The DJI O4 Lite digicam 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 slim subject of view. At simply 117°, the inventory O4 lens feels zoomed in. It’s flyable, however it’s not satisfying. 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 Large Angle Lens is available in. After testing the brand new model, I actually really feel that is how the DJI O4 digicam ought to have been launched within the first place.
Learn to setup DJI O4 Air Unit: https://oscarliang.com/how-to-setup-dji-o4-lite/
The place to Purchase
Get the Flywoo Large Angle Lens from:
There are two variations, you will get the modified digicam that comes with the huge angle lens put in (digicam set), or you’ll be able to simply get the DIY equipment and modify your personal O4 digicam (lens set). Personally I favor the modified digicam set as a result of modifying your personal O4 is kind of time consuming and dangerous.
Why a Large-Angle Lens Is So Necessary on the DJI O4
For FPV flying, FOV (subject of view) isn’t nearly aesthetics—it straight 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 “velocity really feel”
- Stabilized footage that’s simpler to look at
Flywoo’s wide-angle lens expands the FOV of O4 digicam 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 number 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 sides
It was a step in the proper course, 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 Large Angle Lens
This new lens isn’t just an add-on—it’s a correct lens alternative designed particularly for the DJI O4 Lite digicam (not the O4 Professional).
Key enhancements embody:
- Extra skilled trying design and construct high quality
- Much less vignetting
- Sharper picture
- Much less glare and inside reflections
- Correct Gyroflow assist through customized lens profiles
Most significantly, the picture lastly feels huge, immersive, and pure, particularly for FPV flying.
Weights are practically similar so the primary 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 huge angle lens on the Firefly18 1S, take a look at some footage right here:
In comparison with the inventory O4 lens, the rise in FOV is critical when utilizing the brand new Flywoo Large Angle Lens. Nonetheless it’s clear that it’s not as huge because the earlier clip-on lens, so I feel the precise FOV is barely lower than 155°. However the enchancment continues to be huge.
Left: Previous model; Proper: New model
There is no such thing as a 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 thing appears very clear and sharp. Lens glare and reflection are additionally massively lowered.
Stabilization and Gyroflow Help
To make use of stabilization correctly, it’s extremely really useful to make use of Flywoo’s customized lens profiles in Gyroflow. These can be found for each 16:9 and 4:3 side ratios. It additionally works with out customized lens profile however the picture would possibly look warped throughout yaw actions.
Shopping for Choices: DIY vs Pre-Modified Digicam
Flywoo provides this lens in a number of configurations, which is essential relying in your talent stage.
1. Pre-Modified Digicam (Really helpful)
This model comes with an O4 digicam 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 digicam is just not very beginner-friendly.
Nonetheless, with any non-official O4 digicam, you’ll at all times get a crimson warning within the nook when flying (“digicam calibration error”). It’s nothing to fret about, the digicam is totally purposeful as I’ve examined.
2. DIY Lens Package
You possibly can modify your personal O4 digicam utilizing the DIY equipment:
- 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 might harm the digicam if not being cautious. Detailed directions may be discovered right here.
Mounting Choices and Compatibility
The huge angle lens housing is 14mm huge, similar to the unique O4 Lite digicam. The gap between the 2 mounting holes can also be the identical, nonetheless, they use completely different screws:
- The unique O4 Lite makes use of M2 self-tapping screws
- Flywoo makes use of M1.4 screws
Left: Flywoo Large Angle Lens Housing; Proper: Authentic O4 Housing
Adapters are additionally included to assist different mounting:
- 18mm adapter (helps Flywoo’s BNF drones. With washers, it also needs to work in 19mm micro analog digicam 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 facet is glued the flawed manner).
Set up
To interchange the unique O4 digicam, you must take away the glue on the connector first.
Join the MIPI cable to the huge angle digicam 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 essential observe: in case you’re upgrading a Flywoo Firefly16 or Firefly18 1S, you’ll seemingly want the up to date cover designed for the brand new lens.
ND Filter
Flywoo additionally gives 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. Be aware that these filters solely assist this huge angle lens and don’t work on every other cameras in the intervening time.
Study extra about how one can utilizing ND filters: https://oscarliang.com/nd-filter-fpv/
Digicam Calibration Error (Ought to You Fear?)
As talked about, any aftermarket O4 digicam offers you this warning “Digicam calibration error” in your goggles (it’s there on a regular basis). However in my testing, the digicam labored completely fantastic and I didn’t discover something flawed other than the annoying warning, so I wouldn’t fear about it.
Closing Verdict: Is the Flywoo O4 Large 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 provides a way more usable subject of view with out compromising readability, it additionally gives extra mounting choices because of 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 digicam ought to have come from DJI within the first place.
Should you fly DJI O4 Lite and care about immersive FPV footage, this improve may be very straightforward to advocate.