As somebody keen about FPV drones, I used to be excited to get my arms on GEPRC’s newest Cinelog30 V3 cinewhoop, which is particularly designed to help DJI’s cutting-edge O4 Professional Air Unit. After intensive testing, right here’s every part it is advisable to know from my expertise—and whether or not that is the best drone for you.
New to FPV? Try our Cinewhoop Purchaser’s Information to get began: https://oscarliang.com/cinewhoop/
The place to Purchase?
Get your Cinelog30 V2 from these distributors:
Proper out of the field, the Cinelog30 V3 comes neatly packaged with a ton of extras that FPV pilots will respect:
- 1 x Spare Body
- 2 x HQprop DT76mmx3 V2 Propellers (set of 4)
- 3 x Digital camera Canopies
- 1 x 15*150mm Battery Strap
- 1 x L-shaped Screwdriver 1.5mm
- 1 x Spare Screw Pack
- 1 x Battery Anti-slip Pad
- 1 x Damping Ball Set up Software
- 1 x Pin for DJI O4 Professional Bind Button
Specs
- Body: GEP-CL30 V3 with 2.5mm carbon fibre plate
- FC/ESC AIO Board: TAKER F722 45A 32-bit AIO
- Motor: SPEEDX2 1404 3850KV
- VTX & Digital camera: DJI O4 Air Unit Professional
- Battery Connector: XT30
- Weight (claimed): 187g
- Weight (measured): 192g
Design
The GEPRC Cinelog30 V3 isn’t simply one other cinewhoop with a modified digital camera mount. It’s clear that GEPRC designed this quad from the bottom up for DJI O4 Professional Air Unit, with particular consideration to preserving it underneath the 250g weight restrict—a threshold in lots of nations that helps pilots keep away from registration and different authorized hurdles.
In comparison with the V2, the propeller guards have been noticeably strengthened, enhancing crash resilience. They’re nonetheless fairly a flimsy design, positively not the strongest on the market, however it retains the load down so the sturdiness trade-off feels worthwhile.
There’s built-in LEDs contained in the ducts, and they are often toggled by way of a swap (CH8), already arrange within the Modes tab by default.
The O4 digital camera is soft-mounted utilizing 4 silicone dampers, which successfully eliminates jello in flight footage. Nonetheless, when you crash, the mount could come free—and getting these silicone balls again into place is a ache, even with the offered software.
You possibly can entry the O4’s SD card slot and USB-C port simply by eradicating the rubber cowl—very user-friendly.
Contained in the body, there’s a intelligent “6-in-1” enlargement board that neatly connects the receiver, LED controller, buzzer, XT30, and FC USB port—all with out additional litter. This makes a particularly clear construct.
Battery mounting is safe and versatile, accommodating varied LiPo sizes. I examined 4S 550mAh, 650mAh, 850mAh, and even 1500mAh, all match nicely. GEPRC consists of two completely different straps lengths relying on the battery measurement, which is a considerate contact.
The Cinelog30 V3 weighed 192g with out battery, with a 4S 550mAh LiPo, brings the load to 249g. Any bigger batteries like an 850mAh pushed the load over the restrict (286g) however offered considerably longer flight instances.
If weight isn’t a difficulty, I like to recommend 4S 850mAh because it affords a fantastic steadiness between flight time and efficiency. I can comfortably get 7 to 7:half-hour of flight time. In any other case if you wish to keep sub-250, you need to get a battery that’s lower than 58g.
Flight Efficiency
The GEPRC Cinelog30 V3 excels at clean, cinematic flying. It delivers jello-free, stabilized footage—good for capturing cinematic pictures.
Whereas it’s nimble sufficient to zip round indoor areas or tight gaps, it’s not a freestyle beast. Push it onerous via sharp corners or dives and also you’ll discover prop wash and minor instability, which is typical of cinewhoops. It’s additionally not very secure in windy situations.
Nonetheless, it’s surprisingly quiet, making it ideally suited when it’s important to fly round folks or in busy environments the place you don’t wish to draw an excessive amount of consideration.
GEPRC did a fantastic job with the PID tune, most individuals could be very proud of the way it flies out of the field. The drone felt highly effective, hovered round 23% throttle when utilizing a 4S 850mAh LiPo. GEPRC claims as much as 8 minutes of flight with 4S 720mAh batteries, however my real-world checks confirmed shorter instances, usually round 7:half-hour with an 850mAh battery.
I attempted utilizing a 4S 1500mAh which is usually thought of too massive for such small drone, the Cinelog dealt with it with ease, hovered at solely 33% throttle. Nonetheless it didn’t appear to supply for much longer flight time as anticipated – solely 11 minutes, probably because of the additional weight and effectivity loss.
And if you wish to meet the 250g weight requirement, you’ll have to use a smaller battery comparable to 4S 550mAh, and it ought to provide you with 4 to five minutes of flight time which remains to be very first rate and it must also enhance dealing with, agility and energy for freestyle strikes too.
Concerns and Limitations
The Cinelog30 V3 isn’t designed for newbie follow flights or informal crashing. Its mild weight body is optimized for effectivity and cinematic flying, and capturing professional-quality footage, not hard-core freestyle bashing. Nonetheless, it’s additionally extraordinarily environment friendly for a cinewhoop. With the best battery, it could simply hit 10+ minutes of flight time, which is uncommon for ducted quads.
The digital camera mushy mounting is extremely efficient, and the DJI O4 digital camera footage is gorgeous. For informal pilots, there’s no want to make use of a GoPro anymore in my view—the O4 Professional delivers 4K60, glorious stabilization, and D-Log M for colour grading. I like to recommend recording in 4:3 mode for optimum stabilization and subject of view. Be certain to make use of ND filters although if you wish to get the very best footage: https://oscarliang.com/nd-filter-fpv/
Though the Cinelog30 has sufficient energy to hold a GoPro, I don’t advocate it until completely vital—the little enhancements in picture high quality doesn’t justify the additional weight and compromises flight time and dealing with.
This drone additionally reveals nice potential for long-range flights because of its effectivity. Nonetheless, it lacks a GPS module out of the field. That’s possible a design alternative since most cinewhoop flying is completed indoors or at quick vary. Nonetheless, when you plan to fly far or in difficult outside environments, I extremely advocate including a GPS and enabling Rescue Mode: https://oscarliang.com/setup-gps-rescue-mode-betaflight/
Lastly, I’m fairly disenchanted that GEPRC is transport the ESC with BLHeli_32 firmware, which is not being up to date: https://oscarliang.com/end-of-blheli_32/. Much more regarding, it’s a take a look at model, not an official launch. In my testing, the ESC labored positive, however it’s one thing to pay attention to when you’re planning to replace or troubleshoot sooner or later.
The way to Setup
Earlier than the primary flight, I did the next:
- Eliminated all labels on the drone.
- Put in the 2 O4 antennas within the antenna mount.
- Eliminated the protecting movie from the digital camera lens.
- Set up the digital camera cover – select your favorite colour, all 3 protectors are equivalent.
- Positioned the battery pad on the highest plate.
- Plug in a smoke stopper, and join a battery and take a look at the drone and see if it powers up accurately. You need to hear the ESC/motor initiation beeps.
Firmware
- The flight controller (FC) board goal is GEPRC_F722_AIO, and it comes preloaded with Betaflight firmware model 4.5.1. For inventory CLI Diff, see right here.
- ESC Firmware: BLHeli_32 Proto: 31.9.2 (24KHz)
- ELRS Receiver Firmware Goal: GEPRC Nano 2.4GHz PA100 RX, firmware 3.4.2
Betaflight Setup
Ultimate Ideas
The GEPRC Cinelog30 has at all times been a well-designed and widespread line, and the V3 continues to boost the bar—now with full DJI O4 Professional help.
This isn’t a freestyle basher. Its comparatively fragile prop guards make it much less ideally suited for newbies or those that crash often. However as a professional-grade cinewhoop, the GEPRC Cinelog30 V3 is great—good for filmmakers, content material creators, and pilots targeted on clean cinematic flying in tight areas. The principle concern could be the take a look at model of BLHeli_32 firmware it’s utilizing, although it’s working simply positive in my testing, it’s one thing to bear in mind.
In order for you a sub-250 cinewhoop with DJI O4 Professional for cinematic flying, that’s highly effective, environment friendly, quiet, and fantastically tuned proper out of the field—this might be my best choice.
