fichek Posted at 4-28 12:08
These results will be heavily swayed by people who mainly fly in manual and don't really have a choice. As someone who's been flying FPV for almost 6 years, I think flying Avatas mainly in manual kinda defeats the purpose of these drones. Sure, it's nice that it's there, but they really shine in N/S modes with stabilised pitch. Since usually when recording FPV shots where you don't move at constant speed, you either have to pitch up/down all the time or sway left/right which can sometimes add a bit of dynamics to the footage, but sometimes it's just annoying.

This is especially true when going backwards, nothing can match how good Avata is at shooting stuff while going backwards. Most other FPV drones would just be looking at the sky

A J Posted at 4-28 12:26
Thanks for sharing your insight from your vast knowledge in this line of the hobby. While I started flying DJI drones back in Aug 2016 this FPV line is very new to me. I've never flown in manual so your feedback is well received and appreciated.
I think I'll pass on flying in manual lol and stick with the motion controller as the level of control I have over the drone when using it is phenomenal.
I bought the Avata 2 to have fun at the end of the day and not to be anxious about crashing every time I take off. I'm prepared for the odd knock but constant crashing will do my head in after a while (I've had one serious crash in nearly 3,000 miles of flying drones) and yet to crash on my first 7 flights with the A2.  That said, if you're use to acro FPV then I guess that's what people will choose and buy the RC3. It's good to have options.

fichek Posted at 4-28 12:08
These results will be heavily swayed by people who mainly fly in manual and don't really have a choice. As someone who's been flying FPV for almost 6 years, I think flying Avatas mainly in manual kinda defeats the purpose of these drones. Sure, it's nice that it's there, but they really shine in N/S modes with stabilised pitch. Since usually when recording FPV shots where you don't move at constant speed, you either have to pitch up/down all the time or sway left/right which can sometimes add a bit of dynamics to the footage, but sometimes it's just annoying.

This is especially true when going backwards, nothing can match how good Avata is at shooting stuff while going backwards. Most other FPV drones would just be looking at the sky

Dirty Bird Posted at 4-28 12:44
I think it depends on what you are planning for your flight.  I'm not into the freestyle type of flying.  I am more into the skimming the treetops & blowing through gaps.  For that method the MC3 is great.  If you plan on freestyle, power loops,  or dives the FPV3 is the better choice.

fichek Posted at 4-28 12:45
Yeah, to be honest I was gonna do that with the original Avata - just get FPVRC2 and ignore the Motion Controller - but luckily FPVRC2 was out of stock for a while in EU before, during, and after Avata 1 launch so by the time I finally got my hands on the FPVRC2, I gave MC a try and kinda loved it. Sure, the first one lacked ability to go backwards (or sideways without head tracking) so I did end up mostly using FPVRC2 even for N/S modes, but the new one is really great and it allows my kindergartener to to get some shots in N/S that even experienced pilots would not be able to do in manual  And that I think is what will cause many FPV veterans to try and gate-keep Avata 2 from beginners with crap like "it's not real FPV".

I still got FPVRC3 with my Avata 2 because I will occasionally want to fly it in manual, but I can already see myself doing 80% of flights with RCM3 in S mode. One use case where FPVRC3 is still obviously better is if you have to fly indoors without gps and there's not enough light for vision sensors to keep position hold. But when just flying recreationally, RCM3 is the way!

John Lo Posted at 4-28 14:04
I  would get the fpv remote controller 3 only if the o4 air unit comes out. so i can build my little 2" real fpv drone.

Fozando Posted at 4-29 02:44
For a beginner that has never used an fpv drone the motion controller could be more friendly at first, but I consider that the best option to improve your flying skills is start with a traditional controller with two sticks and practice for several hours on the simulator to be more confident at the moment of doing the first real flight

fichek Posted at 4-29 04:29
Thing is motion controller gives you instant confidence as soon as you take off with zero training required. It's that much more intuitive than standard controllers. I've had people aged 3-87 fly Avata without ever touching a drone before and I didn't even show them how to use it, just told them aim the circle using your hand, then press to go there. Very few people needed explaining that to turn left/right you need to angle your wrist left/right instead of turning it around z axis, but 90% just go for it and nail it.

Monkey007 Posted at 4-29 14:31
In order to force an old dog to learn a new trick, I deliberately did not add the fpv controller3 to my shopping cart when ordering the avata2 on Friday 12/04. I originally planned to force myself to play with the motion3 for a few weeks but ended up putting in a separate order for the controller3 the very next day!  The controller3 arrived less than 24 hrs after the avata2 did, so at least I actually DID give the motion3 a try, but only for just one flight. Obviously didn't like it because I've been flying collective pitch helicopters with sticks since 2009 and have gotten so much used to the precise control only sticks can offer. But having read some of the comments on this thread, it actually made me think I should really put the stick controller away and start exploring the motion3 because that's what the avata2 is designed for.

A J Posted at 4-29 14:39
Hello Monkey - it's been a few years mate - how are you doing?!

Sound advice there - I really like the motion 3 and took to it instantly and am yet to buy the RC3 and also not sure if I should bother as I don't intend to fly manual. Are the controls more precise in normal and sport modes on the RC3 over the motion 3? Or is it a case to only get the RC3 if you are going to fly manual?

A J Posted at 4-29 14:08
Hi, quick question - are there any real advantages to flying the Avata 2 with the RC3 in N/S mode (not manual) over the M3C? I know you'll lose the AR cursor, head tracking and easy acro doing that but what advantages are there (if any)? Cheers

Monkey007 Posted at 4-29 15:27
Long time no see Captain! Haven't really used the motion3 enough to make any meaningful comparison but I seriously intend to use it once every 5 flights from now. It'll most certainly be a while before I start feeling comfortable flying the avata2 indoors with it, but I can imagine I may start to like it for easy outdoor flights once I've spent more time with it.

fichek Posted at 4-29 16:20
The biggest advantage that comes to mind is being able to go forward or backwards keeping altitude perfectly just by pushing the right stick fwd/back - I am not sure how perfectly you can keep it with RCM3, either with or without head tracking, but I remember struggling with it with the original MC on Avata 1.

Another one would be 100% precise control of camera tilt, especially if you needed a specific angle, and especially if you needed to change it then wanted to go back to perfect 0 degrees. But head tracking might actually be better for this in many situations though, like if you needed to keep an object in your shot at a certain spot while going under/over it, I imagine gimbal dial would take a LOT of practice to nail, while head tracking would just be more intuitive.

ro_walker Posted at 6-3 18:26
But it depends on what you are planning for your flight.

Dirty Bird Posted at 4-28 12:44
I think it depends on what you are planning for your flight.  I'm not into the freestyle type of flying.  I am more into the skimming the treetops & blowing through gaps.  For that method the MC3 is great.  If you plan on freestyle, power loops,  or dives the FPV3 is the better choice.

Vanadio Posted at 5-2 02:55
Avata 2 it's my first DJI, I've been flying fpv drones for 5yrs and I must say I'm impressed by the motion controller and of course DJI video and rc transmission protocol. I fly the Avata with the remote also, but as other people said here I think Avata 2 shine with attitude control in N/S and the motion controller is amazing, not to mention the head tracking thing..

OldGuy2024 Posted at 5-1 09:20
No real choice.  First DJI platform and only have the MC3.  Initially impression was it's a great controller to get newbies into FPV.  Just felt like the expo and rates were too tame.  Ideal for learning to FPV and for anyone with any experience a different way of flying with a different set of neuromuscular skills needed. Could become a bit of crutch. Couple days ago conditions outside were like today. F6-7 gusts at ground le el. Flew indoors with the 1s mini-Avata clone.  Twitchy thumbs or just regressed from time using the MC3.  Had to flip the mode switch from S to N and set the speed limit to medium.  

Yesterday, flew two sessions (6 batteries) and for the first time felt real comfortable with the ability to carve some tight maneuvers at moderate speed and not plow into anything.  Was and still considering, but will probably wait on purchasing the RC3.  From the Goggle 3 view it looks like S mode limits rates to banking at ~45degrees.  Good enough for zipping around obstacles and corkscrewing the Avata2 (A2) down from altitude. Enough to make me a bit dizzy.   Feel real confident skimming the A2 at "red" level (sub 2M). When poo hits the fan. Just release the trigger and it just hovers.  Sort of reminds me of a more refined version of Horizon Hobbies old  "Safe" mode from a decade ago or so.    Not so flying the 6s platform. Which I crash too often.  So far with the A2.  16 batteries, 1 crash due to pilot error.  Vertical angle of attack is a bit limited.  Need to try using the joystick button to pop through tight openings in the tree canopy.  Start slow and then go for the "rocket launch".

Daemon42 Posted at 6-7 20:17
Here's the thing.  I've got two regular 5" quads that are faster, and more aerobatic, less affected by wind,  more durable, and cheaper/easier to repair than the Avata 2, and the batteries are a fraction of the price.
What makes the Avata 2 (and Avata and DJI Drone before it) unique is the actual flight mode that accompanies usage of the motion controller.    The ability to perfectly plot out a path through the sky and keep the camera pointed along that path no matter what the drone is doing.   So for me, the MC3 is the preferred controller for the Avata 2.   I have both, and it's *fun* flying with the RC3, but I don't fly it as aggressively because I know I basically have to send it back for a replacement if I break the frame (which is already cracked from a relatively minor encounter).       But with the MC3 I can get down low and fly it a foot or two off the ground following walking or game paths through the forest, or gullies, or go exploring deep inside the tree canopy without drifting sideways into something I can't see.      I've even flown it inside my fairly small house quite aggressively and as long as it has enough light to see, it is rock solid stable even at speed.   

phil-w Posted at 6-8 03:03
Each to their own. I did my time flying pre-flight controller helis, and had the first DJI kits 20 years ago. I've boxes of broken bits from doing "acro" when flight controllers didn't exist, so willy waving doesn't really impress me much.

My Avata2 came with the MC3 and I couldn't get the 2-stick controller as an alternative, so I relaxed into it and gave the MC3 a whirl. It took me a second or two to get used to the fact that I don't have to mix some of this with some of that to get the turns to work the way I wanted, and I did change some of the sensitivities, but I can't see why I'd want to go back, for general mucking about, which is what I do. For willy waving, build your own, but for general use, this is really cool.