DJI - Avata

I started with the Avata 1 still have it but I agree the two seems superior in every way, it's definitely not the most frugal way to get into fpv but I think DJI goggles/vtx is a good choice, I just recently ordered a HDzero goggles set to play with whoops and maybe an analog or two. I think you'll be very satisfied with your Avata 2, if you find you want to wade deeper into fpv I recommend the Joshua Bardwell YouTube channel, and his FPV build kit on getfpv the DJI o3 vtx is compatible with your goggles 3 as of a recent update as well as your controller I believe. Don't discount practicing in the sim, your Avata will feel different but, familiar. Most importantly stay safe and have fun.

Generally the DJI Mini 4K is a great drone, but honestly I think someone that age would prefer to fly an FPV drone in comparison to a camera drone. FPV drones are the ones that go really fast and people do tricks and flips with them, while camera drones are usually more delicate and are being used to film and make photos. I don’t know your son so I don’t know what he wants to do with it cause maybe he really wants to make content with it. One more thing, a good beginner drone like the DJI Avata or DJI Avata 2 ar a bit more expensive. If he’d want an FPV drone I would honestly get the Avata explorer bundle but it’s 679 euro, so it’s quite a bit more expensive. But again, the DJI Mini 4K is a great drone.

Fully concur with u/Ich_bin_schlecht. Go with Avata if you have zero interest in advancing to freestyle flying because it has a well-known yaw washout issue, and it's not a particularly responsive machine. Flight time is around 8 minutes. Picture quality is best in the business. If you plan to grow in the hobby, skip it and start with something more survivable to crashing like a BetaFPV Meteor 65 or HappyModel Mobula7. Be warned there's quite a learning curve with setup, throttle control and then acro mode, as u/Fat_Cat6969 alluded to. Flight times are around 3 minutes. Picture quality is like old VHS tapes.

I would not recommend the Avata series based upon the description of your experience and use case. Avata can only be used with FPV goggles and are less about cinematography and more about the experience. Mini 3 sounds like a great option and is far more versatile and forgiving for beginners. Happy flying!

The same as NamelessMason, you should practice some time in the simulator and buy a BNF, like mark5, aos, nazgul, etc, The problem with avata is made of plastic and in fpv would you are going to crash 100%, so buy something that will not break the first day.

i kinda did the same started of with sim training on liftoff with an xbox controller then got a used avata 1 combo with goggles 2 + fpv controller 2 + 4 batts, now im ripping the avata in manual i get frequent tumbles and i get a power cut at about 50% batt, i dont regret it i like the avata but after 4 flights im already looking for a more powerful quad, i mainly bought this combo for the goggles and controller and think of the avata as a plus for the price that i got it

It's s fair dronei has the first avata and bought the second one as well for the new easy across features but disappointed to learn that you can't use easy acto whilst you are recording. Not to mention they I can't seem to be able to get the gymbal to move with the dedicated gymbal wheel on the motion 3 controller. It's waEssy to fly fpv. And the camera quality is brilliant. Just wish I could change the pitch of it mid flight 😭

Hey yall! I'm looking for 3.5 inch drone recommendations. I've been using a DJI Avata (2022) for Real Estate Flythrough videos. I've noticed that the camera is really not great in low light situations and I'm looking for an equivalent sized drone that I could throw my Osmo Action 4 on. I already have a Radiomaster Tx16s with some random Fatshark analog goggles that I use for my 5 inch and would personally prefer using those on most of my drones. Anyway, let me know if yall have any good recommendations! Thanks!

was considering the same: get an Avata 1 as a first drone. Not interested in freestyle, only filming. Better price and no issues getting started. Downside is it’s above 250g, so technically that would require a license.

The avata isn't bad per sé, it's just quite underpowered and heavy. If you set your expectations right it can be great. The safety features on the avata are quite useful. Be aware though, the fpv freestyle videos you see on youtube aren't possible with an avata, some of the cinematic video's are though. The avata is a decent introduction into the hobby in my opinion. If you ever switch to higher performance fpv drones you can keep using the goggles and maybe the remote as well.

Is your goal to take fpv-style video? Get an avata. Is your goal to have fun? Get a freestyle drone. If this is your first I recommend Joshua bardwells

This sub is generally not a huge fan of the Avata, though some of the reasons are admittedly a little gatekeepy at times. The Avata has a lot of pilot assists built in that can't be found elsewhere, and the flight time is pretty good compared to most FPV drones. Obviously being a DJI product the camera/video system is top tier. In terms of flight performance, durability, and repairability, it's worse than many budget FPV quads. If you want to fly freestyle or proximity, consider looking elsewhere.

Certainly not the best, but to echo what others have said, the pilot assistance features built into it make it very accessible to any novice pilot. I think if you get into fpv you will quickly outgrow the Avata as your favorite quad. Without a doubt, it is a fun toy. That said, it is quite expensive to get everything that you need, especially when you include the additional remote.

300mah tattus are like 5 bucks each lol, I do kinda agree, if you start analog and go digital it can feel like a waste of money.... But an avata setup would be way more expensive than a traditional o4 pro setup

My man, anything bigger than like 2 inches is not a good fit for a beginner. You might cause a lot of damage with that nazgul (or hurt yourself/others). 5inch drones are very fast, and require some control. First off, get a controller, buy Liftoff or Uncrashed, and start training. A "beginner" 5inch drone is for a beginner who has flown with smaller drones. Alternatively, buy a large DJI drone, anyone can control those... Avata is fine. If you care about learning actually flying tho, stay away from DJI. Just buy a Radiomaster Pocket and do like 20h in a sim first

without question I would get something that had a telephoto lens like an Air 3 or Mavic 3 or Mavic 3 Pro. With a wide angle lens like an avata you'll never get closeup that would be the kind of thing you'll want. The 3x tele on the Mavic 3 Pro would be the best lens although the 7x might be excellent if you have room to frame it. Keep in mind you can't fly over people with out special permissions. You'll want to look into those rule and of course you have to have a Part 107 certificate to do this. Don't shoot into the sun or with the sun toward the front and you will be fine with regard to lens flare. If you don't have that Part 107 you'll really need to take some time and get it.

I am very much a “buy once, cry once” type of person, so I splurged pretty hard at the beginning and I have no regrets. DJI Goggles 2 w/ o3 air unit for my VTX on a SpeedyBee frame. Just something to keep in mind, DJI has the “worst” latency out the majority of other goggles on the market. Not sure how true that is now, but when I started flying that was the case. They’re also not bad for me at all and I really don’t even notice the latency as it runs at 100fps which really is perfect in my opinion. When it comes to racing, it matters more. For freestyle, it hasn’t mattered to me once. I’m sure others might correct me in this, which is totally fine. However I will say not looking through analog goggles and being able to have a clear picture through the Goggles 2 makes it 100% so much more worth it to me. Also for your sake, don’t get the Avata. If you crash it, be prepared to cry. If you don’t plan to build one yourself, other BNF drones on the market are great and very well put together. It would be worth your time though to consider building one yourself so you know how to fix it after you do crash. But yeah, the Avata is cool, but not as sturdy as others. And just so you have an idea of what I mean, I had a fail safe occur when I was just under 100 ft, and crashed into a pad of concrete and only needed to replace a prop. A lot of these are VERY well put together. Hope this helps!

I love the DJI FPV and Avata. I got the Goggles and Goggles 2. The FPV is my favorite drone by far out of the three (A2S, FPV, and Avata). I highly recommend picking up a FPV before they are discontinued. It can fly 90+ mph vs the 45-60mph competition. It is ridiculously easy to modify for using top level aftermarket props too. Highly recommend doing this too. Besides the increased performance, they are cheaper than DJI. Also, its flight time will be many minutes more (ten minutes more is a common reality) than any non DJI drone. In the flying world, this is an amazing amount more time. Expect three mins or less with the competitors drones when you are ripping it. You can get the whole set up together or pieced out on EBay or marketplace in great shape and cheap. Once they get discontinued, their price will skyrocket. I am constantly picking up another as a backup.

Yes, the FPV drone is prefect for that. Get this setup and it will be cheaper. I actually fly more with this setup as I feel as if I am in a cockpit with the stick controlling a jet. This is super easy to learn and fly fast. Once you get better, you can fly acro with it, but I highly recommend to start with the Avata due to its durability. FPV is fragile, but I have had mine for years now and never broke anything and I fly at top speed every flight. I also suggest getting a FPV while you can as they have been discontinued. You cannot buy one used off EBay for cheap, just check sellers rating, that it is returnable, and not locked to another account(unbound). It can fly 60mph with the motion controller and 90+ with the FPV controller. Set up for learning to fly quickly: DJI FPV Motion Controller 1 DJI FPV Goggles (1) If you want to do acro (flips & rolls): DJI Avata DJI Goggles 2 or DJI Integra DJI FPV Controller (Motion Controller 1 or 2 will work, but you cannot do acro with it)

I love the DJI FPV and Avata. I got the Goggles and Goggles 2. The FPV is my favorite drone by far out of the three (A2S, FPV, and Avata). I highly recommend picking up a FPV before they are discontinued. It can fly 90+ mph vs the 45-60mph competition. It is ridiculously easy to modify for using top level aftermarket props too. Highly recommend doing this too. Besides the increased performance, they are cheaper than DJI. Also, its flight time will be many minutes more (ten minutes more is a common reality) than any non DJI drone. In the flying world, this is an amazing amount more time. Expect three mins or less with the competitors drones when you are ripping it. You can get the whole set up together or pieced out on EBay or marketplace in great shape and cheap. Once they get discontinued, their price will skyrocket. I am constantly picking up another as a backup.

The Avata isn’t capable of true fpv freestyle. Only the very smooth cinematic stuff. If that’s what you want then it’s fine. But if you want to get into proper FPV, then I’d recommend you get an ELRS radio right from the start. (Anything from radio master is good, I’d get the boxer or gx12, but the pocket is cheaper) As a first drone I’d recommend something with the o4 (lite). Won’t be too expensive and the smaller size is better for starting out, because you will crash. (Edited due to bad wording)

It builds horrible habits that take a long time to unlearn. It is a drone but it is NOT in any way shape or form an entry point to the hobby. It is simply a good camera that can fly. It is a tool for an entirely different industry

Like flying a drone like a videogame not a drone. I understand you find it comfortable, but most people end up here for the more dynamic flying experience, not for a drone that severely limits you. The top controller and goggles are nothing without a drone. You can find plenty of comparisons online about the problems of the avata like the motors or part prices. Sorry man, regardless of.your comfort, the avata is a camera with propellers attached. Its amazing for that purpose but trying to pretend its something else is just dumb.

I managed to find a DJI avata (1st gen) for £450 used on Facebook marketplace. I think Avata's don't really hold their value, so you can actually find them quite often for a bargain :o For £450, I got: Avata (needed to replace downward vision sensor), Goggles Integra Motion controller Remote controller 2 Flymore kit (two extra batteries and the stick charger) My mate got a similar bargain, for around £650 he got: Avata Goggles 2 Motion controller Remote controller 2 Flymore kit He recently smashed his drone completely into three pieces in a crash, and found a replacement drone (no batteries etc) for £160 on ebay while we were still stood in a car park after the crash. I would say the avata is a good enough beginner fpv, but it does have it's issues, do your own research on those. What I will say though, is the 03 air unit alone is £160 where I live, so that's a pretty good bargain in my opinion :o

Don't unless you find a really good deal with goggles and FPV RC. There are much better options available, for example Avata (not Avata 2).

+1 DJI fpv. I just got a used bundle (controller headset drone) for $500.

Probably an unpopular opinion but DJI FPV is very beginner friendly and long range. You’re not going to be able to learn to fly in acro mode. I’ve flown mine about three miles into a mountain range and back with no issues.

I started with a DJI fpv and kept it in sport mode for a bit. Tried simulators for a while but didn’t like the feel of how the controls worked, so I started flying the fpv in manual mode. Gradually worked on launching and landing, it helped a lot being able to flip it back into sport mode if I ever felt in over my head while learning. Now I have some cheaper 115mm whoops to fart around with as well.

Having to buy expensive proprietary battery’s turned me off of it I like how easy and cheap 4s battery’s are to get. You’ll break it at some point, and don’t think you won’t it’s part of the hobby but it will cost way more to fix than a home built. Buy used and learn to fix it’s easier then you think

The DJI mini range are photography/filming drones. They won't do tricks, but are very stable and very easy to fly. Unfortunately what you want is a bit of mid-ground between toy drones and serious drones. \[edit - I wrote the following thinking your budget hit $300 and it was your father in law not son.. I definitely wouldn't get an FPV if your son is young - around 1kg and 90mph has the potential to go wrong!\] There should be some better toy drones that can do some tricks at least, but also have the option of being quite steady. If by 'entry level' you want 'easy to fly' as well as 'super fun to fly'.... then I'd try and find a used DJI Avatar, I think it's just at your budget and should tick the boxes. Or even a used DJI FPV, which are a bit faster, but not sure if they're that cheap.

The DJI mini range are photography/filming drones. They won't do tricks, but are very stable and very easy to fly. Unfortunately what you want is a bit of mid-ground between toy drones and serious drones. \[edit - I wrote the following thinking your budget hit $300 and it was your father in law not son.. I definitely wouldn't get an FPV if your son is young - around 1kg and 90mph has the potential to go wrong!\] There should be some better toy drones that can do some tricks at least, but also have the option of being quite steady. If by 'entry level' you want 'easy to fly' as well as 'super fun to fly'.... then I'd try and find a used DJI Avatar, I think it's just at your budget and should tick the boxes. Or even a used DJI FPV, which are a bit faster, but not sure if they're that cheap.

DJI is like the industry standard, I spent a lot of money on the FPV by DJI, almost$1,400 with extra batteries…….come to find out that the camera on the mini 3 is way better and I only paid $700 for that one with the fly mode kit ( Black Friday Special). If you can, wait until Black Friday/cyber Monday to make a purchase to save some money and get good deals.

It's a good drone for what it is - a camera drone with FPV capability. It's capable of some light freestyle but it's pretty fragile. As a newbie you are all but guaranteed to crash at least a few times so be prepared to send it back to DJI for repairs.

What do you want to do in FPV? If the answer is anything but freestyle its a good drone for the task. If your wanting to freestyle it would be a hard pass from me. Doesn't crash well. So as long as you don't try to push the limits it should be a good first craft. Two years ago I started on the DJI FPV but grew out of it pretty quickly. Went self builds and never looked back.

If you can get a good deal on it used then I’d say so. I got it on Facebook for cheap. And I still fly it to this day, and I have 4 other drones and I still use the DJI FPV

Sport mode on DJI is nothing like fpv. DJI controller is directly proportional, so you can hold the pitch at full and fly as fast as DJI can, but fpv is rotational, and holding pitch at full will make the drone do the floppy flops. If you want to fly fpv, you need a simulator. This is assuming you use the mini 4, and not the avata/avata 2 with the actual remote controller. But you are right about everything else, like ultra light and less regulations.

I bought an Avata and then picked up an Air 3.