The Best Drone for Aerial Photography 2021: Take Your Photos To New Heights

Affiliate Disclosure: I am grateful to be of service and to bring you content free of charge. In order to do this, please note that when you click links and purchase items, in most cases I receive referral commissions. Eventually, I may earn enough to buy a beer or two.

Drones have seriously come a long way from being simply novelty toys for gadget enthusiasts to play with. These days, the best drones in the market are more popularly used as a tool for aerial photography. But whether you’re an amateur or professional photographer, our list of the best drone for aerial photography 2021 is sure to help you out.

This week’s “best of” list seeks to guide and recommend the best drones for aerial photography to people who are either looking to get their hands on their first camera drone or have been wanting an upgrade from their outdated models.

Luckily for you, drones are getting quite popular right now. And with drone technology advancing and changing at such a rapid rate, more and more models are put out by different manufacturers and companies to meet the market’s demands.

With that being said, I have made sure to include that every drone in this list will ensure the best results for your still photography and video footage as well as include camera drones in different price ranges to accommodate everyone’s budget.

So whether you’re looking to spend a few hundred dollars or splurging a thousand bucks on a camera drone, you will surely find one that is right up your budget’s price range.

What Can I Expect From A Camera Drone And Are They Worth It?

The short answer to your questions is a big, fat yes! Gone are the days when camera drones performed poorly and gave us low-quality resolutions. Sure, some cheaper toy drones might still do that but you get what you pay for, right?

But if you’re really looking for a camera drone that will deliver some great quality images and footage, then you’ll have no trouble finding ones that actually do. You see, the camera technology integrated into these particular drones has come such a long way in terms of advancements.

In fact, a mid-range drone can now even provide you with 4K quality video footage for the right price. Most of these drones are also equipped with better and larger sensors, improved camera resolutions so all your footage is ensured to be of the highest quality, as well as terrific stabilization systems thanks to its onboard gimbals.

In addition to that, camera drones are also mostly equipped with smart features that will give you better flight controls to avoid any accidental crashes or collisions. So naturally, this makes flying camera drones a breeze to operate even if you’re just a newbie. But if you’re still worried about accidents, you can start with beginner models too.

That being said, if you’re still on the fence about investing in camera drones, perhaps knowing a camera drone can do wonders for your photography might just be the little push you need.

To put it simply, camera drones can easily offer you a unique perception with every video and image you capture that you won’t be able to achieve with your traditional DSLR. Overall, camera drones allow you to have a more creative angle that can add an interesting layer of perspective to your footage.

What Are Some Reliable Brands To Look Out For?

If you’re new to aerial photography and you just started researching about drones, most likely you have come across the brand DJI a lot. That’s because, in the drone industry, this particular brand has dominated and released some of the best drones money can buy in the market.

You’ll also often find a lot of photographers and videographers, both professional and rookies alike, using this as their go-to drone for their work. And for good reason.

Undoubtedly, they have provided some of the best camera drones for their market, and just to warn you, you’ll see different models from their lineup pop up in our recommendations list.

But that doesn’t mean you should solely focus on DJI drones. After all, DJI camera drones are not really the most budget-friendly options.

So if you’re not someone who’s looking for a camera drone that will cost you an arm and a leg, don’t fret! There are also a plethora of worthy brands in the market that can be pretty good and solid choices for your next camera drone. Just continue reading this article to find out more about them.

Our Top Recommendations

1. DJ Mavic 2 Zoom

Overview

DJI is filled with impressive and premium drones that any UAV pilot would dream of having. And admittedly, it was pretty difficult to choose which DJI drone model should take the top spot on our list. But ultimately, in the end, the DJI Mavic 2 Zoom had proven itself superior when it comes to aerial photography.

So what exactly made it so great to stand above the rest of its competition? The answer is actually in its name. The DJI Mavic 2 Zoom boasts a 1/2.3-inch 12MP sensor with up to 4x zoom, including a 2x optical zoom (24–48 mm) that will offer you the most dynamic perspectives in every shot.

Not to mention, you’re getting a 4K camera resolution with this model too.

Just when you thought the original Mavic Pro couldn’t get any better, the Mavic 2 Zoom comes in and proves everyone wrong. Now your footage with the Mavic 2 Zoom has real compositional versatility and the ability to shift perspectives with a click of a button.

So if you’re an aspiring filmmaker, you’ll absolutely love and enjoy using this particular drone. The amount of unique angles and camera movements you can do with this thing is endless.

Additionally, you easily get 31 minutes flight time, 44 mph max speed, 905G takeoff weight, 3-axis gimbal for steady shots, 8GB internal storage, SD card support for up to 128 GB with the DJI Mavic 2 Zoom. And if you want to extend your flight time, you can also opt to bring in an extra set of batteries.

Features & Specifications

• Product Dimensions: 8.43 x 3.58 x 1.3 inches
• Manufacturer / Brand: DJI
• Item Weight: 905 grams / 2 lbs.
• Material: Engineering plastics
• Wireless Communication Technology: OcuSync 2.0
• Range: 18 km
• Max Speed: 44 mph
• Battery Life: Up to 31 minutes
• Battery Type: 1 Lithium Polymer batteries required. (included)
• Camera Resolution: 12 mp
• Video Resolution: 4K: 3840×2160 24/25/30p. 2.7K: 2688×1512 24/25/30/48/50/60p. FHD: 1920×1080 24/25/30/48/50/60/120p
• Control Type: Remote Control
• Colors: Grey
• Accessories: Intelligent Flight Battery, Gimbal Protector, Remote Controller, 3x Propellers (Pair), Battery Charger, Power Cable, Communication Cable (USB3. 0 Type-C), USB Adapter, Spare Control Sticks (Pair), RC Cable (Lightning Connector), RC Cable (Standard Micro USB Connector), and RC Cable (USB Type-C Connector).
• Extra Special Features: ActiveTrack 2. 0, Omnidirectional Obstacle Sensing, Hyperlapse, Low-Noise Design, Adjustable Aperture, HDR Photos, and Dolly Zoom.

Rating: 9 out of 10

Where Can I Buy The DJI Mavic 2 Zoom?

2. DJI Air 2S

Overview

The DJI Air 2S combines ease of flight and a 4k camera resolution all in a single compact and lightweight drone. This is perfect for anyone who doesn’t want to spend over a thousand dollars on a camera drone but still wants to benefit and use DJI’s premium drones.

The best thing about the Air 2S is not just the fact that it’s easy to carry around, but because when it comes to smaller drones like this one, most models suffer from having way too small sensors.

But since DJI is on another level when it comes to drone technology, they were able to equip the Air 2S with a 1-inch image sensor. That’s more than enough to provide the Air 2S a significant bump in terms of overall image quality and dynamic range compared to its other competitors in the market.

Other features of the Air 2S also include large 2.4μm pixels, making this model capable of 5.4K/30fps and 4K/60fps video footage. Something the Mavic 2 Zoom Pro lacks.

What’s more, you also get MasterShots, which is an advanced intelligent feature that gives users the best shots in any location with just a tap along with FocusTrack that features Spotlight 2.0, ActiveTrack 4.0, and Point of Interest 3.0, making it a breeze for DJI Air 2S to follow or circle your subject.

Features & Specifications

• Product Dimensions: 12.28 x 9.49 x 6.54 inches
• Manufacturer / Brand: DJI
• Item Weight: 1.31 pounds
• Range: 7.45 miles
• Max Speed: 42.50 mph
• Battery Life: Up to 31 minutes.
• Battery Type: 3 Lithium Polymer batteries required. (included)
• Camera Resolution: 1” CMOS, 20MP, JPEG/RAW
• Video Resolution: 5.4K HD
• Control Type: Remote Control
• Colors: Grey
• Accessories: DJI RC-N1 Remote Controller ×1, Intelligent Flight Battery ×3, Battery Charger ×1, AC Power Cable ×1, Low-Noise Propellers (Pair) ×6, Type-C Cable ×1, DJI RC-N1 RC Cable (USB Type-C Connector) ×1, DJI RC-N1 RC Cable (Lightning Connector) ×1, DJI RC-N1 RC Cable (Standard Micro-USB Connector) ×1, Gimbal Protector ×1, Spare DJI RC-N1 Control Sticks (Pair) ×1, ND Filters Set (ND4/8/16/32) ×1, Battery Charging Hub ×1, Battery to Power Bank Adapter ×1, and Shoulder Bag ×1
• Extra Special Features: 4-Directional Obstacle Sensing, Mastershots, FocusTrack

Rating: 9 out of 10

Where Can I Buy The DJI Air 2S?

3. DJI Mavic 2 Pro

Overview

The DJI Mavic 2 Pro is a much more expensive model than the previous DJI drones you just have seen and with a slightly shorter battery life as well.

However, the Mavic 2 Pro still reigns supreme in terms of overall image quality and video footage. This is all thanks to its impressive 20 mp stills from the 1-inch sensor equipped in the Mavic 2 Pro. So undoubtedly, this particular unit has far better quality than the other drones with much smaller sensors.

What’s really impressive with the Mavic 2 Pro is even under low light environments, the stills and footage you get with the camera drone remain highly detailed and stunning.

Features & Specifications

• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 9.7 x 4.5 inches
• Manufacturer / Brand: DJI
• Item Weight: 2 lbs.
• Range: 18 km
• Max Speed: 44 mph
• Battery Life: 31 minutes
• Battery Type: 1 Lithium Polymer batteries required. (included)
• Camera Resolution: 20MP, 1” CMOS Sensor
• Video Resolution: 4K HD
• Control Type: Remote Control
• Colors: Grey
• Accessories: Intelligent Flight Battery, Gimbal Protector, Remote Controller, 3x Propellers (Pair), Battery Charger, Power Cable, Communication Cable (USB3. 0 Type-C), USB adapter, Spare Control Sticks (Pair), RC Cable (Lightning Connector), RC Cable (Standard Micro USB Connector), and RC Cable (USB Type-C Connector).
• Extra Special Features: ActiveTrack 2. 0, Omnidirectional Obstacle Sensing, Hyperlapse, Low-Noise Design, Adjustable Aperture, and HDR Photos.

Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Where Can I Buy The DJI Mavic 2 Pro?

4. DJI Inspire 2

Overview

For the aspiring filmmakers out there, the DJI Inspire 2 is definitely something to consider if you really want to take your shots and scenes to a whole new level. If there was a single camera drone that was responsible for changing the game for aerial filmmaking, it’s the DJI Inspire 2.

Built and made specifically with filmmakers in mind, the DJI Inspire 2 takes all the good stuff from its predecessor and further improves upon it. This model is packed with plenty of amazing features that will surely satisfy any filmmaker’s needs in terms of aerial filmography.

One of its main features is its dedicated FPV camera which allows the pilot their own personal feed, letting them operate the camera drone independently. There’s also an all-new image processing system that records up to 5.2K in cinema DNG raw, Apple prores, and more.

Other quirks include a 1-inch sensor, a 20MP camera sensor on the Zenmuse, Spotlight Pro, intelligent flight modes as well as a Smart Return To Home feature.

Features & Specifications

• Product Dimensions: 18 x 12 x 21 inches
• Manufacturer / Brand: DJI
• Item Weight: 16 lbs.
• Range: 7 km
• Max Speed: 58 mph
• Battery Life: 27 minutes
• Battery Type: 1 Lithium Polymer batteries required. (included)
• Camera Resolution: 20 MP
• Video Resolution: 4K, 6K in CinemaDNG/RAW, and 5.2K in Apple ProRes when used with Zenmuse X7 camera.
• Control Type: App Control
• Colors: Grey
• Extra Special Features: Spotlight Pro, Intelligent Flight Modes, and a Smart Return To Home Feature.

Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Where Can I Buy The DJI Inspire 2?

5. Autel Robotics EVO II

Overview

If you feel like DJI camera drones aren’t for you, then you might want to take a look at the Autel Robotics EVO II.

While Autel Robotics tends to lack the polished features we love about the DJI camera drones, this is still a pretty solid contender if you’re really serious about your aerial photography. The EVO II offers different camera choices and is built with a pretty eye-catching orange frame. A stark contrast against DJI’s neutral white and grey colors.

Upon inspection, the EVO II is slightly bigger and chunkier compared to other camera drones in the market, but it makes up for it with longer battery life. To be more specific, the EVO II comes in with a 7100mAh rechargeable EVO 2 battery, offering up to 40min of flight time in forwarding motions and 35min at a hover.

Not to mention, its capability to shoot at 8K resolutions thanks to its 1/2″ sensor isn’t too shabby either. Apart from that, you might also want to keep in mind that its 8K resolution is limited to 25 fps, 6K to 50 fps, and 4K to 60 fps.

Features & Specifications

• Product Dimensions: 16.69 x 13.94 x 4.33 inches
• Manufacturer / Brand: Autel Robotics
• Item Weight: ‎13.57 pounds
• Range: 5.5 miles
• Max Speed: 45 mph
• Battery Life: Up to 40 minutes of flight time.
• Battery Type: 3 Lithium Polymer batteries required.
• Camera Resolution: 48 MP
• Video Resolution: 8K HDR
• Control Type: Remote Control
• Colors: Orange
• Accessories: 1x Battery, 4x Propellers, 1x Gimbal Holder, 1x 32GB SD Card, 1x Remote Control, 2x Extra Batteries, 8x Extra Propellers, 1x Extra 64GB SD Card, and 1x Hard Plastic Case.
• Extra Special Features: Auto Return, 4X Lossless Zoom, Smart Photography, and Smart Tracking

Rating: 8 out of 10

Where Can I Buy The Autel Robotics EVO II?

6. DJI Mini 2

Overview

The DJI Mini 2 is one of the best compact and all-rounder drones in the market. This is especially fantastic if have only just started to test the waters of drone photography. Not to mention, this particular model is considerably smaller and significantly less expensive compared to its brothers and sisters in DJI’s lineup.

The DJI Mini 2 ensures portability, allowing you to fold the unit up as well as its compact controller so taking it anywhere with you is a breeze. In addition to that, the DJI Mini 2 also weighs in at only 8.8 ounces. If you’re flying in the USA, that means you won’t have to register this drone with the FAA.

The DJI Mini 2 also features a 4k camera, which means you can easily shoot a 4k video at up to 30 frames per second along with a solid 4x digital zoom performance. This should be enough to test out your aerial photography skills.

You can also take 12 mp still images in the same camera while offering you 31 minutes of flight time in a single charge.

Come Check Out Our Dedicated Review of The DJI Mini 2 Here.

Features & Specifications

• Product Dimensions: 7.44 x 5.2 x 9.92 inches
• Manufacturer / Brand: DJI
• Item Weight: 249 grams
• Range: 10 km
• Max Speed: 35.79 mph
• Battery Life: 31 minutes
• Battery Type: Lithium Polymer
• Camera Resolution: 12 mp camera
• Video Resolution: 4K/30fps video
• Control Type: Remote
• Colors: White
• Accessories: Intelligent flight battery, two-way charging hub, DJI Mini 2 propellers
• Extra Special Features: Ultralight Foldable Drone, 3-Axis Gimbal with 4K Camera, 12MP Photos, 31 Mins Flight Time, OcuSync 2.0 10km HD Video Transmission, QuickShots

Rating: 7.5 out of 10

Where Can I Buy The DJI Mini 2?

Before You Buy

Now that we have covered our top picks for the best drones for aerial photography this 2021, here are some friendly tips and reminders you should keep in mind so you can make an even more informed purchase on your next camera drone.

A Camera Drone’s Battery Life Is Its Achilles’ Heel

While I have previously expressed that drones have come a long way in regards to technological advancements, we actually have yet to see a drone that can last us more for more than an hour. So if you’re new to camera drones, you might want to manage your expectations a little bit in this department.

For the most part, the longest-lasting camera drones in the market can stay up in the air for about 30-40 minutes. More or less. And that’s if you’re willing to drop thousands of dollars on a camera drone. While we all wish that camera drones last longer than that, only time can tell if that will ever happen anytime soon. But fingers crossed!

Nevertheless, half an hour should be more than enough to allow you to capture plenty of footage. You just have to work wisely and manage your time more efficiently if you’re ever worried.

Budget Concerns

You get what you pay for. We see this saying all the time and it’s usually the rule of thumb with whatever product you choose to buy. And this is especially true when it comes to investing in your camera drones.

Personally, when it comes to high-tech gadgets like this, I highly recommend buying the drone that will best suit your needs. Sure, having an expensive and premium model will offer a lot of advanced features to tinker around with, but sometimes you have to ask yourself if you’ll be able to use those certain amenities to their full potential.

And a lot of the time, unless you’re doing commercial stuff and you’re a highly advanced professional, I don’t find spending thousands of bucks on a camera drone is worth it. But if money is no object to you, then don’t do as you will as long as it makes you happy.

However, if you’re on a tight budget and want to spend your money wisely, there are plenty of mid-range camera drones that are more than enough to satisfy even the most demanding photographers in the industry.

In addition to that, it’s not also practical to splurge on a high-end drone if you’re still unsure if aerial photography is something you see yourself doing in the long run. It’s best to start with entry to mid-level models to get a feel for the overall experience first.

Remember That Not Everything Is Free Real Estate When It Comes To Flying Drones

Another thing that’s important to keep in mind is that you should always be mindful of the locations where you are not allowed or shouldn’t fly your drones to avoid getting in trouble or breaking any laws. Some places are just generally unsafe and some are just simply no-fly zones. And yes, that includes your neighbor’s backyard.

The last thing you want is a lawsuit regarding an invasion of privacy. Trust me, a lot of people are actually quite uncomfortable with drones flying around above their heads and would suspect that you’re spying on them. The last thing you’ll want is an angry neighbor complaining about your camera drones.

In addition to that, it is actually also illegal to fly drones in national parks in the US. And generally, flying your drones in public locations like most metropolitan areas is not allowed as well.

This is understandable because these areas are way too populated with people, cars, and tall buildings which might obstruct your drone from flying around. So if you want to avoid collisions, then better stay away from these locations.

So if you want to keep enjoying your drone without worrying about breaking any laws, it’s best that you find an open field that doesn’t have a lot of people around and that is not off-limits.

Depending on where you are residing and planning to fly your drone, there are actually some regulations regarding flying drones in different parts of the world. Each country follows a different set of laws and guidelines and it is best that you read up on them to avoid any future trouble. You may read more about it here.

Conclusion

Now that we have finally reached the end of our article, it’s safe to say that drones in general have literally given us a new way to view the world around us. What once was an expensive and difficult thing to do in the photo and film industry has now been made effortless through the use of drones.

Before, aerial photography required a lot of tools in order to capture a single shot. But ever since the technology for drones had matured at a rapid rate, taking photos and recording videos from a higher angle is now as easy as pressing a button on a remote.

That being said, I hope this article was able to help you out in deciding which drone is best suited to your photography and filming needs. Happy flying!

Do you already own any of the drones listed in our Best Drone For Aerial Photography 2021 article? Did your favorite make it to our list? Let me know in the comments section below if you have any insights or suggestions to share and add. I would love to hear all your thoughts!

Recommended reading for you: