The Mavic camera isn't the best, as we all know, but it is a compromise I was willing to accept. The stills (from RAW) are usable for lots of purposes, but not for large prints. If you are handy with Photoshop, though, here's a recipe for improving resolution.
Exposure: low sensor speed (ISO), RAW, histogram maxed to the right just short of clipping. Shoot bursts of 5 or 7, perhaps multiple times. If subjects aren't moving, the Mavic is amazingly stable--enough to give images that can be aligned easily in PS. For more challenging situations, PhotoAcute may work better.
Pre-process 5 to 25 files in ACR or Lightroom, leaving sharpness low. In ACR, set resolution at least double the initial file size. If you use LR, you will have to uprez in PS. You may have to use lots of perspective control to get things looking straight, or even Transform the finished file later in PS.
Open all in PS (CC or CS6 Extended), then File-Scripts-Load open files-Create Smart Object-Attempt to Align. Then Layer-Smart Object-Stack Mode-Mean. A small bit of Smart Sharpening and perhaps some High Pass filtering and you should have a better file. It may be huge since the Smart Object contains all the open files, so flatten at some point or save as a .PSB if it's over 2GB.
If your PS version doesn't support stack statistics, try Affinity Photo--MUCH cheaper, and very capable. In some instances PhotoAcute will give better resolution and manages subject motion by using parts of the first file in the stack; it is no longer supported, though, and may not be available much longer.
Besides giving better resolution, stack averaging minimizes or even completely eliminates noise. You can pull more shadow detail as well. In a pinch you can then use higher ISO settings and still get noise levels down, but with a loss of dynamic range. You make the call.
Yeah, it's a PITA but worth it for the files you want to impress with.
Exposure: low sensor speed (ISO), RAW, histogram maxed to the right just short of clipping. Shoot bursts of 5 or 7, perhaps multiple times. If subjects aren't moving, the Mavic is amazingly stable--enough to give images that can be aligned easily in PS. For more challenging situations, PhotoAcute may work better.
Pre-process 5 to 25 files in ACR or Lightroom, leaving sharpness low. In ACR, set resolution at least double the initial file size. If you use LR, you will have to uprez in PS. You may have to use lots of perspective control to get things looking straight, or even Transform the finished file later in PS.
Open all in PS (CC or CS6 Extended), then File-Scripts-Load open files-Create Smart Object-Attempt to Align. Then Layer-Smart Object-Stack Mode-Mean. A small bit of Smart Sharpening and perhaps some High Pass filtering and you should have a better file. It may be huge since the Smart Object contains all the open files, so flatten at some point or save as a .PSB if it's over 2GB.
If your PS version doesn't support stack statistics, try Affinity Photo--MUCH cheaper, and very capable. In some instances PhotoAcute will give better resolution and manages subject motion by using parts of the first file in the stack; it is no longer supported, though, and may not be available much longer.
Besides giving better resolution, stack averaging minimizes or even completely eliminates noise. You can pull more shadow detail as well. In a pinch you can then use higher ISO settings and still get noise levels down, but with a loss of dynamic range. You make the call.
Yeah, it's a PITA but worth it for the files you want to impress with.
