Picture Sharpness

daws901 · Sep 18, 2019

Hi All,

One thing I have noticed about the picture quality on the Anafi is that it doesn't appear to be that sharp? I have attached a few images below to demonstrate this, but would like to know what everyone's experiences of this is and how I can improve it.

Settings I usually use:
100 ISO to minimise noise
1/25 - 1/75 second shots
DNG for raw processing in lightroom later
I always use a ND8/ ND16 filter or polariser at a minimum because the lens is F2.4

If I shoot at golden hour there is usually no need for a polariser or ND filter if I'm looking straight down or away from the sun.

Rocky the FS · Sep 18, 2019

I can't really see what you are talking about in the transmitted photos, but I can guess at the problem. 1/25 to /1/75 of a second from a drone platform isn't fast enough to minimize a bit of motion blur. Fine for video but not for photos. I would suggest 1/500 at a minimum. Why use an ND filter at all in these types of shots?

AnafiPilot1 · Sep 18, 2019

While the MPU6000 motion chip used in the Anafi (not exactly sure of the unit used for the gimbal, but it will be similiar), has an maximum sample rate of 8000Hz for the gyro and 1000Hz for the accelerometer, all this data is normally put through a low pass filter and with the general inertia of the camera & gimbal, most image motion processing will happen at a maximum of around 200Hz.

So if your camera position is being updated 200 times per second, you would want your exposure to be greater than that (1/200), so as @Rocky the FS said the minimum for blur free exposure would be at least 1/500.

daws901 · Sep 18, 2019

I'll try 1/200 and 1/500 tonight and see how that turns out. I only thought I needed a ND filter because my experience at 1/500 before wasn't great but there may have been other factors at play. Thanks for the help guys

Kilrah · Sep 18, 2019

Unless you specifically want motion blur for a particular effect you never use an ND filter for drone photography, a fast shutter speed is actually your friend.

And you definitely need to shoot DNG and process well, the JPGs out of the anafi are trash IMO.

Rocky the FS · Sep 18, 2019

daws901 said:
.... I only thought I needed a ND filter because my experience at 1/500 before wasn't great but there may have been other factors at play. ..

Here is a thread with ideas about ND filters: ND Filters Particularly post #3

In Pro mode, as you adjust ISO or Speed, the EV number at the right edge will change to show the effect. If you adjust one you must adjust the other to maintain 0 EV or whatever EV you want. At least this was true in the previous release, I have not checked the new release.

Looking at the properties of a few I just shot on auto today the values are 1/961 at ISO 170. Partial overcast at midday. The photos are nice and sharp.
Checking some taken near the summer solstice at noon the speed was the same but ISO was around 120, reflecting more available light. Take a couple on auto and look at the numbers it uses then compare at higher zoom levels to some taken with Pro to see which is sharper.

Since almost all of the photos I take with the Anafi are vertical shots auto works just fine for me.