We do not recommend flying the DJI Avata near people or in crowded areas because that does not allay our concerns about safety. The front-facing camera on the DJI Avata is wirelessly connected to a set of goggles that give you a first-person perspective of the drone as it soars through the air. First-person view (FPV) drones, which literally give you a bird’s eye perspective of things while in flight, are not new to the Chinese drone manufacturer.
The DJI Avata is a drone that replaced the DJI FPV last year. This new drone is much more user-friendly than the earlier model, and it can be flown in a variety of ways. The main selling point of this device is the ability to record more dramatic video footage by flying close to objects. Additionally, due to its weight, it was frequently difficult to fly through obstructions. Additionally, there was a greater risk of damage to the exposed propellers in crashes, which were frequent with FPV drones. You can learn more about this drone on our article on DJI Avata review.
DJI Avata review: Design
The DJI Avata is a new drone that looks different from all of its other drones. The four rotors are fixed in place beneath the main body and are shielded by shrouds; whereas its other drones’ propeller guards are optional and detachable, the Avata’s are fixed in place. The Avata has a dark grey frame that resembles latticework rather than the light grey body that is typical for its other models; this, undoubtedly, reduces weight.
The Avata drone has a USB-C port and a microSD card slot crammed inside one of the propeller shrouds. To get to them, you have to pull the propeller out of the way, which is a little annoying. The drone weighs more than the FAA’s 250 gramme limit at 14.3 ounces (405 grams) with its battery, so you’ll need to register it with the government. A microSD card can be inserted to add more storage to the 20GB of internal storage. ..
DJI Avata review: Feature
The DJI Goggles 2 are a new type of headset that is included with the Avata drone. They are used almost exclusively for FPV flying, and they are not compatible with the Goggles V2. DJI has called these the Goggles 2, but it appears that many customers will be confused by this name.
The Goggles 2 are a little strange because they have better resolution than the Goggles V2, but not always. They also have a faster frame rate than the Goggles V2.
DJI’s new Goggles 2 prioritize resolution over frames-per-second in a resolution-framerate trade-off.
If you’re looking for a drone with a longer range, the DJI Avata is not the best option. Its maximum flight range is only 11.6 km, which means that any journeys longer than 5 km may result in the drone running out of energy before it can return. Additionally, because the drone flies low or around trees, which can disrupt the signal, you might only be able to reach a few hundred meters away from it. If you don’t have a mobile phone or tablet attached when flying the drone, you can use DJI’s Goggles to fly it without one. ..
The Avata can be connected to a phone via USB-C and used to manage recordings and update firmware, but it is not required to fly or record video. The Goggles 2 has a touchpad on the right side that can be used to change controls, capture quality, and other settings to control the limited interface.
Controller
You can control the drone with a motion controller. The controller has three buttons and an emergency stop button on the thumb rest. You can use the motion controller to move the drone up, down, and left or right.
DJI Avata review: Camera
The 1/1.7″ CMOS sensor in the Mavic 3 is able to handle contrast and highlights similarly to the devices we carry in our pockets, making it a comparable image quality to most smartphones currently on the market. However, it lacks clarity compared to a 4K60 or 155° camera built into your phone.
Manual exposure is still the best way to shoot with this camera, but if you’re more concerned with getting where you’re going, it’s difficult to care if the highlights are blown out. Although shooting in D-Cinema like mode is still an option, it’s probably best to stick with standard since this camera isn’t exactly the best for the most cinematic experience. ..
Performance
The Avata is a great way to get started if you’re not used to using a computer. The quick-start manual is difficult to read, but the videos are helpful.
The DJI Avata drone is a lot of fun to use, but it has some serious design flaws. First, the microSD card slot is tucked between the rotor’s blades, making it difficult to insert and remove the memory card or use the nearby USB-C port to upload footage to your computer. Second, the majority of the drone’s settings are controlled by a screen menu in the goggles that you have to touch to navigate. Third, the motion controller is also fairly simple to use; just use it like a joystick to move up, down, left, and right. ..
The technique is simple to learn, but as the video shows, you must grow used to manipulating it by pivoting your wrist rather of raising and lowering your arm. You’re in for a treat if you’ve never flown FPV before. It’s nearly impossible to get lost because you can point the small reticle in the direction you want to go, just like you would in a fighter jet, and a small H will always mark your take-off point over the surrounding area. The video is clear and fluid, and the heads-up display also constantly shows other information like battery life and recording status. ..
Flight Performance
The newer (and more expensive) of the two compatible pairs, the Avata, was paired with the DJI Goggles 2. During our test flights, we only noticed one weak signal message flash across the screen when a group of trees stood between me and the drone, which was about 700 feet away at the time. The Goggles support O3 transmission for a fairly strong control range. ..
The goggles come with an adjustable head strap that makes it simple to ensure a tight fit. But you have to take off your spectacles if you wear them. Additionally, you must deal with the long coiled wire that connects the external battery pack to the headset in order to power it. If you don’t like having wires run into your pants, you might want to consider keeping the battery in your pocket during flights since it doesn’t really get in the way.
The eyepieces have an adjustable pupillary distance and a diopter adjustment to set the focus to match corrective lenses. They do a decent job, but if you have severe visual astigmatism like we do, you won’t ever really be able to see a clear image. No matter how many times we adjusted the settings, the text and menus still appeared a little bit fuzzy.
DJI’s new Phantom 3 Advanced Vision System includes frames to hold prescription eyepieces. If you’re an FPV pilot with poor vision, DJI includes frames to hold prescription eyepieces. However, DJI was unable to provide any information regarding how to obtain the lenses, though. A representative advised interested clients to speak with their optometrist about getting custom lenses made for the frames. ..
Battery life
Drones with fast flying times have shorter battery lives than slower drones. The Avata has a flying time of about 18 minutes, which is less than half that of DJI’s other drones. However, it is comparable to the DJI FPV’s 20-minute flight time. During our testing, the Avata could be flown for about 15 minutes before returning to the barn. ..
Price
AU$1,199 DJI Avata Pro ($1,099): This configuration includes a remote controller, goggles, and motion controller. It is also the most expensive option. AU$1,499 DJI Avata Plus ($1,399): This configuration includes the remote controller, goggles and motion controller as well as a storage case. ..
Conclusion
DJI’s Avata is a fantastic FPV drone for beginners. It’s inviting and enables virtually anyone to take excellent footage. It’s the drone to own whether you simply want a fun toy or require additional video for a professional project. We really wish we had a drone like the Avata when we started our drone journey because we had to start our drone journey from scratch, crash our brains out, and almost burn down our apartment while charging batteries. ..
