How to Change Gimbal Mode Between FPV and Follow on the DJI Neo 2
Peter Leslie
21 May 2026
If your DJI Neo 2 footage is rolling with the drone when you wanted a flat, cinematic horizon — or sitting locked-flat when you wanted the rolling first-person look — the setting you are after is Gimbal Mode inside DJI Fly.
The selector lives a short scroll into the Control category, and it has exactly two choices: Follow or FPV. Most drone pilots leave it on Follow for the level-horizon look and only flip it to FPV for the proximity and fly-through clips where the rolling camera adds energy to the shot.
Quick guide
To change Gimbal Mode on the DJI Neo 2, go to DJI Fly → Settings → Control → Gimbal Mode. Follow keeps the horizon level when the drone banks; FPV rolls the camera with the drone for a first-person look.
Step-by-step: How to Change Gimbal Mode Between FPV and Follow on the DJI Neo 2
Follow these top to bottom the first time, and you will know the path off by heart the second time.
Open the DJI Fly Settings menu from the camera view
With the DJI Neo 2 powered on and the remote controller connected, tap the Settings icon in the top right of the camera view. The settings panel slides in from the right with the category tabs down the left-hand side.
Tap the Control category at the top of the Settings panel
Control is the first tab at the top of the left-hand column, above Safety and Camera. Tap it and the right-hand pane updates with every control and gimbal-related option for the DJI Neo 2 — gain and expo settings, stick mode, and the Gimbal section further down.
Scroll down to the Gimbal section inside Control
The top of the Control page is all aircraft-related rows. Scroll past Gain and Expo Settings, Stick Mode, and the Easy ACRO row until the Gimbal sub-heading appears. Gimbal Mode is the first row underneath it.
Tap the Gimbal Mode row to expose the two options
Tap the Gimbal Mode row and the two options expand inline: Follow and FPV. The currently selected mode is highlighted so you can see at a glance which one the drone is on before you change it.
Pick Follow for a level horizon or FPV for a rolling one
Follow keeps the gimbal stable against the horizon so the picture stays flat even when the drone banks. FPV rolls the camera with the drone, so the horizon tilts in sync with the bank angle. Tap the one that suits the shot you are about to film.
Close the Settings panel to confirm the new gimbal mode
The selection saves the moment you tap it — there is no separate confirm button. Close the Settings panel to return to the camera view, and the DJI Neo 2 gimbal will start using the new behaviour straight away on the next bank.
Peter's tip
I keep Gimbal Mode on Follow for ninety percent of what I shoot with the DJI Neo 2 — anything that is going to end up in a client deliverable or a wide cinematic clip stays on Follow. The only time I flip it to FPV is when I have a specific proximity line in mind and I want the picture to lean into the turn. Decide before the take-off, not in the air.
| Mode | What the horizon does | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Follow | Stays pinned flat to the horizontal plane regardless of how the drone rolls or banks. The gimbal corrects on the roll axis to keep the picture level. | Cinematic clips, client deliverables, slow-line establishing shots, anything where a rolling horizon would feel like a mistake. |
| FPV | Rolls in sync with the drone, so a left bank tilts the picture left and a right bank tilts it right. The roll axis follows the drone rather than the world. | First-person flying, proximity lines, fly-through clips, anything where you want the camera to feel mounted to the drone rather than to gravity. |
Frequently asked questions
What is the default Gimbal Mode on the DJI Neo 2?
Follow. Out of the box the DJI Neo 2 keeps the horizon level when the drone rolls, banks, or speeds through a line. You only need to switch to FPV when you want the camera to roll with the drone for a first-person look, otherwise Follow is the right call.
What is the difference between Follow Mode and FPV Mode on the DJI Neo 2?
Follow Mode keeps the gimbal stable relative to the horizontal plane, so the footage stays flat even when the drone banks into a turn. FPV Mode rolls the gimbal in sync with the drone, so a hard left bank tilts the picture left and a hard right bank tilts it right. Follow is built for cinematic clips; FPV is built for high-immersion first-person flying.
When should I switch the DJI Neo 2 to FPV gimbal mode?
Whenever you want the camera to feel like it is mounted to the inside of the drone — proximity flying, fast-moving line shots, fly-through clips, anything where a rolling horizon adds to the energy of the shot. The rolling picture sells the speed in a way that a locked-flat horizon never will.
Does the DJI Neo 2 gimbal still work in FPV mode?
Yes. The gimbal stays active and stabilised in FPV mode — it just stops correcting the roll axis. Pitch and yaw stabilisation keep working as normal, so the picture is still smooth, it just rolls along with the drone instead of staying pinned flat.
Can I change Gimbal Mode mid-flight on the DJI Neo 2?
Yes. Open Settings, tap Control, find Gimbal Mode, and tap the option you want — the change is live the second you tap it. Just do not try to do it mid-line in a tight FPV pass; hover or bring the drone to a slow forward speed, change the mode, then pick the line back up.
Why is my DJI Neo 2 horizon tilted even in Follow Mode?
A tilted horizon in Follow Mode usually means the gimbal needs a calibration. Land the drone, open Settings, tap Control, scroll to Gimbal, and run Gimbal Auto Calibration. If the tilt comes back after the calibration, the gimbal has likely taken a knock and needs a proper inspection before flying again.
Does Gimbal Mode affect the photo and video files saved to the DJI Neo 2?
It affects what was happening to the picture at the moment of capture, not the file itself. A clip recorded in FPV bakes the rolling horizon into the file — there is no way to un-roll it in post short of cropping. A clip recorded in Follow bakes a level horizon in. Pick the mode that matches the final look you want before the recording starts.
What if I cannot find Gimbal Mode in DJI Fly on the DJI Neo 2?
Make sure you are on the Control category in the Settings panel, not Safety or Camera. Gimbal Mode sits under the Gimbal sub-heading on the Control page — you may need to scroll well past the aircraft-related rows first. If it still is not there, update DJI Fly to the latest version and reconnect the drone; a stale app version sometimes hides newer rows.
Gimbal Mode is the cheapest one-tap change in DJI Fly that visibly changes the look of your footage. Get into the habit of picking the right one before the take-off and the DJI Neo 2 will start delivering the shot you imagined, not the one the default happened to give you.
If you want a second opinion on which mode to use for a specific shot you have in mind, drop the details to peter@hiredronepilot.uk and I will come back to you directly. The video version of this walkthrough is on YouTube and the comments are open.
References
Primary source material for this article is the official DJI Neo 2 documentation and DJI Fly. External links open in a new tab.
- DJI Neo 2 — Downloads (User Manual, Quick Start Guide, firmware notes) · Gimbal Operation Modes section: Follow Mode holds the gimbal stable relative to the horizontal plane; FPV Mode rolls the gimbal in sync with the drone.
- DJI Neo 2 — Product page (UK) · Drone hardware overview and the single-axis gimbal that Gimbal Mode controls.
- DJI Fly — App download and release notes · The app where the Control category and the Gimbal Mode selector live. Release notes record any menu reshuffles between versions.
Peter Leslie
Founder & GVC Drone Pilot
Peter is the founder of HireDronePilot. With thousands of logged commercial flight hours, he writes about drone technology, commercial surveying tactics, and UK aviation compliance.
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