Throughout the wide range of different FPV drones, there are three main types, the Cinewhoop of 3-inch, 5-inch, and 7-inch drones. This is a guide into which is best to buy for you and what the strengths and weaknesses of each drone are.
This article was submitted through the GetFPV Community Program by Aidan Henriques. You can follow Aidan on Instagram or YouTube.
Disclaimer: This article was written solely by a member of the FPV Community. Views and advice in this article are that of the author and does not necessarily reflect the opinion or views of GetFPV.
Cinewhoop
The Cinewhoop is the smallest of the three and is usually used for slow, cinematic shots. Here is a quick example of a cinewhoop shot. Cinewhoops generally have a very low thrust-to-weight ratio meaning that they are not as capable of doing freestyle maneuvers like a 5-inch is. Cinewhoops tend to have the least amount of flight time out of the three because they are lifting a lot of weight for the motor and prop size. This requires the motors to draw much more current to keep the drone in the air in comparison to something like a 7-inch. Cinewhoops also don’t fly the best in general and are sometimes unstable and hard to fly if not properly built and tuned. In regards to price, cinewhoops are generally cheaper because their parts are smaller and more inexpensive, but it really depends on which parts you chose. If you are mainly looking to get slower cinematic shots going through small gaps, the cinewhoop may be for you. However, if you are looking to do long-range flying or fast freestyle maneuvers, you want to consider a 5-inch or 7-inch instead.
3-inch Cinewhoop Pros and Cons
- Pros
- Generally cheaper
- Small to fit through gaps
- Capable of slow cinematic shots
- Cons
- Short flight times
- Poor flight performance
- Limited acrobatically
Where to buy
Great built and ready to fly options: https://www.getfpv.com/ready-to-fly-quadcopters/3-rtf-quadcopters.html
Buy your own parts here: https://www.getfpv.com
5-inch
The 5-inch freestyle drone is the most agile of the three. It is mainly used for freestyle, racing, or fast cinematic shots. Here is a quick example of the type of flying a 5-inch drone performs. 5-inch drones have a very high thrust-to-weight ratio, meaning they can perform amazing maneuvers like dives, flips, and rolls. 5-inch drones are also reasonably efficient with flight times ranging from 3-8mintues depending on how aggressive you fly the drone. Many 5-inch drones, if built and tuned properly, fly super smooth and they provide a great experience that feels as if you are flying like a bird. Aside from small beginner whoops, a 5-inch is probably the best place for a beginner because it has the best of all worlds and is the most popular of the different FPV drone types. If you are looking to do cool acrobatic maneuvers and freestyle tricks, the 5-inch drone is probably the best option for you.
5-inch Freestyle Drone Pros and Cons
- Pros
- Very maneuverable and agile
- Somewhat efficient
- Great general FPV drone
- Cons
- Hard to do very slow precision maneuvers
- Not able to do very long range
Where to buy
Great built and ready to fly options: https://www.getfpv.com/ready-to-fly-quadcopters/5-rtf-quadcopters.html
Buy your own parts here: https://www.getfpv.com
7-inch
The 7-inch FPV drone has one main purpose which is long-range flying. Although some can be used for light freestyle maneuvers too, many people fly 7-inch drones because of their efficiency. They are able to fly for upwards of 15–20 minutes depending on the battery and flying intensity. Here is a quick example of footage taken on a 7-inch drone. 7-inch drones are great for long-range cruising but do cost a bit more to build or buy. A 7-inch drone is probably not the best for a beginner because of the large risk involved with long-range flying. However, for an experienced pilot, a 7-inch drone is a great option to get some cool shots. If you are into cinematic long-range cruising, a 7-inch drone is probably the best option for you.
7-inch Drone Pros and Cons
- Pros
- Very efficient
- Good for long-range flying
- Cons
- Not very agile
- Big and bulky
Where to buy
Great built and ready to fly options: https://www.getfpv.com/ready-to-fly-quadcopters/6-rtf-quadcopters.html
Buy your own parts here: https://www.getfpv.com