What is FPV?

FPV stands for First Person View.

An FPV drone is a drone equipped with a camera that streams live video to a set of goggles worn by the pilot. This setup gives the pilot a real-time, “first-person” view of the drone as if they were sitting in the cockpit, despite controlling it from the ground.

FPV drones are commonly used for racing and freestyle flying, as the pilot can navigate through obstacles and perform aerial manoeuvres with greater precision and control than with a line-of-sight view.

They are also popular for aerial photography and videography for capturing unique and cinematic footage from perspectives that would be difficult or impossible to achieve with other types of cameras. The pilot can see exactly what the camera sees in real time and adjust the camera’s angle and settings accordingly.

The level of focus required while flying FPV is intense. The speed and manoeuvrability of an FPV drone can make it feel like you’re really flying!

How are FPV drones different from regular drones?

While FPV drones might look like regular drones on the surface, the similarities pretty much end there.

Controls

FPV drones behave differently from regular drones. Pilots have access to full control of drone movements, enabling acrobatic flying where it’s possible to perform flips and rolls.

Regular drones, on the other hand, are often locked in “angle mode”. In this mode, the drone’s movements are limited and it can’t perform acrobatic maneuvers. The drone also returns to a level flying position when you let go of the controls.

FPV drone pilots must constantly control the drone’s angle. Even maintaining a level flight can be a challenge for rookies!

While current regular drones come equipped with various sensors for aid in flying and obstacle detection, in FPV drones, the pilot only has their own skills to rely on!

Camera

Both FPV and regular drones use cameras to capture footage, but they use them differently.

In regular drones, the camera is usually mounted on a gimbal that can be controlled by the pilot to move the camera vertically. This setup allows for capturing footage from a static position while pointing the camera downwards.

On the other hand, FPV drones always have an FPV camera, which streams footage to the pilot’s goggles.

However, this camera isn’t usually suitable for recording high-quality footage (although with newer cameras like the DJI O3 system it’s already possible to record good, high quality videos). Instead, high-quality action cameras are used for this purpose, but unlike regular drones, the action camera on an FPV drone is in a fixed position which can’t be moved mid-flight.

This limits the kind of footage an FPV drone can capture, but it excels in high-speed scenarios and tight spaces, where full control over the drone is crucial.

Customization

Unlike regular drones, FPV drones are very customizable and the whole FPV comunity has a very DIY mindset

Every component of an FPV drone can be customized, and many pilots build their own drones, which involves knowing how to solder and having basic electronics knowledge.

If DIY isn’t your style, you can always buy a BNF (Bind and Fly) drone that comes fully built. You’ll still need to bind the drone to your controller and goggles, and after that, you’re good to go.

But be aware if you have a crash (which will happen at some point) your drone will get damaged and it’s always useful to have basic knowlage to be able to fix the drone. If not we are here to help and you can send the drone to us and we will do the repair for you!

What are FPV drones used for?

FPV drones are used for a variety of purposes. Many pilots use FPV drones for recreational activities like racing and freestyle flying. Here, the main objective is to have fun and experience the fast speeds and freedom that an FPV drone can bring. There are big tournaments known all around the world for FPV racing, and it’s only getting bigger with more people following the sport each year!

In recent times a new purpose for FPV drone came alive. Videographers have begun to explore FPV drones’ potential for capturing previously impossible aerial footage. By mounting high-definition cameras, and even cinema cameras on drones, they’ve opened new ways of capturing footage from above, revolutionizing commercial and movie filming.

Pros and cons of FPV drones

Pros:

  • Incredible maneuverability and speed
  • Immersive first-person view of the drone’s flight path
  • More powerful than traditional drones
  • Gives a true feeling of flying
  • Highly customizable, including the possibility to build your own drone
  • Captures unique, breathtaking footage

 

Cons:

  • Short flight times
  • Require considerable skill and practice to operate
  • Technical; requires substantial knowledge and understanding (thats why we are here to help!)
  • Potential for crashes
  • High upfront cost

FPV drones offer an unparalleled flying experience, giving the feeling of truly flying, all while capturing breathtaking footage. Whether you are into FPV as a hobby or interested in FPV videography, an FPV drone might just be your ticket to a whole new world! Your FPV World 🙂

So… are you ready to start flying and experience what FPV has to offer? Come check our available FPV Kits with everything you need here

Do you still feel like you need to know more? Check out our article on how to get started in FPV here!