DJI FPV Drone: A Camera Worth a Thousand Words?

DJI remains a big name in the world of drones, but when it comes to their landmark DJI FPV, DJI broke the mold when they launched this groundbreaking drone. The brand spanking new first-person view flying drone brings together an addictive combination of a speedy racing drone and a high-end aerial filmmaking tool, unlike anything you may have experienced before. Whether you love the thought of racing like a Star Wars speeder or filming some incredible Spielberg footage, the DJI FPV remains a must-have for all drone enthusiasts.

Drone racing remains a hugely popular hobby in the U.S., with major racing events in Atlantic City, but up until now, racing and filming with a drone felt like two different universes. However, those clever boffins at DJI applied their towering intellects to build a drone to satisfy any adrenaline junky while adding serious sex appeal in the form of outstanding photographic and filming capabilities. Worlds collide in a high-tech toy that many of us wish to see on our Christmas list.

Introducing the DJI FPV Drone

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So what exactly is the DJI FPV? It just happens to be one of the most sophisticated aerial drones that come ready assembled and offer outstanding aerial capabilities combined with a fist person view while flying. Oh, and did we mention the incredible 4K video recording and sensational photographic abilities the drone offers? How very remiss of us.

Since drones first exploded into our lives, a rift ripped through the community with pilots who love racing and those who fly for photographic purposes. DJI remains a name long associated with drones capable of creating superb aerial photography. Still, the DJI FBV remains their first foray into a first-person view drone that satisfies both camps.

Hover mode

DJI drones feature a rather nifty feature. When you take your hands off the controls, the drones automatically switch into hover mode. Plus, their drones come packed with state-of-the-art GPS and sensor technologies. Consequently, some drone purists claim the company makes flying drones all too easy.

Enter the DJI FBV drone, which breaks all the rules to deliver a racing drone with a lot of high-tech gadgetry that offers superb aerial shots and 4K filmography. It sounds too good to be true, but it is. The drone comes with a hefty price tag, but when you buy into technology as sophisticated as this, it’s worth it.

Brass Tacks

What makes the DJO FBV so unique? For a start, it looks good. The sleek black color and the gorgeous array of lights that embellish it make it a thing of beauty as it soars through the air with the greatest of ease.

Goggles

The first-person drone uses goggles to give you an up-close and personal experience. Consequently, you must consult the laws in your area should you wish to fly the drone. Laws in the U.S. state that if you pilot a drone using goggles that obstruct your line of sight, you must have a spotter accompany you at all times.

Point of difference

Unlike other Mavic drones, which use your phone or a controller to display the drone’s flight path, the DJI FPV supplies you with a set of goggles. So, you get a pilot’s eye view which gives the impression of sitting in a plane cockpit. In other words, you feel like a bird soaring through the clouds.

Point of similarity

The drone exhibits many similarities to a racing drone, particularly from the goggles’ point of view. Professional racers almost exclusively use goggles in competitions, though most racing pilots build their drones from scratch. You don’t have to do that with this aeronautical marvel. It gives you everything a racer drone possesses and more.

Strike a pose

Where the drone differs from most racing models derives from its superb video capabilities. The drone offers high-definition 4K video. So, you may capture every exciting moment of a race in stunning 4K quality. Alternatively, the high-quality video capabilities suit beginners who wish to experience the best that first-person viewing has to offer while capturing some stunning shots.

Add in a DJI FPV motion controller and a decent-sized memory card into the mix, and you may never look back.

Speed Limit

The drone may not represent the fastest racing drone out there, and it can’t quite match the 120 miles per hour of pro racing drones. Despite that, the drone proves nippy enough and may hit a top speed of 82 miles per hour in manual mode and flash from 0 to 62 miles per hour in 2 seconds. It’s not quite the Millennium Falcon, but it’s not bad for an off-the-shelf model.

To cap it off

You may pilot the drone in normal mode, which limits the speed to 31 miles per hour. However, Sport mode caps the speed at 60 miles per hour. It is worth checking the laws in your area concerning speed limits when piloting a drone, and you may need to drive to a wide-open space to unleash its full potential.

Bringing sexy back

The combination of speed and the drone’s strong filmmaking capabilities make the DJI FPV a unique proposition. The drone remains capable of shooting 4K/60p video and uses RockSteady image stabilization to capture excellent quality images at a decent 120Mbps bit rate. It does this through a 150 degree, wide-angle lens.

It’s enough to make anyone take a cold shower.

High Technology

The drone’s 1/2.3 inch CMOS sensor proves smaller than other models. Consequently, you may achieve good quality images when exposed to reasonable light, albeit through a wide-angle lens.

Steady hands

The drone’s unique selling point arrives in its ability to soar through the heavens to provide you with a breathtaking view of the landscape. The drone uses a DJI Goggles V2 To achieve this. And you may use a single-handed motion controller, which lets you fly the drone using hand movements.

Standard controls

The kit arrives with everything you need to start your journey. When your box comes, it contains the sexy drone, a standard remote controller, and the FPV Goggles V2. However, if you purchase the separate Motion Controller, the experience feels more akin to using a VR headset.

Most intriguing

The optional Motion Controller aims to make the drones piloting intuitive and may suit new pilots or beginners. The controller includes an essential brake button that sends the drone into the emergency brake and hover mode. Furthermore, a long press of the button sends the drone back to base.

Latency

The standard controller and the Motion Controller require the use of the goggles. The headset offers the pilot a live feed of the drone’s flight path in 810p at either 60fps or 120fps, depending on the mode you chose.

Most drones using goggles suffer from a latency problem, which derives from a delay in image transfer from the drone to the goggles. The issue may cause serious issues as a slight delay means the drone’s position remains inaccurate as viewed from the goggles.

However, DJI solves the problem with a clever piece of technology they refer to as Ocusync. The Ocusync uses a high bit rate 50Mbps feed to the headset while using anti-interference gadgetry to ensure a reliable, accurate video feed.

Safety Features

The thought of flying a drone at high speeds while wearing a headset seems dangerous to many of us. A spotter must accompany you at all times while you operate the drone, and it remains a legal requirement in the United States.

The emergency brake and hover mode combined with sophisticated GPS-based geofencing warnings and an ADS-B receiver system ensure safety at all times. Consequently, the array of warning systems alert the pilot to the presence of nearby aircraft.

The Life of a Battery

DJI knows how to build their drones and take into consideration the needs of the pilot. Consequently, the external battery pack for the goggles sits in a neat strap that fixes the goggles to your head, but a longer lead allows the battery to strap to your waist if you don’t want to feel the weight of it on your head.

Then drone and the headset use different types of batteries. Once charged, the drone, goggles, and the controller last a good day’s flying. However, it is worth investing in extra batteries because ambitious pilots who like to perform spectacular aeronautical tricks may find the power drains quickly.

Picture quality

The drone uses a 12-megapixel camera capable of capturing superb detail in vivid, naturalistic colors. However, to capture photos, you must stop the video recording. The need to stop videoing to take a still image seems an odd choice, and you may wish to complete a video pass first before repeating the same path while taking stills.

Weighty

The drone proves a bit of a beast, weighing in at 6.6 pounds. Consequently, it may be too heavy for younger kids, though you must accompany children at all times when using the drone.

To Fly or Not to Fly

The DJI FPV represents a considerable investment, especially when many of us feel the pinch during the pandemic. And the drone exhibits some highs and lows, which you may wish to consider before you part with your hard-earned cash.

The highs

The drone looks good, and many users love the sleek black nature of its design and the lights which punctuate the drone. Many users praise the innovative, fast, and reliable syncing between the controls and the drone. Furthermore, the drone’s innovative technology provides a more accurate video feed between the drone and the googles for reliable and precise positioning.

The battery life proves a winner for many customers who found that a full charge provided many flying hours. Beginners found the drone straightforward to learn, while the more experienced pilots felt it intuitive to use.

The Lows

The drone represents a significant investment compared to other types, and some customers claimed the drone wasn’t worth the money.

Some clients felt unimpressed by the picture and video quality, with some reporting that the props appeared in the stills when using the default settings.

The kit doesn’t come with a case, which some users found unacceptable. Consequently, some users felt the set felt bulky and clumsy to carry around.

A Useful Suggestion

If you haven’t used FPV goggles before, you may find yourself surprised by the different ways of viewing your flight. And you may want to get some practice using a flight simulator.

A flight simulator may help you gain confidence and feel comfortable with the FPV goggles because the line of sight differs dramatically from a standard handheld screen. In addition, a flight simulator enables you to master speeds while soaring through wide-angled views.

The DJI FPV Drone Explored

If you love drone racing or enjoy making spectacular films and taking breathtaking photos, the DJI FPV drone offers you the best of both worlds. The drone combines racing with some sophisticated, high-end photography and video gear to satisfy the director in us all.

The drone represents a considerable investment, but your money buys a seriously sexy-looking piece of kit packed with some serious hardware. DJI solves the lag problem between the drone and the goggles while fitting their devices with long-lasting batteries to provide hours of flying pleasure. The drone arrives with a plethora of superb safety features.

Is it worth the money? If you love drones, yes. It’s a racing drone with built-in cinematography that may satisfy most drone pilots. The drone may not fly the fastest, but it certainly packs a punch, and the ability to capture your areal acrobatics in full high-definition quality makes it worth every dollar.

Do you have experience with the DJI FPV drone? Why not share your knowledge with us by leaving a comment in the space below.

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