DJI NEO // EXPOSING THE TRUTH ABOUT THE CAMERA QUALITY (you'll be shocked!)

Summary

The DJI Neo is an affordable drone that offers solid image quality, rivaling smartphones and action cameras. While its out-of-the-box footage features noticeable digital sharpness, adjusting settings like sharpness (-2) and manual exposure significantly improves its visual appeal. The video highlights the drone’s potential for professional results with post-production adjustments like shadow recovery and color grading. Despite its 8-bit profile and 50 Mbps bitrate, the Neo delivers impressive footage without visible compression artifacts. For better control, DJI could enhance the mobile app with exposure locking and presets. Overall, the Neo offers great value for users who are willing to refine their skills for superior results.

Takeaways

• 😀 The DJI Neo is an affordable drone ($199) that delivers solid picture quality, comparable to higher-end devices like smartphones and action cameras.
• 😀 The drone’s image quality can be enhanced with manual settings, such as adjusting sharpness and exposure, rather than relying solely on auto settings.
• 😀 Reducing sharpness to -2 results in a more desirable image, especially in reducing digital artifacts like odd clarity in fine details.
• 😀 The drone offers flexibility for post-production, where shadow details can be recovered without significant noise or degradation of image quality.
• 😀 Auto-exposure performs well even in challenging lighting conditions, such as direct sunlight and high dynamic range scenarios.
• 😀 The DJI Fly app currently lacks certain manual controls, such as sharpness adjustments and exposure locking, which limits its potential for professional-quality footage.
• 😀 The Neo produces acceptable 8-bit footage with a 50 Mbps bit rate, avoiding noticeable compression artifacts in most situations.
• 😀 In side-by-side comparisons, the Neo competes well with devices like the iPhone and DJI Action 5 Pro in terms of exposure, despite some digital noise and sharpness.
• 😀 Although the Neo lacks advanced picture profiles like D-log, it still provides good-quality footage that can be enhanced through manual adjustments and post-production.
• 😀 The reviewer emphasizes that users should not feel the need to purchase a controller just to access basic settings like sharpness adjustments, though it can be beneficial for more control.
• 😀 DJI is likely to enhance the Neo's app over time, adding more presets or controls to improve the overall user experience and footage quality.

Q & A

How does the DJI Neo's image quality compare to that of a smartphone or action camera?

The DJI Neo offers comparable image quality to both smartphones and action cameras, particularly when using manual exposure settings and color grading. However, it shows some digital sharpness when compared at higher magnification levels.

What is the impact of adjusting the sharpness to -2 on the DJI Neo's footage?

Reducing the sharpness to -2 significantly improves the image by reducing unwanted digital artifacts and lowering contrast, which results in a more natural and aesthetically pleasing look.

Can the DJI Neo’s footage quality be improved through post-production?

Yes, post-production techniques like color grading and shadow recovery can significantly enhance the footage, offering more flexibility for professional results even with the drone's default settings.

What are the main advantages of using manual exposure with the DJI Neo?

Manual exposure allows for better control over highlights, especially in challenging lighting situations. It also provides the flexibility to recover shadow details in post-production without significant noise or image degradation.

Does the DJI Neo have any limitations in its default settings?

Yes, the default settings of the DJI Neo are a bit too contrasty and have digital sharpness that can create unnatural artifacts. These can be mitigated by adjusting settings like sharpness and using manual exposure.

How does the DJI Neo handle high dynamic range (HDR) situations?

The DJI Neo performs well in HDR situations, such as when shooting directly into the sun or with a strong backlight. The auto exposure works effectively to balance highlights and shadows in these demanding conditions.

What improvements could be made to the DJI Fly app for better control over image quality?

The ability to lock exposure and adjust sharpness directly within the DJI Fly app would greatly improve the user experience, especially for those who don’t have access to a physical controller.

How does the bitrate of the DJI Neo affect its image quality?

The DJI Neo’s 8-bit color profile and 50 Mbps bitrate generally produce clean footage, but in fast-moving or highly detailed scenes (like foliage), compression artifacts can become noticeable.

Is the DJI Neo a good choice for those looking for professional-level footage?

Yes, with proper settings and post-processing, the DJI Neo can produce professional-quality footage, especially for aerial filmmaking. However, it requires some expertise to unlock its full potential.

How does the DJI Neo’s image quality compare to the DJI Action 5 Pro?

When comparing side by side, both the DJI Neo and the DJI Action 5 Pro perform similarly in terms of exposure and dynamic range. However, the Neo’s image appears slightly more digitally sharpened, especially at higher magnification levels.