DJI Mavic, Air and Mini Drones
Friendly, Helpful & Knowledgeable Community
Join Us Now

Camera log decode

Hi, my Phantom 4 started capturing too bright photos. I've found a solution here: Help. Images washed out (too bright) However, I would like to know what exactly happened. So, I've found that there are logs of camera parameters or something like that. Is there a way to decode them?
Post one of the problem images and I'll see what the metadata shows.
 
Post one of the problem images and I'll see what the metadata shows.
Thanks, for the response. I've uploaded 2 images. DJI_0072.JPG, which is fine (Same drone, same day, same flight settings, almost same spot) and DJI_0073.JPG with a brightness issue.
 

Attachments

  • DJI_0072.JPG
    DJI_0072.JPG
    8.6 MB · Views: 3
  • DJI_0073.JPG
    DJI_0073.JPG
    8.3 MB · Views: 3
Thanks, for the response. I've uploaded 2 images. DJI_0072.JPG, which is fine (Same drone, same day, same flight settings, almost same spot) and DJI_0073.JPG with a brightness issue.
Accidental setting of exposure compensation to override the camera's metering is the usual cause of unexpected under/over exposure.

Looking at the metadata from those two images, taken 16 minutes apart, shows that exposure compensation was set to zero for both, so that doesn't explain why DJI_0073 is significantly (2 stops) over exposed.

As both were shot using Program AE Mode, where the camera automatically chooses the exposure settings for you, it's not a case of you having set something incorrectly.

The exposure settings revealed in the image metadata are:
DJI_0072​
ISO 100 1/320th sec F5.6 Exposure compensation = 0​
DJI_0073​
ISO 100 1/120th sec f4.5 Exposure compensation = 0​

Why the camera chose those settings is a mystery, but that's why the exposure is so different.

Was this a one-off glitch or is it happening consistently?
 
Accidental setting of exposure compensation to override the camera's metering is the usual cause of unexpected under/over exposure.

Looking at the metadata from those two images, taken 16 minutes apart, shows that exposure compensation was set to zero for both, so that doesn't explain why DJI_0073 is significantly (2 stops) over exposed.

As both were shot using Program AE Mode, where the camera automatically chooses the exposure settings for you, it's not a case of you having set something incorrectly.

The exposure settings revealed in the image metadata are:
DJI_0072​
ISO 100 1/320th sec F5.6 Exposure compensation = 0​
DJI_0073​
ISO 100 1/120th sec f4.5 Exposure compensation = 0​

Why the camera chose those settings is a mystery, but that's why the exposure is so different.

Was this a one-off glitch or is it happening consistently?
It was a one-off glitch. These 16 min gap is due to that I had to change battery. All images before the change are like 72, and all after like 73. It sounds like a software glitch (I used Drone Harmony). What ISO 100 1/320th mean?

I've tried to recreate the error, but it never happened again
 
The camera settings for the overexposed shot allowed 4 times as much light in as the settings for the shot with correct exposure

That's a good thing
Thanks for the help. It is a relieve that nothing is wrong with settings or drone. I guess, a sun light particle changed 1 bit and it resulted into this glitch.
 
Thanks for the help. It is a relieve that nothing is wrong with settings or drone. I guess, a sun light particle changed 1 bit and it resulted into this glitch.
A change in lighting wouldn't explain the issue.
The camera meter should adjust the camera settings to give correct exposure in any lighting conditions.
For some unknown reason, the camera's metering has made the incorrect camera settings.
 
It was a one-off glitch. These 16 min gap is due to that I had to change battery. All images before the change are like 72, and all after like 73. It sounds like a software glitch (I used Drone Harmony). What ISO 100 1/320th mean?

I've tried to recreate the error, but it never happened again
ISO is essentially the sensitivity setting for the photo sensor. Lower numbers give you better quality; higher numbers give you more sensitivity to light so you can shoot in lower light or with faster shutter speed or smaller aperture (higher f number). There was plenty of light, so the camera chose the lowest ISO setting to get the best image quality.

The 1/320 is the shutter speed, one 320th of a second.

Here's a good intro I dug up for a friend a few days ago.
 
ISO is essentially the sensitivity setting for the photo sensor. Lower numbers give you better quality; higher numbers give you more sensitivity to light so you can shoot in lower light or with faster shutter speed or smaller aperture (higher f number). There was plenty of light, so the camera chose the lowest ISO setting to get the best image quality.

The 1/320 is the shutter speed, one 320th of a second.

Here's a good intro I dug up for a friend a few days ago.
Thanks, the exposure is well explained there. I use images to get DTM, so all overexposed images should be discarded.
 
Thanks, the exposure is well explained there. I use images to get DTM, so all overexposed images should be discarded.
If you are doing mapping (or pretty well anything else), rather than leaving the camera on full auto and having no control, you'd be better off to:
  • Set it to A (Aperture Priority)
  • Lock the ISO at 100
  • Set your aperture at f5.6 (if lighting is good)
And let the camera adjust the shutter speed to suit.
i-N99mwQ5-M.jpg

And since you are asking about using a Phantom 4 pro, it would be more appropriate to post in this forum: DJI Phantom Drone Forum
 
Last edited:

DJI Drone Deals

New Threads

Forum statistics

Threads
130,586
Messages
1,554,118
Members
159,586
Latest member
DoubleBarS