Written by Matt Ruddick Utilize FPV to frame your shot Product review As seen in the Fall 2016 issue of Park Pilot.
Specifications:
Type: RTF quadcopter Diameter: 251 mm (9.8 inches) Weight: 4.8 ounces Needed to complete: Device for Android or Apple; DroneView app (download free from Google Play Store or App Store) Price: $139.99 Info: dromida.comFeatures:
>> Fully assembled FPV quadcopter >> Tactic Droneview Wi-Fi HD FPV mini camera >> Bright, multicolor LEDs for easy orientation >> SLT radio system >> Four flight modes; auto-flip button >> Three-axis gyro and three accelerometers >> 4 GB micro SD card >> LiPo battery and charger >> Transmitter smartphone holder >> AAA batteries >> Extra set of blades >> ScrewdriverProduct review
It doesn’t take much thought to realize that FPV (First-Person View) is one of the fastest-growing technologies in the world of model aviation. Take a quick trip to your local hobby shop and you’ll find a host of FPV-equipped aircraft and accessories. One of those that you’ll likely find is the latest offering from the Dromida line of multirotors: the Dromida Vista FPV. For anyone who has experience with the Dromida line, the Vista will likely feel familiar. In terms of size and frame, the Vista is composed of a rugged plastic that can stand up to all of the abuse you can throw at it. You’ll also find that it has bright LEDs to assist in orientation and tracking; however, the unique shape of the frame allowed my eye to easily track it without the lights. Everything you need to get into the air as quickly as possible is in the box. It includes a fully assembled Vista quadcopter, an SLT-compatible transmitter, an 850 mAh LiPo battery, battery charger, and four AAA batteries for the radio. It also includes a Tactic DroneView HD FPV camera and a 4 GB micro-SD memory card, but we’ll get to that later.
The Vista FPV comes with everything you need to get it into the air.
You will find a new transmitter design in this RTF (Ready to Fly) package. The rectangular design was quite comfortable in my hands and allowed for easy access to each of the function buttons spread across the front and top of the radio. Although ergonomics are nice, the one change in the transmitter design that I found the most helpful was the smartphone holder attached to the top. Anyone concerned with the design of the old Dromida Ominus holder can be assured that the new design is far sturdier than its predecessor, and offers a more stable experience when out at the field. It features a sliding mechanism that snugly cradles any smartphone I could throw at it—including an iPhone 6+, although it was a tighter fit than most. It should be noted that if you own an SLT-compatible transmitter like those from Tactic, you can bind that receiver with the Vista FPV as well. Consult your manual first because you might lose the ability to activate some camera functions. Before I discuss flight characteristics, I feel it’s time to review the big selling point of this quadcopter—the FPV camera. The Vista FPV comes with a DroneView HD camera from Tactic. It shoots 720p high-definition video and 1-megapixel still photos. It transmits video via a Wi-Fi signal that is generated onboard and received by the DroneView app on your smartphone.
The included battery fits snugly above the camera mount.
The app was a breeze to set up, and the manual provided adequate instructions on getting everything up and running. However, one drawback to using Wi-Fi to carry the signal is the introduction of significant latency. In other words, what you see on your screen will not be in real time and will inhibit your ability to fly using FPV alone. In my tests, the latency was enough that I could only really use the DroneView app to frame my shots, but not actually pilot the Vista. On the other hand, I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the recorded video. Although it’s not on par with what you would find in higher-end aerial photography setups, it’s perfectly usable for flying around your club field and taking video. The video does jitter a bit, despite the shock-absorbing camera mount, but for the price point, I was content with the results. One thing to keep in mind is that because of file system restrictions, the DroneView camera can only record in five-minute increments. If you plan to record a clip that is longer than five minutes, the system will continue recording but will split your clip into two files with a possible loss of frames during the switch. One advantage to using the DroneView app on your smartphone is the ability to save photos and video directly to your device. This is a handy feature if you want to send your videos to the internet without the need for a home computer.
The Tactic DroneView records video at 720p high definition and is powered by the flight battery.
Of course, all of these new features and functions are only as good as the model’s flight characteristics. Well, I’m happy to report that the Vista FPV is a wonderful aircraft in the sky. It features a three-axis gyro and accelerometers to assist with stabilization, and they truly do a fantastic job. The Vista features dual rates as well as four separate flight modes that are toggled by a button on the top of the transmitter. Two of the flight modes will actually disable the accelerometers to achieve more agile flying maneuvers. The Vista is a pretty diverse flier. For most of my flights, I kept the flight mode on “Normal” and the rates on high. That seemed to be the sweet spot for my taste. My big takeaway from a few flights on the Vista is that it handles and flies exactly as you would expect from a Dromida product—quite well! At a price of roughly $140, the Dromida Vista FPV is affordable for an entry-level FPV platform, but only if you understand that flying it solely using FPV can be challenging because of the video signal latency. Please know that if you’re looking for something to bring to your next club FPV race, the Dromida Vista FPV is probably not for you. With that stated, it really is a great-flying aircraft with a decent video camera attached that will surely provide fun and entertainment for pilots of all ages. -Matt Ruddick [email protected]
