The DJI O4 Lite Air Unit has rather a lot going for it—light-weight, compact, and supreme for sub-250g micro builds. However in the event you’ve flown it in tight areas or tried to make use of picture stabilization, you’ve most likely seen the reasonably slender FOV (area of view). That’s the place Flywoo steps in with a intelligent answer: a easy wide-angle lens that considerably improves the O4 digicam’s FOV—no want to change the digicam or glue on dangerous DIY optics. On this evaluate, I’ll share my hands-on expertise with the Flywoo wide-angle lens, the way it performs, what to anticipate, and what to be careful for.
Be taught extra concerning the DJI O4 Lite and the most effective settings in our tutorial:
The place to Purchase
You should buy the Flywoo Vast-Angle Lens equipment from these distributors:
Why the Vast-Angle Lens Issues
The DJI O4 is unbelievable for micro FPV drones, however the slender FOV makes proximity flying really feel much less pure and restricted. Issues get even worse while you apply picture stabilization like RockSteady or Gyroflow, which crop into the footage additional and make it really feel even much less watchable.
Flywoo’s wide-angle lens goals to repair this, and in some ways, it succeeds. This accent is simple to put in, and bumps the O4 digicam’s FOV from round 117° to 155°, practically matching the dearer O4 Professional digicam. All with out modifying or risking harm to your delicate DJI O4 digicam.
Testing – How It Performs
On the bench, I instantly seen the rise in FOV. The broader view was apparent, however so had been the sides of the lens in each the goggles and uncooked video.
The sides had been seen when setting the digicam to 4:3 facet ratio and Vast FOV which provides you the widest FOV. Fortunately, in the event you’re utilizing Gyroflow or DJI’s built-in RockSteady stabilization, it crops in and removes these edges within the remaining video.
Not solely does the broader FOV make the footage look extra cinematic and immersive, it additionally improves your flying expertise. With extra of the setting in view, it turns into simpler to evaluate distance and timing, making proximity flying and freestyle maneuvers really feel rather more pure. I discovered myself flying extra confidently and with better precision.
There’s a slight drop in picture readability—some softness and a gentle colour shift—however nothing dramatic. You’ll solely discover it in the event you zoom into the footage or evaluate it side-by-side with footage shot with out the lens. The lens flare can be a bit extra pronounced when flying towards vibrant daylight, possible on account of inner reflections from the additional glass lenses. Nonetheless, these minor drawbacks don’t outweigh the advantages for my part.
Bonus Function – ND Filter Holder
The Flywoo Vast-Angle Lens comes with a detachable UV filter that doubles as a lens protector.
The UV filter might be swapped for ND filters (out there individually from Flywoo). ND filters are important for controlling publicity and sustaining correct movement blur in vibrant lighting situations, particularly when taking pictures cinematic movies. You possibly can study the usage of ND filters on this tutorial:
Buy Flywoo’s ND Filters Set right here (consists of UV filter, ND8, ND16 and ND32 filters):
3 Totally different Variations
The Flywoo Vast-Angle Lens additionally serves as a mounting adapter, and selecting the proper model means that you can match the DJI O4 Lite digicam into frames that assist completely different cameras. This makes the O4 Lite Air Unit rather more versatile and accessible for a greater variety of drone builds.
Plug & Play Model for Flywoo O4 Builds
Also referred to as the “Cam Shell” model.
This model doesn’t have any mounting holes of its personal. As an alternative, it requires the usage of the Flywoo O4 Digicam Shell adapter from Flywoo, which have to be bought individually. The digicam shell turns the O4 Lite right into a 14x14mm kind issue, like a typical nano FPV digicam. As soon as the shell is put in, you’ll be able to merely clip the wide-angle lens onto it.
You should buy the O4 Digicam Shell adapter right here:
Specs:
Measurement: 16.8mm × 21mm × 18mm Added Weight: 3.7g (plus 1.3g from the digicam shell, whole 5g)
O3 Mounting Model
This model turns your DJI O4 Lite digicam into the identical dimension and mounting sample because the DJI O3 digicam, making it suitable with a variety of O3-compatible frames out there immediately.
It’s arguably probably the most versatile choice, however bear in mind: in the event you’re mounting the O4 Lite like an O3 digicam inside a full-size quad (comparable to a 5-inch construct), chances are you’ll want an extended digicam cable—the one designed for the O4 Professional ought to work.
Specs:
Measurement: 21mm × 23.5mm × 22.3mm Weight: 7.5g
O4 Professional Mounting Model
This model turns the O4 Lite digicam into the identical kind issue and mounting because the DJI O4 Professional, supreme for brand new frames which might be designed for this new digicam mounting.
Identical to the O3 model, utilizing it in bigger frames might require an extended digicam cable, such because the one used for the O4 Professional.
Specs:
Measurement: 21mm × 23.5mm × 20.5mm Weight: 7.5g
Which Model Ought to You Get?
It relies upon principally in your body’s digicam mount dimension:
In case your body helps DJI O3 or O4 Professional mounting, go along with a type of variations for safer fitment. In case your body makes use of nano-sized 14x14mm mounts, select the Plug & Play Cam Shell model.
A Nearer Have a look at the Design
The lens housing is 3D-printed in TPU. It’s versatile, suits snugly, and is total nicely made.
Including this wide-angle lens introduces 5 to 7.5 grams of additional weight to your construct. On 2″ quads or smaller, this weight could be noticeable and should barely have an effect on efficiency. Nonetheless, on 3″ or bigger drones, the added weight is negligible and shouldn’t pose any points.
Drawbacks and Quirks
Extra Weight
The lens provides round 5g to 7.5g, which might be an excessive amount of for 1S tiny whoops. Nonetheless, on open-prop micro quads, even 1S-powered ones, the additional weight is normally manageable. On something 2.5″ or bigger, it’s unlikely to be a problem.
Slight Picture Softening & Glare
Because of the extra glasses, the picture might seem barely softer. That is solely actually noticeable when zooming in, so it’s not a dealbreaker for most individuals. You may also expertise elevated lens flare when going through towards the solar, attributable to reflections between the added lens components. Moreover, with extra glass surfaces, mud is extra prone to construct up, so chances are you’ll want to wash it extra often.
Lens Seen in View
Within the goggles, you might even see the sides of the wide-angle lens, particularly when utilizing 4:3 facet ratio and Vast FOV settings. Nonetheless, this may be eliminated within the air unit recording utilizing picture stabilization instruments like Gyroflow or the built-in RockSteady on the DJI system.
Lens Motion in Crashes
As a result of the plug and play model of the lens is a friction match, a tough crash can shift it ahead barely, giving a fisheye “skate video” look till get the drone again and manually push it again. The O3 and O4 professional variations received’t have this problem.
Remaining Ideas: Is It Value It?
Completely.
The Flywoo Vast-Angle Lens is a game-changer for anybody flying with the DJI O4 Lite digicam. It considerably improves the flying expertise by providing a a lot wider and extra immersive area of view. Extra importantly, it makes stabilized footage (through Rocksteady or Gyroflow) really watchable, addressing one of many key shortcomings of the O4 digicam.
Whereas it’s not excellent—because of the added weight, lens edges in view, and slight picture sharpness and glare compromises—it solves an actual downside that DJI left unaddressed. And for builds the place area and weight permit, it is a extremely beneficial improve. Simply ensure that to select the fitting model based mostly in your digicam and body.
You should buy the Flywoo Vast-Angle Lens equipment from these distributors:
For the plug&play model, don’t neglect to get the cam shell adapter:
And get the ND filters set as nicely for extra cinematic footage:
