Are the DJI Avata suitable for beginners FPV pilots? Let me give you an idea I have several dozen FPV drones, however I purchased one of them because of its distinct advantages. But, it also has some significant negatives you have know about.
DJI Avata is a Cinewhoop drone designed to record fly-through videos
In the last few years there is a great deal of excitement about the use of FPV drones to shoot videos. In contrast to traditional DJI drones, which appear to be flying on rails, FPV drones fly smoothly and naturally. They also can fly indoors, and there is a problem with the GPS of DJI drones isn’t reliable. The issue is FPV is far less easy to fly. What if there were an FPV drone that was simple to fly? This was the idea behind DJI’s DJI FPV drone that was launched in March 2021.
In contrast to other FPV drones DJI FPV can fly using GPS aid and is as simple as a regular drone fly. The GPS aid can be disabled to fly the drone as a normal FPV drone, and it also has an “panic button” which will ensure that the drone is stable when you fall off the control.
When that the DJI FPV was first released I was thinking it would be awesome to see smaller models which could be used indoorslike a cinewhoop, or a smaller FPV drone specifically designed to fly indoors and fitted with prop protectors and ducts, so that it could be flown more securely over people.
Then, in August 2022 with the introduction of the DJI Avata, which seems to meet my expectations -an FPV drone which can fly indoors with stabilization. However, it has certain disadvantages that you should be aware of prior to purchasing it.
DJI Avata can fly more elegantly than other drones designed for photography.
PROS
Simplicity. The purchase of the equipment for FPV is daunting. You can purchase pre-built FPV drones, but you’ll require the controller FPV Goggles, battery and chargers. The truth is every one of these options provides a wide range of options. For those who are just beginning it’s confusing. If you purchase the DJI Avata combo, it comes with everything you require to fly. And, not only that, they’ll be decent quality components.
Indoor flight. One of the main motives for flying with a cinewhoop is the ability to be capable of flying indoors. Luckily that the Avata can fly indoors using stabilization due to GPS and TOF depth sensors that determine the height of its aircraft. When flying indoors, it typically is a process that takes months to master to fly with ease, Avata makes it possible for everyone for indoor flight. Here’s a good indoor flythrough video that was shot using Avata with stabilized flight mode from OriginaldoBo.
The panic button. If you’re caught in a mishap during a flight using a regular FPV the pilot is on his own and must make amends yourself. With the Avata button, you can push an emergency stop button, which will help stabilize the Avata at mid-flight. This could prevent you from inflicting serious injury or damage.
Flight time. The typical FPV drones can fly for 5-10 minutes. Avata is a different story. Avata can fly for up to 18 mins, which can be quite long for the cinewhoop. The longer flight time means lower downtime when changing batteries.
Management of the battery. When you use a standard FPV you need to control the batteriesand ensure that they aren’t charged too much. If you’re using parallel charging, it is important to ensure that your voltages are compatible. If you don’t do this and you don’t, you can cause an explosion. In contrast the Avata features a sophisticated battery management technology (BMS) which allows it to recharge as an iPhone.
Durability. The Avata is a sturdy prop guards. If the guards for the prop fail, they’re designed to be repairable by the user.
Gyroflow as opposed to. Reelsteady. Up to now cinematic FPV videos are almost always made with GoPro cameras, mainly due to the fact that GoPros have the ability to utilize Reelsteady stabilization. In the case of Avata, DJI worked with the help of Gyroflow which means that should you decide to that option, you can use Gyroflow to ensure that your Avata videos the same smoothness as Reelsteady videos.
External camera. If you’d like to connect an external GoPro on the Avata it is possible. The Avata is powerful enough to raise a full-sized GoPro.
CONS
Costly. The initial price for the DJI Avata is expensive, but it is priced fairly at $1168. If you purchase a similar FPV-equipped system, the cost is similar around $1163. This includes DJI FPV Goggles V2 ($429) and an FPV cinewhoop digital ($369), Crossfire controller ($215) battery (about $50 for equivalent capacity of 4S battery) along with a charging station ($100).
The FPV controller is not included. If you’re interested in learning the FPV method, you’ll require the controller ($179) that is in fact not part of the package. The addition of the controller onto the package can make a pricey package cost even more costly.
Incompatibility. The main drawback of the Avata I believe is that it’s not compatible with standard FPV drones. The latest goggles, motion controller DJI FPV 2-controller charger, batteries, and goggles do not work with other drones. If you intend to purchase a conventional FPV drone in the near future it will be a start from the beginning. There is only one exception if you buy the package that comes with FPV Goggles V2, which are compatible together with FPV drones that utilize an DJI Air system.
The Avata doesn’t have any of the usual DJI features. Avata isn’t equipped with many of the features included in DJI’s drones that are geared towards photography such as the Mavic. Don’t expect automatic flight movements or any other tricks that are similar to those.
Should you purchase DJI Avata? Which one?
If you’re more than interested in FPV-based freestyle flights, you’d be better off getting the freestyle drone instead of buying FPV gear in the normal method. Freestyle quads will perform far better than DJI’s FPV model or Avata.
If you’re attracted to cinematic flights and indoor flights, Avata makes flythroughs extremely simple. I’d go as even as to say it appears that Avata will allow users to fly more fluidly inside in its stabilized Normal mode than many FPV pilots are able to use in Manual mode. This is why, although I already own more than a dozen drones that fly FPV, I’ve purchased the Avata.
If you have DJI FPV then you can buy the drone ($629) and also use the controller and goggles that come with DJI FPV. If you don’t own DJI FPV you’ll need to pick between the combo that comes with older goggles ($1169) or the combination with the new ones ($1388). New goggles appear smaller and come with head tracking however, in my opinion, the combination with old goggles is more practical since it is compatible alongside other FPV drones that utilize an DJI Air system.