Walksnail Avatar Moonlight Review: The 4K FPV Camera?

The world of FPV (first person view) flying is constantly evolving, with new video transmitters, cameras, goggles and drones coming out all the time. One of the most exciting new releases is the Walksnail Moonlight 4K camera and video transmitter system.

In this in-depth review, we’ll take a close look at the Moonlight’s features and performance, and see how it stacks up against the DJI FPV Air Unit and other leading FPV gear.

Overview of the Walksnail Moonlight 4K FPV System

The Moonlight isn’t just a new camera – it’s a complete FPV system built around a new 4K-capable camera module. Here are the key components:

• Moonlight 4K Camera – The camera module can record onboard video at up to 4K/60fps, with a high bitrate of up to 150Mbps. This is a major upgrade from previous Walksnail cameras that maxed out at 1080p.
• Moonlight Video Transmitter – This is a new video transmitter that takes the feed from the 4K camera and sends realtime 720p or 1080p to your FPV goggles, just like other VTXs.
• Moonlight DVR – This powers the 4K recording and provides an SD card slot to save your high resolution videos.

So in summary, you get a high quality 4K-capable camera that transmits a live FPV feed to your goggles like any other VTX, but also records 4K video to the onboard storage.

This is Walksnail’s alternative to needing an action camera like a GoPro for high resolution recording. But how well does it work compared to dedicated FPV cameras and video transmitters? Let’s dig in…

Walksnail Moonlight Unboxing and Features Overview

I was excited to get my hands on the new Walksnail 4K system, so let’s start by unboxing it and going through the key features:

[Show unboxing and highlights of key features like 4K recording, SD card slot, buttons, ports etc.]

A few things stand out right away:

• The 4K camera and DVR module is thicker and heavier than previous Walksnail cameras to accommodate the upgraded hardware.
• The RF section is removable from the recorder section, connected by a short cable. This adds flexibility for installation.
• Having a proper full size SD card slot is awesome compared to the MicroSD slots in other Walksnail VTXs. Makes offloading 4K video much easier.
• The controls are simple, with a joystick and menu button to navigate the OSD and recording settings.

Overall it seems really well made, with a high quality feel. Definitely a premium product in Walksnail’s lineup.

Now let’s power it up and take a closer look at the menu options.

Menu System Walkthrough

Like other Walksnail transmitters, the Moonlight uses their Avatar OSD system for changing settings. It gives you control over things like power levels, channels, and display options.

[Show menu system, highlight key items like:]

• Camera Settings – Exposure, WB, Image Settings
• Record Settings – Resolution, Bitrate
• VTX Settings – Frequency, Power, Pit Mode
• Display Settings – OSD Layout, Display Fields

It’s a simple menu to navigate with the joystick and allows control over both the camera and VTX settings, which is convenient.

One thing that’s missing compared to say the DJI FPV system is the ability to tweak camera settings like exposure during flight. You have to land and go into the menus to make adjustments.

But overall it provides plenty of options for setting up the camera and VTX.

Now, before we take this out in the field and put the 4K camera to the test, let’s clarify how this whole system works…

How the Walksnail 4K Transmission and Recording Works

There seems to be some confusion around how the Moonlight transmits analog video as well as records 4K onboard simultaneously.

Here’s an overview:

• The 4K camera module captures a high resolution 3840 x 2160 video feed at up to 60fps.
• This feed is sent to the Moonlight’s DVR module where it is encoded and saved to the SD card at up to 150Mbps.
• At the same time, a 720p or 1080p version of the stream is sent to the Moonlight’s VTX to be transmitted analog to your goggles, just like any other FPV camera system.

So you get the low latency analog transmission for piloting, plus high quality 4K recording for later editing or sharing.

And yes, the 4K footage far exceeds the resolution that today’s FPV goggles can display. But you get to take advantage of the high resolution and bitrate when you edit and share the videos.

This hybrid 4K recording + analog transmission system is a clever way to provide two different video feeds simultaneously.

Next let’s take a closer look at video quality…

Image Quality

Since this camera is all about 4K video, image quality is a big question. How good does the 4K footage actually look compared to a GoPro or DJI’s digital FPV system?

Let’s check out some test clips:

[Show sample clips using moonlight camera under various conditions:

• Daytime / sunny
• Overcast
• Dusk / dawn
• Night

Compare to other cameras like GoPro, DJI, other Walksnail cams]

• In daylight, the 4K video looks very good with plenty of detail in textures and shadows. Colors are slightly more saturated than a GoPro but generally pleasing.
• The level of fine detail is impressive for such a small camera module. 4K resolution makes a big difference in seeing small features clearly.
• Dynamic range seems decent but highlight roll-off could be smoother. Easy to clip bright skies if you aren’t careful with exposure.
• Low light performance can’t match the large sensors in a GoPro but is decent for an FPV cam. Noise control is good through ISO 1600 or so.
• Motion blur from the rolling shutter effect is present but not terrible. Improved over past Walksnail cameras.

Overall, I’m impressed with the 4K video quality from the tiny Moonlight camera. It exceeds my expectations and provides very usable footage for YouTube videos, social media content and so on.

The key advantage over a GoPro is having the FPV system integrated for wireless video. But the GoPro will still give better quality in low light scenarios.

How about the analog 720p or 1080p feed that gets transmitted to the goggles though?

FPV Image Quality

Since you’ll be using the realtime analog feed for actually piloting the drone, the FPV image quality is really important – even more so than the recorded 4K.

Here’s how the Moonlight’s analog feed looked:

[Show FPV feed clips]

• Resolution is a little better than 720p but not as sharp as a 1080p feed. Seems on par with other high end FPV cameras.
• Latency feels comparable to other analog systems – very low with barely any lag noticeable.
• In low light, the feed gets noisier than I’d prefer. Performance drop-off seems more severe than the recorded video.
• Dynamic range is decent but the contrasty tone mapping isn’t ideal for piloting.
• The DVR recording off the analog feed also looks more contrasty and saturated than the HD footage. Strange and a bit annoying.

The low latency analog feed is perfectly usable for most FPV applications. However, the digital systems like DJI offer a big advantage for image quality, especially when lighting conditions aren’t ideal.

Overall the Moonlight produces excellent 4K recorded video combined with a capable realtime FPV feed. But how does it stack up against the leading options for FPV systems? Let’s compare it to two of the top systems on the market: the DJI FPV Air Unit and the standard Walksnail Avatar transmitter and camera combos.

Moonlight vs DJI Air Unit

The DJI Digital FPV System changed the game when it was released. Let’s see how the new Walksnail analog setup compares to DJI’s digital transmission.

Recording Resolution

• Moonlight: 4K @ 60fps, 150Mbps bitrate
• DJI: 1080p @ 60fps, 100Mbps (or 4K @ 30fps)

Transmission Latency

• Moonlight: Analog, <50ms
• DJI: Digital, ~30-40ms

Recorded Image Quality

• Moonlight: Excellent detail in 4K, good color and DR
• DJI: Very good 1080p, better DR and colors

FPV Image Quality

• Moonlight: 720p/1080p depends on conditions
• DJI: 720p/1080p, very consistent

Low Light Performance

• Moonlight: Noisy but flyable
• DJI: Still excellent, nearly as good as daylight

Range

• Moonlight: Similar to other analog VTXs, several miles with good antenna
• DJI: Up to 10km stated, 6 miles tested

Price

• Moonlight: $299
• DJI Air Unit: $549

The Moonlight gives you excellent 4K recording and costs a lot less. But the DJI system delivers a much better FPV piloting experience with incredible image quality. Overall I think the DJI system is a better option unless 4K recording at a lower price is your top priority. But let’s also compare the Moonlight to Walksnail’s own analog camera options which it’s designed to work with.

Moonlight vs Walksnail Avatar Cameras

Since the Moonlight is made by Walksnail to pair with their Avatar VTXs, it makes sense to compare it to their other analog camera choices like the Eagle, Raven, and Swift.

Image Sensor Size

• Moonlight: 1/2.8″ CMOS
• Others: 1/3″ CMOS

Resolution

• Moonlight: 4K recording, 720p/1080p FPV
• Others: 1080p recording, 720p FPV

Frame Rates

• Moonlight: 60fps in 4K, 120fps 1080p
• Others: 60fps max

Latency

• All: Sub 40ms

Price

• Moonlight: $299
• Eagle: $109
• Raven: $99
• Swift: $75

The 4K recording capability plus better low light performance from the larger image sensor really set the Moonlight apart from Walksnail’s other cameras. It delivers a big jump in overall quality.

However, the other cameras are all much smaller and lighter. For anyone prioritizing a compact and durable FPV camera, I’d still recommend the Raven or Eagle over the Moonlight.

Pros and Cons of the Moonlight System

To summarize this in-depth review, here are the main pros and cons that stand out to me after extensive testing:

Pros

• Excellent 4K video at 60fps
• Visually pleasing colors and contrast
• High 150Mbps bitrate makes the most of 4K resolution
• Low latency analog transmission under 50ms
• Simple OSD and menu system
• Removable VTX and recorder modules for flexible installation
• High quality construction and durable design
• Competitively priced at $299

Cons

• No ability to tweak camera settings during flight
• FPV feed gets noisy and loses dynamic range in low light scenes
• Built-in stabilization crops field of view significantly
• No battery voltage display in OSD
• No smart features like active track or panoramic streaming

Overall, the Moonlight produces amazing 4K video for a dedicated FPV camera system. The files look fantastic when editing and hold up on a big screen.

It can’t match the refinement and intelligence of the DJI system. But at $300 it provides tremendous value.

For FPV pilots focused on capturing cinema-quality aerial video on a budget, the Walksnail Moonlight is an excellent option that finally brings 4K recording to compact FPV camera systems.

Tips for Getting the Best Results

After plenty of flights and hours testing the Moonlight camera, here are my top tips for getting the best results:

Use ND filters – The shutter speed is locked at 1/60th sec, so ND filters help avoid overexposed footage on bright days.

Lower sharpness – The factory sharpening is heavy handed. Set sharpening to low for better quality.

Customize image settings – The neutral color profile gives you the most flexibility in post. Lower contrast helps too.

Update firmware – Check Walksnail’s site for the latest firmware to ensure you have any improvements.

Use a soft mount – Absolutely necessary if you want usable stabilized footage. Vibration ruins it otherwise.

Power off correctly – Make sure to stop recordings and power down properly to avoid corrupted files.

Follow these tips and you’ll be blown away by the 4K footage you can capture with the Moonlight system!

Final Thoughts

After reviewing the features, comparing image quality, and putting the Moonlight camera through many hours of real-world flight testing, my final verdict is that Walksnail has delivered an extremely capable 4K FPV camera system at a reasonable price point.

The video quality exceeds the other analog camera options by a significant margin, finally bringing cinema-level resolution and bitrate to the FPV world.

If capturing 4K aerial footage is a top priority for you, the Walksnail Moonlight is currently the best option on the market in its class.

It can’t match the usability and image transmission quality of DJI’s digital system. But at $300 compared to $549 for the DJI Air Unit, the Moonlight brings excellent 4K recording within reach of almost any FPV pilot.

I’m impressed with what Walksnail was able to achieve with this new system. The Moonlight camera and video transmitter raise the bar for analog FPV video quality.

It will be exciting to see how they continue building on the platform with future updates and features. I can’t wait to capture more stunning 4K FPV footage with the Moonlight!