An FPV camera is a key component in FPV drone systems, capturing real-time video that’s transmitted to the pilot’s goggles or monitor. These small and lightweight cameras boast ultra-low latency, wide dynamic range, and provide vital visual information for FPV drone pilots to navigate and perform maneuvers. With advancing technology, some of the latest FPV cameras now offer onboard recording with image quality rivaling that of action cameras, such as the DJI O3. In this guide, we’ll discuss the key factors to consider when selecting the best FPV camera for FPV drones.
Table of Contents
Analog vs Digital FPV Systems
FPV systems fall into two categories: analog and digital.
Analog FPV cameras aren’t compatible with digital FPV systems, and vice versa. Currently, there are three digital FPV systems: DJI, Walksnail, and HDZero. Cameras designed for a specific digital FPV system aren’t compatible with other digital FPV systems.
If you’re unsure which FPV system to choose, take a look at the pros and cons of each system in my review: https://oscarliang.com/fpv-system/
FPV Camera Recommendations
Below are my top FPV camera recommendations for each FPV system.
DJI O3 Air Unit
Best Camera for DJI O3 |
| DJI O3 Camera |
 |
| For the DJI O3 Air Unit, there is only one camera option available. While it may not excel in latency, low light performance, size, or weight, it certainly stands out in terms of image quality among all FPV cameras.
You can learn more about this camera in my review: https://oscarliang.com/dji-o3-air-unit-fpv-goggles-2/#A-Closer-Look-at-the-DJI-O3-Air-Unit |
| Get your DJI O3 Air Unit from these vendors:
RDQ: https://oscarliang.com/product-sadl |
DJI Vista / FPV Air Unit
For the Runcam Link (also known as Caddx Vista) and DJI FPV Air Unit, there are several camera options that excel in various aspects. If you want the lowest latency (around 30ms), choose a camera capable of 120fps, such as the Runcam Wasp, DJI OG cam, Nebula Pro and Pro Nano, or the Falcon Nano. Some older cameras that can only handle 60fps and will have higher latency, around 40ms.
Best Image Camera |
Best Lowlight Camera |
| Nebula Pro / DJI OG Cam | Caddx Polar / Runcam Wasp |
 |
 |
| The Nebula Pro offers image quality almost identical to the original DJI camera (OG cam), which I personally prefer for daytime conditions. It’s also a 120fps camera.
If you’re already using the Original DJI camera, there’s no need to switch. However, if you’re buying a new camera today, the Nebula Pro is the one I recommend due to its micro size mounting, which fits almost all frames available today. The main downside of the Nebula Pro is its low-light performance; for night flying, you may want to opt for the Polar instead. |
After testing the Caddx Polar, it’s clear that it excels in low-light performance. It also performs well during the day, making it a decent all-around FPV camera.
The main downside, however, is that it’s a 60fps camera, which has slightly more latency than the Nebula Pro’s 120fps, and it’s locked to a 16:9 aspect ratio. The Runcam Wasp also performs well in low-light situations although it’s slightly outperformed by the Polar, it’s a 120fps and support 4:3. |
| Find the Nebula Pro from these vendors:
AE: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DF4LJ8H |
Find the Caddx Polar from these vendors:
AliExpress: https://s.click.aliexpress.com Get the Runcam Wasp here: AliExpress: https://s.click.aliexpress.com |
Cheapest Worth Having |
Smallest Camera |
| Runcam Wasp | Caddx Nebula Pro Nano / Runcam Falcon Nano |
 |
 |
| There aren’t many camera options for the Vista, but the Runcam Wasp is the most affordable choice while still offering decent image quality.
It also performs well in low-light situations. However, if you’re looking for better image quality, you should opt for the OG Cam or the Nebula Pro. |
The Caddx Nebula Pro Nano is an excellent choice for small FPV drones. It’s the smaller version of the impressive Nebula Pro, supporting a 4:3 aspect ratio and 120fps.
Although its image quality isn’t as good as the larger Nebula Pro due to the smaller sensor and lens, it’s still the best available option among nano-sized cameras. Note: Do not confuse it with the Nebula Nano, which is rather disappointing. The Runcam Falcon Nano is essentially the same camera (with the same image sensor) but seems to be less widely available than the Nebula Pro Nano. |
| Get the Runcam Wasp here:
AE: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DBmAyfh |
You can find the Nebula Pro Nano camera here:
AE: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DmvVECv |
Walksnail
Walksnail offers a few different camera options for different applications.
Best Image Camera |
Best Lowlight Camera |
| Walksnail Avatar V2 | Walksnail Avatar Pro |
 |
 |
| The standard version of the Avatar V2 VTX camera is quite similar to the original V1 camera, similar image quality and latency, but the V2 uses a native 4:3 image sensor instead of 16:9. It offers excellent image quality in daylight.
When comparing the Avatar V2 cameras to the DJI cameras, it’s evident that the new Avatar V2 cameras provide superior image quality to the DJI OG camera, though they don’t quite reach the level of the DJI O3. |
The Avatar Pro camera is equipped with a 1/1.8-inch Sony Starvis sensor and features native 4:3 image sensors. While the Pro version excels in low light conditions, the standard camera offers slightly better image quality in daylight.
The Avatar Pro camera truly stands out in low light situations, outperforming all other cameras in the Avatar lineup. The Pro camera exhibits a marginally higher latency (less than 5ms) than the V2 camera. |
| You can find the Avatar V2 camera/kit here:
GetFPV: https://oscarliang.com/product-wy8i |
You can find the Avatar Pro camera/kit here:
Caddx: https://oscarliang.com/product-xpso |
Smallest Camera |
| Walksnail Avatar 1S Mini Lite |
 |
| Weighing less than 2 grams, the 1S Mini Lite camera is the most compact camera in the Avatar system. It’s a nano-sized (14x14mm) camera, but it lacks mounting holes and requires custom-made mounts.
Compared to the image quality of the standard V2 camera, the Lite Camera has a marginally smaller FOV, slightly softer image, and slower exposure changes to lighting conditions. However, the weight savings may outweigh the downsides for micro drones. |
| Get the Walksnail Lite Camera from:
Caddx: https://oscarliang.com/product-d75h |
HDZero
HDZero offers a few camera options for different applications.
Best Camera |
Smallest Camera |
| Runcam HDZero Nano90 Camera | HDZero Whoop Lite |
 |
 |
| The Runcam HDZero Nano90 Camera offers race-winning performance for the HDZero system in 540p 90fps mode, providing the lowest latency of any video link available today. It also supports 720p 60fps for higher resolution and boasts impressive low light performance.
Note that only the HDZero Goggles support the 540p 90fps mode; for the HDZero VRX, you can only use 720p 60fps. Nonetheless, the image quality is on par with the previous Runcam Micro V2. |
The HDZero Nano Lite Camera is designed for ultra-light micro FPV drones, weighing a mere 1.5g. Combined with the new Whoop Lite VTX at 4.5g and a 0.4g dipole antenna, this combo represents the world’s lightest digital FPV solution, weighing in at under 7g in total.
Utilizing the same sensor as the Runcam Micro V2, this camera offers switchable 4:3 / 16:9 modes, customizable image settings, and exceptional low light performance. |
| Buy the Runcam HDZero Nano 90 camera here:
GetFPV: https://oscarliang.com/product-cwhq If you don’t use 90fps mode, and want a micro size camera, check out the Runcam Micro V2: GetFPV: https://oscarliang.com/product-5rbr |
Find the HDZero Whoop Lite Camera here:
AE: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DDtI5wD |
Analog
Top of the Line |
Best Value |
| Foxeer T-Rex | Caddx Ratel 2 |
 |
 |
| The Foxeer T-Rex is among the best cameras in terms of image detail and sharpness. Regardless of whether the advertised 1500TVL is accurate, the T-Rex undoubtedly delivers outstanding image quality. While analog FPV doesn’t quite match the level of HD video in terms of image detail, the T-Rex still outperforms other analog cameras, providing noticeably enhanced visuals. | The Caddx Ratel 2 has been on the market for years and has garnered a considerable number of positive reviews. It’s a relatively affordable camera, given the performance it offers. The Ratel 2 boasts a good balance of wide dynamic range and contrast, without any digital artifacts and with natural color reproduction. |
| Find the Foxeer T-Rex from these vendors:
AE: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_De7jGA5 |
Find the Caddx Ratel 2 from these vendors:
Banggood: https://oscarliang.com/product-b7rd Need a smaller version? Check out the Caddx Baby Ratel 2 Nano (14x14mm): AE: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DELJQ2H |
Cheapest Worth Having |
Smallest Camera |
| Foxeer Razer Micro | Runcam Phoenix 2 Nano |
 |
 |
| Priced at just $18, the Foxeer Razer Micro is likely the most affordable analog camera that still provides a decent image. Stick to the Foxeer Razer Micro/Nano and avoid the other Razer models for the best value. | It allows you to change settings and have full control of the camera, more powerful and works better in a wider range of conditions. |
| Get the Foxeer Razer Micro here:
GetFPV: https://oscarliang.com/product-82uc |
You can find the Phoenix 2 Nano here:
Banggood: https://oscarliang.com/product-2g3c |
Popular for Racing |
Best for Low Light |
| Foxeer Predator Micro | Foxeer Micro CAT 3 |
 |
 |
| The Foxeer Predator Micro is a highly popular FPV camera choice among racing pilots. Its ultra-low latency, high resolution, and image contrast make obstacles stand out clearly. Additionally, it offers a wide field of view, which is desirable in racing, and it’s reasonably priced. | The Foxeer Micro CAT 3 excels in low light FPV due to its high light sensitivity. Unlike most other starlight cameras that only display black and white or struggle during daytime, the CAT 3 is also a viable option for daytime flying, even though it’s not specifically designed for that purpose. |
| Find the Predator Micro here:
AliExpress: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/ Need a smaller cam? Check out the Foxeer Predator Nano (14x14mm): AE: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DlGfQmN |
You can buy the Foxeer Micro CAT here:
AliExpress: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/ For nano size, the Foxeer Toothless 2 Nano Starlight is also very good, it’s great for day time too: AE: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DeI4l45 |
Size and Weight
FPV camera sizes are determined by the width, which is the distance between the mounting holes on both sides. Your choice of camera size depends on your FPV drone frame and how you plan to mount it. The common sizes include:
- Standard, aka “full size” (28mm)
- Mini (21mm)
- Micro (19mm)
- Nano (14mm)
Micro size is the most popular these days, as it typically works well with modern 3-inch, 4-inch, and 5-inch frames (and larger). Drones that are smaller generally use the Nano size. Be sure to double-check the specs of your frame to confirm compatibility and avoid surprises.
Aspect Ratio
There are two aspect ratios to choose from in FPV cameras: 4:3 and 16:9.
4:3 is preferred for FPV flying because it provides more vertical FOV (field of view), which is useful when your drone tilts forward or backward while speeding up or slowing down. This allows you to see what’s in front of you more clearly. In contrast, 16:9 offers a wider view on the sides, but that information is less useful for pilots.
Additionally, if you plan to stabilize your footage using software like Gyroflow, 4:3 has an edge over 16:9 because it crops less of the image when rendering into a 16:9 video for uploading to platforms like YouTube.
Ideally, your FPV goggles should support the aspect ratio of your FPV camera. Mismatched aspect ratios can result in distorted images in the goggles. For instance, if you have a 4:3 camera and 16:9 goggles, the image will appear stretched.
Some FPV cameras allow you to switch between 4:3 and 16:9 aspect ratios. However, when switching to a non-native aspect ratio, you will experience a reduced FOV due to cropping. It’s best to use the native aspect ratio of the camera for optimal performance.
Field of View
The field of view (FOV) of an FPV camera determines the angle of the captured image. A smaller FOV results in a more zoomed-in image, allowing you to see obstacles like branches more clearly. A wider FOV lets you see more of the environment, which might be preferred for proximity flying and racing.
However, when the FOV is too large, the image appears distorted, resulting in so called “fish-eye” effect. Objects in the center would appear smaller and further away than they are in reality, while the edges of the image appear curved and distorted.
There is no “best” FOV, as it ultimately depends on personal preference and the type of environment in which you fly.
FOV is affected by the lens’s focal length and the image sensor size. A shorter focal length and a larger sensor size result in a wider FOV. Here’s a rough estimation of FOV for a camera with a 1/3″ sensor size in 4:3 aspect ratio:
| Lens Focal Length | Approx. FOV |
| 1.8mm | 160° – 170° |
| 2.1mm | 150° – 160° |
| 2.3mm | 140° – 150° |
| 2.5mm | 130° – 140° |
| 2.8mm | 120° – 130° |
| 3.0mm | 110° – 120° |
As mentioned previously, aspect ratio can also affect FOV if the camera supports both 16:9 and 4:3. In this case, selecting a non-native ratio will simply crop the sides or the top and bottom, resulting in a smaller FOV.
Wide Dynamic Range
The Wide Dynamic Range (WDR) of an FPV camera determines the image quality in extreme lighting conditions where both bright and dark areas are present in the same frame. A good camera should ideally allow the pilot to see as much detail in the shadows as possible while preventing the sky from being overly overexposed. Choosing an FPV camera with decent WDR capability is crucial, as it helps you see better while flying, ultimately helping you avoid obstacles and crashes.
Low Light Performance
If you plan to fly in low light conditions, such as indoors or during sunset/night, it’s essential to choose a camera with good low light capabilities.
Apart from checking reviews, you can gauge a camera’s low light performance by its LUX number in the specifications. The lower the LUX value, the better the camera’s low light performance. Furthermore, cameras with larger imaging sensors generally perform better in low light conditions, as more light enters the sensor.
Latency
Latency refers to the time it takes for the FPV camera to capture, process, and transmit the image to the video transmitter. For drone racing enthusiasts or those engaging in high-speed flying, latency can be a crucial factor in selecting an FPV camera. Lower latency allows pilots to react more quickly, enabling better control and avoiding potential obstacles or crashes.
Analog FPV Camera Considerations
CCD and CMOS
In analog FPV cameras, there are two common types of image sensors used: CCD and CMOS, each with unique characteristics and advantages.
CCD is an older technology and used to be the go-to image sensor for FPV cameras since it performed better than CMOS at the time. However, CMOS technology has improved rapidly, and it’s now just as good as CCD, if not better. Modern analog FPV cameras almost exclusively use CMOS sensors, which are continually getting better and more affordable.
For more details, check out this article about the differences between CCD and CMOS: https://oscarliang.com/cmos-ccd-fpv-camera-multicopter/. Here is a summary of the pros and cons of both types of sensor:
CCD:
- Less jello effect in footage due to global shutter
- Less image processing and digital artifacts, however resolution and image detail usually appear lower than the best CMOS cameras
- Above average performance in low light, dynamic range and light/dark transition
- Better image contrast than CMOS
- CCD cameras perform similarly across the board, unlike CMOS cameras with varying performance
CMOS:
- More susceptible to jello due to rolling shutter
- Varying performance and price: the most expensive cameras are usually CMOS, and ironically, the cheapest cameras are also CMOS, while CCD is typically in the mid-price range
- Generally lower in latency
- Higher resolution and sharper image, with the trade-off of potentially over-sharpening and digital artifacts
- Low light/night FPV cameras tend to use large CMOS sensors
- Usually more flexible/dynamic with camera settings
Image Sensor Size
In addition to CCD and CMOS types, image sensors also come in different sizes. The two popular sensor sizes for analog cameras are 1/1.8″ and 1/3″, with the former being larger and the latter being smaller.
Sensor size influences low light performance and dynamic range. Generally, a camera with a larger sensor can have better low light performance under the same settings. Additionally, a larger sensor provides a wider field of view (FOV) when using the same focal length lens.
Camera Lens
You can replace the lens on an analog FPV camera to achieve a different FOV or image quality. FPV camera lenses primarily differ in two aspects: focal length and thread size. For more in-depth information, you can refer to our article specifically about FPV camera lenses.
Full-size cameras typically use larger and heavier lenses with 12mm diameter thread that can be screwed into the housing, known as M12 lenses. Smaller 8mm lenses, or M8 lenses, are utilized to make cameras more compact and lightweight. M12 lenses allow more light in, resulting in marginally better image quality compared to M8 lenses. M8 lenses are highly compact and are mostly used in Micro and Nano cameras.
NTSC and PAL
The main difference between NTSC and PAL lies in their resolution and frame rate. PAL (720 x 576 @ 25fps) offers slightly better resolution, while NTSC (720 x 480 @ 30fps) provides a higher frame rate. If you prefer better picture quality, choose PAL; if you want smoother footage, opt for NTSC. For a more detailed comparison, check out this post.
Traditionally, NTSC is used in North America, Japan, and South Korea, while PAL is employed in most of Europe, Australia, and large parts of Africa and Asia. It might be a good idea to adhere to the standard in your country. However, this is less of a concern nowadays, as both video formats are fully supported by all FPV equipment.
Remember to select the appropriate format your camera uses in Betaflight OSD to ensure that the text is displayed correctly.
TVL
TVL, or “TV lines,” is the term used by manufacturers to measure the resolution of analog FPV cameras.
TVL is measured by connecting the camera to a display and having it capture an image of a card with alternating black and white lines. The maximum number of distinct black and white lines that the camera can detect is its TVL value, which represents the image detail the camera is capable of producing.
However, TVL has become less meaningful in recent years, as manufacturers often inflate these numbers as a marketing tool. Instead of relying on TVL, choose your camera based on the image quality demonstrated in reviews.
How to Connect an Analog FPV Camera to a VTX?
Wiring an analog FPV camera in your drone varies depending on the application and components involved. At its most basic, an FPV camera has three wires to connect: video signal, power, and ground.
To connect the FPV camera directly to a VTX, connect the signal wires, and ensure you have a working video receiver on the same channel in your FPV goggles to get an image. Also, connect the ground wires of both the FPV camera and VTX if they are powered from different sources.
Modern FPV cameras support a wide range of input voltage (e.g., 5V to 36V), allowing you to power them from a regulated 5V BEC or directly from a LiPo battery (2S-8S).
Consider these good practices when connecting your FPV setup for cleaner video: https://oscarliang.com/connect-vtx-fpv-camera/
Using the flight controller (FC) with a built-in OSD chip is the most common way to connect an FPV camera. Connect the camera signal to the video input on the FC, and connect the video output on the FC to the VTX.
Some optional connections may be available depending on the camera’s features, such as:
- TX and RX (UART) for connecting to the FC, allowing camera settings to be changed using your radio
- OSD or Menu pins for connecting a joystick for changing camera settings
- VBAT or VSEN for monitoring battery voltage
Recording Flight Footage
There are several ways to record flight footage from your FPV camera:
- FPV Goggles with DVR: Most FPV goggles have a built-in DVR (digital video recorder) that records whatever is displayed on the screen, even including the signal break-ups.
- VTX with Onboard Recording: Some video transmitters (VTX) feature onboard recording capabilities, which deliver higher quality footage compared to DVR recordings in goggles. They don’t include signal break-ups experienced during flight. Examples of such VTXs include the DJI O3 Air Unit and the Walksnail Avatar VTX.
- External DVR for Analog: For analog setups, you can use an external DVR connected directly to the FPV camera inside the drone. This method records footage without any interference and generally offers better image quality since there’s no quality loss from the 5.8GHz wireless link.
For the best possible image quality, consider mounting an action camera, such as a GoPro, on your drone. This option captures high-quality footage that can be used for various purposes, including sharing online or analyzing flight performance.
Can I use HD cameras as FPV cameras?
While it’s true that many stunning HD FPV videos on YouTube are captured using HD action cameras such as GoPro or Runcam 3, these cameras are generally not suitable for real-time FPV flying.
Some HD cameras offer “video out” capabilities, allowing them to be connected to an video transmitter for FPV. However, the latency in these cameras is typically too high for FPV flying (often over 100ms), making it challenging to react in time to prevent crashes. As a result, it’s recommended to use a dedicated FPV camera for real-time flying and.
How to Setup OSD
OSD (on-screen display) is a feature that overlays useful flight information onto your FPV goggles during flight. Depending on your specific FPV system, the process for setting up OSD may vary. Below are tutorials for various systems:
- Analog: https://oscarliang.com/betaflight-osd/
- HDZero: https://oscarliang.com/setup-hdzero/#Betaflight-OSD-Setup
- Walksnail: https://oscarliang.com/setup-avatar-fpv-system/#Betaflight-Configurations
- DJI: https://oscarliang.com/dji-o3-air-unit-fpv-goggles-2/#OSD
These tutorials will guide you through the necessary steps to configure OSD for each system and help ensure that you have access to valuable flight information during your FPV flying experience.
You made it!
Congratulations on reaching the end of this comprehensive FPV camera guide! I sincerely hope that the information provided has been helpful in your quest to find the perfect FPV camera for your needs. If you have any questions or comments, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Happy flying!
Edit History
- Dec 2014 – Article created
- Nov 2016 – Updated info about CMOS vs. CCD, Added info about OSD and camera size
- May 2018 – Added info about camera control
- Nov 2018 – Added info about low light capability
- Mar 2019 – Added a little history about camera development between 2013-2016
- Oct 2019 – Updated info regarding FOV, lens sizes, sensor sizes, CCD/CMOS, Built-in Mic, DVR, and connection
- Apr 2023 – Added FPV camera recommendations for all available FPV systems, DJI, HDZero, Walksnail and analog. Revisited the guide, shortened URL.
51 comments
thanks for this impressive article ! does anyone know about a list or standard which non hdzero cameras could be used with HDzero VTZX boards ?
Bonjour,
Franchement bravo pour cet article concis et qui répond à bon nombre de questions que je me posais sur le sujet. Là, c’est un concentré pertinent. Merci à toi !
Very good article. Thanks
What do you use to receive and view the video?
Can we use DJI Osmo Action Camera as FPV, (connect audio video transmitter to camera)? so that I can take 4K videos for aerial shooting as well as I use it as FPV.
I am ok with latency, when I use DJI Osmo Action camera as FPV.
I want to connect my “TS832 48Ch 5.8G 600mW Wireless Audio/Video Transmitter for FPV RC” to DJI Osmo Action Camera.
Please help!.
How about FX900TW and the FX805 with OSD?
I found them there. It would be nice to add them as well to review for nano size!
youtube.com/watch?v=3xp9m9yl20s
Oscarm,, thanks for the write up…. there are so many options I am dizzy….
Just check my recommended camera list :) (search for best fpv camera oscar)
Thanks for taking the time to provide the information.
I have just installed the AIO by the looks of the picture in a rc digger. Chosen because of size.
Works ok but I would be interested in a lens that deals with short distance with clarity, ie it’s fitted in the cab and the focus is on the bucket.
Would you have any suggestions?
Thanks in advance
Hello Oscar,
Good articles, thanks.
But I’m looking for a VERY SLIM camera with best digital, res., clarity, not for a drone,
that has the lowest (air) aerodynamic drag,
for an RC airplane, to be mounted on it’s fuselage side,
or the most forward top / bottom portion of it’s wing.
But, also (camera) mounted on a servo controlled vertical gimble,
for (as close to) a zero degree up and to 180 degrees down (view) travel,
the aircraft will do the 360 degrees plus horizontal (yaw) view.
This is for personal fun only.
I’m a senior RC pilot, life AMA member with safety in mind.
I’ve done basic searches for the above items with no results.
Thank you for any comments.
Sincerely – JW
Thank you for not assuming everyone knows what all these acronyms mean :)
Very helpful article.
I need a first person view camera for my drone which is three feet long with a three feet wingspan. The plane weighs less than 15 pounds.
Is there any development to a high FPS live feed? Competitive gamers such as myself do indeed benefit greatly from 144hz monitors, so I think it will benefit the FPV community as well. Current FPV cameras are only a max of 30 FPS, which is quite slow if you ask me.
Great information!
I do actually have a questions, so I got myself a 1000TVL camera
The image is just great but not sure if that could be considered HD. It is actually 1000 Lines right?
The goggles I have do not support HD, they are actually 600×400 so as you mention on the article, I am loosing some quality there but just got it in case someday I want to upgrade the goggles.
Also the camera has a screw there so though I could remove the lens but have not been able to do so.. any idea on how to do it?
TVL is not pixels.
Excellent info thanks, as this is not a recent article do you have a more up to date one? Keen to see if there are any better newer options, I am looking to upgrade my Wizard X220S with 800TVL to something with a better picture, I like the sound of the Predator in this article.
Thanks again for your helpful info,
The considerations for FPV camera haven’t changed much, so the info in this post is still very relevant.
We recently updated our recommendation for FPV cameras: https://oscarliang.com/top-5-best-fpv-camera-mini-quad/
Sir for On Screen Display can we connect the smart phone to video reciever?
If so how can we connect it?
Oscar,
Thanks for the tutorial. We are looking for a relatively simple system with long dwell time for monitoring our hunting preserves to preclude poaching. We need real live time feedback and some sort of system that will monitor a wide field of view (largest ground area with reasonable resolution). Any suggestions?
Thanks
Otis
Thanks Oscar…..for everything!
A current or near future technical question from a serious amateur still photographer: Are there quadcopter cameras with large image sensors (e.g. “full size” Nikon D5 is 35.9 mm X 23.9 mm)? Are there interchangeable lens or mechanical zoom, not digital zoom? Explanation of the question: The perspective of the quadcopter offers a practical perspective for “art” still shots that otherwise only could be achieved by shooting from full sized helicopter. By being able to more narrowly control the depth of field…I.e. make it more shallow…and be able to capture large image files…i.e. raw files in the 24 mb range, large artistic images would be possible. For example, a shot of a ship at sea needs a deep depth of field but a shot from about 50 ft of a raptor feeding its young in the nest needs only about 2-3 ft in focus. Too great a depth of field in that setting distracts the eye from the subject. You want only an out of focus background that supports but not distracts from the story you are trying to tell with the image.
Thank you for this, I have been struggling with questions towards fpv and it’s setup for months now, finally building my second 250quad after losing my first in the woods (still). And now it’s on to finally, ohhh finally, fpv. This blog was really, very well articulated and touched on every topic I had questioned about. You’re the man.
In conclusion, I’ve decided on 600tv , probably that Foxeer HS1177 you mentioned, I have it on paste lol my only other question would be… for the transmitter, is 600mw the obvious choice, over 200mw? Also.. is 1.??ghz better then 5.8ghz?
Hi Oscar, have recently dragged out the old fossils stuff frame and rebuilt it, I’m using a runcam 2 for both recording and video (1080P @ 60fps) I’m not getting noticeable lag for my flying style (cruising about and mostly shaking alot whilst flying!)
It maybe worth mentioning that this is an option now with runcam 2.1 firmware. I’ve connected the video lead to a Vtx, and am running the camera directly off the lipo with the battery out. There’s also a genius mod here;
youtube.com/watch?v=WrjGromqfoE where they guy has used the empty battery space to fit a vtx in the runcam……If you’re not racing, this is adequate and saves space and weight.
Hello. Under the section on FOV I think you have a mistake – lenses that come with IR filters make for better daytime visibility, but drastically reduce nighttime visibility. Most cameras have an IR filter. If the camera does not have an IR Filter, you can sometimes see really well at dusk, etc, but risk having “whiteout” during the day.
Oscar:
Your information is always very clear and objective.
There are two issues I would like to see you discuss:
1) Can you discussion the intracacies of FPV latency?
2) If a camera has a particular actual resolution in pixels (WxH), can we expect this resolution to be accurately conveyed to the 5.8ghz receivers and DVRs? If not, how do we tell what we are actually getting?
Jim
I bought this Boscam All In One 7″ Inch FPV Monitor w/ 5.8ghz Receiver and Built-In Battery and Boscam TS832 32Ch 5.8Ghz 600mw Wireless Audio/Video Transmitter for FPV RC CN143 for my Fuav seraphi copter with the Firefly camera came with the copter but i not be able to connect one to another. I change every combination of dip switch seem not work…any one out there can help me ion this. i bought this two from ebay but have tuff time to reach them for help can not return neither
There is no info of how to find correct aspect ratio camera and googles.
I have spent a lot of time to find real camera with 16:9 aspect ratio which corresponds to my FPV googles.
I don’t understand why most of the cameras are 4:3 aspect ratio when most of the TV, Monitors, googles are 16:9.
Even GoPro outputs 4:3 live video and adds black bars up and down which makes impossible to use with any of 16:9 TV.
Hi Ivan. The main reason you can’t get 16.9 is because analogue video is 4.3 -eg 720×576 (pal) You can “fake” 16.9 by using a camera with anamorphic pixel aspect ratio. so the end result will look great on a 16.9 screen. i would love to use one of these but haven’t seen any around. I only know about anamorphic because i do video production and thats how we got wide screen before HD came along. eg by using a mini-dv camera with the anamorphic setting – when we used this feature the picture would be squeezed/narrow (stretched in a vertical fashion) when viewing through a 4.3 screen on our cameras. we’d fix it during editing wr the image would be stretched back to normal, resulting in a widescreen image. hope this makes sense! (ps: i think buzzhobbies had a camera that did widescreen)
Hi Oscar
Thank you very much for this post It really helped thanks.
Hi Oscar
I have viewed the Inspires digital view through Headplay. It was awesome.
I want to have that super digital clarity for my 250 racer.
So I need a lightweight video transmitter (200 meters is minimum but more is better ) & receiver with no lag and a small high res. digital camera.
I understand GoPro has lag which I do not wish to tolerate.
Can I have your advice please .
Please respond to my email address with a copy of your response when you have time.
the reason we fly analogue is because it is tolerant of interference. hd signal is either all or nothing. when signal is weak, you get no image. i don’t know about you, but when signal is weak (ie. due to lots of trees and interference) i’d rather get a really garbled image (and still be able to just barely make out enough to fly out of the woods) than see no image at all (and most definitely crash due to that same interference).
Hey thank you for the information. I just wanted to make a quick note. When you said “Some lenses can even improve the camera light sensitivity, and some come with infrared filter which enhance the ability at night.” I think you meant to say that some come “without” the filter which enhance night visibility.
Hi Oscar
Thanks for the post, it’s very helpful.
I have a questions regarding FPV cameras and transmitters.
You say FPV cameras has at least 3 wires (positive voltage, ground and video). So, is it possible to connect any kind of FPV camera (CCD/CMOS) to any transmitter?
I have a TX5803 transmitter and a DEVO F7 with RX corresponding video receiver (working with an iLook camera), and I want to re-use this kit (TX/RX) for a 250 racing drone by connecting a dedicated FPV camera.
Regards.
Hi Prog4j
It is possible. Any kind of camera can be connected to any kind of transmitter.
Were the pictures at Hollywood beach taken with a quadcopter?
Nice place to take pics with one.
that was most definitely hollywood beach. My grandmother has a house about 3/4 of a mile from there… i go down every winter to get away from the NJ weather
Hey , just a minor point about TVL , it’s actually vertical lines displayed which is equivalent to “horizontal” resolution. The vertical resolution is fixed in the PAL / NTSC analog standard and can’t be changed. TVL is not connected in any way to 576p and 1080i or whatever which is also vertical resolution ( also called lines).
That means if you have 600 TVL you might have higher horizontal resolution but the same vertical resolution.
wikipedia has an (small) article on “tv lines”
…”most are made into a square shape of length 25mm”…
Sorry, but i can find only 32×32 or 38×38, can you help me?
Thanks, Luca
Hi Luca, sorry i meant 32 and 38, not 25. I have updated the post now.
but you can find smaller camera, try searching for Sony 600TVL Mini.
thanks
Oscar
What about this one?
securitycamera2000.com/products/RunCam-600TVL-DC-5%252d17V-Wide-Voltage-Mini-FPV-Camera.html
Thanks for your reply :)
yes, looks good!
Great …thanks for this article!
Nice article, very helpful. There is so much more to this hobby than “grab & go fly” and you lay it out in an easy to read and understand form. It seems every article I read leads me to 2 or 3 more I am going to need to read, I like how you refer to the more detailed stuff but break it down to beginner/advanced.
Thanks for the kind words my friend :)
Hi Oscar ,Have you tested the camera yet? love to know results
sorry what camera?
Was about to buy a new Sony 800TVL camera but luckily I found a video on Youtube where they found out about the excessive lag compared to the Sony 600TVL PZ0420. Anyone know of a new generation camera with low lag or comparable to the Sony 600TVL PZ0420.
There are mix review on this one. quite a few people say there is no noticeable delay. I am getting one of this camera so will test it out myself :)
After this post , if anyone ask “what is FPV ?” , you can show him the exit door :)
ha, i will show him google :D
Hi Oscar ..this is a very fine article on selection of a camera..i need a suggestion from you .i am designing a vision added inertial nevigation for quadcopter ..so which cmos camera would you prefer me for this application.