Eye in the Sky: The 5 Best Camera Drones
Drones are getting more advanced and dropping in price as time goes by. They’re still not cheap by any means, but it’s not unimaginable to get a drone with a high-quality camera that creates stunning aerial photos and video. These are some of the best camera drones on the market for your cinematic masterpieces.
Yuneec Typhoon Q500
The Yuneec Typhoon Q500 is a serious drone that takes breathtaking 4K Ultra-HD video. It can also capture 1080p/120fps slow-motion video and high-quality pictures using a 12.4MP camera. The only downside is that it comes with a 32GB microSD memory card. That’ll only record for about 72 minutes before you have to swap it out or move the video to a computer. But you can always upgrade the memory card. The drone supports cards up to 128GB. This kit also comes with an aluminum case and two batteries, so you spend more time flying your drone than charging the battery packs.
DJI Phantom 4 Quadcopter
DJI is a huge name in drones, and the Phantom series is one of the best. The new Phantom 4 comes with a 12MP camera that can take 4K Ultra-HD video at 30 frames per second. Controlling this camera drone may feel easier than others. It comes with auto-takeoff and an automatic return home with GPS technology. This means that when the battery is getting low or if you lose track of your drone, you can tell it to come back, and it’ll land in the same spot it took off. After all, who wants to lose their expensive drone after taking tons of great shots?
DJI Phantom 3 Standard
The DJI Phantom 4 is exceptional, but the previous model Phantom is still one of the best on the market. The DJI Phantom 3 has an integrated camera that takes 2.7k video and 12MP image stills. This camera drone comes with the same flight assist features as the Phantom 4, so choosing the older model isn’t too much of a sacrifice. The drone can fly for up to 25 minutes, but this kit comes with a spare battery for even more fly time. The kit also comes with a charger, two full sets of propellers, a radio controller, and an 8GB micro SD card.
DJI Mavic Pro
Want something even better than the Phantom? The DJI Mavic Pro has everything you could possibly want one loaded into one camera drone. It has a gimbal-stabilized camera that is capable of 12MP stills and 4K Ultra-HD video with OcuSync transmission technology. It also has a control range of up to 4.3 miles. One battery lasts 27 minutes, but this kit comes with an extra battery for even more stunning shots in one trip. Speed demons will be happy to note that the Mavic Pro has a top speed of 40 mph while in Sport Mode. Can you keep up?
Parrot BeBop 2 Drone with FPV Bundle
What’s better than a drone with a great camera? A drone that allows you to see what it sees in real time like you’re flying through the air. The Bebop 2’s wide-angle camera takes full HD 1080p videos, still images at a whopping 14MP. However, for a thrill seeker, you can use the first-person view goggles (and your smartphone) and immerse yourself in the drone’s perspective via live video feed. It comes with a high capacity 2700mAh battery that provides a battery life of up to 25 minutes.
