Overview: Walksnail Moonlight VTX/Digicam Package – Various to DJI O3 Air Unit?

The Walksnail Moonlight digicam/VTX package emerges as a direct competitor to the favored DJI O3 Air Unit. Providing stabilized 4K recording and a strong efficiency that rivals, and in some points, surpasses the DJI O3, the Moonlight package presents itself as an attention-grabbing choice. This evaluation delves into my private experiences with the Moonlight, evaluating it head-to-head with the DJI O3.

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New to Walksnail FPV system? Study extra on this article: https://oscarliang.com/setup-avatar-fpv-system/

Nonetheless questioning which FPV system you need to get in 2024? Try my purchaser’s information: https://oscarliang.com/fpv-system/

The place to Purchase?

Get the Walksnail Moonlight digicam/VTX package from these distributors:

It comes with the next equipment:

• 1x Spare screws for mounting
• 1x Wire harness for firmware improve
• 1x Wire harness for connecting the flight controller
• 1x ND8 Filter
• 2x Antenna
• 1x Guide

Specs

• Firmware identify: AvatarMoonlight_Sky_X.X.X
• Transmitter Energy: FCC:<1000mW; CE:<25mW
• Picture Sensor: Starlight sensor
• FOV: Max 160°
• Aperture: F2.1
• Shutter: Rolling shutter
• ISO: 100-25600
• Recording decision: 4K@30/60fps,2.7K@30/60fps,1080p@100/60fps,720p@60fps
• Max Mbps: 150Mbps
• Video format: MP4 (H.264)
• 3D DNR: Help
• Gyroflow: Help
• Constructed-in EIS: Help
• Huge Energy Enter: 7.4V-25.2V
• Energy consumption: [email protected], [email protected]
• Reminiscence card sort: U3 MicroSD, Max 256G
• Digicam dimension: 19.6mm*19mm*24mm
• VTX dimension: 15.3mm*34.5mm*34.5mm
• VTX Set up gap distance: 20*20mm/25*25mm (M2)
• Weight: 38.5g(Antenna not included)
• OSD: Canvas mode
• Latency: Common delay 22ms
• Antenna: 2 (IPEX)
• Filter: ND8
• Antenna Polarization: LHCP
• Antenna Common Achieve: 1.9dBi
• Antenna VSWR: ＜1.5
• Antenna connector: IPEX-1
• Antenna Dimension: 15x45mm (with out cable)
• Antenna Weight: 2g

Moonlight is suitable with the next FPV goggles / receiver module:

It’s not suitable with DJI Goggles.

What’s the Moonlight Package?

Just like the DJI O3, the Walksnail Moonlight is a digicam/VTX combo that gives 4K recording capabilities whereas streaming HD reside movies again to the FPV goggles on the bottom. This package probably eliminates the necessity for added motion digicam on the drone, simplifying setups and decreasing general weight and price.

The Moonlight not solely information in 1080p, 2.7K, and 4K resolutions but in addition options digital picture stabilization (EIS). The digicam settings permit for handbook management, together with shutter velocity and ISO, which is essential for capturing high-quality footage in numerous lighting situations.

You’ll be able to be taught extra concerning the DJI O3 right here: https://oscarliang.com/dji-o3-air-unit-fpv-goggles-2/

Design and Construct

The Moonlight has a strong construct, with a sturdy metallic shell that serves as a heatsink. It’s barely bigger and heavier than the DJI O3 air unit, weighing round 43g with out ND filters, in comparison with the O3’s 40g. Nonetheless, the Moonlight provides higher mounting flexibility with each 20x20mm and 25.5×25.5mm M2 mounting holes, enabling direct mounting onto most drone frames in the marketplace.

The Moonlight digicam has a 19mm width similar to any normal micro digicam. It’s simpler to mount than the O3’s non-standard 20mm dimension, although it’s considerably longer entrance to again. The yellow silicone spacers within the mounting holes assist to dampen quad vibrations, defending the built-in gyro.

Whereas the Moonlight additionally contains a twin antenna setup for constant sign, the antennas are particular person, in contrast to the DJI O3’s extra handy 2-in-1 design. The antennas could also be a bit difficult to plug in, fortunately you most likely solely want to do that as soon as.

The digicam is linked to the VTX through a MIPI connector and it’s removable.

The digicam cable lengths and antenna lengths are related between the O3 and Moonlight.

Dimensions and Weight Comparability:

The Moonlight digicam’s starlight sensor boasts a 160° FOV in a 16:9 facet ratio, with an f/2.1 aperture and a powerful ISO vary of 100 to 25600. It helps 4K recording at as much as 150Mbps and is suitable with micro SD card as much as 256GB.

It comes with an ND8 filter which is definitely attachable and removable, provides lens safety however is over 2 grams heavier and significantly bulkier than typical O3 ND filters. It may possibly presumably be obstructed by the entrance standoffs, making it troublesome to make use of in sure FPV drone frames with out modifications. Anyway it’s good to have it included within the package. I want ND16 can also be included, for shiny sunny day and snowy days, however ND8 needs to be fairly versatile for a lot of conditions.

The absence of a USB port on the Moonlight VTX means SD card elimination is critical for footage switch and firmware updates, which is perhaps much less handy in comparison with the O3.

One other benefit of the DJI O3 is its 20GB inside reminiscence. Whereas it might not appear important because it solely holds about 20 minutes of footage, it will probably prevent from going residence empty-handed if you overlook your SD card. I want the Moonlight provided an analogous characteristic.

Moonlight’s digicam cable is about 12cm lengthy whereas the antenna wires are about 5.5cm (excluding the plastic tube half).

Latency and Flying Expertise

The Moonlight offers a flying expertise just like different Walksnail Avatar VTX and cameras, with the added benefit of onboard recording.

When it comes to latency, the Moonlight matches or barely outperforms the DJI O3, notably within the 60fps mode. Whereas the latency in 30fps mode is a bit larger than 60fps, it’s notably higher than the O3 additionally, providing a extra manageable flying expertise. The O3 performs one of the best in 100fps mode, however then your recording would even be in 100fps, which isn’t excellent in some instances.

Because of Moonlight’s starlight sensor, the system’s low gentle efficiency is especially spectacular, outperforming the DJI O3 in difficult lighting situations. Its potential to seize clear and detailed photos in near-darkness is a big benefit for night time flyers.

I’ve seen that the Moonlight is simply as vulnerable to jello because the O3, if no more. To fight this, guarantee your FPV drone is well-tuned and think about soft-mounting the digicam if doable. For steering on tuning your quads, take a look at my tutorial: https://oscarliang.com/fpv-drone-tuning/. Gyroflow appears to be fairly efficient in minimizing jello in order that’s price a strive.

Picture High quality and DJI O3 Comparability

The Moonlight was examined utilizing the most recent firmware on the time of publishing (37.42.3).

The Moonlight digicam provides handbook settings that can attraction to skilled pilots, presently you may regulate the next settings:

• Decision / Body Charge
• Sharpness
• Publicity Worth
• Saturation
• White Steadiness
• ISO
• Shutter Pace

Nonetheless, it’s price noting that in contrast to the DJI O3, the Moonlight lacks flat shade profile or 10bit recording functionality and doesn’t supply a local 4:3 mode on the time of testing. Having native 16:9 means the video is extra zoomed in after picture stabilization is utilized in publish (akin to Gyroflow).

When it comes to picture high quality, it’s fairly subjective. The Moonlight impresses with clear contrasts and sharpness, the benefit is very noticeable in low gentle.

Right here’s a side-by-side comparability between the Moonlight and O3, each set to 4K 60fps with auto settings. Each cameras produce very nice-looking photos; the Moonlight seems a bit sharper and hotter, whereas the O3 has barely much less distortion and a slightly wider subject of view (Huge setting).

In night time time situations, the Moonlight is the clear winner in low gentle. It helps ISO settings as much as 51200, in distinction to the O3, which maxes out at 6400. Though the Moonlight excels in low-light situations, the excessive ISO can introduce noise and graininess, probably making flight difficult.

One level of critique is the auto shutter velocity’s publicity adjustments, which might appear a bit unnatural. Hopefully, this may be addressed in future firmware updates. Right here’s a brief clip from the Moonlight digicam capturing a gray winter day, with Gyroflow utilized.

Modular Design

Disassembling the Moonlight VTX reveals a twin board design just like the O3. One board features because the video transmitter and the opposite because the video recording board. Caddx has designed it in such a approach that the 2 boards could be separated. This makes restore less expensive as you solely want to switch the broken board, not the entire unit.

Based on Walksnail, in spring 2024, they plan to launch a record-only unit (it consists of solely the Moonlight digicam and recording board). This may be linked to any Walksnail Avatar VTX, providing a modular strategy that reduces prices and simplifies replacements.

Firmware Updates

Throughout my testing, Walksnail had launched 4 firmware updates, showcasing their dedication to bettering the Moonlight digicam. Whereas it was a bit bit annoying for the reviewers having to retest it each time, hopefully when it will get to the shopper’s hand, a lot of the points would have been addressed.

The firmware replace course of is barely cumbersome as a result of want for a particular cable to bridge the 2 boards. Firstly, it could be onerous to achieve these tiny connectors you probably have a decent body, which most likely means you’d need to take the drone aside each time you wish to replace the Moonlight. Secondly, you can’t lose this tiny cable otherwise you received’t be capable of replace.

Energy Consumption Testing

25mW Output Stage

1000mW Output Stage

Energy consumption exams at numerous output ranges present that the Moonlight attracts important present, particularly when recording in 4K. The distinction in present draw between the minimal (25mW) and most (1000mW) energy ranges isn’t substantial. For security, a 9V BEC with at the very least 2A, ideally 3A, is really useful.

An necessary word: the VTX underreports the enter voltage by about 0.4V. This discrepancy is just not a problem when powered by a BEC with fixed voltage, however when you energy it immediately from a battery, it will probably make you wish to land sooner than you need to.

Learn how to Use

Connecting the Moonlight VTX to the flight controller is strictly the identical as different Walksnail VTX. You energy it from a BEC or immediately from the battery, and join RX/TX pins to a spare UART on the FC.

Within the goggles’ menu, you may choose the specified decision and body price for recording. The FPV system’s body price setting impacts the out there recording resolutions.

• Setting body price to excessive, solely 1080p 100fps/60fps/30fps can be found.
• Setting body price to straightforward, you get 4k 60fps/30fps, 2.7K 60fps/30fps in addition to 1080p60fps/30fps (100fps is just not out there).

By default, urgent the DVR document button on the goggles begins each the VTX and goggles recording.

Digicam settings like body price and backbone take about 4-5 seconds to reboot after adjustments.

Constructed-in EIS (picture stabilization) is simply out there in 2.7K decision, not out there in 1080p / 4K. Stabilization is utilized within the recorded video immediately. No gyro knowledge is recorded when built-in EIS is enabled.

However when Constructed-in EIS is disabled, the VTX information gyro knowledge in a separate file together with the video (.gcsv) which you’ll be able to import in Gyroflow for picture stabilization in publish, which I consider yields higher outcome than the built-in EIS. Due to this fact I like to recommend disabling built-in EIS and use Gyroflow for picture stabilization.

In Gyroflow, digicam and lens profiles are mechanically detected and loaded if you import footage.

• 4K 60fps bit price: 150Mbps
• 2.7K 60fps bit price: 100Mbps
• 1080p 100fps bit price: 100Mbps
• 1080p 60fps bit price: 80Mbps

Finest Settings

Walksnail appears to be nonetheless refining the firmware for the Moonlight, changes to settings and the introduction of latest options are ongoing.

Due to this fact, I’ll maintain off on publishing my most well-liked settings for the Moonlight till a secure firmware model is launched, provided that adjustments are anticipated previous to that.

Conclusion

The Walksnail Avatar Moonlight digicam/VTX package is a powerful contender within the HD FPV market. It provides 4K recording, spectacular low-light efficiency, and versatile digicam settings.

Buy the Walksnail Moonlight digicam/VTX package from the next distributors:

Whereas it exhibits promise, the Moonlight nonetheless has areas for enchancment to match the DJI O3, such because the addition of a flat shade profile, 10-bit shade, a better firmware replace course of, and the inclusion of inside reminiscence and a USB port. The O3 maintains an edge as a extra subtle and highly effective digicam. Nonetheless, for these looking for a lighter Walksnail FPV drone with out the necessity for a heavy digicam like a GoPro, the Moonlight presents a compelling different.