Camera(s) Information

[gregnoh]

Good morning,

Can anyone tell me if the camera for the Phantom 4 Pro V2 is the same camera that comes with the Phantom 4 RTK?

Thank you

 

[Meta4]

Can anyone tell me if the camera for the Phantom 4 Pro V2 is the same camera that comes with the Phantom 4 RTK?

If there's any difference, it's trivial.
The cameras look the same and have the same specs.

 

[AirDonkey]

Good morning,

Can anyone tell me if the camera for the Phantom 4 Pro V2 is the same camera that comes with the Phantom 4 RTK?

Thank you

Funny, I had the same question, only 5 years later. It seems to me after some cursory research they have identical dimensions but the rtk camera has improved capabilities.

 

[Meta4]

Funny, I had the same question, only 5 years later. It seems to me after some cursory research they have identical dimensions but the rtk camera has improved capabilities.

The cameras look the same.
If you put their specs side by side, they are identical.
It's unlikely that DJI created a new camera when they already had a fine camera.
What are the improved capabilities you think the newer cameras have.?

 

[AirDonkey]

The cameras look the same.
If you put their specs side by side, they are identical.
It's unlikely that DJI created a new camera when they already had a fine camera.
What are the improved capabilities you think the newer cameras have.?

I was thinking TimeSynch and GPS logging and a 24mm lens instead of 35mm...but, I'm recalling that from recent memory and I've been reading a TON of drone material lately!

 

[Meta4]

I was thinking TimeSynch

Sorry ... no idea what that is

and GPS logging

The drone's GPS data has always been saved saved in the image metadata.
Is that the same thing?

and a 24mm lens instead of 35mm.

No DJI consumer drone has ever has a 35mm (35mm equiv) lens.
The Phantom 4 pro series always had a 24 mm equiv lens.

 

[AirDonkey]

I stand corrected on the lens.

Here are other improvements I found. First as far as the mechanics of the camera:

• 1-Inch 20MP CMOS Sensor: This is the same resolution as the Phantom 4 Pro but benefits from better geotagging and mapping optimizations.
• Global Mechanical Shutter (1/2000s Max Speed): Eliminates rolling shutter distortions that were common in drones with electronic shutters (important for fast-moving flights and survey accuracy).
• Optimized Fixed Focus & Calibration: The lens is pre-calibrated for consistent accuracy across the frame, improving photogrammetry result

Second, the data logging improvements:

• RTK/PPK Positioning Data:
  
  • The Phantom 4 RTK logs RTK-corrected geolocation data for each image.
  • This ensures that the image metadata contains centimeter-level accuracy, a major upgrade over the Phantom 4 Pro, which only provides standard GPS accuracy (~3-5 meters).
  • If RTK signal is unavailable, Post-Processing Kinematic (PPK) correction can be used to refine geolocation accuracy after the flight.
• TimeSync System:
  
  • Synchronizes the camera, GPS, IMU, and RTK data in real-time to ensure accurate positioning data for each captured image.
  • This minimizes positional offset errors that can occur when GPS and camera timestamps are slightly misaligned.

Cheers!

 

[Meta4]

Here are other improvements I found. First as far as the mechanics of the camera:

• 1-Inch 20MP CMOS Sensor: This is the same resolution as the Phantom 4 Pro but benefits from better geotagging and mapping optimizations.
• Global Mechanical Shutter (1/2000s Max Speed): Eliminates rolling shutter distortions that were common in drones with electronic shutters (important for fast-moving flights and survey accuracy).

This is identical to the cameras of the other Mavic 4 pro series.
The "better geotagging" isn't a camera feature, it's the GPS unit in the drone.
It's only "better" if you actually need to carry out survey grade mapping.
But that was possible before RTK if you used Ground Control Points anyway.

• Optimized Fixed Focus & Calibration: The lens is pre-calibrated for consistent accuracy across the frame, improving photogrammetry result

Is that an upgraded feature or just DJI doing their usual thing of using fancy language to describe something that already existed??

Second, the data logging improvements:

• RTK/PPK Positioning Data:
  • The Phantom 4 RTK logs RTK-corrected geolocation data for each image.
  • This ensures that the image metadata contains centimeter-level accuracy, a major upgrade over the Phantom 4 Pro, which only provides standard GPS accuracy (~3-5 meters).
  • If RTK signal is unavailable, Post-Processing Kinematic (PPK) correction can be used to refine geolocation accuracy after the flight.
• TimeSync System:
  • Synchronizes the camera, GPS, IMU, and RTK data in real-time to ensure accurate positioning data for each captured image.
  • This minimizes positional offset errors that can occur when GPS and camera timestamps are slightly misaligned.

Do you need survey grade GPS?
If not it won't make any practical difference to the drone and how you use it.

I still think it likely that the camera is the same one they've used since late 2016.

 

[AirDonkey]

This is identical to the cameras of the other Mavic 4 pro series.
The "better geotagging" isn't a camera feature, it's the GPS unit in the drone.
It's only "better" if you actually need to carry out survey grade mapping.
But that was possible before RTK if you used Ground Control Points anyway.

Is that an upgraded feature or just DJI doing their usual thing of using fancy language to describe something that already existed??

Do you need survey grade GPS?
If not it won't make any practical difference to the drone and how you use it.

I still think it likely that the camera is the same one they've used since late 2016.

I appreciate the DJI snark! As a newbie it's easy to be fooled by industry jargon.

As a land surveyor, I WILL be looking for survey grade results though and very grateful for the time savings I will have in not having to set tens of GCP's all over difficult sites...
Also, I found that the Pro also has a mechanical shutter, so you are right that there is no improvement there.
So it looks like the only actual improvement might be the 'TimeSynch' and that is surely in the firmware and NOT a difference in the physical camera itself. I suppose that is also the case for the "better geotagging and mapping optimizations".

Thanks for the 'checks'!

 

[jaja6009]

I appreciate the DJI snark! As a newbie it's easy to be fooled by industry jargon.

As a land surveyor, I WILL be looking for survey grade results though and very grateful for the time savings I will have in not having to set tens of GCP's all over difficult sites...
Also, I found that the Pro also has a mechanical shutter, so you are right that there is no improvement there.
So it looks like the only actual improvement might be the 'TimeSynch' and that is surely in the firmware and NOT a difference in the physical camera itself. I suppose that is also the case for the "better geotagging and mapping optimizations".

Thanks for the 'checks'!

As mentioned the camera is the same. It does have improvements with features.

There are some really good deals on Phantom 4 RTK units with batteries and custom cases as a lot of people moved on to the Mavic 3 E and now the Matrice 4 E. It may be hard to find DJI OEM batteries as time goes on, but with proper care the 10 I have are all healthy and going strong and are 2 to 3 years old.

I still hang onto mine since it is just as accurate/precise as my Matrice 4 and while the camera is a a generation behind the Mavic 3 E and Matrice 4 E, it still makes nice outputs.

Its only problem is that it is slow writing the images and will take more time than the newer drones. A big plus is that with its larger size, it is much easier to keep Line of Sight than a Mavic 3 E.

 

[AirDonkey]

Thanks jaja! All of this makes me feel a bit better after purchasing a used P4 RTK for some survey work, especially as now I'm in the process of setting it up with firmware updates etc. I'm sweating through each step. I've gotten the RC and aircraft to power-up, was able to link them and update the separate firmware. More than anything I'm worrying about those batteries, especially as Ebay seller sent me the wrong charger. I used up the charge on two batteries just during set-up and firmware updates. Can't test fly until I get the right charger - from another Ebayer. I did buy a couple of 'replacement batteries' as well on Amazon...What you said about accuracy/precision especially feels good because in all my research, your conclusion is the one I came away with as well.
Good Day!