After a few weeks of flying the DJI Avata 360 in places like the coast and around everyday locations, it becomes pretty clear this drone needs a slightly different approach compared to anything else DJI has made.
It doesn’t take long before you stop thinking about camera direction in the usual way.
Flying It Feels More Relaxed
The Avata 360 has two cameras — one facing up and one down — which together capture a full 360° image in 8K.
When you’re in the air, you’re no longer worrying about where the lens is pointing. You can just focus on your flight path and movement. The footage is already covering the whole scene, so there’s less pressure to constantly adjust angles mid-flight.
After a few flights, you naturally stop trying to “frame” shots while flying. You just let the drone move and deal with the shot later.
You Don’t Need Multiple Takes Anymore
Normally, if you’re filming something like a coastline, you’ll do a few passes — one angled forward, another pointing down, maybe another trying something different.
Here, one pass is enough.
A single flight along the beach can give you a wide horizon shot, a top-down view of the waves, and something in between, all from the same clip. You’re not repeating the same movement just to get a different angle.
It saves time in the air and makes flying feel less stop-start.
It Picks Up Things You Would’ve Missed
There was a moment flying back from out at sea where the battery was getting low, so the focus was just getting the drone back. A rowing boat passed underneath — normally that would be a missed opportunity.
Looking back at the footage later, that moment was fully usable. It was possible to pull out a clean overhead shot, then rework it into a wider angle with the surroundings included.
That’s where this drone becomes useful. You’re not relying on reacting quickly enough in the moment.
Works Well When Things Move Quickly
If you’re filming anything unpredictable, this makes a noticeable difference.
With something like surfing, you’d usually be trying to follow the action in real time — adjusting your position, tilting the camera, hoping you keep everything in frame.
With this, you can sit slightly back from it. You can hover above or move alongside and let it happen. The footage gives you enough to work with afterwards without needing to constantly chase the subject.
The same applies to wildlife. If something appears briefly or moves off to the side, it’s still there in the clip.
The Footage Holds Up Better Than Expected
It records in 8K at up to 60fps, which is important because you’re effectively cropping into that image during editing.
Once you’ve reframed it into a standard format, the quality is still solid. It looks clean enough for most uses, especially when you’re working with wider shots like landscapes or travel footage.
It’s not aimed at close-up detail or highly precise framing. It’s more about capturing a full scene and shaping it afterwards.
Editing Takes Longer, but You Get More Options
There’s no way around it — you’ll spend more time in the edit.
Instead of finishing with one clear shot, you’ve got multiple options inside each clip. You’ll be choosing angles, reframing, and sometimes pulling out several different shots from the same piece of footage.
That extra time does pay off though. You’ll often find things you didn’t notice while flying, or realise a shot works better from a completely different angle than you expected.
If you’re used to editing anyway, it feels like you’ve got more to work with rather than more to fix.
Flight Features Are Solid
All the usual DJI features are still here.
Obstacle avoidance is particularly useful. With LiDAR and full 360 sensing, the drone handles trees and tighter spaces well. You can set it to stop, go around objects, or turn the system off depending on how you prefer to fly.
There’s also a spotlight-style tracking mode where you can just fly normally and let the drone handle the subject tracking in the background. It’s helpful when you want something quick without overthinking it.
The Controller Is Straightforward
The RC2 controller included in the Fly More combo does what you’d expect. The built-in screen is bright and responsive, and the live feed is smooth without noticeable delay.
With a range of up to 20km (depending on local regulations), it’s more than capable for typical use. You’ve also got the usual flight modes like cinematic, normal, and sport.
Nothing complicated — it’s easy to get on with.
Where It Fits
This isn’t really about getting the sharpest possible image from a drone.
It suits people who want flexibility, especially in situations where you don’t get a second chance to capture something. Travel, events, wildlife, or anything where timing is unpredictable all make sense here.
It’s also approachable for beginners. Not having to think about framing takes a lot of pressure off when you’re still getting used to flying.
D-Log M and Colour Grading
If you’re editing your footage properly, D-Log M gives you a lot more control.
You can shoot flat and then shape the image afterwards. Applying LUTs makes a noticeable difference — adjusting colour, contrast, and overall tone depending on the look you’re going for.
It also helps if you’re using other DJI cameras, as you can match everything together more easily.
Final Thoughts
After a few weeks with it, the biggest difference is how you approach filming.
You’re not constantly adjusting the camera or worrying about missing something. You focus on flying, let the drone record the scene, and build the final result later. It won’t replace a traditional drone for everything, but in situations where timing matters or things are unpredictable, it gives you a lot more breathing room.
If you’re planning to shoot in D-Log M, it’s worth having LUTs ready before you start editing. It speeds things up once you sit down with the footage, especially when you’ve got multiple angles to work through.
Be sure to watch our full video and review of the DJI Avata 360 drone below!
