How to Shoot Vertical Video with the DJI Neo 2

To shoot DJI Neo 2 vertical video, connect the aircraft to DJI Fly, choose video mode and tap Vertical Shooting in the camera interface.

Select 2.7K, 9:16 and an available frame rate: 30, 50 or 60 fps. Frame the shot in the tall preview, then check a downloaded original before filming anything you cannot repeat.

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DJI Neo 2 Follow-Me Camera Drone

The DJI Neo 2 is a 151 g follow-me camera drone with palm takeoff and return, gesture control, ActiveTrack, omnidirectional sensing, a two-axis gimbal, 4K/60 fps video, vertical capture, and 49 GB of internal…

The DJI Neo 2 is a 151 g follow-me camera drone with palm takeoff and return, gesture control, ActiveTrack, omnidirectional sensing, a two-axis gimbal, 4K/60 fps video, vertical capture, and 49 GB of internal storage.

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Best for beginners and solo creators who want a compact controller-free follow-me drone with…

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Beginner Drones, Camera Drones, DJI Drones, DJI flying camera, Drones, Under 249g Drones

Best for

Beginners and solo creators who want a compact controller-free follow-me drone with stabilized 4K/60…

Skill level

Beginner

Product type

Follow-Me Camera Drone

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What vertical mode changes

DJI's portrait-mode instructions identify the Neo 2 as a crop-based system. Its camera does not rotate 90 degrees to make the portrait image. Turning your phone upright is therefore not a substitute for selecting the recording mode.

The documented portrait output is 1512 pixels wide by 2688 pixels high. That is the useful meaning of 2.7K here: the longer dimension runs vertically. DJI lists 30, 50 and 60 fps for this format, so do not expect a 4K portrait or 100 fps portrait option.

Compose for the recorded shape. A person who fits comfortably in a wide image may lose an elbow, a bicycle wheel or part of the surrounding scene in a tall crop. Leave room around the movement you want to show, rather than checking only that the person's face is visible.

Prepare the aircraft and phone

The procedure below uses phone Wi-Fi control, which DJI explicitly supports for vertical recording. You need the Neo 2, a charged flight battery and a phone running DJI Fly. Finish the app’s activation prompts if the aircraft is new, connect it before changing camera settings, and keep the motors stopped while you configure the shot.

Follow any DJI Fly update prompt before the session. The June 23, 2026 release notes list aircraft firmware V01.00.0700. That is a dated reference, not a requirement for enabling portrait recording or a promise that it is the newest version offered to your aircraft. DJI says to restart after updating and recheck flight parameters that may have reset, including Return to Home altitude and maximum flight distance.

Check free recording space before leaving. DJI's file-export guide lists 49 GB of internal storage for Neo 2 and no storage-card expansion. Copy earlier footage, confirm the copies open, and only then remove files you no longer need.

If you have not established a working connection and practiced landing, start with flying the DJI Neo 2 with only a phone. Camera orientation does not replace those basic flight controls.

Set up and record a vertical clip

Use an ordinary video recording for the first check. This keeps automated shooting routines out of the diagnosis. Menu placement can change with app versions; confirm the selected mode and the resulting file instead of relying on an icon's position.

1. Connect in DJI Fly. Open Connection Guide, select Neo 2 and choose Connect via Mobile Device. Select your aircraft and complete the on-screen connection confirmation. The Neo 2 manual describes confirming the first phone connection with the aircraft's power button.
2. Enter the camera interface and select video. Make sure you are configuring a recording, rather than viewing the album or a downloaded clip.
3. Tap Vertical Shooting. Check that the composition preview becomes tall. If you still see a wide recording frame, stop here and check the mode again.
4. Choose 2.7K 9:16 and the frame rate. Use 30 fps for an initial ordinary-speed sample unless your project already specifies 50 or 60 fps. Match that planned timeline when selecting the recording rate; a higher number alone does not establish better-looking footage. Treat this as a starting choice, not a universal image-quality preset.
5. Frame the entire action. Keep important detail away from the borders. If a hand or object leaves the frame during rehearsal, change the composition before recording the real take.
6. Record a short sample, then stop it. Confirm that recording actually starts and stops. Finish the camera check on the ground where practical; any flight still needs the normal preflight checks and a suitable clear area.

Once orientation is correct, use the DJI Neo 2 indoor and outdoor camera-settings guide for exposure and lighting choices. Changing orientation and changing brightness are separate tasks; get the frame right before adjusting several other controls.

Check the original and the final export

After landing, download the original recording. In phone control, the manual directs you to Album for QuickTransfer. DJI also supports copying the aircraft's internal files to a computer with a data cable. A screen recording of the live preview is not the camera original.

Use these checks before accepting the setup:

• File dimensions: the original should report 1512 × 2688 for the documented 2.7K portrait mode. A landscape-shaped original means you need to revisit capture settings or confirm that you selected the right file.
• Frame rate: compare the file's reported rate with your selection. Do not infer it from how smooth a small phone preview looks.
• Composition: play the whole clip. Check hands, feet and objects at the edges during movement, not just the opening frame.
• Editor canvas: choose a 9:16 project or sequence. Keep the picture's proportions intact; stretching a wide clip to fill a tall canvas distorts the subject.
• Export: if your destination calls for 1080 × 1920, that remains 9:16. Check the exported file separately for black borders, unintended extra cropping, stretched shapes and missing detail.

Keep the original until the delivered version is checked. If the original is correctly framed but the export is wrong, fix the editor's canvas, scale or crop settings before changing the aircraft. Make the corrected export from the original recording so you can compare both versions against the same source file.

Fix the common mistakes

The Vertical Shooting control is missing. Confirm that the phone is connected to Neo 2 and that you are in video mode. Update DJI Fly and follow the aircraft's firmware prompts, then reconnect. DJI's published procedure covers phone Wi-Fi and supported standard remote-controller setups; do not assume an immersive goggle interface presents the same button.

You are looking for a physical camera flip. Neo 2's portrait mode uses cropping. Judge the tall preview and recorded dimensions instead of waiting for the gimbal to turn sideways.

The clip stays horizontal after rotating the phone. Screen orientation and recorded aspect ratio are different settings. Select portrait capture inside DJI Fly, then make a fresh sample.

An automated shot produces a different result. Recheck the recording settings after changing shooting modes and test that exact routine. A successful ordinary-video sample does not establish that every automated mode preserves its aspect ratio and frame rate.

The subject gets cut off during movement. Reframe with space for the full action, shorten the movement, or choose another shot. Recovering detail that was outside the recorded image is not an editing option.

Choose portrait capture or a later crop

Use the built-in portrait mode when the final composition is clearly vertical and you want to judge that frame while shooting. Record horizontally when you deliberately need a wide version too and are willing to plan a separate portrait crop in the editor. Before committing to that approach, make both outputs from one sample and check whether the framing still works.

For an existing owner, no accessory purchase is needed to try the supported phone-based path. Before the main filming session, check a short original recording for correct dimensions, intended frame rate, complete subject and a clean final export. Once those agree, keep the settings and concentrate on the shot.

Last checked: September 10, 2026. Available controls can change with aircraft firmware and DJI Fly updates.