iFlight is among the hottest manufacturers for prebuilt Bind-N-Fly (BNF) FPV drones, they usually’ve acquired a number of 5-inch choices now that includes the brand new DJI O4 Professional Air Unit. Nonetheless, most of these fashions are basically older designs with up to date digicam mounts to accommodate the O4 Professional. The CineFlow 5 is a genuinely new design constructed particularly across the DJI O4 Professional Air Unit. As its title implies, this drone is geared in direction of cinematic flying—capturing footage that flows easily. However can it additionally deal with long-range cruising and even freestyle maneuvers? Let’s discover out.
I beforehand in contrast all of the out there 5inch BNF FPV drones with DJI O4 Professional on this purchaser’s information, let’s see the way it really preform on this evaluation 🙂
The place to Purchase?
You’ll be able to choose up the iFlight CineFlow 5 from these retailers:
What’s Included within the Field:
- 1 x SH CineFlow 5 6S O4 HD BNF
- 2 x Antennas
- 1 x Battery pad
- 4 x Propellers
- 1 x Battery strap
Specs
- Body wheelbase: 222mm
- FC: BLITZ Mini F7 Flight Controller
- ESC: BLITZ Mini E55R 4-IN-1 ESC
- Video Transmission: DJI O4 Professional Air Unit
- Motors: XING2 2207 2050KV
- Propeller: Nazgul F5Dimensions (L×W×H): 182*133*42mm
- Claimed Weight: 488±5g (precise weight: 493g)
- Takeoff Weight: ~733g (with 6S 1400mAh battery)
- Most Pace: 190 km/h (Claimed)
- Most Takeoff Altitude: 7000m (Claimed)
- Most Hover Time: Approx. 12 minutes (Claimed)
- Most Flight Distance: 5 km (Claimed)
Design & Construct High quality
The CineFlow includes a “deadcat” body format, making certain the props keep fully out of your FPV digicam’s view, making it ultimate for cinematic flying.
The drone options 3D-printed aspect panels. Though they aren’t as glossy wanting as injection-molded ones, they’re completely useful, providing respectable safety and may be eliminated to avoid wasting weight if wanted.
Body Sturdiness and Thickness:
- High/Backside Plate: 2mm
- Heart Plate: 3mm
- Arms: 5mm
DJI O4 Professional and GPS
The O4 Professional Air Unit is situated within the entrance, instantly behind the digicam. It is a intelligent design alternative as a result of it means no lengthy MIPI cable runs beneath the flight controller and the air unit doesn’t get in the way in which of the XT60 pigtail. As a substitute, you run a few actually lengthy UFL to RP-SMA extension cables for connecting the antennas.
It additionally will get respectable airflow that retains that O4 cool. The SD card slot and USB port are simply accessible.
One design difficulty, although, is the acute uncovered O4 digicam lens, susceptible in crashes and even tough landings. Oddly sufficient, this isn’t simply an remoted drawback with the CineFlow; each iFlight BNF drone that includes the O4 Professional digicam has this precise flaw—from the Nazgul ECO, Nazgul Evoque, and Afterburner to this one. It’s puzzling and considerably disappointing that iFlight hasn’t addressed this but. Defending that lens ought to have been a precedence.
It comes with 2 lengthy antennas (13cm lengthy) for the DJI O4 Professional, so sign is much less more likely to get blocked by the body or battery throughout flight. Be aware that these antennas have RP-SMA connectors, not SMA!
The GPS module is hidden below the antenna TPU mount simply above the connectors, you may’t actually see it from the surface. Simply want they made a cutout to show the antenna which is healthier for sign.
Receiver Antenna
The receiver antenna is mounted horizontally proper beneath the O4 antennas—this can be a widespread observe in prebuilt drones as a result of it’s simple, however not ultimate for long-range flying. In case you’re seeking to push distances past a few kilometers, it’s best to most likely reposition the receiver antenna vertically and away from any obstructions. Right here’s a useful information on optimum antenna mounting: https://oscarliang.com/antenna-positioning/
Motors and LED Lighting
The motors, though unlabeled, are XING2 2207 at a notably excessive 2050KV ranking. This KV is extremely excessive for 6S setups, which suggests you’ll have loads of energy however probably sacrifice effectivity.
There’s additionally an LED strip contained in the body, including a refined aesthetic contact in the dead of night, however you may’t actually see it throughout day time so form of pointless to be sincere until you fly at night time.
Weight Concerns
Whereas iFlight claims a weight round 488g with out a battery, my measurements confirmed it coming in barely heavier at 493g. With a GNB 6S 1100mAh LiPo battery, the drone weighs round 685g; add a GoPro 11, and the whole weight hits roughly 845g.
Upkeep
Accessing inner electronics is simple, you’ll must take away the eight top-plate screws, in addition to the XT60 connector mounted beneath the highest plate. As soon as eliminated the highest plate, you’ll discover the elements and wiring are tightly packed, however the construct high quality is superb, tidy, and well-organized.
Flight Efficiency
My first impression flying the iFlight CineFlow is that it feels extraordinarily quick and responsive, because of these high-KV motors. I initially anticipated poor effectivity because of the extraordinarily excessive motor KV, however I nonetheless managed round 5 minutes of flight time on a 6S 1100mAh LiPo, which is about common for a 5-inch FPV drone.
What genuinely impressed me was how well-tuned the PID and filters are proper out of the field—I’d simply fee it a strong 9 out of 10. That speaks volumes about iFlight’s design and the care they put into their manufacturing facility tune. The drone felt exceptionally easy, with very minimal propwash. Nonetheless, I did discover some slight wobble in windy circumstances, most likely because of the CineFlow’s tail-heavy steadiness. Why is tail-heaviness problematic? Effectively, motors on the heavier aspect should consistently work tougher, which limits their skill of adjusting RPM and results in much less stability.
One other good contact is the correct present sensor calibration, giving dependable battery consumption knowledge straight from the manufacturing facility.
Cinematic
Unquestionably, the CineFlow excels right here. Given its purpose-built cinematic design, the CineFlow handles exceptionally easily in flight. Responsive monitoring, steady cruising, and minimal vibrations or “jello” within the footage make this drone implausible for cinematic pictures.
Lengthy-Vary
The drone consists of GPS and has comparatively good vary capabilities, particularly with its lengthy O4 antennas. However keep in mind, the receiver antenna place isn’t optimum for excessive vary. Changes could also be needed if you happen to recurrently fly past a few kilometers. Though the motor KV is extraordinarily excessive, so long as you retain your throttle at minimal it’s best to get some long way utilizing a big Li-ion battery like those from our sponsor: https://bit.ly/41qcvcT
Freestyle
Regardless of its cinematic roots, the CineFlow has surprisingly sturdy freestyle potential because of its high-KV motors. It has loads of punch for flips, rolls, and acrobatic maneuvers, however be aware: aggressive freestyle flying will drain your battery quicker than you would possibly count on.
Downsides
Whereas I like the flight efficiency, the CineFlow isn’t with out its flaws:
- Doesn’t include O4 Professional ND filter – which is crucial for cinematic footage: https://oscarliang.com/nd-filter-fpv/
- Uncovered Digital camera Lens: The DJI O4 digicam lens protrudes too far, leaving it susceptible in crashes and onerous landings.
- No Constructed-in Buzzer: I used to be disillusioned that an costly drone like this didn’t embody a buzzer out of the field.
- Tail-Heavy Steadiness: With out an motion digicam mounted within the entrance, the drone is noticeably tail heavy, affecting stability barely.
- Suboptimal Receiver Antenna Mounting: iFlight mounted the receiver antenna the “lazy means”, horizontally beneath the video antennas. It’s acceptable for close-range flying however not ultimate for longer-range functions.
- Excessive Worth, Common Worth: Actually, for the worth, the CineFlow’s {hardware} and total design don’t absolutely justify the $655 price ticket. I’m not paid to say this, and I even bought the GEPRC Vapor D5 with my very own cash, however as compared, the Vapor looks like a considerably higher worth—you merely get extra for much less cash.
- Very minimal accent bundle, and solely embody one set of propellers!
- Utilizing Lifeless ESC Firmware: The ESCs come loaded with BLHeli_32 firmware v32.9. Whereas this isn’t essentially a dealbreaker (most individuals most likely gained’t discover the distinction), BLHeli_32 improvement has successfully stopped. A extra future-proof firmware, like AM32 or Bluejay, would’ve been preferable.
Methods to Setup
Earlier than the primary flight, I did the next:
- Eliminated all labels on the drone.
- Eliminated the motor route playing cards—these point out the motor spin route (which is utilizing Betaflight default – props in).
- Eliminated the protecting movie from the digicam lens.
- Placed on the 2 O4 antennas
- Positioned the battery pad on the highest plate.
- Put in the 2 battery straps
- Plug in a battery utilizing a smoke stopper for testing, be sure it powers up effective.
Firmware
- The flight controller (FC) board goal is IFLIGHT_BLITZ_F722, and it comes preloaded with Betaflight firmware model 4.5.1. For inventory CLI Diff, see right here.
- ESC Firmware: ESC BLHeli_32 firmware v32.9.
- ELRS Receiver Firmware Goal: iFlight 2.4GHz RX, ELRS 3.5.3 firmware (ISM2G4)
Betaflight Setup
Earlier than first flight, placed on the propellers, it’s utilizing “props out” configuration.
Conclusion
Whereas the iFlight CineFlow 5-inch FPV drone has some excellent qualities—significantly its nice freestyle functionality and spectacular PID tune for easy, cinematic footage—it’s not with out shortcomings. Suboptimal receiver antenna placement limits its long-range potential, and the high-KV motors cut back effectivity and flight occasions.
Most significantly, the $655 price ticket feels steep contemplating the drone’s pretty customary {hardware} and the competitors out there. For instance, the GEPRC Vapor D5 I not too long ago reviewed supplies comparable efficiency for over $200 much less. And with the uncovered O4 digicam, it’s simply asking for bother down the street.
Regardless of these downsides, the CineFlow is a high-quality drone that flies nice out of the field, because of its glorious construct high quality and well-tuned PID. In case you determine to get the Cineflow, simply strive to not crash! 🙂
Purchase it right here: