Great aerial photos and videos appear daily in magazines, television and social media. The amazing images might make you think about how you can get a camera drone to capture these frames for yourself. In this article you will find everything you need to know about your first camera drone.
- What exactly are camera drones?
- What can you do with camera drones?
- What should you keep in mind when buying your new camera drone?
- The best recommended drones
What exactly are camera drones?
Unmanned aerial vehicles, or in other words, drones, are remotely controlled flying devices. "Camera drones" are equipped with cameras. Camera drones are pushing the boundaries of how we normally perceive the world around us, offering new opportunities for photography, inspection, exploration, mapping and more.
What can you do with camera drones?
Camera drones allow us to access spaces and create compositions in completely new ways. From professional photography to weddings, travel and sporting events, it seems today that drones are being used everywhere.
What should you keep in mind when buying your new camera drone?
It's time to get a camera drone. The best drone companies are constantly trying to impress the market with unique and innovative camera drone models that not only have great features, but are also reliable and intuitive. Additionally, the prices of these aircraft have come down dramatically. You can buy this kind of beginner drone for less than 400. But for around 2-3 thousand euros you can buy a drone with professional image quality and performance.
Camera drones come with a lot of features, so it's important to first think about what exactly you need in order to find the right drone for you:
- Flight Safety and Reliability
Safety is always a key issue when purchasing a camera drone. Steady and trouble-free flight requires an advanced flight controller that manages commands intelligently. The smarter the "brain", the better your chances of your new camera drone not unexpectedly falling out of the sky. Try to find aircraft with an advanced obstacle avoidance system. The best aircraft even have features such as automatic return to the take-off point when the battery dies. - Image System
Good camera drones are powerful tools that have high-resolution camera capabilities for top-notch image quality. Sensor size, ISO range, shutter speed, shooting modes, etc. - you decide where your aircraft is best. Professional camera aircraft will have 1" sensors that can take at least 12MP photos and videos in 4K or even 5.2K and RAW.
Equally important is the quality of the counterbalance. Aerial photography requires stabilization to capture smooth shots during the flight. This is why we emphasize the choice of a high-quality gimbal, which can reduce the flight shake. There are two and three-axis stabilizers on the market today, and we recommend that you prefer the second type.</ - Broadcast System
Video streaming is a vital part of aerial photography as it streams what the camera captures directly to your phone in real time. If the video transmission is delayed or broken, then it may be difficult to control the drone's HD camera and save the images you have captured. Advanced transmission systems support dual frequency bands of 2.4 GHz and 5.8 GHz for greater resistance to interference and longer transmission distances. - Smart Features
The best camera drones are equipped with a number of smart flight features. They make capturing amazing videos in difficult situations much easier and more fun. For example, when capturing fast-moving footage, a feature like "ActiveTrack" will direct the drone's camera to identify and track an object, keeping it in frame. There are many other smart features available in camera drones, so be sure to check out the ones you'll need. - Compact size
Compactness is the new trend in the aircraft camera market. Most of the time it is inconvenient and difficult to transport a large and heavy drone. This is especially true for those of you who like to take pictures when you travel. For this reason, smaller drones make it super easy to take photos or videos on the go, whether you're hiking or partying. - Service
Camera drones are relatively easy to break down and expensive to repair. Therefore, the value-added services offered with your drone are a decisive factor in deciding which manufacturer to go for. In addition to the normal warranty, buying your drone from a company that offers in-depth lessons, personal training, seminars and more is a wise decision. Additionally, accident insurance services are available. For novice pilots, these services are always a big plus.
The best recommended drones:
No 1 - Mavic 2
- DJI's flagship consumer drone, ideal for professionals and hobbyists
- Up to 31 minutes of flight time
- Transmission range up to 8 km
- Obstacle avoidance system
- Two lens selection options: Pro and Zoom
- Mavic 2 Pro has a 1" CMOS sensor with a Hasselblad camera
- Mavic 2 Zoom offers a 1/2.3" CMOS 12MP sensor with up to 4x zoom, including 2x optical zoom
No 2 - Mavic Mini
- Extremely light - only 249 grams
- 3-axis stabilization and 2.7K camera
- Maximum flight time up to 30 minutes
- Live HD transmission up to 4 km
- Vision Sensor + GPS placement
- Easy recording and editing
No 3 - Mavic Air
- Strong and compact
- 4K camera with 3-axis stabilization
- 3-way obstacle avoidance system
- 32MP spherical panoramic images
- SmartCapture function
No 4 - Mavic Pro Platinum</ a>
- Ideal for enthusiasts, beginners and tourists
- Foldable and portable
- 4K camera
- Up to 27 minutes of flight
- 7 km management scope
No 5 - Phantom 4 Pro V2. 0
- For professionals looking for excellent image quality and top flight performance
- 4K video and 20MP images
- Flight time up to 30 minutes
- 1" sensor
- 7 km management scope