When talking about FPV drones, there are three main types of FPV drones which are Cinewhoop (3-inch), 5-inch, and 7-inch FPV drones. These three types differ from each other by their features, capabilities, uses, etc. So in this article, we will have a complete comparison of these three types of FPV drones (A simple brief comparison table is available at the end of the article).
Cinewhoop FPV Drones.
What are Cinewhoop FPV drones?
Cinewhoop drones are first-person-view 3-inch drones that are designed to fly around soft objects such as people, animals, and properties safely while capturing cinematic footage.
Cinewhoop FPV’s Features
- Ducted Propellers. The main Cinewhoop’s noticeable feature is the ducted propellers. Because of these ducted propellers, they are safer to fly near soft objects, which is risky with 5-inch and 7-inch FPVs, and boost the thrust.
- Smaller and lighter than 5-inch/ 7-inch FPVs. Cinewhoops are usually 3-4 inch FPVs and of course, they are smaller than 5-inch and 7-inch FPVs. Because Cinewhoops are underpowered than other FPVs, they are usually lighter than them.
- An Underpowered FPV. Cinewhoop drones are underpowered compared to 5-inch and 7-inch FPVs. It has a low thrust-to-weight ratio which is usually 1:3.
- Acrobatically limited. As I mentioned above, Cinewhoop drones are underpowered, Therefore it’s not capable of extreme ends of maneuvers like barrel rolls, and split s maneuvers as powerful 5-inch, 7-inch FPVs do.
Cinewhoop FPV’s Size and Weight
- Cinewhoop FPV’s Size: 3 – 4 inches (8 – 10 cm)
- Cinewhoop FPV’s Weight: typically 400-500g with GoPro
Cinewhoop FPV’s Flight Time
- Cinewhoop flight time: 15 minutes with Flywoo’s latest 4S HV 900mah Battery. (This can vary according to the battery you prefer)
Cinewhoop FPV’s Price
- Cinewhoop FPV’s price: Cinewhoop built cost varies from 200 – 400$. (The cost can go high according to the GoPro you prefer).
Cinewhoop FPV’s Uses
- Capture single-take cinematic shots. Most of the time, Cinewhoop drones are used to capture cinematic indoor-outdoor shots close to objects or people because there is a low risk of hurting somebody or damaging property when flying near the object.
- Create Product/ Real-estate Advertisements. Cinewhoop drones are heavily used in advertising to create attractive and eye-catching advertisements with creative shots around the object/property or through objects/property. These are so common in Automobile advertisements and Real estate advertisements these days, which amazingly catch the audience’s attention.
- Professional aerial videography/ photography. Because Cinewhoops can carry full-size high-quality sports and action cameras like GoPro, It can capture high-quality aerial footage and images.
Cinewhoop’s Pros
- Safety. Because ducted propellers of Cinewhoop drones, It’s safer to fly even indoors compared to regular drones.
- Small to fly through small spaces. Cinewhoop drones can fly through small spaces, that 5-inch, 7-inch, or any other cinematic drones can’t.
- Confident and comfortable flying near objects. As Cinewhoop drone propellers are protected, pilots are comfortable and satisfied with Cinewhoop drones flying close to things even people.
- Generally cheaper. Cinewhoop built cost varies from 200 – 400$. (The cost can go high according to the GoPro you prefer).
Cinewhoop’s Cons
- Cinewhoop drones are loud. Ducted propellers make Cinewhoop drones louder than other FPV drones.
- Not suitable for freestyle flying. Cinewhoops aren’t capable of freestyle flying and they need to be considered for capturing slow and controlled cinematic shots.
5-inch FPV Drones.
What are 5-inch FPV drones?
5-inch FPV drones are freestyle drones that are mainly used for freestyle, racing, or fast cinematic shots. They also have a very high thrust-to-weight ratio, therefore they can do extreme maneuvers like dives, flips, and rolls.
5-inch FPV’s Features
- Unducted propellers. 5-inch FPV’s propellers aren’t ducted as Cinewhoops do. Because of that, they can do sharp turns and aggressive flights without losing control.
- The high thrust-to-weight ratio. The 5-inch FPV’s thrust-to-weight ratio is usually about 5:1.
- A freestyle flying FPV drone. Because 5-inch FPVs have such a high thrust-to-weight ratio, they can perform extreme ends of maneuvers like barrel rolls, flips, dives, and split s maneuvers.
5-inch FPV’s Size and Weight
- Size: 5 inches (around 13 cm).
- Weight: 400-800g with the battery.
5-inch FPV’s Flight Time
- 5-inch FPV flight time: The flight time really depends on the battery you prefer and the aggressiveness of the flight. Usually, they can fly for 20 minutes on a 4-cell Li-Ion battery pack and in ideal conditions.
5-inch FPV’s Price
- 5-inch FPV’s price: Usually, a 5-inch FPV built cost is 250$ onwards. Here is an article on building a cheap 5-inch FPV drone for $243.
5-inch FPV’s Uses
- Freestyle flying with extreme ends of maneuvers: Not like Cinewhoop drones, 5-inch FPVs capable of freestyle flying with dives, flips, and rolls. Usually, 5-inch FPVs are the most common FPVs that are considered for low-range freestyle flying.
- FPV Racing: Because of the high weight-to-thrust ratio, these can accelerate immediately and do sharp turns, which are most useful in FPV racing.
- Capture high-speed epic cinematic shots: Of cause, these can carry high-quality sports and action cameras, you can capture high-speed cinematic shots with epic flips, dives, and rolls which are not achievable by Cinewhoops.
- Cinematography: Because of the ability to capture epic aerial shots, 5-inch FPVs are used in Cinematography for creating high-speed cinematic outdoor shots with flips, dives, and other cool freestyle flying.
5-inch FPV’s Pros
- The capability of extreme ends of maneuvers: Because high weight-to-thrust ratio 5-inch FPVs can’t perform dives, rolls, flips, and other cool freestyle maneuvers with no problem.
- A great general FPV: Because 5-inch FPVs are at the midpoint when compared to the capabilities, speed, and power, it’s a general FPV for users.
5-inch FPV’s Cons
- Not safe in indoor environments and near soft objects: Because 5-inch FPV propellers are unducted, they are risky in indoor environments and around soft objects such as people, animals, and expensive properties.
- Hard-to-slow precision maneuvers: As I mentioned before, these are powerful compared to Cinewhoops, it’s a bit hard to do slow precision maneuvers as Cinewhoops do.
- Low range: Usually, 5-inch FPVs are considered and built as low-range FPVs because of the varying flight time due to aggressive flight style. But you can build 5-inch with components required for long range.
7-inch FPV Drones.
What are 7-inch FPV drones?
7-inch FPV drones are designed for capturing cinematic long-range shots with a long flight time, upwards of 15–30 minutes. Also, they are capable of some light freestyle maneuvers too.
7-inch FPV’s Features
- Unducted propellers: As you can see above, 7-inch FPVs have unducted propellers. Therefore they are less louder than Cinewhoops and stable in immediate movements and light freestyle maneuvers.
- Long-range flight: 7-inch FPVs are built for long-range flights such as 5 – 10 km.
- Long flight time: The amount of power and space of the 7-inch FPVs, these can carry larger and heavier batteries (compared to Cinewhoops and 5-inch FPVs) or many batteries to maximize the flight time. Usually, its’ flight time varies within 15 – 30 minutes.
7-inch FPV’s Size and Weight
- Size: Of course 7-inch (18cm)
- Weight: 600 – 1600g
7-inch FPV’s Flight Time
- 7-inch FPV flight time: As I mentioned before, these are designed to maximize flight time, it can fly within 15 – 30 minutes. Also can maximize the flight time further with further optimizations (Flight intensity, amount of batteries, type of battery).
7-inch FPV’s Price
- 7-inch FPV’s price: 7-inch FPVs builts and pre-builts are more expensive than both Cinewhoops and 5-inch FPV drones. Usually, they are 600$ onwards.
7-inch FPV’s Uses
- Long-length freestyle Cinematography: The main purpose of 7-inch FPVs is to capture long-length aerial cinematic footage at a long-range distance.
- Long-range FPV racing: 7-inch FPVs are also used in long-range FPV racing because of the flight time, high speed, and ability to light freestyle maneuvers.
7-inch FPV’s Pros
- Long flight time long range: The main advantage of a 7-inch FPV drone is the ability to fly long-range and the optimizable long-length flight time.
7-inch FPV’s Cons
- Not suitable for beginners: 7-inch FPVs are not suitable for beginners because of the high weight-to-thrust ratio (usually not recommended for beginners) and the risk involved with long-range flying.
- Not for indoor flights around soft objects: Because 7-inch FPV propellers are unducted and powerful, way more dangerous indoor environments and around people than 5-inch FPV drones.
- Not as much capable of maneuvers as 5-inch FPVs. Because these are comparably heavier than 5-inch FPVs, they are less cable of extreme maneuvers. Usually does light freestyle flights.
- Cost a bit more to build or buy.
Summary
Below is the simple brief summary table of Cinewhoop, 5-inch, and 7-inch FPVs that we talked about above detailed.
| Cinewhoop FPV | 5-inch FPV | 7-inch FPV | |
| Features | Ducted Propellers. Smaller and lighter. Long-range flight. An Underpowered FPV. Acrobatically limited. | The high thrust-to-weight ratio. A freestyle flying FPV drone. | Unducted propellers. Long-range flight. Long flight time. |
| Size | 3 – 4 inches (8 – 10 cm) | 5 inches (around 13 cm). | 7-inch (18cm) |
| Weight | Typically 400-500g with GoPro | 400-800g with the battery. | 600 – 1600g |
| Flight time | 15 minutes with Flywoo 4S HV 900mah Battery. (This can vary according to the battery you prefer) | The flight time really depends on the battery you prefer and the aggressiveness of the flight. Usually, they can fly for 20 minutes on a 4-cell Li-Ion battery pack and in ideal conditions. | 15 – 30 minutes. Also can maximize the flight time further with further optimizations (Flight intensity, amount of batteries, type of battery). |
| Price | 200 – 400$. (The cost can go high according to the GoPro you prefer). | 250$ upwards. | 600$ onwards |
| Uses | Capture single-take cinematic shots. Create Product/ Real-estate Advertisements. Professional aerial videography/ photography. | Freestyle flying with extreme ends of maneuvers. FPV Racing. Capture high-speed epic cinematic shots. Cinematography. | Long-length freestyle Cinematography. Long-range FPV racing. |
| Pros | Safety. Small to fly through mall spaces. Confident and comfortable flying near objects. Generally cheaper. | The capability of extreme ends of maneuvers. A great general FPV. | Long flight time long range. |
| Cons | Loud. Not suitable for freestyle flying. | Not safe in indoor environments and near soft objects. Hard-to-slow precision maneuvers. Low range. | Not suitable for beginners. Not for indoor flights around soft objects. Not as much capable of maneuvers as 5-inch FPVs. Cost a bit more to build or buy. |