It is clear that you have decided to buy a drone that has a camera to be able to record videos and take photographs. The point is that you do not know very well what you have to look at when choosing one. These flying machines allow us to inspect the environment from above and take magnificent videos and aerial photographs. And one of the most important things in recent years is that to choose a camera drone with an acceptable quality now costs relatively little, so there has never been a better time to fly through the skies. In this blog, you will know about how to choose a camera drone.
Whether you are thinking of renewing a drone you currently have or choose a camera drone which is first, you need to know where to start. We are going to analyze the different types of drones equipped with a camera to choose the characteristics to consider and the price range that you can find.
Types of camera drones
When it comes to buying a drone with a camera or looking for best foldable drones, we can divide them into two main categories: drones with cameras that allow you to make high-quality films and others that also allow you to film but where the quality is lower.
For some pilots, a camera drone is not a drone unless it can capture stunning images from the skies; Other pilots just want to enjoy flying the drone and don’t mind sacrificing the quality of the filming in exchange for a cheaper price.
Before you start flipping through the spec and feature lists, consider what you’d like to do with a drone, or perhaps how much money you plan to spend. Do you want to have a good time flying a drone or take panoramic photos? Once you have decided on a priority, you are ready to start choosing your drone.
Features to consider
Price is not an exact indicator of the quality of a drone, although it does give us a quick and rough idea that drones are better than others. Generally, more expensive drones will fly longer and further, take better movies and photos, and come with more special features. But to make a correct decision you must know what those characteristics are to take into account. These are the characteristics that you should know.
- Battery life: Just like a smartphone, a drone runs out of battery. Even on the best models, flight times don’t exceed 30 minutes. Of course, you can always carry extra batteries (I highly recommend it), but be sure to include the cost of the additional batteries in the total price of the option you’re considering.
- Brushless motors: By carefully reading a list, you can find this term. Brushless motors cost more than brush motors, but in return offer better performance and longer life.
- Camera: If you want to take the best quality photos and footage possible, the camera specs should be a big consideration. So make sure you look up the resolution that the drone’s camera has for photo and video capture. Most models come with a built-in camera, but some give you the option to attach your own.
- Headless mode: At first it can be difficult to fly a drone for novice pilots so some models offer headless mode. It means that when you press the joystick in one direction, the drone will move in that direction relative to you, rather than relative to where the drone’s nose is pointing.
- Integrated GPS: in the past, only high-end models had integrated GPS, nowadays we can find models with GPS for less than € 100. The GPS allows the drone to know where it is at all times. This device helps your drone find its way back home and improves its general stability and navigation skills.
- Follow Me Mode: Some drones equipped with GPS also offer this option: Follow Me mode allows your drone to track you and follow you at the distance and height that you have indicated while filming you from the sky when you are on the ground or the ocean, to so you can focus on your mountain bike or kite surf while recording your progress. Certain drones do this better than others, so check with user feedback to see how well follow-me mode works.
- Gimbal: As the prices of drone’s increase, you will notice that they start to have something called an integrated gimbal or gimbal. This mount keeps the camera stable while moving in strong winds and high altitudes. If you want the best video and photo footage make sure the drone includes a gimbal.
- Obstacle Avoidance Sensor: A premium feature on some drones, being able to bypass obstacles will cost you money, but could protect your drone from crashing into a tree. As with follow me mode, some drones do better than others.
- Range: The range of a drone tells you how far from you it can move before you lose control. The more expensive professional level drones have longer ranges. No matter how far away your drone is, keep in mind that you must keep your drone in sight at all times anyway.
Select only the features you need.
As you have seen when choosing a camera drone, many things can be taken into account but the most important thing is that you choose the drone according to the specific characteristics you need.
Drones come with many features that make each one work differently. In camera drones, the exact specifications of these cameras differ, as do other characteristics, such as the type of remote control, if they have GPS, their size, etc. Some drones have a longer flight than others, or different types of batteries. Even the accessories that come vary by drone.
As a result, selecting the right drone for you means choosing a drone that has the features you need. If you want excellent photos and videos, you should choose one with a higher quality camera. If, on the contrary, the important thing for you is to have fun flying the drone and you do not give so much importance to the image, you will choose a drone with a lower camera. Regardless of the features you choose, the important thing is to choose a drone that meets your needs and does not contain additional features that you will not use. Doing so will probably save you money and help you find a drone that gives you the most satisfying experience possible.