While everybody is talking about the new DJI’s drones, we will focus on their most important feature, which is the all-new Hasselblad L1D-20c camera.

On Y.M.Cinema Magazine we prefer to focus on more bigger drones dedicated for the cinema industry…you know… those drones that can lift an ALEXA (or RED) equipped with a cinema lens. We believe that in order to take some real outstanding cinematic footage, one should use those, like the XM2 Sierra which we have written about.

When a Chinese company (DJI) acquires Swedish company (Hasselblad)

Hasselblad, an iconic Swedish camera company which was founded in 1941, is known for making the most advanced cameras on the market. Their cameras were even used by NASA throughout the 60s in Apollo missions.

DJI (Dà-Jiāng Innovations) is a privately held, venture-backed, Chinese technology company headquartered in Shenzhen, Guangdong

Last year DJI has acquired Hasselblad by taking a majority stake in the camera company in the purpose of potential partnership with Hasselblad’s medium-format cameras and technology to be implemented in DJI’s drones.

Consumer (=little) drones always suffer from the pixelized, GoPro style, over saturated, amateur looking, un-cinematic footage, due to their limited, small sensor sized cameras. Not that this is a bad thing, but when you are on a paid gig, your client wants more!

The Hasselblad L1D-20c implemented in the Mavic 2 Pro

As stated by Hasselblad: “The Hasselblad L1D-20c, a state-of-the-art aerial camera, sets a higher standard for aerial image quality. With its powerful 20MP 1” sensor, it offers improved lowlight shooting capabilities in comparison to previous DJI drone cameras. Furthermore, with the Hasselblad Natural Colour Solution (HNCS), images are captured with the utmost colour accuracy”

The Hasselblad L1D-20c, a state-of-the-art aerial camera, sets a higher standard for aerial image quality. With its powerful 20MP 1” sensor, it offers improved lowlight shooting capabilities in comparison to previous DJI drone cameras. Furthermore, with the Hasselblad Natural Colour Solution (HNCS), images are captured with the utmost colour accuracy

As stated by DJI:” Co-engineered in partnership with Hasselblad after two years of tireless research, the Mavic 2 Pro comes equipped with the all-new Hasselblad L1D-20c camera. The L1D-20c possesses Hasselblad’s unique Hasselblad Natural Colour Solution (HNCS) technology, 5 helping users to capture gorgeous 20-megapixel aerial shots in stunning color detail.”

1-inch CMOS Sensor in a consumer drone (finally!)

Hasselblad grants the Mavic 2 Pro, a 1-inch CMOS sensor with four times more effective than the original Mavic Pro. The large sensor also means better performance in low-light environments with a more extensive ISO range, max ISO lifted from 3200 to 12800. In short – much more cinematic images.

10-bit Dlog-M Color Profile

Hasselblad camera in the Mavic 2 Pro allows to record over 1 billion colors (compared to the 16 million colors from traditional 8-bit color coding technologies) and retains more in-depth details in both highlights and shadows.

So there you have it. A Swedish product implemented into a Chinese product.

We just have to wait and explore those images from that 1-inch sensor. Hopefully it will look more like a pro and less like a GoPro.

What do you think about this partnership? Will it upgrade that amateur look of the consumer drones? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!