Review: Flywoo FlyLens 85 Cinewhoop with Naked DJI O3 Lite

In this review, we will check out the FlyWoo FlyLens 85, a Cinewhoop FPV drone. This is a sub-250g drone featuring compatibility with all available FPV systems and visually appealing LEDs. With a takeoff weight of approximately 100g, the FlyLens85 presents promising specs. Let’s explore its features, performance, and overall user experience.

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Table of Contents

Where to Buy?

You can get the Flywoo Flylens 85 cinewhoop from these vendors:

Flywoo: https://oscarliang.com/product-vhzi
RDQ: https://oscarliang.com/product-tqi6
GetFPV: https://oscarliang.com/product-qsns
AliExpress: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_Dk9esm7

Batteries are not included, get them here:

2S 1000mah: https://oscarliang.com/product-f320
2S 750mAh: https://oscarliang.com/product-9out

Get some spare propellers here:

Flywoo: https://oscarliang.com/product-60d5
AliExpress: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DmUq0dz
GetFPV: https://oscarliang.com/product-zyc2

When making a purchase, you have several options:

FPV System Options:

DJI O3 or DJI O3 Lite
DJI Vista
Walksnail
HDZero
Analog

Radio Receiver Options:

PNP (either without a receiver or using the DJI Vista/O3 as receiver)
ExpressLRS
Frsky XM+
TBS Crossfire Nano

GPS Options:

Goku GM10 Nano GPS (Note: This requires a DIY installation)

Inside your Flywoo FlyLens 85 package, you’ll find the following accessories:

Two spare sets of LED lights in different colors
Extra screws, rubber grommets, and nuts
A backup set of propellers
Two TPU mounts designed for 2S LiPo batteries (750mAh and 1000mAh sizes)
FC wiring diagram
A right-angle USB-C cable for the DJI O3 Air Unit
Hex Allen key and Philips screwdriver

Specifications

FC/ESC: GOKU Versatile F405 1-2S 12A AIO (MPU6000)
Receiver: ExpressLRS 2.4GHz (integrated into the FC and UART-based)
Frame: FlyLens 85 Lite Frame kit
Propellers: Gemfan 2015 2-Blade Props
Motors: ROBO 1003 14800KV
LED: Flywoo Flexible LED + 3.3V BEC 2.7mm
Battery Connector: XT30
Recommended Battery: 2S 750mAh – 1000mAh LiPo (Not included)

Installing FPV System

The Flylens85 isn’t just another micro 2S cinewhoop. What sets it apart is its compatibility with virtually all the popular FPV systems out there. This includes the analog system, DJI Vista (Runcam Link), DJI O3, Walksnail Mini 1S, and even HDZero Whoop Lite VTXs.

Now, the drone Flywoo provided me for this review didn’t come with an FPV system pre-installed. So, I decided to install the naked DJI O3 Air Unit I recently modified using Flywoo’s O3 Lite kit, which is 15g lighter than the original O3 AU. This weight reduction plays a pivotal role in keeping the drone nimble in the air and increases flight time significantly.

When it came to the actual installation, I was relieved to find that Flywoo had already taken care of some of the nitty-gritty details. The VTX to FC cable and two dipole antennas (3dB brass) came pre-installed, simplifying the setup process. The bottom cage has both 20x20mm and 25.5×25.5mm mounting holes for installing your VTX.

That said, fitting the Naked O3 inside the bottom cage wasn’t a walk in the park, not to mention the time-consuming process of converting the O3 Lite. Therefore, if your budget allows, I’d recommend opting for a pre-built drone that includes the O3 Lite to bypass the hassle and get straight to the fun part – flying.

The end result.

You can access the DJI O3 USB port using the provided right angle cable.

Build Quality and Design

The FlyLens85 frame is a blend of carbon fiber and injection molded plastic. The design appears minimalist and streamlined. An added advantage is the removable prop guards and other components, making repair and upgrades easy.

However, there are concerns regarding the durability of the plastic bottom cage intended to house the pricey DJI O3. Given the $230 price tag of the DJI O3, it’s somewhat unnerving that its protective cage isn’t made of a sturdier material. Incorporating CNC aluminium or carbon fibre, for instance, would have greatly enhance confidence in the drone’s ability to withstand the occasional rough landing or accidental impact.

On the brighter side, the camera mount is a noteworthy feature. By soft-mounting the camera platform away from the main frame using small rubber grommets, Flywoo has managed to effectively dampen vibrations and eliminate jello during flight.

That said, there’s no camera protection. Crashing this drone might lead to a costly repair, so I’d strongly advise using a lens protector. But this is a common problem in almost all drones in this class due to the weight and size limitations, there’s little we can do about it except flying more carefully.

Kudos to Flywoo for the dedicated 3D printed TPU holders for the VTX and radio receiver antennas. They’ve also thoughtfully provided two different sizes of TPU battery holders for 2S 750mAh and 1000mAh batteries.

Lastly, a design feature I genuinely appreciated was the detachable prop guards. Removing them is a breeze – just unscrew four bolts on the top plate. This thoughtful inclusion streamlines the repair and upgrade process, making the FlyLens85 a delight to maintain.

The Flight Controller

The flight controller for my review unit is the Goku Versatile F405 AIO with 12A 4in1 ESC built into it. Note that the analog version has a different FC, which has an analog 400mW video transmitter built into it.

FC product page: https://oscarliang.com/product-6g4m

What stands out with this flight controller is its onboard current sensor, barometer and the tried and tested MPU6000 gyro. Additionally, there’s no shortage of UARTs – with a total of 6. The 8MB memory designated for Blackbox logging is a welcome inclusion.

It has a built-in 5.8GHz ExpressLRS receiver which is connected via a UART.

The micro USB connector is located on the top of the drone, easy to access, for making settings with Betaflight Configurator.

Motors and Props

While many small cinewhoops in this category tend to use 3 or 4 blades propellers, Flywoo chose a seemingly unconventional route by using 2015 two-blade propellers with ROBO 1003 14800KV motors in a pusher config (motors/ props facing downwards).

LED

The Flywoo Flylens 85 also includes thoughtful touches like LED lights positioned around the translucent prop guard. Not only do they aid in visibility, but they are also eye-catching especially in low-light environments. Thanks to the incorporation of a controller board connected to the LEDs, you can assign a switch in the modes tab so that you can turn the LED on and off whenever you want.

The downsides of these LEDs is the added weight (5 grams), that’s like 5% of the overall weight of the quad. Additionally, drawing power from the battery to illuminate them can shorten your flight time slightly. If aesthetics aren’t your primary concern and you’re chasing peak performance, you might want to remove these LEDs.

Battery and Flight Time

The Flylens 85 tips the scales at approximately 55g without FPV setup and battery. With the DJI O3 Lite installed, the weight comes to about 76g. Add in a 2S 520mA LiPo, the drone weighs 107g.

It claims to offer up to 8 minutes of flight time when powered by a 2S 1000mAh battery and hovers around 28% throttle. Unfortunately I didn’t have these batteries, my closest match was the GNB 2S 650mah, which unfortunately didn’t fit in the provided TPU mounts. I found the GNB 2S 450mah and 520mah I have to be the best fit for the 750 holder.

If you’re picking this drone up, you probably want to grab some batteries directly from Flywoo for compatibility and larger capacity:

2S 1000mah: https://oscarliang.com/product-f320
2S 750mAh: https://oscarliang.com/product-9out

Based on my tests, the 2S 450mah provided a flight duration of roughly 3 minutes, while the 2S 520mah extended this to 3:30 minutes, both hovering around 30% throttle. Simple math would suggest a 6-minute to 7-minute flight time for the 2S 1000mAh is possible, falls short of the claimed 8-minute.

It’s all a balancing act. While larger battery capacities promise longer flight time, smaller batteries gives you better agility and responsiveness. I wouldn’t go more than 1000mah which is recommended by Flywoo. And flight time depends a lot on your flying style too, I’m usually quite hard on the throttle so flight time would be less.

Flight Performance

The Flywoo Flylens85 offers an great flight experience, with PID was tuned out of the box that is suited for smooth flying. Filters and rates were left on stock Betaflight settings, but the drone flies great with these settings.#

Some footage from my second flight:

https://youtu.be/9n28TlqOUP8

Testing Flywoo Flylens85 Cinewhoop in 18MPH wind (with naked DJI O3 Lite) (https://youtu.be/9n28TlqOUP8)

I was testing the Flylens85 in 18mph wind, it handled it with ease and providing stabilized, jello-free footage. I could get comparable footage from the Pavo Pico by using Gyroflow stabilization in post, but the difference in stability was obvious when watching inside the goggles, the Pavo Pico was shaking quite a bit in this strong wind.

Now, while the Flylens boasts impressive speed for its size and weight, I did find its agility somewhat lacking. I have a hunch that the choice of two-blade propellers might be the culprit here. They simply don’t offer the same grip and responsiveness as their three or four-blade props. But don’t let this minor shortcoming deter you; the Flylens 85 is incredibly versatile. Whether you’re into freestyle maneuvers or capturing cinematic shots, this drone has you covered. And as a big bonus, it has very little propwash.

Compared to Mobula8 and Pavo Pico

The Flylens 85 is slightly heavier than its competitors, such as the BetaFPV Pavo Pico and the Happymodel Mobula 8 O3. The Flylens 85 is also bigger in size than the Pavo Pico, because it uses 2-inch propellers while the Pavo Pico uses 45mm propellers.

The different weight and prop size translates directly to their handling and flight performance. The Flylens 85 packs a punch with its power, and more stable in windy condition. The Pavo Pico, on the other hand, is more agile, responsive, and easier to control in tighter environment. One is better for outdoor while the other is more suited for indoor. However, it’s worth noting that the Pavo Pico does exhibit more prop wash during acrobatic maneuvers, so it’s not my top choice for freestyle or acro.

Durability-wise, it’s a close call between the two drones.

While I appreciate the Flylens 85’s wind resistance and those captivating LEDs, I’m left pondering if these features justify its considerably higher price tag when compared to the Pavo Pico.

How to Setup

Here’s the CLI dump of my Flylens 85 (slightly modified from stock settings):

Flight controller comes with Betaflight version 4.4.2, target FLYWOOF405S_AIO.
The built-in 12A 4in1 ESC, comes with Bluejay 0.19 (48KHz) ESC Firmware, target: Z-H-30.

Here’s how I set mine up for first flight in Betaflight Configurator:

Configuration Tab:

Enable DShot Beecon
Set Arming Angle to 180

Preset tab, load ExpressLRS 500hz.

Receiver tab, enable Telemetry.

Modes tab, set Arm to AUX1, and set USER1 to a free AUX for controlling the LED (on/off).

You can learn more about setting up Betaflight here: How to Setup Betaflight Firmware

Update ExpressLRS receiver firmware to the latest version, with your bind phrase. Out of the box, on the Wifi config page it shows Generic ESP8285 2.4Ghz RX, unknown version, but the receiver device you need to choose is “Flywoo EL24P 2400 RX“.

You can learn more about setting up ExpressLRS here: A Complete Guide to Flashing and Setting Up ExpressLRS

That’s it.

Conclusion

For those looking for a small cinewhoop with DJI O3 Air Unit, the FlyLens85 doesn’t disappoint. It’s well rounded, and allows for capturing 4k footage directly off the DJI O3 Air Unit, providing quality signal and image quality in an 85mm package on a tiny 2s battery.