I have few complaints about my Phantom 4 Pro, but I will admit that there have been times I've longed for a longer focal length than the 24mm wide angle view. This sample footage from the DJI Zenmuse Z30 camera has me drooling.
The Zenmuse Z30 has a 30x optical zoom with an angle of view ranging from 63.7° to 2.3°, or approximately 10-320mm. Coupled with a 6x digital zoom, it's a real powerhouse among drone cameras. It can even pitch up up to 40°, allowing it to act like an aerial telescope, as you can see in the moon shots. To see how impressive the zoom is, check out the video above.
Unfortunately, with an only 2.13-megapixel sensor and a $9,000 price tag, the Zenmuse Z30 is really designed for industrial applications, such as equipment inspection. It mounts to the Matrice line of drones. Nonetheless, it's a tantalizing look into what the future of consumer drones could be. Of course, one of the biggest challenges with longer focal lengths and aerial platforms is stabilization, as camera movement becomes more apparent as both focal length and resolution increase, making it more of a challenge for drone manufacturers to design effective gimbals. Let's hope the research and development continues!
[via UAVUS]
This is the spy lens every drone operator has been waiting for!
Finally! Now people who have had complaints of drones invading their privacy, actually have a argument! We are always watching!
It made sense when you mention industrial use, because the image quality and stabilization are certainly not ready for any sort of 'cinematic' use. The Inspire X5 with the 45mm Olympus lens has a great short-telephoto look (just search youtube for 'dji inspire 45mm'). Anything longer than ~200mm (35mm equiv) will likely still need a helicopter with a 6 figure gimbal.
Wouldn't you be able to mount a quite long M4/3 lens on a Inspire to achive some longer focal leangths. Sure it may not zoom but its a way to get a longer lens. You can probably diy something to make it work if it isn't supported native.
Nothing anywhere near as long is supported natively.
That's pretty impressive :)
For privacy concerns that is scary. But for a drone operator, it is out of the reach of any fathers shotgun. https://fstoppers.com/drone/drone-slayer-has-case-dismissed-federal-judg...
OK, I'll get just get my coat and leave...