How To Set Up Fatshark Goggles

Buying a pair of FPV goggles can be a large investment, arguably the single near expensive single purchase you may brand in this hobby. Having all the information to make the decision that best fits your needs is our goal. Here, we compare the latest from the Fat Shark line of FPV goggle.

What's the Big Difference?

The big difference between the various Fat Shark FPV goggles are going to be the displays. While there are some smaller differences, this is mostly the outset affair any pilot looks at when choosing an FPV goggle. And to be honest, this is most of import, because the displays are what you view your FPV experience through!

Field of View

Field of view is a term used quite a flake in photography and videography, often in relation to lenses. It tells the user how much of the world in front end of the lens is able to be captured. But when putting something like a set of FPV goggles directly in front of your optics, it tells you how much of your vision will be dedicated to viewing those screens. The typical human heart views the earth in wide screen format, most at a 16:ix ratio. The man heart binocular (both optics) field of view is approximately 200° horizontal, and 75° vertical. However, most display field of view calculations are done with a diagonal field of view. When calculated out, this gives the human eye binocular field of view is approximately 213°.

This will give you a basis to understand FPV goggle display field of view. When your optics are capable of viewing 213° and simply 50° of that is taken upwardly by goggle display, you starting time to understand what immersion in the FPV experience truly means. The area effectually that instance 50° will be black inside the goggle.

Fat Shark FPV Goggle Differences

Fatty Shark HDO

The Fat Shark HDO is the newest FPV goggle for the company and boasts several improvements over the previous generations. The largest of these improvements is inclusion of OLED displays, giving the pilot a ameliorate contrast ratio, richer colors, a faster refresh rate, and a crisp epitome. When compared to the LCD screens of previous generations, this a huge step forward in terms of flick fidelity. The analog resolution comes in at 960×720, the highest resolution of any goggle Fatty Shark has produced. The field of view comes in at 37°, and while non the largest screen Fat Shark has utilized, it'south nevertheless a very usable size that doesn't detract much from the immersion feeling. Plus, OSD readouts expect fantastic in these goggles.

There are several other improvements that in the Fat Shark HDO that add to the value. An enhanced module power organization is present, increasing the compatibility with the latest generation of modules. With the ImmersionRC Rapid Burn module and the Iftron Clear View module on the horizon, this is specially important. Automatic switching betwixt the analog and HDMI sources is also nowadays, making it more user friendly if you are utilizing different sources. When using HDMI input, the screen switches to a 1080p compliant resolution of 1024×800.

While many feel the improvements could accept been a little more than far reaching, make no error, these are classy FPV goggles.

Fatty Shark Dominator HD3

The Fat Shark Dominator HD3 is the current generation of the Dominator HD line. The Fat Shark HD3 has SVGA LCD displays, different the OLED screens in the HDO, crave a backlight. This cuts down on the dissimilarity ratio, giving you less defined blacks and whites. Keep in heed however, this is not a detrimental aspect of these FPV goggles, just a different applied science. The resolution of the screens comes in at 800×600, and when combined with a field of view of 42°, gives a very comfortable, yet immersive feel.

In analog fashion, the Fat Shark Dominator HD3 uses a four:3 screen ratio, however in HDMI source mode, they switch to a sixteen:9 ratio. These were the first goggle from Fatty Shark capable of this ability to switch, making them awesome for use in simulators, or if y'all are lucky enough to have a ConnexHD or similar system.

Fat Shark Dominator V3

The Fat Shark Dominator V3 is the sister goggle to the HD3. The primary departure between to two are the displays, offering a WVGA LCD display, with a sixteen:9 ratio. The field of view is the smallest of the group hither, coming in at 30°. The display ratio is 800×600, so you lot get the aforementioned pixel width every bit the Fatty Shark Dominator HD3, but non the height. These goggles are meant to take advantage of the ever more than pop wide screen format cameras that have come to the market, such every bit the RunCam Hawkeye 2 FPV Camera. If you lot are using a 4:3 ratio camera, the image will stretch to fit and may take some time to conform to. The Fatty Shark Dominator V3, due to its 16:9 native ratio, works great when paired with your PC for simulators.

Fat Shark Dominator HD2

The Fat Shark Dominator HD2 holds a place in the heart of many FPV pilots. The biggest departure between these and all the other FPV goggles here is the massive field of view of fifty°. Many pilots love the insanely immersive feel that the huge displays offer, equally it has been the biggest screen Fatty Shark has ever put into an FPV goggle before or since. However; this display is not without bug, equally many pilots report blurry edges due to the big field of view. One of the fixes for this consequence is to use a set of diopters in the goggle to refocus the eyes slightly. The screen resolution of the HD2 comes in at 800×600 with at SVGA LCD display.

The Fat Shark Dominator HD2 was also the first to come with a upgraded power system for the DVR unit. In previous models, if there was a recording in progress, and the power plug was pulled, the recording would not salvage. With the upgraded DVR power organization, they would be able to save the recording before powering down. This was a huge stride forward for the DVR units, and due to this great innovation, Fat Shark started providing the upgraded DVR units separately for older generations of goggles.

While the Fat Shark Dominator HD2 line is officially discontinued, you can notice them for sale from pilots looking to movement to a new gear up of FPV goggle. Brand sure they are fully functional earlier you buy though!

What are the Similarities?

While we've covered how all these versions of Fat Shark'south FPV goggles differ, they all share a group of common features. These FPV goggles all share the same beat, making parts fairly interchangeable betwixt them, and leading to similar feature sets. Below is a chart of these common features, providing more in depth information to help with your purchase.

IPD Adjustment: 59 to 69 mm
Optional Diopter: -2,-iv,-6
NTSC/PAL Auto Selecting
Side/Side 3D (Except for HDO)
Stereo Audio
Power Supply: 7-13 5 Input (2S or 3S)
Video Receiver: Modular via Module Bay
Head Tracker: Modular (Sold Seperately)
DVR: Analog only
DVR Auto Save on Power Loss
MicroSD Carte Support for DVR
DVR File Playback

Flight with Fat Shark

Dominator HD2

Through my various flights with the different models of FPV goggles offered by Fatty Shark, y'all really exercise commencement to notice the field of view. I started with the Dominator HD2, my tried and truthful prepare that I have been flying with for years. I personally have no issues with blurry edges on the displays, and so the immersion really shines through. With a 50° degree field of view, the big screens lend themselves well to freestyle flying.

Dominator HD3

Moving to the Dominator HD3, the field of view reduction isn't super noticeable, but it takes me a 2d to adapt a little. The displays are of similar quality, so beyond having to look slightly harder for those ghost branches, they experience pretty similar to the HD2. The pixel resolution is exactly the same every bit the HD2, so no quality is truly lost. I as well notice that I do not motion my eyes around the screen as much when looking at my OSD.

HDO

While the field of view when compared to the HD2 is much smaller, the detail really is what makes this FPV goggle a joy to fly. The OSD is crisp and make clean, the colors are amazing, and I experience as if I am seeing things that I take non seen before through the goggles. Tree branches and leaves stand out, hands divers through the OLED displays. The images seem much smoother, and almost a relief to my optics. Due to this detail, I discover myself not really missing my HD2's much at all.

Dominator V3

Moving from the HDO FPV goggle to these, I find myself not truly liking the V3 nearly as much as the other iii. First off, my image is stretched out, due to having a four:iii ratio camera on my multirotor. This does take a footling adjustment, and during that aligning my flight is not as smoothen as normal. Due to the smaller field of view, picking out details is a little harder for me here. I'm sure with some sustained flight, I would adapt, but they really wouldn't be my start choice.

What the Best Fat Shark FPV Goggle?

Remember, a fix of FPV goggles are a personal choice, and what works for you may not work for everyone. Infringe a pair from a friend or beau pilot, make certain they give you the experience yous are looking for!

Writer: Josh Cook

FPV continues to make my babyhood dream of being a airplane pilot an amazing reality. If information technology flies, I'chiliad into it, be information technology miniquad, microquad, or stock-still fly. I am inspired everyday by the customs and thrilled that I get to give dorsum through my writing.