To control the camera on the DJI Flip, turn the gimbal dial on the RC-N3 or RC 2 to tilt it up and down, or in DJI Fly press and hold the screen until the gimbal bar appears and drag it. You can tilt from straight down (-90°) to 35° above the horizon. To aim left or right, turn the drone itself (yaw), because the Flip's gimbal pan isn't user-controlled. Switch between Follow and FPV gimbal modes in DJI Fly under Control.
Tilt the camera
| How you fly | Tilt control | Zoom |
|---|---|---|
| RC-N3 | Gimbal dial | Hold the customizable button and turn the gimbal dial |
| DJI RC 2 | Gimbal dial | Camera control dial (right shoulder) |
| Phone only (DJI Fly over Wi-Fi) | Press and hold the screen, drag the gimbal bar | On-screen controls |
DJI's specs list a controllable tilt range of -90° to +35°. Straight down is great for top-down shots of beaches, patterns and fields. Tilting up past level is useful for reveals under trees or bridges.
On the DJI RC 2, the camera control dial zooms by default, and you can set it to adjust focal length, EV, shutter speed or ISO instead. A half press of the focus/shutter button focuses, and a full press takes a photo.
"Rotate" the camera
The Flip has a 3-axis mechanical gimbal (tilt, roll and pan), but you only control tilt. Roll and pan move automatically to keep footage stable. To point the camera somewhere else horizontally, yaw the drone with the left stick (Mode 2), or use FocusTrack to keep a person in frame.
Recenter with one button
You can assign the controller's customizable buttons to gimbal functions such as recentering. In DJI Fly, open the camera view, tap the menu, then Control > Button Customization. A one-press recenter is handy after a top-down shot.
Gimbal modes: Follow vs FPV
In DJI Fly, open settings and then Control to switch:
- Follow mode: the horizon stays level relative to the ground. Use this for most video and all photos.
- FPV mode: when flying forward, the gimbal rolls with the drone for a first-person feel. Good for dynamic clips, less so for steady shots.
Vertical shooting
The Flip shoots vertical video at 2.7K (1512 × 2688) or 1080p (1080 × 1920), both at 24, 25 or 30 fps, according to DJI's specs. Digital zoom goes up to 3x at 2.7K vertical and 4x at 1080p vertical. Vertical is a recording mode, not a gimbal rotation, so you don't need to turn the camera.
Smooth gimbal moves
- Fly in Cine or Normal mode. DJI recommends these for video.
- Turn the dial slowly. Small, steady movements look better than quick flicks.
- Combine moves. Tilt up slowly while flying forward for a classic reveal.
- Plan the shot. Do a test pass first, then record.
Gimbal tips and warnings
- Remove the gimbal protector before powering on. Reattach it when you pack up.
- Don't push the gimbal by hand after power-on, and launch from flat ground. If the drone sits on uneven ground or gets shaken after power-on, the gimbal can enter protection mode. Place it flat and wait for it to recover.
- Big tilt angles plus hard acceleration can trigger limit protection, which tips the camera down automatically.
- Strong wind with the camera pointed down can put the drone's body at the edge of the frame.
- Wet gimbal after fog or mist may stop working until it dries.
- During Return to Home the drone tilts the camera toward the return route. Moving the gimbal dial or recentering stops that automatic adjustment.
Gimbal drifting or tilted?
DJI's first fix for gimbal drift in flight is to calibrate the IMU and compass in DJI Fly. If the horizon is still crooked, see Flip horizon. If you see a gimbal error, read Flip gimbal motor overloaded. If it persists, contact DJI Support or start a repair.
Quick answers
Can I pan the camera without turning the drone? No. Pan isn't user-controlled on the Flip.
Can I point the camera straight up? No. Tilt stops at +35°.
Does the RC Motion 3 control the gimbal? The Flip doesn't support DJI goggles or motion controllers. See Flip goggles.
For more camera how-tos, read Flip record video and photos. Shop the DJI Flip.
Related guides
- How to tilt and rotate the camera on the DJI Mini 5 Pro
- How to tilt and rotate the camera on the DJI Mavic 4 Pro
- How to tilt and rotate the camera on the DJI Mini 4 Pro
- How to tilt and rotate the camera on the DJI Neo
- How to tilt, rotate and flip the camera on a DJI drone
- DJI Flip zoom: how far can the camera zoom?
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