DJI Zenmuse X5 User Manual

Using this Manual

This section explains how to navigate and use the manual.

Legends

• ⚠️ Warning: Indicates potential hazards or critical information.
• ❗ Important: Highlights crucial steps or information.
• ? Hints and Tips: Provides helpful suggestions.
• ? Reference: Points to related information.

Before Flight

Before using the Zenmuse X5, it is recommended to review the following documents:

1. Zenmuse X5 In the Box
2. Zenmuse X5 User Manual
3. Zenmuse X5 Safety Guidelines and Disclaimer

Verify all package contents. It is also recommended to watch tutorial videos on the official DJI website and read the Disclaimer and Safety Guidelines before flying. Refer to the User Manual for more detailed information.

Watch the video tutorials

Tutorial videos demonstrating how to use the Zenmuse X5 safely are available at:

http://www.dji.com/product/zenmuse-x5s/video

Contents

A detailed table of contents is provided to help navigate the manual.

Product Profile

Overview

The Zenmuse X5 is a high-performance, robust gimbal and camera system designed for advanced photographers. It features an M4/3 interchangeable lens mount and a Type 4/3 CMOS sensor capable of 4K video recording and 16MP still photos. The system can be mounted onto designated DJI devices, such as the Inspire 1.

The standard Zenmuse X5 lens kit includes the DJI MFT 15mm f/1.7 ASPH lens, offering a 72-degree field of view and a manually adjustable aperture range of f/1.7 to f/16. The camera supports burst shooting, Auto Exposure Bracketing (AEB), and time-lapse photography in JPEG and DNG RAW formats. Video can be output in MP4 and MOV formats, with live HD video viewable on a mobile device via the DJI GO app.

The integrated 3-axis gimbal provides exceptional stability for capturing clear shots during high-speed maneuvers. It offers a pitch angle range of -90° to +30° and a 360° pan, independent of the aircraft's movement.

In the Box

Ensure your package contains the following items. Contact DJI or your local dealer if any items are missing:

• Gimbal and Camera Body x1
• DJI MFT 15mm f/1.7 ASPH Lens* x1
• Balancing Ring* x1
• Lens Hood* x1
• 16GB Micro SD Card x1
• Manuals (Zenmuse X5 In the Box, Zenmuse X5 Disclaimer and Safety Guidelines)

*The original lens, balancing ring, and lens hood are included in the Zenmuse X5 lens kit. Accessories for other supported lenses can be purchased separately from the DJI Store.

Optional Accessories

The Zenmuse X5 can be mounted on the Inspire 1 aircraft using the following accessory, available on the DJI Store:

• Inspire 1 Gimbal Mounting Plate x1

Components

Zenmuse X5 Gimbal and Camera:

A line drawing illustrates the Zenmuse X5 gimbal and camera assembly, with the following components labeled:

• Pan Motor
• Roll Motor
• Tilt Motor
• Gimbal Connector
• Micro SD Card Slot/Micro USB Port
• Lens Lock
• Lens Mount
• Lens Release Button

DJI MFT 15mm f/1.7 ASPH Lens:

A line drawing illustrates the DJI MFT 15mm f/1.7 ASPH lens, with the following components labeled:

• Focusing Ring
• AF/MF Switch
• Lens Mount Index
• Aperture Ring
• Lens Hood Thread
• 46mm Lens Filter Thread
• Dust Cover

Getting Started

Read the following information before setting up your Zenmuse X5.

Supported Devices

The Zenmuse X5 can be attached to the following device:

• DJI Inspire 1

Supported Lenses for the Inspire 1

The Zenmuse X5 currently supports the following lenses, with more planned for future releases:

• DJI MFT 15mm f/1.7 ASPH
• Panasonic Lumix G Leica DG Summilux 15mm f/1.7 ASPH
• Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12mm f/2.0
• Olympus M.Zuiko 17mm f1.8 (Balancing ring will be available on the DJI Store soon)

Supported Filters

Filters should weigh between 7-11 g for optimal gimbal performance, with 10-11 g being ideal. Filters outside this range may degrade gimbal performance. The DJI MFT 15mm f/1.7 ASPH lens supports 46mm filters.

❗ The Balancing Ring must be installed on the camera lens when a filter is not used.

Supported Micro SD Cards

The Zenmuse X5 includes a 16GB Micro SD card and supports cards with capacities up to 64GB. A UHS-1 Micro SD card is recommended to minimize delays during high-resolution video data reading and writing.

? DO NOT remove the Micro SD card from the Zenmuse X5 while it is powered on.

Installing the Camera Lens

The following steps illustrate how to mount the DJI MFT 15mm f/1.7 ASPH lens to the camera body. Ensure the battery is powered off before installation.

1. Remove the camera body cap.
2. While holding down the Lens Release Button, rotate the Lens Lock clockwise to unlock it.
3. Remove the lens cap and rear cap.

Illustrations show the camera body cap, the lens with the Lens Release Button and Lens Lock highlighted, and the lens with caps removed.

4. Align the two Lens Mount Indexes on the camera body and lens, and insert the lens into the camera body.

5. Rotate the camera lens clockwise until a click is heard.

6. Rotate the Lens Lock counterclockwise to lock it.

7. Mount the Balancing Ring (or a filter) and the Lens Hood.

8. Insert the Micro SD card.

Illustrations show the steps for aligning lens mounts, attaching the lens, mounting the balancing ring/filter and lens hood, and inserting the SD card.

To remove the camera lens, power off the battery and then:

1. While holding down the Lens Release Button, rotate the Lens Lock clockwise to unlock it.
2. While holding down the Lens Release Button, rotate the camera lens counterclockwise to detach it.

Illustrations show the lens removal process.

? It is recommended to use the dust cover around the lens for aerial applications. The DJI specified dust cover is compatible with the DJI MFT 15mm f/1.7 ASPH and Panasonic Lumix G Leica DG Summilux 15mm f/1.7 ASPH. An appropriate dust cover for the Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12mm f/2.0 may be needed.

❗ It is important to tighten the Lens Lock after attaching the camera lens to reduce vibrations during flight. Always loosen the Lens Lock before attaching or detaching the lens.

A filter can be installed instead of the Camera Balancing Ring, provided it meets the weight requirements.

The Lens Hood is compatible only with the DJI MFT 15mm f/1.7 ASPH or Panasonic Lumix G Leica DG Summilux 15mm f/1.7 ASPH. Do not install the Lens Hood on the Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 12mm f/2.0.

⚠️ Be sure to set the lens to AF mode. Always hold down the Lens Release Button before rotating the Lens Lock to unlock it.

Mounting the Zenmuse X5 to the Inspire 1

Watch the video tutorial at: http://www.dji.com/product/inspire-1/video

Replace the Inspire 1 Gimbal Mounting Plate

1. Remove the two black dampers at the front.
2. Disconnect the 10-PIN cable and 8-PIN cable in order. Be careful not to damage the gimbal cables.
3. Remove the other two black dampers.
4. Attach the new gimbal mounting plate. Align the rear mounting plates with the rear bracket's screw holes, ensuring their flat sides face outwards. Tighten the screws with a screwdriver.
5. Connect the 8-PIN cable and 10-PIN cable in order.
6. Place the front mounting bracket onto the front bracket with its grooved side facing inwards. Adjust the 8-PIN and 10-PIN cables to avoid protrusion, then tighten the screws.

Illustrations show the process of removing dampers, attaching the new mounting plate, and connecting cables.

Attach the Zenmuse X5

Ensure the aircraft is powered off before proceeding.

1. Rotate the Gimbal Lock to the unlocked position.
2. Align the key on the damping plate with the slot on the gimbal's pan motor.
3. While aligning the white lines on the Gimbal Connector and Gimbal Lock, insert the Gimbal Connector.
4. Rotate the Gimbal Lock to the locked position.

Illustrations show the Gimbal Lock, Mounting Place, Gimbal Connector, Key, and Slot, indicating the attachment steps.

⚠️ Be careful not to damage the Gimbal Connector and its metal contacts when attaching or storing the Zenmuse X5.

Mechanical Range

The 3-axis gimbal provides a stable platform for capturing smooth images and video. The gimbal offers a pitch range of -90° to +30° (120° total) and a pan range of ±320° (640° total yaw rotation).

A diagram illustrates the mechanical range, showing pitch angles from -90° to +30° and pan angles of ±320°.

? DO NOT attach or detach the Zenmuse X5 when the aircraft is powered on.

Take off from a flat, open area and protect the gimbal after powering up.

Operating the Camera

Camera Panel

All camera operations are performed via the Camera Panel within the DJI GO app's Camera View.

A diagram shows the Camera Panel with labeled controls:

• [1] Menu
• [2] Photo/Video Switch
• [3] Shutter/Record Button
• [4] Playback
• [5] Settings

❗ Always set the camera lens to AF mode. Focus and aperture are controlled digitally by the DJI GO app.

Basic Shooting

Taking Photos

Slide the Photo/Video Switch to the photo position. Tap the shutter button on the remote controller to take a single photo. Shooting modes can be selected by navigating: MENU -> [Photo].

1. Burst Mode: Capture 3, 5, or 7 shots consecutively.
2. AEB (Auto Exposure Bracketing): Capture 3 or 5 bracketed frames with ±0.7EV exposure compensation.
3. Time-lapse: Capture photos at intervals of 5, 7, 10, 20, or 30 seconds.

Recording Videos

Slide the Photo/Recording Switch to the video position. Tap the record icon or the Record Button on the remote controller to start or stop video recording.

Advanced Settings

Exposure Modes

Select from the following exposure modes:

1. AUTO: Shutter speed and aperture are set automatically for correct exposure.
2. S (Shutter Priority): Set your desired shutter speed; the camera automatically adjusts the aperture. Ideal for freezing action, creating motion blur, or low-light shots.
3. A (Aperture Priority): Set your desired aperture; the camera automatically adjusts the shutter speed. Provides a wider depth of field and can be used for background blur.
4. M (Manual Exposure): Increase ISO for low light, decrease ISO for bright conditions.

Photo Styles

Select styles via MENU -> [Style]:

• Standard: A general-purpose style suitable for most scenes.
• Landscape: Optimizes focus for maximum scene sharpness using a large depth of field.
• Soft: Suitable for scenes requiring natural or soft colors.
• Custom: Allows adjustment of Sharpness, Contrast, and Saturation from -3 to +3.

White Balance

Select white balance modes via MENU -> White Balance:

• Auto: The camera automatically adjusts white balance.
• Sunny / Cloudy / Incandescent / Neon: Choose these presets when natural-looking colors are not achieved with other settings.
• Custom (2000K~10000K): Set a custom value between 2000K and 10000K to compensate for specific light sources.

List of Settings

Photo Settings

Video Settings

General Settings

Managing your Photos and Videos

Playback

In the DJI GO app, tap the Playback button on the remote controller to review captured photos and videos. Press the same button again to return to capturing mode.

Downloading your Files

Download your photo and video files to your PC using the Micro USB Port (?) or a Micro SD card reader.

❗ The camera must be powered on to access the files.

Appendix

Specifications

General

Camera

Origin Lens (DJI MFT 15mm f/1.7 ASPH)

Gimbal

Status LED

The Status LED indicates the working status of the camera.