But there are no compromises when it comes to picture quality. The Skynamic team nearly always flies with the ALEXA Mini. “Whatever film set we have been on, the ALEXA system is held in such high esteem within the industry that nearly everyone refuses to work with anything else,” notes Gloeckner. “But it wasn't until the ALEXA Mini came onto the market in 2015 that we could attach the camera to a drone, because it was so light and finally offered filmmakers the quality they wanted.” However, it isn't only about picture quality: “Topics like workflow, reliability, and user-friendliness also play an important role.”

The 30-year-old also appreciates the various file formats and adjustment options that provide for “maximum flexibility”—and the software updates for the camera system. Skynamic's ALEXA Mini, of course, has also been updated with the new SUP 5.1: “There are constantly new functions being added that make our working day easier,” says Gloeckner. The support of 1.3x anamorphic lenses is a “particularly useful new feature. It means we get a whole new set of lenses to work with.” WCU‑4 additions like the improved playback options are “super,” he says. “This is a very valuable function for us, as it means we can start the playback of all clips during the flight back to base.” If it were up to Gloeckner, future updates could “happily involve more technical features like that.” He admits that, “at the moment, we use our bare eyes to decide whether the horizon seen from above is really horizontal.”