Remote controlled drones have come a long way in just the past few years. What used to be a hobby for just a few tech enthusiasts has now gone mainstream. Drones are being used for everything from Hollywood filming to real estate photography. And the technology keeps advancing at a rapid pace.
One of the most popular drone types right now is the FPV (first person view) racing drone. These are agile, high performance quads that let pilots see a live first person view from the drone’s camera as they fly. FPV drones open up creative possibilities that were never possible before, like racing through bando buildings and forests, proximity flying, and capturing unique aerial footage.
While full sized FPV racers can hit blazing speeds over 100 mph, there’s also a growing subcategory of FPV drones called “cinewhoops”. These are geared more towards cinematic video recording than high speed racing.
Cinewhoops have protective prop guards, which allows them to get in close proximity to objects when filming. And they use dampened motors to prevent vibrations from ruining footage. This results in smooth, cinematic video that would be impossible to achieve with a full out racing quad.
In this review, we’ll be taking an in-depth look at one of the most anticipated new releases in the cinewhoop world – the Gap RC CineLog 35 Version 2.
Table Of Contents
Overview of the Gap RC CineLog 35 V2
Gap RC is a drone company that focuses exclusively on cinewhoops. They were one of the early pioneers in this market and have continued to innovate and push boundaries.
The CineLog series has become their flagship line, aimed at aerial cinematographers who need top notch performance and video quality.
The CineLog 35 V2 represents a big upgrade over the previous generation. Some of the highlights include:
- Redesigned frame with more carbon fiber and improved durability
- Runs on 6S batteries for added power and flight time
- Includes DJI’s latest FPV camera, the Caddx Vista
- Long range DJI digital HD video transmission
- 60 fps 4K video recording
- Up to 8 minutes of flight time
- GPS rescue mode
This really is a professional grade cinewhoop ready to take stunning aerial videos and photos. The premium components ensure excellent performance even in windy conditions.
Let’s take a closer look at what comes in the box and the build quality before taking it out to test in some real world flight conditions.
Unboxing the CineLog 35 V2
The CineLog 35 V2 arrives in an attractive box showcasing the drone’s sleek design. Inside, the drone and components are neatly packed with foam inserts protecting everything.
CineLog 35 V2 Box
Here is everything included in the box:
- Assembled CineLog 35 V2 cinewhoop
- DJI Caddx Vista digital FPV camera and video transmitter
- 2 battery straps
- Foam battery pad
- GoPro style camera mount
- Spare propellers
- 2 battery lead extension cables
- USB programming cable
- Manuals and documentation
- Miscellaneous screws, nuts, standoffs
- Gap RC stickers and accessory bag
The full carbon fiber frame immediately stands out with its robust construction. Picking it up, the CineLog 35 V2 feels substantially heavier than the previous version. This is a tank of a cinewhoop designed to handle heavy camera payloads and stand up to crashes and hard landings when filming action shots.
Carbon fiber frame
The electronics are neatly arranged in stacks for easy access. Wires are well routed and solder joints appear clean.
Electronics
Attention to detail is seen throughout, from the machined aluminum camera mount down to the foam battery pad. Build quality is what you would expect from a high end drone like this.
Now let’s take a closer look at some of the core components and features.
Motors
The CineLog 35 V2 uses 4 brushless motors spec’d for 6S power (22.2V fully charged). These are customized 2150Kv motors developed by Gap RC to provide an ideal balance of torque, top speed, efficiency, and low noise when running 6S batteries.
Protective plastic shrouds encase the bottom half of each motor. This prevents props from striking the ground on takeoff and landing.
Electronic Speed Controllers (ESC)
Individual 30A BLHeli_32 ESCs control each of the four motors. These state of the art ESCs allow for ultra smooth throttle response. They can also drive the motors at 32kHz for reduced inductance and lower noise.
Having an individual ESC for each motor provides redundancy – if one fails the other three can still operate. But during normal operation the ESCs distribute power efficiently between all four motors.
Flight Controller
An F7 flight controller serves as the main brain of the drone. It processes sensor data and user inputs, then relays signals to control the ESCs and motors.
The F7 has powerful processing capabilities to run advanced flight control algorithms. This keeps the CineLog 35 perfectly locked into place while hovering and filming. Even in windy conditions it will stay planted thanks to the beefy power system.
This flight controller also facilitates tuning and changing parameters through the Betaflight configurator software on a PC.
FPV Camera
The CineLog 35 V2 comes with DJI’s Caddx Vista digital FPV camera system. This is currently the gold standard for long range HD video transmission.
The Vista outputs a digital HD video signal rather than analog. This allows it to transmit HD footage to distances over 3 miles when paired with DJI FPV Goggles V2!
The camera itself captures bright, detailed footage at up to 4K 60fps. The dynamic range is excellent, providing usable footage even when flying towards bright skies.
Having the Vista integrated right into the airframe makes setup simple. Just connect your goggles and you are ready for crystal clear long range FPV. No finicky analog connections to mess with.
GPS Rescue
The CineLog 35 V2 includes a GPS module with compass for enabling GPS rescue features.
If your video feed cuts out while flying, you can flip a switch on your transmitter and the drone will fly itself back to the takeoff point and land automatically.
This helps prevent flyaways if you lose orientation or the drone goes out of range. Very handy safety feature!
The GPS is also used for setting up geofencing and no fly zones if desired.
Onboard XT60 Battery Lead
Previous versions had a loose battery lead that plugged into the rear of the drone. This could potentially get chopped by the props on takeoff/landing.
The V2 simplifies connections by integrating the XT60 battery lead directly into the rear frame. Just slide your 6S battery into place and secure it with the included strap. No loose wires to worry about. Nice enhancement!
Flying the CineLog 35 V2
After checking out the CineLog 35 V2 on the bench, it was time to head out to some locations and test it in real world conditions.
I planned to flight test it on multiple days in varying wind and weather conditions to see how it performed.
Day 1 Flight Testing
The first day of testing happened to coincide with some nasty weather moving into the area. The forecast called for heavy rain and 50 kph wind gusts. Not ideal conditions, but a perfect opportunity to see how the CineLog would handle high winds.
I took it out to a large open field on the edge of town. This allowed plenty of room to maneuver while also having some trees, powerlines, and buildings around the perimeter to fly around.
One thing I noticed right away is that the CineLog 35 V2 feels very bottom heavy when holding it. This is due to the downward facing camera and heavy duty 6S battery mounted on the bottom plate. Top heavy drones tend to drift more in windy conditions, so the bottom heaviness was a plus.
Takeoff
I was using the DJI FPV Remote Controller 2 which integrates seamlessly with the Vista FPV system. After powering everything on, I waited to acquire at least 6 satellites to enable the GPS rescue mode before flying.
One quirk of the CineLog 35 V2’s low profile design became apparent during takeoff. Because the props are so close to the ground, they can strike uneven terrain if you’re not taking off from a nice flat surface. I was in an empty field but still managed to catch some dried grass before the quad lifted off. This is just something to be aware of. Taking off from pavement or a launch pad is ideal.
Once in the air, the CineLog 35 V2 felt extremely solid and well tuned. Hovering in 20+ kph winds, it held position perfectly thanks to the dual GPS/barometer sensor fusion. No bounce or drift at all. Very impressive handling for its size.
Flying in High Winds
Now it was time to see how it performed flying around in the heavy wind. I purposely flew into a strong headwind first, punching forward at about a 45 degree angle relative to the wind direction. The CineLog 35 muscled through admirably. Throttle authority felt excellent on 6S power.
Turning sideways to the wind did cause it to get pushed around a bit. But the flight controller quickly leveled it out again. So it remained very controllable and easy to fly even in gusty conditions.
To really test wind penetration, I made a pass going downwind, letting the wind give it a boost. The CineLog 35 V2 accelerated smoothly up to an indicated 80 kph before I chickened out and slowed down.
Flying through and around nearby trees enabled testing agility in addition to wind penetration. The CineLog was a lot of fun flipping and rolling between branches. The configurable rates felt great at defaults. Very smooth on high rates yet still nice and locked in on low rates. Prop guards deflected away any minor branches brushed.
I was flying gently since this was the first outing with a new drone. But the CineLog 35 V2 certainly seemed up for tearing around more aggressively. Power and agility were there in spades.
One thing I appreciated was the smooth throttle response at low stick positions. It’s very easy to make micro adjustments to slowly move closer to objects when filming. Combined with the excellent hover lock in wind, this is crucial for cinematic shooting.
After about 4 minutes of flying, voltage had dropped to around 3.5V per cell under load. Since the weather was deteriorating, I brought it in for a landing.
Landing
Landings take a bit more care and attention than with a top heavy drone. The CineLog 35’s center of gravity is below the props, so it does not swing back to a level attitude on descent like a racing quad.
It’s key to leave some throttle on during landing to keep it on the level. Then flatten out just before touching down while maintaining enough power to prevent it from dropping. This just takes some practice. Turtle mode flips it back over if you do crash on landing.
The CineLog 35 V2 handled amazingly for a first flight in very windy conditions. I was impressed by the build quality, power system, and overall performance. Just one more flight remained to test the flight time with a GoPro sized camera mounted up top.
Day 2 Flight Testing
The second day of testing presented a new challenge – how to safely fly with all the snow melt flooding the area.
Large portions of nearby roads and fields were completely flooded. But I was determined to get the CineLog 35 V2 up for one more test flight with a GoPro camera mounted to see how the added weight impacted flight time.
Flying With a GoPro
I ended up taking it out to a soccer field that had patches of standing water but was mostly above the flooding. This allowed plenty of room to maneuver even with the additional weight up top.
A short flight flying into the wind showed the power system could still punch forward at high speed with a GoPro payload. However, coming back downwind didn’t quite hit the same top speed as without the camera. Throttle authority decreases noticeably with the extra weight up top. Still faster than I was comfortable going of course!
Cinematic maneuvers remained crisp and controlled with the GoPro attached. The GoPro introduces more mass higher up, but the large 6S battery down below still kept the overall center of gravity quite low.
One unfortunate part of testing in an unfamiliar location was that I ended up clipping a tall chain link fence on the far side of the field. With the GoPro up top I didn’t have a good visual line of sight to spot the fence.
Thankfully no major damage, just a bent prop blade that was easily replaced. And a good reinforcement to always scout out new locations thoroughly!
Flight Time
After flying around for 6 minutes, voltage sagged down to 3.7V per cell – getting within the safe discharge zone for a 6S LiPo battery.
So with the 1,300 mAh battery and GoPro style camera, total flight time looks to be around 6-7 minutes.
That’s an impressively long flight time for such a powerful drone! Most cinewhoops in this size range struggle to hit 5 minutes.
Having GPS rescue on board provides extra peace of mind for pushing the limits of endurance. If voltage gets critically low, the autoland feature brings it straight back with no piloting required.
But as with any LiPo powered multirotor, it’s best practice to land with at least 15% battery capacity remaining. This prevents over-discharging and gives a nice buffer in case landing takes longer than expected.
Summary of Flight Characteristics
After getting several flights under its belt, here are some key takeaways on the CineLog 35 V2’s flight characteristics:
- Powerful 6S power system delivers excellent burst acceleration and wind penetration
- GPS and barometer sensors provide superb hover lock, even in gusty winds
- Low center of gravity makes it very resistant to drifting in wind
- Dampened motors minimize jello effect in footage
- Rates are smooth and tunable for both racing or filming
- DJI Vista transmission is crystal clear across long distances
- Camera gimbal isolates footage from vibrations
- Frame design protects props, camera, and electronics in crashes
This is by far the best tuned and most capable cinewhoop I’ve ever flown in this size class. It hovers steadily even in winds that would toss around many full sized FPV drones. Handling is precise enough for fast FPV flights yet smooth enough for cinematic framing.
Just an overall brilliantly designed ready-to-fly FPV filming platform.
Final Thoughts
After getting to know the Gap RC CineLog 35 V2, it’s clear they have an absolute winner on their hands. This drone was engineered from the ground up specifically for high end cinematic FPV use. The stellar video quality and handling are going to make it THE go-to choice for aerial filmmakers.
Some key strengths really stand out after testing:
Video Quality – The DJI digital HD video link remains unparalleled in its performance. No interference, breakup, or static. Just a clear HD view even miles away. And the stabilized 4K camera yields buttery smooth footage perfect for professional use.
Wind Penetration – Don’t let the “cinewhoop” name fool you. This drone slices through wind with power to spare thanks to the custom 6S power system. Few racing quads could hope to match its resistance to gusts and ability to hold position.
Agility – With rates cranked up, the CineLog rips like a race quad. Flips and rolls happen almost too quickly. But reel the rates back and it becomes wonderfully smooth and cinematic. A wide performance envelope packs racing and filming capability in one.
Durability – Despite having a GoPro up top, the stunts I pulled would annihilate most drones this size. The full carbon fiber frame plus prop guards make it practically invincible. Heavy duty hardware throughout means it will keep taking a beating.
No piece of gear is perfect of course. If I had to nitpick a couple very minor cons:
- Takeoffs require an exceptionally flat surface due to minimal ground clearance. Not a problem if you’re aware of it.
- Bottom heavy profile means landings require a bit more throttle management compared to a racing quad. Just another flying technique to adapt to.
But these are truly negligiblecons for what is otherwise an incredible cinewhoop package without equal.
In closing, the Gap RC CineLog 35 V2 earns my highest recommendation. Its performance, construction, and video quality hit all the right marks for a professional grade filming drone. This is the new gold standard that all other cinewhoops will be measured against. Well done Gap RC!
Thanks for reading my in-depth review and field testing of the CineLog 35 V2. Let me know if you have any other questions! Clear skies and smooth flying.
