The Walksnail Moonlight digital camera/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 facets, surpasses the DJI O3, the Moonlight package presents itself as an attention-grabbing possibility. This evaluate delves into my private experiences with the Moonlight, evaluating it head-to-head with the DJI O3.
New to Walksnail FPV system? Be taught extra on this article: https://oscarliang.com/setup-avatar-fpv-system/
Nonetheless questioning which FPV system it is best to get in 2024? Try my purchaser’s information: https://oscarliang.com/fpv-system/
The place to Purchase?
Get the Walksnail Moonlight digital camera/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
- Large Energy Enter: 7.4V-25.2V
- Energy consumption: [email protected], [email protected]
- Reminiscence card kind: 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 appropriate with the next FPV goggles / receiver module:
It’s not appropriate with DJI Goggles.
What’s the Moonlight Equipment?
Much like the DJI O3, the Walksnail Moonlight is a digital camera/VTX combo that gives 4K recording capabilities whereas streaming HD stay movies again to the FPV goggles on the bottom. This package probably eliminates the necessity for extra motion digital camera on the drone, simplifying setups and decreasing total weight and value.
The Moonlight not solely information in 1080p, 2.7K, and 4K resolutions but additionally options digital picture stabilization (EIS). The digital camera settings enable for handbook management, together with shutter velocity and ISO, which is essential for capturing high-quality footage in varied lighting circumstances.
You may be taught extra in regards to 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. Nevertheless, the Moonlight affords higher mounting flexibility with each 20x20mm and 25.5×25.5mm M2 mounting holes, enabling direct mounting onto most drone frames available on the market.
The Moonlight digital camera has a 19mm width identical to any customary micro digital camera. 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 includes a twin antenna setup for constant sign, the antennas are particular person, not like 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 digital camera is linked to the VTX by way of a MIPI connector and it’s removable.
The digital camera cable lengths and antenna lengths are comparable between the O3 and Moonlight.
Dimensions and Weight Comparability:
| Moonlight | O3 | |
| Weight | 43g | 40g |
| VTX Dimensions (mm) | 34.5 x 34.5 x 15.3 | 30.5 x 30.5 x 14.5 |
| Digicam dimension (mm) | 19.6 x 19 x 24 | 20 x 20 x 21.2 |
The Moonlight digital camera’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 appropriate with micro SD card as much as 256GB.
It comes with an ND8 filter which is definitely attachable and removable, affords lens safety however is over 2 grams heavier and significantly bulkier than typical O3 ND filters. It will possibly probably be obstructed by the entrance standoffs, making it tough 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 be included, for brilliant sunny day and snowy days, however ND8 must be fairly versatile for a lot of conditions.
The absence of a USB port on the Moonlight VTX means SD card elimination is important for footage switch and firmware updates, which could be much less handy in comparison with the O3.
One other benefit of the DJI O3 is its 20GB inner reminiscence. Whereas it could not appear vital because it solely holds about 20 minutes of footage, it could actually prevent from going residence empty-handed if you neglect your SD card. I want the Moonlight supplied the same characteristic.
Moonlight’s digital camera cable is about 12cm lengthy whereas the antenna wires are about 5.5cm (excluding the plastic tube half).
Latency and Flying Expertise
The Moonlight supplies a flying expertise just like different Walksnail Avatar VTX and cameras, with the added benefit of onboard recording.
By way of latency, the Moonlight matches or barely outperforms the DJI O3, significantly 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 ideally suited in some instances.
Due to Moonlight’s starlight sensor, the system’s low mild efficiency is especially spectacular, outperforming the DJI O3 in difficult lighting circumstances. Its skill to seize clear and detailed photos in near-darkness is a big benefit for evening 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 digital camera if potential. For steering on tuning your quads, try my tutorial: https://oscarliang.com/fpv-drone-tuning/. Gyroflow appears to be fairly efficient in minimizing jello in order that’s price a attempt.
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 digital camera affords handbook settings that can enchantment to skilled pilots, presently you may regulate the next settings:
- Decision / Body Charge
- Sharpness
- Publicity Worth
- Saturation
- White Stability
- ISO
- Shutter Velocity
Nevertheless, it’s price noting that not like the DJI O3, the Moonlight lacks flat shade profile or 10bit recording functionality and doesn’t provide 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 submit (resembling Gyroflow).
By way of picture high quality, it’s fairly subjective. The Moonlight impresses with clear contrasts and sharpness, the benefit is particularly noticeable in low mild.
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 discipline of view (Large setting).
In evening time circumstances, the Moonlight is the clear winner in low mild. 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 modifications, which may appear a bit unnatural. Hopefully, this may be addressed in future firmware updates. Right here’s a brief clip from the Moonlight digital camera 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 method that the 2 boards will be separated. This makes restore more economical as you solely want to switch the broken board, not the entire unit.
In response to Walksnail, in spring 2024, they plan to launch a record-only unit (it contains solely the Moonlight digital camera 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 enhancing the Moonlight digital camera. Whereas it was a bit bit annoying for the reviewers having to retest it each time, hopefully when it will get to the client’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 will be exhausting to succeed in these tiny connectors if in case you have a good body, which most likely means you’d need to take the drone aside each time you wish to replace the Moonlight. Secondly, you can not lose this tiny cable otherwise you gained’t be capable of replace.
Energy Consumption Testing
25mW Output Degree
| Enter Voltage | Not Recording | 1080p 100fps | 4K 60fps |
| 7V | 1.6A | 1.8A | 2.0A |
| 9V | 1.3A | 1.4A | 1.55A |
| 12V | 0.95A | 1.05A | 1.2A |
1000mW Output Degree
| Not Recording | 1080p 100fps | 4K 60fps | |
| 7V | 1.8A | 1.95A | 2.3A |
| 9V | 1.4A | 1.55A | 1.8A |
| 12V | 1.05A | 1.15A | 1.35A |
Energy consumption exams at varied output ranges present that the Moonlight attracts vital 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 vital be aware: the VTX underreports the enter voltage by about 0.4V. This discrepancy is just not a difficulty when powered by a BEC with fixed voltage, however if you happen to energy it straight from a battery, it could actually make you wish to land sooner than it is best 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 straight 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 charge for recording. The FPV system’s body charge setting impacts the obtainable recording resolutions.
- Setting body charge to excessive, solely 1080p 100fps/60fps/30fps can be found.
- Setting body charge to plain, you get 4k 60fps/30fps, 2.7K 60fps/30fps in addition to 1080p60fps/30fps (100fps is just not obtainable).
By default, urgent the DVR file button on the goggles begins each the VTX and goggles recording.
Digicam settings like body charge and backbone take about 4-5 seconds to reboot after modifications.
Constructed-in EIS (picture stabilization) is just obtainable in 2.7K decision, not obtainable in 1080p / 4K. Stabilization is utilized within the recorded video straight. No gyro information is recorded when built-in EIS is enabled.
However when Constructed-in EIS is disabled, the VTX information gyro information in a separate file together with the video (.gcsv) which you’ll be able to import in Gyroflow for picture stabilization in submit, which I consider yields higher consequence 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, digital camera and lens profiles are routinely detected and loaded if you import footage.
- 4K 60fps bit charge: 150Mbps
- 2.7K 60fps bit charge: 100Mbps
- 1080p 100fps bit charge: 100Mbps
- 1080p 60fps bit charge: 80Mbps
Finest Settings
Walksnail appears to be nonetheless refining the firmware for the Moonlight, changes to settings and the introduction of recent options are ongoing.
Due to this fact, I’ll maintain off on publishing my most popular settings for the Moonlight till a steady firmware model is launched, provided that modifications are anticipated previous to that.
Conclusion
The Walksnail Avatar Moonlight digital camera/VTX package is a powerful contender within the HD FPV market. It affords 4K recording, spectacular low-light efficiency, and versatile digital camera settings.
Buy the Walksnail Moonlight digital camera/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 inner reminiscence and a USB port. The O3 maintains an edge as a extra subtle and highly effective digital camera. Nonetheless, for these in search of a lighter Walksnail FPV drone with out the necessity for a heavy digital camera like a GoPro, the Moonlight presents a compelling various.