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A blurred drone photograph may result from incorrect focus, movement, dirt or an optical problem. Before changing settings, open the original file on a computer. The image sent to the phone or a small preview may not allow you to assess the sharpness that was actually recorded.
Choose a file that allows comparison
Start with a photograph of a stationary subject with visible detail, such as a distant façade. Avoid using only water, moving vegetation or an image already published on a social network. Keep the original and work on a copy so that you do not confuse the diagnosis with the effects of editing.
View the image at 100% and compare the centre with the edges. Ask whether the whole photograph is soft, whether one area is sharper or whether the outlines appear streaked in one direction. These differences help you decide what to check next, but they do not constitute a definitive technical diagnosis.
Check the distance and focus mode
The DJI guidance for out-of-focus images identifies the distance to the subject and the camera settings as factors to check. The same document distinguishes equipment with manual and automatic focus from models that do not offer free selection of the focus point.
Do not assume that tapping a point on the screen has the same effect on every drone. Check the active mode and the controls available on your model. If you previously selected manual focus, check the position used before attributing the problem to the lens.
Observe the minimum distance specified by the manufacturer. Moving the drone closer to a small object to run a test may produce a blurred image even when the camera is working correctly. Set up the comparison with a subject within the specified conditions.
Distinguish focus from movement
A shutter speed that is too slow for the movement present may leave outlines streaked. The DroneDeploy documentation on blurry images relates the assessment of shutter speed and movement to photograph quality. The mission instructions for that product should not automatically be applied to manual shooting.
For a simple comparison, choose suitable conditions, keep the framing the same and change only one variable at a time. A photograph with a faster shutter speed may help assess movement; it does not prove that the focus system is perfect. Note the setting and compare the same detail in both images.
Inspect the outside of the camera
With the drone switched off, inspect the lens and any filter fitted. Look for marks, condensation or a film that has not been removed. Follow the manufacturer’s cleaning procedure and avoid testing household products on an optical surface.
If you use an accessory, compare with a shot taken without that accessory, when the manual allows it and the equipment is fit to operate. A dirty filter can make the comparison confusing. Do not dismantle the camera to look for the source of a mark.
A three-image exercise
In a place where you can operate legally, prepare three photographs of a stationary subject: one with the current settings, another after checking the focus and a third with a faster shutter speed, if necessary. Keep the framing comparable and note what you changed. This exercise is a diagnostic suggestion, not a promise of a solution.
If the fault persists after appropriate checks, or appeared after an impact, gather the original files and contact support. State whether it occurs in photographs, video or both. DJI recommends contacting support when the issue continues after correctly adjusting the distance and resetting the camera parameters.
Do not try to recover missing detail by applying excessive sharpening. Keep an untreated copy for comparison. To continue, read the RAW photography workflow, the gimbal diagnosis and the camera settings for video.
Illustrative image. The suggested comparisons do not correspond to tests carried out by the author.
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