The DJI O4 Lite digital camera is an unimaginable piece of {hardware}. Weighing simply 8g however able to 4K 60fps movies, completely for micro FPV drones. Whereas picture high quality is genuinely spectacular, one main criticism has been the slender subject of view. At simply 117°, the inventory O4 lens feels zoomed in. It’s flyable, however it’s not gratifying. And when you apply stabilization in Gyroflow, the picture turns into much more cropped, which makes the footage really feel much less immersive. That’s precisely the place the Flywoo O4 Vast Angle Lens is available in. After testing the brand new model, I actually really feel that is how the DJI O4 digital camera ought to have been launched within the first place.
Discover ways to setup DJI O4 Air Unit: https://oscarliang.com/how-to-setup-dji-o4-lite/
The place to Purchase
Get the Flywoo Vast Angle Lens from:
There are two variations, you may get the modified digital camera that comes with the large angle lens put in (digital camera set), or you’ll be able to simply get the DIY package and modify your individual O4 digital camera (lens set). Personally I choose the modified digital camera set as a result of modifying your individual O4 is kind of time consuming and dangerous.
Why a Vast-Angle Lens Is So Vital on the DJI O4
For FPV flying, FOV (subject of view) isn’t nearly aesthetics—it immediately impacts how assured and cozy you’re feeling within the air.
With the inventory O4 lens:
- The picture feels zoomed and restrictive
- Shut-proximity flying is tougher
- Stabilized footage appears much more cropped
A wider FOV provides you:
- Higher spatial consciousness
- A extra pure FPV “pace really feel”
- Stabilized footage that’s simpler to look at
Flywoo’s wide-angle lens expands the FOV of O4 digital camera from 117° to 155°, which is a large enchancment.
A Fast Look Again: The Previous Clip-On Adapter
Flywoo beforehand launched a clip-on wide-angle adapter, which I reviewed earlier. Whereas it did enhance the FOV considerably, it got here with a couple of drawbacks:
- Reflections and lens flare from stacking optics
- Vignetting within the corners brought on by the adapter
- Slight softness and lack of readability close to the perimeters
It was a step in the fitting route, however clearly a compromise.
The brand new model is an entire redesign, and it fixes virtually all of these points.
What’s New With the Flywoo O4 Vast Angle Lens
This new lens isn’t just an add-on—it’s a correct lens substitute designed particularly for the DJI O4 Lite digital camera (not the O4 Professional).
Key enhancements embrace:
- Extra skilled trying design and construct high quality
- Much less vignetting
- Sharper picture
- Much less glare and inner reflections
- Correct Gyroflow help by way of customized lens profiles
Most significantly, the picture lastly feels large, immersive, and pure, particularly for FPV flying.
Weights are almost an identical so the principle benefit is simply picture enchancment and construct high quality.
Left: Previous Model; Proper: New Model (Weight together with sensor board)
Picture High quality
I examined the brand new large angle lens on the Firefly18 1S, try some footage right here:
In comparison with the inventory O4 lens, the rise in FOV is important when utilizing the brand new Flywoo Vast Angle Lens. Nevertheless it’s clear that it’s not as large because the earlier clip-on lens, so I believe the precise FOV is barely lower than 155°. However the enchancment remains to be large.
Left: Previous model; Proper: New model
There isn’t any extra adapter edges showing within the picture and no nook blur. Readability and sharpness are additionally nearly as good as the unique O4 lens, if not higher. Every little thing appears very clear and sharp. Lens glare and reflection are additionally massively diminished.
Stabilization and Gyroflow Help
To make use of stabilization correctly, it’s extremely beneficial to make use of Flywoo’s customized lens profiles in Gyroflow. These can be found for each 16:9 and 4:3 facet ratios. It additionally works with out customized lens profile however the picture may look warped throughout yaw actions.
Shopping for Choices: DIY vs Pre-Modified Digicam
Flywoo gives this lens in a number of configurations, which is necessary relying in your talent degree.
1. Pre-Modified Digicam (Really helpful)
This model comes with an O4 digital camera that has the wide-angle lens put in out of the field
That is by far the best and most secure possibility, and it’s the one I like to recommend for many pilots. Modifying the O4 digital camera shouldn’t be very beginner-friendly.
Nevertheless, with any non-official O4 digital camera, you’ll all the time get a purple warning within the nook when flying (“digital camera calibration error”). It’s nothing to fret about, the digital camera is absolutely useful as I’ve examined.
2. DIY Lens Equipment
You’ll be able to modify your individual O4 digital camera utilizing the DIY package:
- Take away the picture sensor board from the unique housing
- Glue the picture sensor to the brand new housing,
- Modify focus manually
The method is a bit tougher and you can injury the digital camera if not being cautious. Detailed directions will be discovered right here.
Mounting Choices and Compatibility
The large angle lens housing is 14mm large, an identical to the unique O4 Lite digital camera. The gap between the 2 mounting holes can be the identical, nevertheless, they use totally different screws:
- The unique O4 Lite makes use of M2 self-tapping screws
- Flywoo makes use of M1.4 screws
Left: Flywoo Vast Angle Lens Housing; Proper: Authentic O4 Housing
Adapters are additionally included to help different mounting:
- 18mm adapter (helps Flywoo’s BNF drones. With washers, it also needs to work in 19mm micro analog digital camera mounts)
- 20mm adapter (helps DJI O4 Professional and O3 mounts)
One problem although, Flywoo must pay extra consideration in high quality management: my O4 Professional adapter got here faulty (one aspect is glued the unsuitable method).
Set up
To interchange the unique O4 digital camera, you must take away the glue on the connector first.
Join the MIPI cable to the large angle digital camera utilizing the included adapter
That’s it.
To make use of both the 18mm or 20mm adapters, safe the 4 screws on the edges.
One necessary be aware: in the event you’re upgrading a Flywoo Firefly16 or Firefly18 1S, you’ll possible want the up to date cover designed for the brand new lens.
ND Filter
Flywoo additionally offers a model new clip-on ND filter that attaches cleanly to the entrance of the lens, which is a pleasant bonus for cinematic flying. Get it right here: https://oscarliang.com/product-kix0
UV, ND8, ND16 and ND32 can be found. Observe that these filters solely help this large angle lens and don’t work on every other cameras in the meanwhile.
Be taught extra about the right way to utilizing ND filters: https://oscarliang.com/nd-filter-fpv/
Digicam Calibration Error (Ought to You Fear?)
As talked about, any aftermarket O4 digital camera gives you this warning “Digicam calibration error” in your goggles (it’s there on a regular basis). However in my testing, the digital camera labored completely superb and I didn’t discover something unsuitable aside from the annoying warning, so I wouldn’t fear about it.
Remaining Verdict: Is the Flywoo O4 Vast Angle Lens Price It?
Completely sure.
This new Flywoo wide-angle lens is a large enchancment over the inventory DJI O4 lens. Not solely it gives a way more usable subject of view with out compromising readability, it additionally offers extra mounting choices due to the adapters. It doesn’t magically flip the O4 Lite into an O4 Professional—however it will get it a lot nearer. I genuinely really feel that is how the O4 digital camera ought to have come from DJI within the first place.
In case you fly DJI O4 Lite and care about immersive FPV footage, this improve may be very simple to suggest.
