Micro Camera for the Furibee X215 pro

Furibee X215: A robust well thought out PNP quad - except the rubbish camera

The Furibee X215 has been out last year and has been proven to be a really well thought out quad. It's not especially light but is VERY robust, has a relevent up to date spec list and handles suprisingly well. Stewart from UAV futures rated it very highly especially since it can usually be had exclusively from Gearbest for under $140 here:
​ https://www.gearbest.com/brushless-fpv-racer/pp_708202.html

Substandard Stock Camera
The only realy shortcoming for me other than props where are a disposable item anyway (I use Dal t5040c for anyone asking) is the FPV camera. When the weather is perfectly sunny outdoors it looks beautiful @ 1200TVL CMOS but it is horrible at handling light transitions - as soon as you go into shadow it can take over a second to transitions = crash. For me anyway. Also the stock lens has a very narrow FOV meaning peripheral vision is poor. You can replace the lens with a 2.1mm or 1.8mm to improve this but the light handling will be not better, it will be throwing away good money after bad. Because the camera is your eyes for FPV it needs to be good.

That's a heavy camera - micros are typically 5.5g or less

Why I used a Micro Camera
The obvious trick would be to replace the existing camera with a standard or 'mini' sized camera which would be a direct swap however I had a spare micro sized camera kicking around so wanted to use that. Also note that micros are much more common now than mini or standard to there is a wider range AND they are cheaper. I used the Foxeer Arrow Micro V2 (below) but would recommend the Micro Arrow Pro as the RRP is lower and has better default settings. Lastly a micro camera saves you almonst 10g over this full sized one.

Foxeer Arrow Micro

Runcam Micro Swift

FuribeeMS 1672 - budget alternative

Parts Needed
It took me a while to figure out how to install cleanly but was able to do so cleanly in the end with a minimum of parts and tools:

• 2 x 19mm standoffs (I just dremelled down some spare 27mm ones I had lying around). 20mm here: https://www.banggood.com/Suleve-M3AS11-10Pcs-M3-20mm-Aluminum-Alloy-Standoff-Spacer-Round-Column-MultiColor-Smooth-Surface-p-1290426.html
• 2mm drill bit
• Solder and iron to solder in new camera

How to install
Here are the steps youl need to take to replace the camera:

1. Remove the old camera
2. Remove the carbon fibre side plates from the aluminium frame sections
3. Remove the front 2 stand offs
4. Replace the connect by depinning/repinning the connectors or remove the old camera wiring and replace with the new camera wiring.
5. Drill the carbon sideplates with a 2mm bit in the location shown below.
6. Put the sideplates back in but this time on the inside of the aluminium frame
7. Fit the smaller 19mm standoffs where the old standoffs used to be. The extra thickness of the carbon planes now on the inside of the frame is what allows for the shorter standoff.
8. Fit the new micro camera with the M2 screws that came with the micro camera.
9. Test, fly, enjoy

All going well it will look like this. Notice the carbon fibre plates on the inside of the aluminium

Note the location of the new M2 holes drilled in the carbon side plates

You can see my ghetto-trimmed 19mm stand offs here and just how far recessed the camera is

Another shot of how far the camera is recessed - no frame in view at all with a 2.1mm lens

Changed the FPV antenna conntector from RP-SMA to SMA while I was at it.

Where the coax FPV cable meets the VTX is where you need to replace. Fiddly but actual pretty easy.

Results
Needless to say a night and day difference, so muck more confident now I have this better camera. I'm not at a level that I can tell but the new micro cameras have a lot less latency than the last generation CMOS as comes stock with the X215. Before I fired up the camera I though for sure I'd have the frame in view but to my pleasant suprised it was a completed unobstructed view with a very well recessed lense. Given the strength of this frame I don't think I'll ever have to worry about damage to the camera.

Conclusion
I've always liked the way this quad flies but now that it has a camera that is good rather substandard I find myselt wanting to fly it much more. It's amazing how much the FPV system affects your enjoyment of flying when I know personally that I get carried away with motor specs and props or 4s vs 6s etc... A properly functioning camera and video transmission system a real world difference that you can immediately tell.

Links
Furibee X215: https://www.gearbest.com/brushless-fpv-racer/pp_708202.html
Foxeer Arrow Micro: https://www.gearbest.com/camera/pp_650430.html
20mm Standoffs: ​https://www.banggood.com/Suleve-M3AS11-10Pcs-M3-20mm-Aluminum-Alloy-Standoff-Spacer-Round-Column-MultiColor-Smooth-Surface-p-1290426.html