Cameras · DJI exFAT DNG microSDXC card
Recover deleted DJI DNG photos
How can I recover DNG photos from a DJI card?
Short answer
First stop flying with the card, then scan it read-only for DNG. DNG is TIFF-derived, and a found file with a working preview proves little, because the full sensor data must survive too. Remaining JPEGs or video are no substitute. Export DNG results to another drive and develop each one completely in a RAW converter.
The situation
Drone RAW stills were deleted while JPEG previews or video may remain.
DJI writes RAW stills as DNG, a TIFF-derived format in which the image data sits at offsets recorded inside the file. A recovered DNG that shows its preview may still be missing the sensor data those offsets point to, so the preview is not the test.
01 / Diagnose
Work out what actually disappeared
The DNG files were deleted, often deliberately after the JPEG versions looked good enough, or during a cleanup to free space between flights. JPEG copies or video remaining on the card prove nothing about the RAW files: they were separate entries in the exFAT directory and were released independently. The DNG bodies stay in place until the next flight writes over them.
DNG is TIFF-derived, and complete sensor data is required beyond the embedded preview.
Check the last known path, trash and backups without writing to the original device.
02 / Protect the source
Preserve the best recovery chance
- 1
Ground the drone and remove the card before the next flight, since drone video will fill the space the deleted DNG files occupy.
- 2
Note how many RAW stills you shot and at which points in the flight, so the recovered set can be compared against that count.
- 3
Mount the card read-only in a reader and scan for DNG specifically, rather than sweeping for every image type at once.
- 4
Export the candidates to another drive and open each one in a RAW converter instead of a preview pane or file browser.
Do not fly to test the camera, and do not assume the surviving JPEG files make the card safe to reuse. Avoid converting recovered DNG to another format before checking it, and never export the results back onto the card they came from.
03 / Choose the method
Match the tool to the source
For stable, readable exFAT, NTFS and FAT16/FAT32 or uncompressed IMG, DD, RAW and BIN images.
Unconfirmed exports are marked .UNVERIFIED.
Only data still present on the card can be exported. DNG files whose image area was overwritten return truncated, and File Recovery Hero does not repair individual damaged photos. It reads exFAT, NTFS and FAT16/FAT32 media read-only; other file systems are outside its range.
04 / Verify
Check the recovered content, not just its name
Load each file into a RAW converter and move the exposure and highlight sliders. A complete DNG develops at the sensor's full pixel dimensions and reacts to those adjustments across the whole frame. One that renders a fixed image, or breaks up in the lower part, is incomplete.
Keep the source until two verified copies exist. One working preview is not enough.
Sources and technical references
FAQ
Questions about this recovery case
Can DJI exFAT DNG microSDXC card be recovered in this situation?+
DJI writes RAW stills as DNG, a TIFF-derived format in which the image data sits at offsets recorded inside the file. A recovered DNG that shows its preview may still be missing the sensor data those offsets point to, so the preview is not the test. The result still depends on what remains readable on the source.
What should I avoid before scanning?+
Do not fly to test the camera, and do not assume the surviving JPEG files make the card safe to reuse.
Does scanning write to my memory card?+
Your memory card is only read. Nothing is saved to it.
How do I know whether the result is complete?+
Load each file into a RAW converter and move the exposure and highlight sliders.