In the Field: DJI FPV & Avata First-Person View Drones

We all know about the rise of drone photography and videography. And the popularity in first-person view (FPV) drones is also starting to leave the ground. But what are the differences between FPV and regular drones?

In this article, drone operator Sinan Saglam explains how FPV drones work and reviews two options—the DJI FPV combo and the DJI Avata FlySmart. Read on to dive into the world of FPV drones and check out Sinan Saglam’s aerial shots.

What is an FPV drone?

FPV drones are different from standard camera drones. As the term first person view suggests, the camera image is viewed through the operator’s video goggles or VR headset instead of on a phone screen. FPV drones don’t usually have a gimbal, the camera is fixed.

The biggest difference between an FPV and a regular drone is the control. While the DJI FPV and DJI Avata do have an automatic mode, but they also have a manual ‘Acro’ mode. When this mode is selected, the drone is no longer held in a stable position by the gyroscope, GPS and distance sensors. Instead, you control the thrust of the rotors and the orientation of the drone around its own three axes—roll, pitch and yaw, as with an aircraft.

Instead of simply moving forward and turning left for a left turn, you now have to tilt the drone forward, tilt it to the left at the same time, turn it to the left and balance the thrust to maintain altitude. No automatic hovering and no smooth gliding. If the operator drops the controller, the drone falls from the sky.

Why use FPV at all?

Absolute freedom. Modern FPV camera drones originated in FPV racing, where precise control and short reaction times are essential. The image and control transmission is optimised for minimal latency so that pilots can react within fractions of a second. This allows us to fly closer to objects or through windows.

With a little practice, the speed, distance and direction of flight are easy to judge through the video goggles. The freedom of control enables unique manoeuvres—and footage.

FPV recordings tend to look different from regular drone recordings due to the lack of a gimbal and the manual control. They are more dynamic and action-packed. You’re not just hovering, you’re flying.

It’s important to note that, as an FPV pilot wearing VR goggles, you’ll need someone to keep an eye on the drone and your surroundings.

Why should you get an FPV drone instead of a regular drone?

FPV drones are a completely different type of drone. So, you can use them as an additional drone to capture footage that would be otherwise impossible to create. So it’s worth getting an FPV drone if you want to achieve that special visual style or perform precision flights that require centimetre-level control. The immersive flying experience is also a tempting factor, too!

However, it does take a lot of time and practice to learn to fly FPV drones manually.

How do I learn to fly FPV?

Controlling FPV drones isn’t intuitive, so try a risk-free introduction using a flight simulator first.

There’s a steep learning curve. In the simulator, you’ll crash hundreds of times. Eventually, as the muscle memory in your fingers gradually develops, you’ll get a feel for the FPV drone’s physics and flight behaviour.

You’ll need to spend at least five to ten hours in the simulator just to get to understand whether the controls suit you. Then, if you want to take off and fly FPV drones as accident-free as possible, you’ll want to spend another thirty or forty hours in the simulator first.

Plus, when you’re wearing VR goggles, your sense of balance will need to adjust. As the movements of your field of vision deviate from your other senses, you can quickly become dizzy or even nauseous. Some people get used to it relatively quickly, others need longer.

Which FPV drone is right for you?

At the moment, there are two types of FPV drones available. There are the classic DIY FPV racing drones, which you can either assemble yourself from the individual parts or buy complete and already fully adjusted. And there are consumer FPV drones, from manufacturers like DJI, which are equipped with safety mechanisms and comfort functions.

So, which should you choose? The community of FPV racers and hobbyists are generally in favour of home-building. These home-built drones are much better performing than DJI drones, for example, and are also easier to repair yourself. But this option isn’t easy—the selection of components, soldering and tuning, all the way to launching/landing and crashes can take up a lot of time and energy.

If you want to focus on flying and shooting video on FPV drones, it’s easier to just get a drone like the DJI FPV or DJI Avata. These drones can take off and land automatically, return to the starting point in case of signal loss and low battery, and also offer various ‘beginner’ modes for a gentle start into the world of FPV. 

Let's take a closer look at two FPV drones, the DJI FPV and the DJI Avata.

DJI FPV

The DJI FPV is suitable for any wide landscapes, mountains, forests or structures that you might want to fly over at a distance of several hundred to a thousand metres. 

The size and propellers of the DJI FPV make it perfect for cinematic medium- and long-range flights. The performance of the motors is strong enough for acrobatic freestyle manoeuvres, despite the drone’s weight. Speed and weight make indoor flights extremely risky. The ‘RockSteady 1.0’ integrated stabilisation is helpful, but not yet optimal. Also, the video files don’t contain any gyroscope metadata, which makes it harder to stabilise footage in the edit.

DJI Avata

The DJI Avata does have an increased range, but the motors are relatively weak. Freestyle flights are harder as the ‘brake path’ is too long. The low weight makes the DJI Avata more susceptible to wind. Therefore, the weight, lower speed and robust construction make the DJI Avata a better choice for indoor flights. 

The camera of the DJI Avata is slightly better than that of the DJI FPV. The ‘RockSteady 2.0’ integrated stabilisation also enables much smoother shots. The video files contain the gyroscope metadata, making the footage easier to stabilise in the edit.

The DJI Avata is more suitable for filming smaller landscapes, objects or structures up to a few hundred metres—and can also be flown indoors. You can find out more in our DJI Avata vs DJI Avata 2 review.

Ready for take-off? Check out our article about drone photography with Adam Parkinson or discover more camera gear guides on the MPB content hub.