The DJI O4 Lite Air Unit has quite a bit going for it—light-weight, compact, and excellent 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 slightly slender FOV (area of view). That’s the place Flywoo steps in with a intelligent resolution: a easy wide-angle lens that considerably improves the O4 digicam’s FOV—no want to switch 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 perfect settings in our tutorial: https://oscarliang.com/how-to-setup-dji-o4-lite/
The place to Purchase
You should purchase the Flywoo Extensive-Angle Lens package from these distributors:
Why the Extensive-Angle Lens Issues
The DJI O4 is incredible 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 straightforward to put in, and bumps the O4 digicam’s FOV from round 117° to 155°, almost 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 Extensive FOV which supplies 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 guage distance and timing, making proximity flying and freestyle maneuvers really feel rather more pure. I discovered myself flying extra confidently and with larger 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 also be a bit extra pronounced when flying towards vivid daylight, doubtless resulting from inner reflections from the additional glass lenses. Nonetheless, these minor drawbacks don’t outweigh the advantages in my view.
Bonus Function – ND Filter Holder
The Flywoo Extensive-Angle Lens comes with a detachable UV filter that doubles as a lens protector.
The UV filter might be swapped for ND filters (obtainable individually from Flywoo). ND filters are important for controlling publicity and sustaining correct movement blur in vivid lighting circumstances, particularly when capturing cinematic movies. You may study the usage of ND filters on this tutorial: https://oscarliang.com/nd-filter-fpv/
Buy Flywoo’s ND Filters Set right here (contains UV filter, ND8, ND16 and ND32 filters): https://oscarliang.com/product-d00b
3 Totally different Variations
The Flywoo Extensive-Angle Lens additionally serves as a mounting adapter, and selecting the right model permits you to match the DJI O4 Lite digicam into frames that assist totally different cameras. This makes the O4 Lite Air Unit rather more versatile and accessible for a greater diversity of drone builds.
Plug & Play Model for Flywoo O4 Builds
Also called the “Cam Shell” model.
This model doesn’t have any mounting holes of its personal. As a substitute, it requires the usage of the Flywoo O4 Digicam Shell adapter from Flywoo, which should 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 possibly can merely clip the wide-angle lens onto it.
You should purchase the O4 Digicam Shell adapter right here: https://s.click on.aliexpress.com/e/_oonV9l8
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 measurement and mounting sample because the DJI O3 digicam, making it appropriate with a variety of O3-compatible frames obtainable right this moment.
It’s arguably essentially the most versatile choice, however take into account: in the event you’re mounting the O4 Lite like an O3 digicam inside a full-size quad (resembling 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, excellent for brand spanking new frames which can be designed for this new digicam mounting.
Identical to the O3 model, utilizing it in bigger frames could 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 largely in your body’s digicam mount measurement:
- 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, matches snugly, and is general 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 may be noticeable and should barely have an effect on efficiency. Nevertheless, on 3″ or bigger drones, the added weight is negligible and shouldn’t pose any points.
Drawbacks and Quirks
Further Weight
The lens provides round 5g to 7.5g, which could possibly be an excessive amount of for 1S tiny whoops. Nevertheless, on open-prop micro quads, even 1S-powered ones, the additional weight is often manageable. On something 2.5″ or bigger, it’s unlikely to be a difficulty.
Slight Picture Softening & Glare
Because of the extra glasses, the picture could seem barely softer. That is solely actually noticeable when zooming in, so it’s not a dealbreaker for most individuals. You may additionally expertise elevated lens flare when dealing with towards the solar, brought on by 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 regularly.
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 Extensive FOV settings. Nevertheless, this may be eliminated within the air unit recording utilizing picture stabilization instruments like Gyroflow or the built-in RockSteady on the DJI system. In Gyroflow, you might need to scale back FOV to one thing like 0.9 to fully get rid of the lens edges. If you’re new to Gyroflow, try my newbie’s tutorial: https://oscarliang.com/gyroflow/
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 concern.
Remaining Ideas: Is It Value It?
Completely.
The Flywoo Extensive-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) truly watchable, addressing one of many key shortcomings of the O4 digicam.
Whereas it’s not good—as a result of 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 enable, it is a extremely advisable improve. Simply be certain that to choose the appropriate model primarily based in your digicam and body.
You should purchase the Flywoo Extensive-Angle Lens package from these distributors:
For the plug&play model, don’t overlook to get the cam shell adapter: https://s.click on.aliexpress.com/e/_oonV9l8
And get the ND filters set as nicely for extra cinematic footage: https://oscarliang.com/product-d00b