DJI have made some very interesting codex / quality choices between the X5 and the X5R. On the one hand you have a camera that seems to be hobbled by an insufficient data rate of 60mbs and at the other extreme a camera that only provides a raw solution ( + the 60mbs version ) that in data rates swings between 500mbs for 1080p and up to a staggering 1.6Gps to 1.9Gps for the 4k raw files.
So anyone trying to go for a quality solution is caught between these 2 alternatives.
The actual business end, the camera and lens options seem to be identical.
I agree with your statement Ian. Once you are into Raw workflows I believe you would want to choose a higher quality camera with better lenses on a higher spec rig and be dealing with a fully crewed outfit.
For me I will buy the X5 without a lens. I will then probably buy the Panasonic Lumix 15mm Leica lens, it's a proven well regarded lens whereas the DJI lens is unrated and and untested, it might be fine, but based on what I've seen so far it seems a temperamental unit. With the right lens I will expect to see a big jump in stills quality and an incremental increase in video quality.
Like many others I've been very disappointed with the X5 example that have posted up on the web. I'm sure higher quality demos will emerge over the next few days and weeks as people get the hand of using this new kit and of learning the disciplines of prime lens photography and videography. In the right hands the X3 can produce superb results and I've no doubt the X5 will surpass that and in the real world its rare to see an aerial shot in a production that lasts longer than 10 seconds and that's often pushing it.
I also feel these are very early days for DJI to be selling high quality photographic products and what will be on offer this time next year might well answer all of the concerns that people on this forum have been raising.
