Jimmers · Dec 27, 2016

Matts175 said:
Mine looks a little grainy at night too. But I'm still 100% happy with it.

Turn off the front red lights. They are your biggest nightmare for night video. You'll notice a big difference.

Sent from my iPhone using PhantomPilots

Spiderpig · Dec 27, 2016

Jimmers said:
This is a video I did at night. 400iso recorded in 2.7 downgraded to 1080. Watch in HD.

Sent from my iPhone using PhantomPilots

That is awesome. I hope they are using a radio broadcaster for the music. We had neighbors who synced lights to the music and would constantly play it. It wasn't bad the first couple nights.....but hearing the same song over and over...

Jimmers · Dec 27, 2016

And it was all done using Litchi waypoints

Sent from my iPhone using PhantomPilots

Jimmers · Dec 27, 2016

Spiderpig said:
That is awesome. I hope they are using a radio broadcaster for the music. We had neighbors who synced lights to the music and would constantly play it. It wasn't bad the first couple nights.....but hearing the same song over and over...

As much as I like the light show I wouldn't want to live beside them.

Sent from my iPhone using PhantomPilots

Matts175 · Dec 27, 2016

Jimmers said:
Turn off the front red lights. They are your biggest nightmare for night video. You'll notice a big difference.

Sent from my iPhone using PhantomPilots

Will try that. Thank you.

Mr. Salty · Dec 27, 2016

Jimmers said:
The sensors in theses drones are micro 4/3 so basically the same size of a cell phone camera sensor.

I don't see how this is possible. Everything I've read says Micro 4/3 sensors are 18mm x 13.5mm and are used in mirrorless cameras. The imaging sensor in the new iPhone 7 is 5.16mm x 6.25mm.

Or am I wrong?

Jimmers · Dec 27, 2016

Mr. Salty said:
I don't see how this is possible. Everything I've read says Micro 4/3 sensors are 18mm x 13.5mm and are used in mirrorless cameras. The imaging sensor in the new iPhone 7 is 5.16mm x 6.25mm.

Or am I wrong?

Sorry I should've reread what I wrote, should've said that it's smaller than a micro 4/3 and it's no good for low light. The phantom 3 S/A/P only has a 1/2.3" sensor in it, the P4P has a 1 inch sensor. My old point and shoot had a micro 4/3 sensor in it and it wasn't a mirrorless camera.
Do you know if it has the same size sensor for both lenses on the 7+ as one lens is 50mm f1.8 and the other is a wide angle lens

Sent from my iPhone using PhantomPilots

Mr. Salty · Dec 28, 2016

Jimmers said:
Do you know if it has the same size sensor for both lenses on the 7+ as one lens is 50mm f1.8 and the other is a wide angle lens

That I'm not sure about. It's been a while since I read the complete teardown.

tommi.piiroinen · Dec 28, 2016

Jimmers said:
Turn off the front red lights. They are your biggest nightmare for night video. You'll notice a big difference.

Sent from my iPhone using PhantomPilots

Does it make a big difference if the gimbal isn't at top position.. I mean about 45 degrees?

Lähetetty minun SM-G930F laitteesta Tapatalkilla

Boog0822 · Dec 28, 2016

Looks like you had a 4 point star filter on. Mine doesn't have that effect around all the lights when I did night video.

Sent from my SM-N920P using PhantomPilots mobile app