Nine Great Camera Drones

Nine Great Camera Drones

It‘s no secret that rotor drones and aerial-camera systems are a match made in heaven. With the increasing quality of cameras and downlink video links and the amazing developments in flight controller and stabilization systems, getting those exciting bird’s-eye-view images is easier than ever before. This camera drone guide highlights nine of our top-rated picks, including price and spec information, so that you can see how they all stack up to help you make your purchasing decision. Whether you are looking for a basic “selfie” drone or you’re in the market for a topend professional rig for production-quality imaging, this guide has something for you.

DJI Inspire 2

Improving on the popular, well-built, and tested Inspire design, the Inspire 2 is a little bigger and faster than its predecessor. We tested out the package that came with the Zenmuse X5S and two transmitters.

Highlights

The Inspire 2 comes in a nice case that holds everything you need for a successful flight: the Inspire, two transmitters, a Zenmuse X5S camera and case, up to four batteries, a charger, and extra props. Setup only involves powering up the transmitters, installing the two battery packs (one of the updates is that the Inspire 2 uses two flight batteries), pressing the start button five times to get the quad from storage configuration to landing configuration, and finally attaching the X5S camera and props. One of its new features is an obstacle-avoidance system that can detect obstacles up to 30 meters ahead, which means protection at up to 35mph. The Inspire 2 also has much larger motors and props to lift the larger overall bird, and it has a top speed of 58mph in Sport mode. Recorded video can now be stored simultaneously on the DJI Cine SSD (inside the fuselage between the batteries) and an easily accessible micro SD card.

The Zenmuse X5S camera is right up there with some of the best. It is compact but still able to produce some impressive stats. It has a micro 4/3 sensor and mount that can support up to eight professional lens from different manufacturers. It can shoot 5.2K video at 30fps and 4K video at 60fps, plus up to 20.8 megapixel stills.

Aerial Recap

Flying the Inspire 2 is a lot of fun. It’s precise, and it’s easy to get it from one point to the other. Then there is the impressive speed at which this bird can fly. In most cases, you don’t really want that much speed because the shot will look rushed, but the gimbal does an excellent job of maintaining a nice level and smooth video, even when in Sport mode and while doing some very aggressive flying. Flying with a dedicated camera operator allows you to concentrate on a nice, smooth flight, working around your subject and getting the drone precisely in the right position. The new flight modes also make it easier to fly as a single pilot while capturing great video. Even flying close to the ground at high speed, the Inspire 2 has solid feel and control. Even if you should lose your orientation on the drone, the Return to Home function requires just the push of a button and the Inspire will come back, avoiding obstacles along the way as it returns.

DJI Mavic Pro

Preassembled and ready to go out of the box, all you have to do to get the DJI Mavic Pro into the air is charge the battery and controller, download the app, and you’re ready to go. It is constructed well; when the arms are snap into place, they feel very solid. The Mavic Pro’s clever design keeps it small with all four arms folding up underneath and to the   sides. The compact size makes it easy to transport in nothing more than a large jacket pocket, but the big advantage is the ability to keep the props on all the time.

Highlights

The unit, ready to fly, with battery has an all-up weight of only 1.62 pounds. The remote is one of the smallest ones we’ve used and is just a little bit bigger than a smartphone, with a small screen in the center to relay all of the essential telemetry information for flying and navigating. To maximize the full functions of this bird, you just connect your smartphone to the transmitter and download the DJI GO app. The bottom of the remote unfolds and allows the phone to fit into the housing of the transmitter. The phone provides a live video feed and access to the more complex autonomous modes along with a wide array of camera functions.

Aerial Recap

Flying the Mavic Pro is easy, and the automatic takeoff and landing function makes it simple to get the Mavic into the air. From there, piloting is straightforward, and the Mavic is quite responsive. The stabilization works well, and we have flown in some heavy wind conditions without adverse results. The obstacle-avoidance system works well, but the Mavic will not avoid small things like tree branches, ropes, or wires, so be careful around those. When it encounters a solid obstacle, the Mavic will stop its forward movement and wait for a command to send it around the obstacle.

Be careful of your takeoff and landing locations as the Mavic Pro’s camera barely clears the deck. The blades could hit tall grass or cause loose gravel to be kicked up. The Return to Home function is impressive; even from great distances, the Mavic Pro will always come back and land within a foot or two of its original takeoff point.

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