When flying FPV, one of many choices obtainable in your OSD (on-screen show) is a crosshair—a small marker within the heart of your display screen. Some pilots swear by it, whereas others discover it pointless and even deceptive. So, do you have to use a crosshair for FPV flying? The reply is each sure and no, relying in your expertise stage, flying model, and private choice. On this article, I’ll break down when a crosshair may assist, why I personally don’t use one, and when it may be time to show it off.
What Does the Crosshair Truly Do?
DJI Avata 2’s Crosshair: A Extra Purposeful Design
The DJI Avata 2, when flown with the Movement Controller, incorporates a transferring crosshair that dynamically shifts primarily based on the drone’s flight path. This is usually a recreation changer for learners, because it visually signifies the place the drone is heading, serving to pilots make exact actions and changes.
Betaflight’s Crosshair: A Fastened Level
In distinction, the crosshair in Betaflight is only a fastened marker on the heart of your display screen. It doesn’t transfer, doesn’t replicate the place the drone goes, and might be deceptive generally—particularly for learners who assume it acts as an aiming reticle.
Why I Don’t Use a Crosshair in FPV
Personally, I by no means bought used to utilizing a crosshair as a result of I realized to fly with out it. I depend on my instincts, peripheral imaginative and prescient, and the precise movement of the drone to information my flight, not a synthetic level on the display screen.
Right here’s why I feel the crosshair might be problematic:
1. It Doesn’t Present The place the Drone Is Truly Going
A standard false impression is that in the event you line up the crosshair to the hole you need to fly by. However that’s not how FPV works.
Think about your drone is flying straight ahead. You assume the crosshair aligns along with your trajectory, proper? Probably not. When the drone is flying ahead it pitches ahead and so the crosshair can be pointing down barely, and never straight forward. And what if the drone can also be descending or climbing? The crosshair might stay centered, supplying you with no indication of altitude modifications. You may assume you’re lined up, solely to clip the highest or backside of an impediment.
2. It Can Be a Distraction
New pilots generally fixate on the crosshair as a substitute of studying the setting. Flying FPV is about feeling the drone’s motion, understanding its drift, and reacting to real-time circumstances. Should you’re too targeted on holding a crosshair heading in the right direction, you’re lacking out on spatial consciousness, which is essential for tight maneuvers.
3. FPV Isn’t Counter Strike
A crosshair is smart in a primary particular person shooter online game like Name of Responsibility, the place your bullets go precisely the place you goal. However in FPV, your drone is consistently in movement, tilting, rolling, and adjusting. A static crosshair simply doesn’t replicate the fluidity of actual flight.
4. Racing Line Syndrome
This jogs my memory of racing traces in some FPV simulators, the place there can be a guiding marker that helps you the place to go, learners may need to substitute crosshair for these markers. However in an precise flights, you want to pay attention to obstacles and different drones within the air. Equally, a crosshair may be a crutch that forestalls you from studying real-world flight strategies.
When a Crosshair May Truly Be Helpful
Whereas I don’t use crosshair, I’ll admit there are some conditions the place it may be useful:
1. FPV Racing
For racers, the crosshair isn’t about aiming at a gate however serving as a visible reference for fast corrections. It helps with timing maneuvers, particularly at excessive speeds, the place minor changes make a giant distinction.
2. Skilled Cinematic Flying
When monitoring a transferring topic—like a automotive in a chase scene—a crosshair may help you preserve framing, just like having a grid, which cinematographers use to compose photographs extra successfully.
3. Stopping Movement Illness
Some pilots report that having a set reference level like a crosshair reduces movement illness by giving their mind one thing secure to give attention to. Should you wrestle with dizziness or nausea in FPV, it may be value attempting.
4. Studying to Fly Stage
In simulators, a crosshair may help new pilots keep stage when studying fundamental controls. As a result of learners are inclined to fly comparatively sluggish and secure, so the crosshair stays roughly within the heart a lot of the instances. Nonetheless, as quickly as you begin flying sooner and doing acrobatics, it will possibly beomce counterproductive—like coaching wheels that want to return off.
The right way to Allow Crosshair in Betaflight
- In Betaflight Configurator, navigate to the OSD tab.
- Search for “Crosshair” within the listing of accessible OSD components (below Craft Title).
- Click on the checkbox subsequent to Crosshair to allow it.
- Drag and place the crosshair the place you need it on the display screen (sometimes centered).
Last Thought: Ought to You Use Crosshair?
Right here’s my take:
- Should you’re a newbie, a crosshair may assist with fundamental flight stability, however don’t depend on it an excessive amount of and too lengthy.
- Should you’re into racing, it will possibly function a reference for fast maneuvers.
- Should you fly professionally, it could assist with shot composition.
- For most individuals although, personally I don’t assume you want it and you may flip it off.
Finally, it’s a private alternative, however in the event you assume the crosshair will make FPV flying simpler, it received’t. As a substitute, give attention to studying your drone’s movement, utilizing your environment for reference, and growing actual FPV instincts.