FPV Goggles offers immersive drone flying experience, it’s like sitting in the cockpit of the aircraft, hence the name FPV flying (first person view). This guide is to provide the information you need to decide on which FPV goggles best suits you.
We will go through some of the important factors you should consider when buying a new pair of FPV goggles, but first let me introduce you to all of the popular FPV Goggles options on the market right now.
Table of Contents
The Best FPV Goggles (Analog)
If you are looking for the very best FPV Goggles for analog, undoubtedly it would be the Fatshark HDO2 and Skyzone SKY04X. These two have almost the same specs: sharp and clear OLED displays with 1280×960 resolution offering 46° FOV, adjustable focus adjustment and high quality finish.
But there are a few things makes the Skyzone stand out more, such as its easy to use OSD menu, free receiver module and faceplate options. You can’t go wrong with the Fatshark, but the SKY04X is better value IMO.
Purchase the SKY04X from:
- Banggood – https://oscarliang.com/product-9voe
- RDQ – https://oscarliang.com/product-j1cf
- Amazon – https://amzn.to/30262FJ
- NBD – https://oscarliang.com/product-h12o
Purchase the HDO2 from:
- Banggood: http://bit.ly/hdo-2
- RDQ: http://bit.ly/330JEg0
- GetFPV: http://bit.ly/2NnWX3s
- Amazon: https://amzn.to/2K2F21v
The Best Mid-Tier Goggles
I don’t normally recommend buying cheap binocular goggles because most of the times they save cost by cutting corners. The Fatshark Attitude V6 is one of the exceptions, they have decent build quality and yet reasonably priced.
For $300-ish, you get a goggles with diversity receivers, though you can also swap it out with another more premium module of your choice.
Although the screens are not OLED, but LCD, the 1280×960 resolution is really high for a slimline goggles at this price point. The field of view is also pretty decent at 39°. With the HDMI input, it is compatible with HDZero and Walksnail Avatar. The included receiver module is good but not the greatest. If you fly often in areas with lots of interference you might still end up upgrading it to Rapidfire or TBS fusion, so some people might still prefer getting the SKY04X.
Purchase the Attitude V6 from:
The Best Affordable Box Goggles
I’ve never liked a box goggles this much. It might be a little pricey, but it is well built and feature filled.
Here are some of the pro’s:
- Large 50° FOV
- You can wear your own glasses while flying
- It has a receiver module bay
- Super flexible power options – can be powered from 18650, 2S – 6S LiPo and USB-C
- User-friendly menu / interface, extremely customizable with a ton of options
- The built-in DVR is great quality
- Comfortable fit (for me)
- HDMI Input – compatible with HDZero and Walksnail Avatar
To learn more about this goggles check out my review.
Get the Skyzone Cobra X from:
- Banggood (S and X): https://oscarliang.com/product-z048
- RDQ (S version): https://oscarliang.com/product-ui8f
- RDQ (X version): https://oscarliang.com/product-xslf
The Cheapest Worth Having Goggles
The Eachine EV800D has been around for years and proven to work well. It comes with diversity receivers, built-in DVR as well as antennas. The list of features these goggles offer is pretty impressive considering the cheap price.
The EV800D goggle utilises one single larger screen which is then further enlarged by a lens. This provides a much bigger field of view than other more expensive compact goggles.
The downside of any box goggles is being bulkier and heavier. Some might also dislike the overly large FOV for having to look at different areas of the screen.
Buy the EV800D from:
- AliExpress: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DdkKba7
- GetFPV: https://oscarliang.com/product-cd8a
- RDQ: https://oscarliang.com/product-4c0e
- Banggood: https://oscarliang.com/product-g91l
FPV Goggles Comparison Charts
Box Style Goggles
Box Goggles are relatively cheaper and offers a large field of view. They usually have built-in video receivers so you won’t have to spend extra.
Some box goggles are roomy and allow you to wear your glasses when putting them on. They also have no limit on IPD (Inter-pupillary distance), which can be helpful for people with extreme IPD that might cause trouble focusing on the two small screens in slimline goggles.
 |  |  |  |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Model | Eachine EV800D | Skyzone Cobra S | Skyzone Cobra X | Fatshark Scout |
| Price | $99 | $170 | $220 | $230 |
| Shops | Banggood | Amazon | Banggood | Banggood | RDQ | RDQ | GetFPV |
| Resolution | 800 x 480 | 800 x 480 | 1280 x 720 | 1136 x 640 |
| Ratio | 16:9 & 4:3 | 4:3 | 16:9 & 4:3 | 16:9 |
| FOV | 50°+ | 50° | 50° | 50° |
| Built-in VRX | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Channels | 40ch | 48ch | 48ch | 40ch |
| DVR | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Diversity | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Weight | 362g | 332g | 332g | 337g |
Binocular Style Goggles – Budget Class (Below $450)
Binocular-style FPV goggles are compact, lightweight and easy to carry around. However they might not fit everyone’s face due to its compact construction. It’s best if you borrow from friends and try them out before buying.
 | |  |  |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Model | Eachine EV200D | Fatshark Attitude V6 | Eachine EV300D | Skyzone SKY02O |
| Price | $300 | $350 | $360 | $370 |
| Shops | Banggood | RDQ | Banggood | GetFPV | Banggood | Banggood |
| Display | LCD | LCOS | LCOS | OLED |
| FOV | 42° | 39° | 42° | 29° |
| Resolution | 1280 x 720 | 1280 X 960 | 1280 x 960 | 640 x 400 |
| Ratio | 4:3 & 16:9 | 4:3 & 16:9 | 4:3 & 16:9 | 16:10 |
| IPD | 56-72mm | 54-74 mm | 56-72mm | 59-69mm |
| Focal Adjust | No | +2 to -6 | TBC | No |
| RX Module | Included Modular | Included Modular | Included Modular | Built-in 48ch |
| DVR | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Audio Output | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| HDMI In | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | TBC | 199g | 208g | 207g |
Binocular Style FPV Goggles – Top of the Line ($450 or Higher)
These are the slimline FPV Goggles that provides the best display clarity and features.
 |  |  |  |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Model | Eachine EV300O | Skyzone SKY04X V2 | Fatshark HDO2 | Orqa FPV.ONE Pilot |
| Price | $450 | $500 | $500 | $569 |
| Shops | Banggood | RDQ | NBD | Banggood | GetFPV | Banggood | GetFPV | Orqa |
| Display | OLED | OLED | OLED | OLED |
| FOV | 38° | 46° | 46° | 37° |
| Resolution | 1024×768 | 1280X960 | 1280×960 | 1280×960 |
| Ratio | 4:3 & 16:9 | 4:3 & 16:9 | 4:3 & 16:9 | 4:3 & 16:9 |
| IPD | 58-71mm | 58-71mm | 54-74mm | 56-74mm |
| Focal Adjust | +6 to -6 | +6 to -6 | +2 to -6 | -4 to +4 |
| VRX Module | Included Modular | Included Modular | Not Included | Not Included |
| Audio Output | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| HDMI In | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 262g | 267g | 208g | 210g |
DJI FPV Goggles
All of the above are FPV Goggles for the analogue FPV system. DJI FPV Goggles supports the DJI FPV system and it’s amazing flying in 720p 120fps video compared to analog. You can also use the DJI FPV Goggles for analog through its AV input. Some people get them so they can have the best of both worlds.
However, the DJI goggles are not cheap at $529. They also don’t support analog out of the box – you need an analog receiver module (like Rapidfire or TBS Fusion) and a module adapter (like the BDI Digidapter). The fit isn’t as good as the top end analogue goggles and they are almost as big as box goggles, and you will probably need to invest in better facepalte foam and headstrap before they are comfy. Many people upgrade the antennas too, and you can easily spend another $300 on all the upgrades at this point.
If you decide to go with DJI’s FPV system, you don’t really have a choice when it comes to FPV Goggles, so that’s easy :) Only get them if you fly DJI as well.
Some users complain that DJI goggles have more latency than analog goggles when flying with analog system. We could be talking 10ms difference here, me personally don’t notice the difference.
Take a look at my DJI FPV system review to learn more.
Monitor vs. FPV Goggles
You can also use a monitor to fly FPV, with some advantages apart from just cost, such as allowing the pilot to easily switch between LOS and FPV. A monitor can also make it more convenient for those who wear glasses, though some manufacturers of goggles now offer diopter lenses, even catering to specific prescriptions.
I’d whole-heartedly recommend getting a proper FPV goggles over a monitor, but if you insist on a monitor, here are the things to consider:
- Correct video Input: Make sure the monitor supports an AV input that is compatible with your video receiver
- Size: In my opinion, the minimum screen size for an FPV monitor is 7 inch, any smaller and it becomes difficult to see clearly
- Brightness and Backlight: It’s important to be able to adjust the brightness of a monitor, and one with a backlight will serve you better. Flying in sunny conditions can wash out the colour and make it difficult to see the screen, even if you use a sun shield
- Non-Blue Screen: When receiving weak or no video signal, some monitors revert to a blue screen (or black). This is unsuitable for FPV, because when you’re on the verge of losing signal the screen will simply go blank, your quad will usually be far away at this point and invariably heading for the nearest puddle too! A screen that shows static when there is no signal is ideal, you might still recognize a vague image, allowing you to return to an area with better reception and avoid the dangerous zone. You can however, “fix” the blue screen issue by adding a DVR in between the VRX and monitor.
Basically any screen with an AV input can be hooked up to a 5.8GHz video receiver, for example:
- Banggood – https://oscarliang.com/product-kxuf
- Amazon (affiliate link) – https://amzn.to/3sOTPkb
You can even use your TV, smartphone or tablets for FPV by using an analogue to digital video converter like these:
- AV to HDMI Converter: https://oscarliang.com/product-8q7e
- Video Receiver with USB Output: https://oscarliang.com/product-mumu
However this is not something I’d recommend because of the high latency of these systems. For spectating, this is probably okay though.
FPV Goggles Form Factor
There are 2 form factors in FPV Goggles:
- Low Profile “Slimline” Goggles
- Box Goggles
Binocular style “Slimline” FPV goggles have two little screens up to half an inch to display a duplicated image.
They are considerably smaller and lighter than Box goggles, and very easy to carry around. Not to mention they don’t make you look like you have your face stuck in a toaster oven! These goggles are usually more expensive due to the higher costs of the micro displays.
“Box” FPV headsets are usually significantly cheaper and have the image displayed on a single LCD screen of 3 to 6 inch and magnified by some sort of lens.
Some might find box goggles more comfortable to wear than slimline goggles due to the larger contact area between your face and the goggles, but they can also weigh more. Another benefit of box goggles is they usually feel more immersive because of the larger FOV. For racers however, a smaller FOV is usually preferable to maintain a ‘tunnel vision’ like focus.
Price
Flying FPV doesn’t have to be expensive, you can fly just fine with a small $30 monitor, or a $100 box goggles. To get all the best features and image quality, your FPV goggles can cost up to $500 or more. Don’t worry though, there are a lot of good and cheap options to choose from.
FPV Goggles are a long term investment! It’s okay to spend a little more.
Unlike a multirotor, FPV goggles can’t crash and explode into a million pieces (assuming you are putting them on your head, and not on your drone). They are going to be one of the longest-lasting pieces of equipment in your RC career, and you will be using them with all of your quads.
Therefore It’s okay to spend as much as you can afford on your FPV Goggles.
Resolution
Just like any normal display screen, the higher the resolution the better the picture quality (theoretically).
However, with the limitation of current FPV camera resolutions and what the 5.8Ghz analog video transmission system is able to handle, you might not benefit from high resolution.
800×600 is more than enough in most cases, since PAL and NTSC camera formats only offer resolutions of up to 720×576 and 720×486 respectively. But as FPV systems and technology advance, high resolution FPV goggles will retain their usefulness, for example, the Fatshark Shark Byte FPV system requires a goggles with at least 720p resolution (1280×720) with an HDMI input.
Some HD goggles even support HDMI input so you can hook them up to a computer as an external monitor, it can benefit from having higher res.
Aspect Ratio
In FPV goggles, there are two common aspect ratios for displaying videos, 16:9 and 4:3.
You want to match this aspect ratio to your FPV camera for the best viewing experience, otherwise the image will appear distorted – either stretched or squashed. Currently FPV cameras either support 16:9 or 4:3, some cameras even support both (selectable in settings).
Most FPV goggles have a native 4:3 ratio, and if they also support 16:9 mode, the top and bottom side of the image would be cropped. This is a flexible solution at the cost of screen field of view.
If the specs sheet didn’t mention aspect ratio, you can identify it by looking at resolution, for example 1280×960 would be 4:3 while 1280×720 would be 16:9.
Field of View (FOV)
The FOV of FPV goggles is a measurement of how big the image appears to your eyes. For example, with a 35 degree FOV in your FPV Goggles, the edges of the screen are at 35 degree angle from the centre point of your eyes.
Don’t get mixed up with camera FOV, these are totally unrelated numbers.
Check out this FOV comparison tool between different FPV goggles.
Generally speaking, box goggles has a field of view between 50-80 degrees, while slimline goggles has a 25-50 degrees FOV.
FOV is mostly a personal preference. My preferred FOV range on a low profile goggles is 35 to 45.
The larger the FOV, the more immersive the picture is. But when FOV gets too large it can become counterproductive in certain situations, and you have to move your eyes a lot to see the edges of the screen, especially when you use OSD (on screen display) to display flight info. Racing pilots might also find a smaller FOV easier to focus.
IPD
Everyone has different IPD (Inter-pupillary Distance), which is the distance between the centre of the two pupils.
IPD is only relevant to goggles with two separate optics. It plays a big role in your FPV experience, because an incorrect IPD setting will cause the image edges to look blurry.
Most “Slimline” FPV Goggles offer adjustable IPD and it helps to keep the FPV screens ideally positioned specific to your eyes. Differences in IPD is one of the main reasons we suggest trying a pair of goggles before committing a purchase.
Get your IPD measured first – ask someone to help you with a ruler.
And if you wear glasses, goggles with adjustable focal length, or those compatible with diopters lenses would be really helpful.
Other Features
DVR
Having a DVR (digital video recorder) enables you to record your flight video on a Micro SD card. Most goggles with a DVR allow you to play back the footage, which can help locate your model if you crash! Alternatively you can get an external DVR like this one.
HDMI Input
It allows you to connect your goggles to your computer as a display, you can watch movies, or play with FPV simulators; Having an HDMI input also means it’s compatible with some digital FPV systems such as HDZero and Walksnail Avatar.
3D Support
It allows you to use 3D FPV Camera/Transmitter system. But there’s currently not many choices when it comes to 3D camera setup so it’s not really an important consideration.
Audio Output
By installing a microphone in your drone, you can listen to the changing motor RPM, and it gives you a more connected feeling. Many goggles offer audio output via a headphone jack. See this post to learn how to setup audio for FPV
Anti-fog Fan
Your goggles can get foggy when it’s hot and humid. Some goggles are equipped with a fan to clear the fog which is handy
Head Tracking
It’s not used that often, but a good to have feature. It allows the goggles to recognize the pilot’s head movements and sync them with a gimbal-mounted camera onboard the drone. So as the pilot moves their head the camera moves too. This creates an even more immersive FPV experience. A gimbal can add a lot of weight though, so it’s probably more useful for fixed wing platforms than multirotors
Headset Colour
Colour is mostly a personal preference. Black or other darker colour goggles tends to get hot more often under the sun, but lighter colours might be more likely to suffer from light leakage through the plastic on certain goggles. That’s another good reason to check out my reviews before making your decision.
Pro Tip – Don’t Leave Your Goggles Facing direct sun light
With the optics in the goggles, direct sun light becomes deadly to the display and it can burn them if you leave them exposed to the sun for too long. Make sure you keep the displays/optics facing away from the sun when you put them down.
Video Receiver Module
Some FPV goggles might come with video receiver (VRX) integrated, this can be great because you don’t have to spend extra on a receiver, however you are limited to what features are available.
There are a ton of 3rd party made receiver modules that are more feature filled, and designed for different purposes, such as long range 2.4Ghz support, diversity, support for different 5.8Ghz channels, and more.
Having an external receiver module bay can be flexible and powerful.
Diversity Receiver
To get a more reliable signal, a diversity is a recommended feature in your video receiver.
A diversity system consists of two video receivers in the same module, it will automatically choose the receiver with stronger signal to maintain the best possible video link. Some more advanced diversity system can merge the two signals into one.
Each receiver has its own antenna, and you can point these antennas in different directions. You can even use different types of antenna such as directional and omni-directional for the best result.
Further Reading: How to choose the best FPV antennas?
Be aware of the difference between “antenna diversity” and “receiver diversity”. They might look the same from the outside, but perform differently.
“Antenna diversity” only uses a single receiver so the 2 antennas aid one another with signal reception, hence is cheaper to make. “Receiver diversity” is the better system as it utilizes two (or more) receivers.
External Receiver Module Options
As you might know, all Fatshark’s FPV goggles require a receiver module to work, and there are many options out there. All the latest modules have diversity capability.
The best performing aftermarket module is probably the Rapidfire and TBS Fusion. Maximum range is about the same as other modules, but they really shine when it comes to indoor and bando flying where there is a ton of multipath interference. See my post about which module you should buy.
External Receiver Via AV In
For goggles that have AV input, you can use an external receiver, such as a ground station.
Nerdy Info on the Receiver Chip
Most receivers use the same chip – RTC6715, an integrated receiving IC made by RichWave.
(By the way, the transmitting IC is called RTC6705)
AFAIK, this is the only IC on the market at the moment that can be controlled over SPI (serial programming interface). If you see a receiver module that uses dip switches to change channels, it’s likely to be using an IC that can’t be controlled over SPI.
The RTC6715 is:
- Powered from 3.3V
- Sensitivity -85dBm
The camera sends a sync signal, but because of multipathing or losing signal, the sync pulses sometimes get distorted and are not read by the goggles. In order to minimize the flickering in the screen, we have to generate the sync pulses at the receiver.
Most 5.8Ghz analogue video receivers differ in the video processing and software. Maybe a little different in the RF signal filtering and the quality of the components, but usually the best and the worst receiver module hardware only differ in 1-3dB in sensitivity.
Diopter Inserts
If you wear glasses and cannot see the screens clearly when wearing your goggles, you can buy diopter lenses to insert in your goggles (if supported).
- Cheap plastic diopter made by Fatshark – Amazon | Banggood | GetFPV
- Glass diopter made by Skyzone – http://bit.ly/2kypWXX
Some of the latest FPV Goggles such as the SKY04X, have adjustable focal length, so diopters are not needed.
Battery Options
For FPV Goggles that only support 2S – 3S input, I explain in this article the many power and battery options for FPV goggles.
For those support up to 4S (some even up to 6S), I normally just use my drone battery to power them.
Make sure you have a way to remind yourself when voltage is running low if the goggles don’t have built-in low voltage warning.
Edit History
- March 2015 – Article created
- Apr 2017 – Updated products
- Jan 2018 – Article edited, products updated
- Apr 2018 – Added recommended options for different categories
- Sep 2019 – Updated product listing
- Jan 2020 – Added HDO2
- Mar 2021 – Updated guide, added SKY04X, EV300O, Scout, Recon V3, DJI FPV Goggles, Attitute V6, Cobra X
73 comments
Hi. I have recently got a DJI Mini2 drone and was interested in a set of FPV goggles. Can you advise me of the most compatible ones for that model?
Thanks
Simon
I own both the Aomway Commander V1S and the Fatshark Attitude V5’s. The Aomway goggles when they were available for a little under £300 made a good budget option and for comfort and lightness alone they beat every goggle out there and did a great job on the whole.
Talking about aspect ratio my Attitude V5’s have a ratio of neither 16:9 or 4:3 and its taken some getting used to, I do like the OLED screens and even after that if I’m going to be flying for more then a few packs I’ll grab the Aomways every time. The OLED is great but LCD is just fine. Saying that we all know that goggles are subjective and it’s all personal preference. To be honest any stile compact goggles £300 upwards are going to be decent except the first ever Skyzone 03’s they were bad also if anyone can remember the big red goggles with the black plate on the front, less said about those the better
EV800D or emax transporter 2? the EV800D’s are backordered.
My hero! (Always!)
As you said here:https://oscarliang.com/3d-fpv-multirotor/ 3D has very clear advantages when there are obstacles around!
I REALLY missed a line in your ‘goggle’ page/table re. “3D support” (Merged and two channel!)
Would also love to see a paragraph on ‘adding FPV’: my understanding is that I can take a Mavic 2/3 or Autel etc.(with or without Thermal IR) and EASILY(?) add FPV cam VTX and goggles, (For Emergency Services, we need to fly/video/search under forest canopies, through smoke and even in caves! (frequented by rock pythons and bats!)
I apreciate that Obstacle Avoidance sensor type becomes important!
ANY advice appreciated!
Anyone have any thoughts on using VR style headsets with inc screen or phones mounted and receivers attached for FPV?
6 inches of high res screen and decent FOV makes them better than a lot of base offerings. Would love to have a way to view FOV for googles but pan around the whole 150′ camera output with phone head tracking so doesn’t look too fish eye and a button on the side to activate and switch to phone camera (hole maybe required!) to see the thing down to the ground would be a great solution, imho.
Anyone already doing this with any success?
I have the Zeiss Cinimizer goggles. I think they are the best FPV Goggles you’ll ever find !
They are lightweight, stylish and give an excellent picture.
Now, I’m as blind as a bat, but my optician was able to make a set of lenses that fit in the blackout rubber surround for £40. That means I get a crystal clear view – which is so much fun.
I have not found any other FPV Goggles that will allow me this essential.
Correction. Fat shark Scout does have diversity. Patch Antenna sits in front of the panel housing. It’s pretty effective too.
I know it’s an old comment but if anyone else was wondering about daryl john lam’s question about using fatshark modules on skyzone;
It is possible to use an external module but it must have av-in on the goggles and av-out on the module
i have just tried rapidfire module in the ev200d and all i get is a faint snowy image of the rapidfire osd, any advice to get rapidfire working? Thanks
Fat Shark Teleporters are no longer available. Could you please remove &/or replace them from the list? Also, I believe the ev100s have been found to have an fov of 24, not 28.
What about the new Fatshark box goggles? (Recon v3 and Scout) They are getting good remarks.
Diopter Inserts : Please list one of the best custom diopter insert providers: RHO-Lens. Without their service many people with precription glasses can’t fly FPV
Hello Oscar, could you tell me what is on top of your Yicam Lens in the very first picture?? Thanks a lot :)
Lens protector? bought it years ago, don’t have a link..
Hi Oscar,
I am currently using skyzone 02 version, I wanna install an external module to improve my goggles ability, and as your review said that the receiver of the skyzone accept fatshark module, so can you help me sir ?
No, i didn’t say that. You can’t use Fatshark modules on Skyzone goggles.
It’s box goggles all the way, I wish fatshark style had a decent fov but they don’t so I’ll always fly on box goggles.
My 72 degrees fov on a high end 1280×800 screen is so immersive and I couldn’t ever fly on the 30 degree tunnel vision on low res displays that fatshark style goggles offer.
Pleeease, someone bring out a small form factor Google with box goggle spec’s!!!!
Hello Oscar, thank you very much for such valuable information.
Transmit directly from the Gopro and I’m looking for the best image quality regardless of latency, weight or size, it does not matter if it’s a monitor or if it’s box-type glasses or FatShark type, I want it to fly calmly in long range, I’ll The Eachine EV900 improves the quality of the image after processing.
Acutalmente flight with the image of the cell phone thanks to a receiver ROTG Eachine, but the quality of the image does not make me happy and I want to improve what more can.
What do you recommend me?
Thank you
I’m a novice and find this information both amazing and a tad confusing. I fly a DJI Spark and was looking for a good better than entry level FPV pair of goggle that will work with little to no effort to my spark.
I do wear mono-vision contacts, so the ability to see clearly is important and I would prefer the smaller stream lined models over the larger more bulky.
Thanks for your help!
Derek
Thank you Oscar for this guide.
Unfortunately, the Fatshark Transformer SE has only an antenna diversity. The text on the Fatshark website “720p HD panel with a built-in diversity receiver” is really really misleading.
Hi, just strarted searching for a nice goggle. These terms confuses me ( too ).
Dual antenne, dual screen, diversity etc etc…used for different meanings!
Won’t work with a DJI Spark, get a real quadcopter
The photos comparing the of the FOV in the goggles are really cool. It is very interesting seeing how different goggles handle the same test image. Most insightful.
Some questions:
1. I’m finding it difficult to compare the left and right images, though. Are they at the same dpi?
2. Are the “SKYZONE” goggles in the photo the SKYV01 or SKYV02S goggles? If it is the old version, could you add photos of the SKYV02S and SKYV03? I’m really interested in the differences and am finding it difficult to source good info online.
3. Everywhere I see it listed, the SKY02S goggles claim a 60º FOV, while your site and some other review sites claim 30º FOV. Do you perhaps know what the real FOV is?
Photo suggestions for future edits:
1. Consider adding the claimed FOV (and maybe resolution) to the images.
2. Personally I find the apartment view of the trees & buildings much more telling of the post-processing done in the goggles than the standard TV test image. Maybe use recognisable scenery of sorts in future shots.
Thanks. I’ve come to this page often. I find it very useful.
The Eachine Goggles Two should be included. They are the best box goggles I have tried. 1080p resolution, super comfortable, huge FOV, HDMI in, etc.
Would be worth to add Eachine EV800D to list of middle level box googles. They have 800×480 resolution, diversity receiving, DVR, 2-3S battery backup and are rock stable.
Please explain which goggles have audio ouput?thank you
I highly recommend trying out the Transformers. The FOV on them is AMAZING. The bulk, while significantly less than most box style, is still a bit of a headache. There is no issue with comfort but they aren’t quite as portable. And inevitably, you look a little sillier with them than the traditional goggle style. I’ve used HD3s before and going on raw image quality and immersion, the Transformers (with the Binocular viewer) are my preference.
Oscar: What about Dominator V1(99$ price)? I can’t find information anywhere. Thanks!
I love this list! I hope it keeps up to date as a TON a new headsets are coming in this year.
The most helpful thing for me is the FOV comparison/screen comparison.
Any way we could get screen shots from the Boscam series goggles? (Super curious about the 922’s and new 909’s)
and compare the FOV from the Quanum DIY’s and Headplays, etc to the the Dominators and Skyzones?
Boscam needs to do better with their market :) no one is aware of their new goggles when they come out lol :D
Thanks for this comprehensive list, Oscar!
One correction: You say the main difference between Dom V3 and Dom SE is the aspect ration, but in fact the main difference is the FOV. The SE has much larger FOV than V3. I believe the SE optics are the same as the HDV2, but I can’t say for sure.
I own the V3s and bought the SEs to compare. I posted my thoughts in RCG if you are interested: http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showpost.php?p=35547986&postcount=122
My conclusion:
For me, I prefer the smaller image in the Dom V3s because I didn’t have to move my eye around to see the corners and because it was crisp and sharp all the way across the image. So I sold the SEs for a total loss of $55 (including the shipping I paid from NG hobbies in Canadia). I guess it was worth it to me to know for sure. I agonized so long over the choice between V3 and HDV2 previously, but now I feel like I made the right choice there as well, since I iagine the things that I didn’t like about the SEs are the same on the HDV2s…
My Recommendation:
If you are all about immersion, go for the SEs. If you are all about sharpness, go for the V3s. If you have Quanums or one of those big goggles and you love how big the image is , but you want something more portable, get the SEs.
Hope this helps you guys that are on the fence!
thanks for the correction :) yes i think that’s the one thing i missed to mention :)
thank you for your thoughts too!
Last year when I built my first fpv quad, I went with the Quanum V2. The Quanums are great for beginners. First off the cost is very low so just in case you end up hating FPV, you haven’t taken a big hit. Seondly, if you end up loving fpv they are still useful if eventually buy better goggles.. You can repurpose your Quanum headset as a video monitor since you already have a receiver and battery for it. You can even cut the foam to be a sunshade if you don’t mind scrapping your kit altogether.
Attitude V3Correction:
The Attitude V3 do not have a max IPD of 72. Fatshark falsely advertises this on the V3 product page, but if you download the spec sheet, it says they have a max IPD of 69 just like all their other sets. I emailed Fatshark about this and they confirmed the max IPD is 69 and that they will correct the product page. Unfortunately, various reseller websites have copied their info from Fatshark’s product page so expect to see the incorrect IPD of 72 floating around for some time. I have an IPD of 70 and was able to use them but when I wasn’t focused on flying, I could notice that the IPD was just off. I would imagine someone with an IPD of 72 might find them unusable.
Attitude V3 v. Dominator SE
I had the chance to try these side by side before settling on the SE. I preferred the SE because it comes with a DVR and has a larger FOV than the V3s. The SE FOV falls somwhere between the Dom V2s and the HDV2s. Fatshark says they are using the same optics as the HDV2’s but the screens are obviously smaller so I am not sure what the net FOV is. Either way, it is immediately noticeable over the Attitude V3’s and a reason I would suggest getting the SE’s at the same price. The increased FOV of the SE on the same screens as the V3 does create a slightly less sharp screen. However, I found the wider FOV to be a bigger factor in my flying than the minor sharpness reduction. It was only after going back and forth side by side could I notice much of a difference. Tuning my Swift camera made far more significant image quality results than the difference between the V3 and SE picture quality. Lastly, I will say the V3’s were more comfortable and form fitting out of the box. The V3’s use a thicker foam around the face mask and that worked perfectly on my face. My SE’s took some tweaking and I ended up having to blend the thin foam at the top of the goggles with the thick foam at the bottom to best fit my face. Other than initial comfort, I prefer the SE’s over the V3’s.
Lastly, all of this just goes to further emphasize how important trying goggles for yourself is. I would highly recommend seeking out drone racing events in your area to try various goggles at product booths or to politely ask other pilots if you can try on their goggles. Every goggle, even the top of the line HDV2’s all come with a compromise of some sort.
Oh nice, it looks like Fatshark did correct the Attitude V3 IPD information on the main product page. It now shows the max of 69mm.
thanks, that’s great to know! :)
I have a waterproof HexH20 6 rotor copter. I really like it and I am a little better than a beginner in flying it. A friend has a pair of goggles and I really liked them-I want a pair bad. Money is not an issues. I am currently using the Black Pearl screen and a Fat Shark antenna that came with the system. What do you recommend? Would I have to make any changes on the system or would it be plug and play?
Thanks
I think you will be looking at aspect ratio and resolution as the main factors for Fatshark goggles. Extra features are bonus such as DVR.
I am still using the Dominator V2 as we speak, and it’s got 4:3 ratio.
Majority of the cameras are still 4:3, so this is perfect, but as time moves on, I expect to see more and more 16:9 cameras, with higher resolution, that’s where the 16:9 HD goggles would come in handy.
If budget isn’t an issue, then definitely get the highest spec goggle you can :)
will the receiver I bought help my phantom 4 on my fat sharks v3 works ok with out just thought it would be better ty
Field of view is not the angle from the center point. It’s the angle from side to side. A 360 degree field of view is the maximum, not 180.
Thanks though for collecting all this info. It’s very helpful.
i think you have misunderstood me :)
i meant exactly what you said in the comment.
Hi Oscar,
I have a tip for people with glasses especially with strong astigmatism, who basically need a more cylindrical lens than a spherical lens for correction. I have the Dominator V2 goggles.
I took a pair of my older prescription glasses that were broken and made from plastic. With a high speed drill I removed the lens part from the correction inserts that I bought for the goggles. Then I cut the same size from my prescription glasses. Be careful not to confuse left and right, front and back and do not rotate them. Finally I glued the lenses from my glasses into the inserts with epoxy. Now I have perfect view!
sounds like an interesting project, i am wondering if you had any pictures doing that mod?
would you mind sharing it on http://intofpv.com ?
Hey Oscar! I have the skyzone v1 goggles but want the immersionRC Vortex 285. Any idea if these are compatible?
Can we use sma splitter ? I want to use 2 antennas.
Hi Oscar,
I also want to say great article! I am rather new to this sport…I have a DJI Phantom and a couple of smaller/nano quads that I have been goofing around with for fun but I’ve never used a FPV setup and am very intrigued by the concept. If/when I take the plunge I want to buy something that is high quality and works well, something that will last and that I can mount on my Phantom and maybe a racing quad I’ll get in the future (Vortex!?). Do you think the Sky02 3D would be a worth-while investment for someone in my position – it is pricey but doable, especially if it will last for several aerial platforms as well as my initial plunge. I’ve seen some Youtube videos of the Sky02 and those people reviewing them seemed very pleased with the quality of the 3D experience (not to mention 3D in and of itself!). Right now I’m still in an info-gathering mode which is how I came across your great article above. Thanks for any advise/thoughts you can share…
HI OSCAR OK I JUST GOT MY DEVENTION GOGGLE 2 BUT I LOST ONE EYE PIECE CUP DO YOU KNOW WHARE I CAN GET A REPLACEMENT PART THANK YOU MUCH MOISES MENDEZ
sorry i don’t! try ebay?
Hi Oscar,
Have you or anyone else tried using the Flysight SPX01 goggles? They seem to be very comparable to the Skyzone V1, but without head tracking. Just wondering how the quality of the image and receiver would be. Thanks.
Hi there. I have just saved up for a set of goggles I have about 300 to spend. I am wondering about getting the headplays or skyzone V1s I want to get something that will be good for a long time. My curent setup is the teleporter v3 from hobbyking.
What are the best goggles on the market at the moment?
What would you recemend that I buy?
Paul
i have not tried all the goggles so i can’t recommend which is best for you. really depends on why you want to upgrade and what you are after.
I am using the fatshark domV2 and really like it.
Hi everybody.
Actually I can tell you what is the best FPV goggles.
I’ve received last week end my headplay.
It’s really well made, ultra comfortable.
Screen is huge, image nice, colors almost perfect.
But…
The picture is so huge, that your eyes have to move all the time, it’s tiring.
For me the screen is too much “in front of my eyes”
I’ve tried with the 2 lenses provided, but the problem is the same : the image is not clear, because my eyes can’t fix.
Other problem : the receiver
It’s good, but far from my skyzone V1 diversity (a planar and a circular polarized antenna).
So after trying : Fatshark Dominator HD, Skyzone 3D, Headplay, Zeiss cinemizer, diy hobbyking …
Skyzone V1 is the best value for price/performance, sharp image :-)
Mpkiteman,
I have found that the larger FOV your screen has, the wider angle lens you should install on your camera. This will help keep your eyes mostly focused on the middle of the screen.
The center of the image that is in the area where your eyes usually do not move away from, this is the area you aim your eyes for flying.
The area outside the center is the part of the image that gives you an immersive feeling, and should not be used for flying because just as you said, it makes your eyes tired.
For me, a great setup is PZ0420 camera with 2.1mm lens, viewed from Hobbyking Quanum V2 goggles. But when i change the lens to 2.8mm i have to move my eyes too much and it is unnatural.
hope this helps!
Any comments about the Epson Moverio. Sounds like they may be an ideal balance between flat screens and goggles. BTW, thank you so much Ocscar for your marvelous contributions to this hobby. Please keep up the good work!
Hello Oscar
Nice article, you’re blog is very instructive !
The resolution of the quanum fpv, resolution is 480p width and not (sadly) 640×480…
yes you are right, thanks for pointing that out!
Hi Oscar,
This is still incorrect, sorry to be pedantic. The resolution is 480pixels wide. 480p video is 640×480, but the quanum is 480px wide at 4:3… therefore it’s 480x360px resolution.
Thanks for the amazing blog!
This is a great summary article – Thank you, I found it very helpful as I’m trying to decide what to get. Please also check out the soon to be shipping Headplay, some of us at our local field think it could be a very good option for FPV. headplay.com/shop/headplay-hd-with-58ghz-rx
Thank you.
Thank you again Oscar for great article. You rock !
thanks for the donation Jussi! :D
much appreciate!
Awesome article.
I was noticing that some of the systems come with the whole package, where as others are just the goggles.
Attitude V2 vs Dominator V2 for example.
I was initially thinking I’d get the Dominator V2, but then I was finding that the camera and the transmitter was going to add any where from $40-$100. Just curious your thoughts about the included camera and transmitter with the Attitude v2? is that something that you’d be upgrading quickly? Is it worth getting the Dominator and buying the other pieces separately?
The VTX and camera included in those package are not the best you can get. Some prefer to bought those separate and those parts in the kit might never be used.
It really depends on what budget really, if you can afford it, buy them separately to get the best setup.
Hi Everybody.
I’m very lucky, because I’ve owned several pairs of goggles.
Skyzone V1
Skyzone 3D
Zeiss cinemizer
…and Quanum DIY KIT
I’m waiting for my Fatshark HD, and my new Headplay sold by GetFPV : getfpv.com/headplay-hd-fpv-headset-w-32ch-5-8ghz-receiver.html
So what I can say : Actually, I’m flying with Skyzone V1, and they’re very good. The only bad thing I can say maybe, it’s the lack of punchy colors, but that’s all.
Immersion is good because of the 16/9 LCD pannels.
Skyzone 3D : Nice image picture, very nice colors compared to the V1, for me the 3D effect is not working, but I’ve found the image very detailed with the stereo cameras.
Negative : Very poooooooor signal sensibility compared to the Skyzone V1
IPD adjustment very bad : the sliders aren’t weel thought and don’t work well
Head tracker is drifting after few minutes beacause the goggles are overheating to much : bad conception.
It could be a very good product, but it’s in fact no finished…
Zeiss : Best screens I have’ve ever seen, nice colours, nice resolution, bad FOV, the image is too small, light is coming from everywhere, even with the optional eyeshield, no receiver, too much wires (because there is a junction box with the integrated battery)…
Quanum DIY KIT : nice for my children, they can fly with dad for a very low price, but the LCD panel is not very good, bad colors, low resolution…no receiver, but can be wired to my skyzone video output :-)
I’m waiting for the headplay (GetFPV), it seems to be a high quality, high resolution display, light to use, integrated receiver, and IMMERSIVE : FOV=72° !!!!!!!! VEry excited about this product.
thanks for the great review :)
I am also interested in the GetFPV headplay, the spec looks impressive ! just found it a bit big to carry around, but it would be a cool gadget even just for indoor usage :D
really appreciate your information ! :D
keep me posted on what you think of the headplay!
OK, Oscar, no problem for the informations concerning the headplay.
It’ going to be a nice device I think.
The only thing I’m afraid is the quality of the Fresnel lens…beacause compared to lenses (even plastic ones), it creates glares and halo effects.
And I would be able to compare the headplay with the Fatsharks Dominator HD, The skyzones V1 and 3D and Zeiss cinemizers :-)
Hi Oscar !
My Headplay headset has been shipped yesterday from GetFPV :-)
It’s on the way (may be in 10 or 15 days) home.
After few day of testing, I’ll give you my first impressions.
Since last time I’ve tested Fatshark Dominator HD, and I’ve kept them only a week end.
The image is huge, but impossible to have perfect image clear in the corners (I had the last version).
Colors are oversaturated, and not so sharp than the Skyzone V1 (even if on the paper the specs are better).
Fatshark receiver is not as sensible than the Skyzone diversity receiver.
I simply returned them : for the price I expected much much more !
Actually I always have my skyzone V1 which are the best for me (and for the value).
Still loving your blog, Best regards, ;-)
wow, that’s for the update :)
it’s a pity it didn’t meet your expectation. and glad i didn’t buy it :)
Those headplays do look very promising!
32 channel integrated RX with 72° FOV.
Plus they’re strategically priced at a low $240!! Just WOW
Good summary. I went through several resources recently to decide on a set of Dominator V2s (in for a penny, in for a pound….). Still working through some teething pains with both these and the new quad, but so far, so good.
The trick of Dremeling down a pair of old lenses from my previous set of glasses and putting them in the Fat Shark-provided slots works, though I’m finding that I have to be careful about the angle I put the thing on my head. The old glasses were bifocals, so I’d probably get better results from a set of distance glasses only.
I’ve bookedmarked your articles and they’ve helped me along my learning curve. Thanks for providing this resource!
that’s so good tips there :) I have ordered some diopter lenses as well, not sure if they suit me as I am near sighted. If not I might do the same as you to mod a pair of glasses.
I’ve since seen a suggestion that some lenses can just be pushed into the rubber eye cups. I can’t confirm or deny that works, but I wish I’d tried that before cutting mine down….
i would recommend getting some dioptre lenses for these goggle, so you can cut them exactly according to those lenses :)
Nice Review Oscar :)
These lines comfort me to wait a while for this kind of investment , I will fly a long time ( I hope ) with the DIY Quanum , as fine as a good LCD , IMHO :) I try with a LCD display , but to be close to the move of the Quad , being in closer immersion is more secure for me :)
I will opt in “real” Goggles later …
thanks Garfield :D
Definitely, do lots of research and study before pressing the buy button :D
if you can, it’s best to borrow someone’s goggle and have a go yourself, after all it’s a few hundred dollars, NOT CHEAP :)