Phantom 3 camera gimbal not level? Some things you can try to straighten your horizon!

Here's how to level the camera gimbal on your Phantom 3 Advanced or Pro if the horizon isn't straight, including a simple "in the air" process that worked for me. Also details of how to perform a full IMU calibration and tips on making sure the aircraft is on a level surface...
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My "On the Kitchen Table" videos are mainly aimed at newcomers to multirotors, quadcopters, drones and UAVs, particularly to the DJI product range, and the Phantom line in particular. I have how to's, product reviews, tips, tricks, hints and information for beginners and those in the early stages of the hobby. I film "on the kitchen table" to show people that, like me, you don't need a workshop and an array of specialist equipment and years of experience to get started and progress with flying these amazing aircraft and enjoying making great aerial videos and stills. So if you have bought, or are thinking of buying, a DJI Phantom 3, Phantom 2, Phantom 2 Vision or Vision+ or Plus, Inspire 1 or even building your own DJI Flamewheel F450 or F550, or considering the Lily, 3DR Solo, Yuneec or more then you too can do it... on the kitchen table!

[@N1259L]

I know some of your videos are outdated (this one over 1.5yrs) you still have the best videos that truly, fully answer my questions 👍

[@iolle93]

Great video! Thanks! I have had this issue with my P3A. Have done all that you are suggesting and I now realise that you are probably right: this is an issue for DJI Support to figure out in my case.

[@iolle93]

+Simon Newton Hello! Just wanted to give you an update on this issue! I decided to talk to DJI about this issue. They were very responsive and helpful but concluded that I had to send my Phantom in for repair. I spoke with my reseller, a Swedish reseller, that took it in for repair. They use a Norweigan repair company called Elefun that does all the Swedish repairs, as far as I can understand. This week I finally got a call from my reseller. They said that Elefun had found nothing wrong with my Phantom. This was really weird. My reseller was kind enough to send me a new one with no extra charge. Still seems really weird that the repair shop found nothing wrong with the quad copter.

[@robmiles3493]

Good one Simon, thanks for the tips. I have had this problem but only on some flights which seems strange, and to be fair only one or two out of about 20 flights. Might try a gimbal calibration first and just see what happens, thanks again.

[@UnderWaterFilms3Sock]

Thank you for the calibration tip!! I crashed my Phantom 3 into some leaves and it fell about 10 feet onto grass, and I noticed after that the gimbal was very crooked. Scared me half to death, cause I just got this baby. But, after calibration I think it's great!

[@FredBD]

Very useful. Cheers :)

[@Bluegene11]

That's what I had, a nice bottle of red! Right after I hit that tiny little limb on that tiny little tree in my front yard at only 8 ft up. I've had my $24oo(usd ) Phantom 3 Professional Executive Kit for 3 weeks and nowI have a physically bent gimbal that is about 8 degrees off level with the horizon. But! Thanks to this vidio, I found the "Adjust Gimbal Rolll" and clicked the + up to 8.2 and..... SHAWHAME!!! Even with a seriously physically bent gimbal whatchmacallit, my camera is level with the horizon again! I am especially thankfull for this video because I had allready taken the back off and reallized I just may have to order parts, or (lord help) send it back to China for unknown months for repairs! I still may have some problems with my setup, but Sooo glad the get the obvious seriousnes out of the way. I'll be putting new props on soon to see how well the video works and what other issues I may have. I just new there had to be an adjustment somewhere for that, just didn't know if it would be enough, but it was.THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THIS VIDEO!!

[@johngoodwin34]

Agree with you Simon as regards packaging, On opening my package and then opening inner box I found that the Gimbal locking plastic thingy had come partly off the Gimbal. More off than on. DJI need to sort this out promptly. The spindle that keeps the level across the gimbal will be knocked out of true very easily, then no matter what the only way to get back to level is by readjusting that spindle by taking off the back plate to get to it. We shouldn't have to have these problems because of bad packaging by DJI. That gimbal is of the most delicate construction, knock your drone hard and you will put that spindle out of true. Thanks for letting me air my frustration over this delicate GIMBAL.

[@solentlifeuk]

Just like to add ... we all end up doing IMU calibration indoors .. BUT don't forget that the Compass gets a calibration with regard to its IMU coordination in that as well ... so I suggest doing the whole calibration outside and away from any influences ... easy enough to take a wood box and a few wedges / spirit level to create level flat surface outdoors ... then you know there are no influences at all to upset any part of the calibration.

[@1508lukaz]

hi simon, nice vid. :) just want to ask my camera is slightly tilted on the left. tried IMU and gimbal calibration. nothing worked. what do you think is the possible problem? TIA!

[@Tekgila]

Do you have any idea why the camera is not working? When I turn the gimbal knob but the camera is not rotating.

[@DavidWilliams-mr5nl]

When I purchased my P3standard, I began sport flying primarily at night with my P2vision, since I lost my P2vision in a garage fire, I purchased my P3pro and now want to sport night fly my P3standard... Is the P3standard fly able without the camera/gimbal???

[@cinematycaweddings]

Hi Simon where I can buy the camera priotector of green?

[@kernowcrosser]

Hi would you be able to do a video on how to stop the phantom 2 vision plus drifting?

[@kernowcrosser]

It's fairly bad as in i have to keep my stick half way to the left to keep it steady and I have been doing advanced calibration on the Naza assistant but the numbers are out and just don't go up, also I've had a lot of erratic flying

[@djinfiniteforever1652]

will this work for my phantom 3 standard

[@gregcopelandmusicvid]

on my P3pro shortcut to level horizon hold C1 and C2, turn right thumb wheel

[@ShaaBazz]

If this works on the advanced I'll love you forever

[@BrandonABsm]

@@ShaaBazz did it work??

[@ShaaBazz]

@@BrandonABsm yeah it did, but it's the same setting as going into the app and adjusting the roll that way, I got my p3a perfectly level then did imu and gimbal calibration and it fixed it, didn't need to adjust the roll at all

[@BrandonABsm]

@@ShaaBazz okay thanks. I ended up taking off the back panel and adjusting motor since it wasn't level with my camera

[@mra12345]

Can't beat a nice bottle of red.

[@upshot9265]

The best way is fiddly and will negate the warranty, but it is the most effective/permanent way. Take the back off the gimbal arm and adjust the feedback potentiometer. This was the only way I found to sort the problem, your video was interesting though.

[@markmarkk2230]

there is also a manual adjustment on the same screen as the auto calabration....just take drone up to 400 ft and manually tweek it in the softwear using the horizon thats what i did and it is worked perfect...no tools needed not even a level

[@valvelifter1]

How you just love the sound of your own voice

there is a gimbal level adjustment also.

[@caburchfield1212]

Do you have any video/help to fix P3P camera pointing slightly left?

[@BenHopperVisuals]

CA Burchfield try it if not look up "phantom 3 pro gimbal alignment"

[@andreylusta]

CA Burchfield, could you please advise what exactly should be done? My camera points to the right a little, alligning and tightening the shaft with hex screw didn't help :(

[@williamjames2225]

Hi Simon - So I received my Phantom 3 Advanced yesterday and went to upgrade the firmware today. I upgraded the aircraft to the V.1.2.8 and went to do the same for the remote (transmitter). When I power up the transmitter, it does not enter the firmware upgrade mode. In other words, all I see is the red light on the transmitter if my phantom 3 is off, and it turns to green whent he phantom 3 is on, indicating that there is RC link. However, when I keep the phantom 3 off, and I go to upgrade the transmitter, the light stays at red, and even after waiting a minute or two, it will not go into its firware upgrade sequence on the transmitter. I tried it with the Micro SD card and USB stick insterted into the USB port. When that didn't work, I contacted DJI support and they told me to try the transmitter upgrade via the provided USB cable. I tried that and the same thing... it did not enter the blue light sequence of the firmward upgrade. Once or twice, I did get a .txt file generated saying that the firmware on the remote is the same, or older than the firmware on the plane... but when I go into the DJI app, it says that my firmware on the remote needs to be updated. I even tried uninstalling and re-installing DJI app in case that was an issue.. but it was still saying that my remote firmware needs to be updated. I have no clue whats going on and am very worried. Any suggestions?

[@williamjames2225]

yes, tried all of those. Any other suggestions?

[@williamjames2225]

Ok, thank you for your help.

[@elainethompson1865]

Phantom 3 camera image is not shown on the App I know this isnt about the gimbal but could you advice me on this,,ive just updated the firmware now this has happened

[@elainethompson1865]

+Simon Newton havent changed anything but i did a firmware update few days ago,I`m using a Galaxy note 2 Android version 4.4.2 And using dji go App Phantom 3 standard

[@dlaroc]

Never mind. I seen yours face down after you moved it. Cool. It's normal. Lol

[@dlaroc]

My gimbal always makes the camera face the bottom when it's off. Is that normal? Almost all videos I see show the camera pointed forward when it's off.

[@JbbJake]

Deebo Guwop they are using a camera lock, his is green, the drone should have come with a clear one.

[@mgs6622]

Thank you so mutch you saved my drone frome the return box at Walmart

[@elfogosoresbaloso2722]

the idea is to get drunk, so you're not level neither and you don't care much about the gimbal ;) cheers ;)

[@GranVlog]

For me, it didnt help at all. But after the latest firmware update, that worked

[@mikeread8001]

I've just received additional battery and extra 100w charger, these two items must have rattled all the way from China in a very oversized box. Honestly, packaging is very poor. Perhaps DJI need to order a P3 from Amazon and see how it arrives. :)

[@oorcinus]

IMU can't "take a beating". It's a surface mounted IC on a PCB. "Taking a beating" would imply it coming loose. Not very likely. The PCB itself can end up tilted slightly, but that's not very likely. More likelier - it was soldered at an angle and no one at the factory bothered to calibrate it once the PCB was in place.

[@greenbottles]

DJI IS RESPONSIBLE

[@glasgowtraveller89]

hi i crashed my p3advanced :( just broke a prop but now the camera is falling to one side any suggestions ?

[@mikemcking]

"I'm doing these in increasing order of what a pain it is to do them."......... Now THAT is funny. Otherwise, I wonder if you can tell me something....Does the camera ONLY point straight at the horizon and also tilt down? IOW, can you ever tilt the camera UP a little to see what is above the drone?

[@lqvk8939]

don't drunk flying

[@Ein2404]

Will people stop propagandise alcohol? =(

[@Ein2404]

We have different points of view on that, and on meaning of "propoganda". Under specific angle of view THIS post can be concidered as propaganda of it. And how can you call consuming poison any way? It's not responsible choice, I assume it's inflicted. I just mean....you have such so good content on your channel....why not to do a more ethically clean background?.... My point of view is ,unfortunately, unpopular-especially in this country, so my voice should not be taken seriously. Good luck and take care.

[@Mr_Wh1]

+Einar Silvansky And to what religion or such, do we owe our "gratitutes" for YOUR propaganda?

[@zippyzee]

+Einar Silvansky you're probably lots of fun at parties.

[@elfogosoresbaloso2722]

+zippyzee come on, we have to hide alcohol, hide cigarettes, hide tits, hide butts, wtf is wrong with the world, and by we I mean grown adults, not kids.

[@jmack56]

Religion... smh.