2021 Guide On How To Buy A Camera Drone

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Drones, in general, have been a great source of excitement for different kinds of people. UAV pilots, gadgets and tech enthusiasts, aviators, and photographers all belong in this category. But a popular way to fully enjoy your drone is through capturing those breathtaking aerial shots. So for today, I’ll be giving you my 2021 guide on how to buy a camera drone.

Want To Check Out Different Drone Models? Click Here To Read Our Top Picks For The Best Drones For Aerial Photography In 2021.

Learn The Basics

While I’ll be focusing mainly on the specifics of camera drones in this article, I figured to might as well cover the basics for our newbie UAV pilots out there. To start off, here are the most common types of drones you will come across in the market:

Beginner & Toy Drones

The terms “beginner drones” and “toy drones” aren’t always necessarily mutual. Though for some brands, their beginner or entry models feel a lot like your average high-tech toys. These types of drones usually come in at around a hundred dollars, more or less. They’re typically inexpensive and perfect for practicing your piloting skills.

However, it’s also worth noting that there are some entry-level drones that can instantly make you feel like a pro. Though keep in mind those usually cost a lot more.

But as a rule of thumb, when you’re just starting out in flying your first drone, it’s always recommended to start small. So beginner or toy drones are something that you should definitely look out for. That way, it won’t hurt too much for your bank account in case the drone crashes against an obstacle or gets damaged as you practice with it.

You Can Check Out Our Top Recommendations For The Best Drones For Beginners In 2021 Here.

Racing Drones

Racing drones are usually what they call FPV drones. This type of drone is typically used either for leisure with your friends or for joining drone racing competitions. Racing drones also tend to be lightweight and compact to make up for their speed and agility so they can easily fly around obstacle courses.

Pilots who indulge in drone racing also sport a specific type of headset that allows them to see a first-person view of what their drone is seeing through its camera lens.

Camera Drones

Now moving on to the star of the show, camera drones are exactly what their name claims to be. They’re drones with built-in cameras on them. Though most drones are equipped with cameras, these specific types of UAVs are miles ahead in terms of camera and video resolution.

Some will offer 4k resolutions while allowing you to shoot at 60 frames per second, while also delivering 48 MP Raw images. But the quality of your footage and stills can go much farther than that if you’re willing to pay the hefty costs. The sky is literally the limit.

With that being said, camera drones also tend to be heavier compared to other types of drones. This is due to the amount of equipment packed into one device. Because of this, a lot of camera drones in the market require registration to the Federal Aviation Administration or FAA.

Overall, Camera drones are usually a lot more sophisticated in overall build quality and the onboard features they have to offer. The most popular camera drone models from DJI, Autel Robotics, or Potensic tend to range anywhere between $500 or even up to more than a thousand bucks.

In addition to that, commercial-grade drones also usually fall into this category of drones as they are mainly used for news coverage, filmmaking, event shoots, and other professional activities.

To Learn More About What To Look For In Drones For Beginners, Check Out Our Guide Here.

Brands To Look Out For

If you have already started shopping and looking for which drones to buy for your aerial photography needs, most likely you already have come across a ton of brands that manufactures these type of drones. And one that will surely stand out the most is the brand, DJI.

In case you’re unaware, DJI is one of the leading brands for drones in the entire UAV industry. They have some of the best premium drone models that are highly sought after by many drone enthusiasts and both amateur and professional photographers alike.

Year after year, they always manage to bring out the most innovative camera drones just when you think their models can’t get any better. Their Mavic series is one of their most successful lineups yet and is something really worth considering if you’re intent on investing in a camera drone for your aerial photography.

brands-to-look-out-for-in-buying-a-camera-drone

However, that doesn’t mean you should solely focus on DJI drones. After all, I don’t think I have to remind you that DJI camera drones are not really the most budget-friendly options out there. If you’re a beginner, then it would be best to find a drone that’s cheaper and expendable. You can check out Ryze Tech‘s entry-level drones for that.

But if you’re a pro photographer who has experience in piloting UAVs but you’re not someone who’s looking for a camera drone that will cost you an arm and a leg, don’t worry!

Brands like Potensic with their D58 model offer a solid drone with amazing camera resolutions and other impressive features that will surely satisfy your aerial photography needs without burning a hole through your wallet.

Feel Like You’re Finally Ready To Buy A Camera Drone? Check Out Our Top Picks For The Best Drones For Aerial Photography In 2021 Here.

Features To Consider

Now that we have discussed the most common types of drones as well as the best go-to brands in the market, here are some features you should consider before making a purchase.

Camera Resolution

Whether you’re an amateur or a professional photographer, a drone’s camera and video resolution always need to be of the highest quality. Just imagine the stunning and gorgeous stills and footage you’ll be capturing in every shoot. Not to mention, it’s already 2021 and the ongoing standard nowadays is at least being able to shoot at 4K.

While camera drones that offer this resolution can be quite pricy, it’s definitely worth the investment. This way, you won’t have to worry about upgrading your drones for at least a few handfuls of years since 4K will most likely be the norm by then. Think of it as future-proofing your device.

But in case you’re not ready for that kind of commitment yet, there are also plenty of camera drones that offer 720-p and 1080-p resolutions which might be more suitable for your criteria.

Safety Sensors

A good camera drone should always have safety modes onboard especially for people who are still practicing their piloting skills. After all, no one wants to break their shiny, new drone on the first day of flying it.

Such safety modes you should keep an eye out for on drones are “Return To Home” features which allow the drone to go back to its launch point in case it’s getting low in battery. Another one is anti-collision sensors that will help the drone sense incoming obstacles.

There are plenty more other safety modes drones can have in their kit, and it’s up to your preference which ones you want to have in your UAV.

Flight Time

The battery life of drones often drains quickly and that’s something that really should be improved for the future. And in most cases, you are going to need to bring in an extra pair of batteries if you want to extend the fun. For cheaper drone models, you’ll be lucky to get more than 10 minutes of flight time.

Meanwhile, more premium drones from DJI or Autel Robotics can easily offer up to 30-40 minutes of flight time at a single charge with an added cost.

Conclusion

We have finally reached the conclusion of our 2021 guide on how to buy a camera drone. I hope this was able to provide you with some insight and help you make a more informed decision when it comes to investing in these really cool UAVs for your next aerial photo shoot.

Do you already own a camera drone? How was your experience? Let me know in the comments section below if you have any information to share or suggestions to add. I would love to hear all your thoughts!