8 Best Camera Drones
Camera drones can be super cool and fun to fly; they are no longer the reserve of the paparazzi’s and the military investigations anymore.
A simple beginner’s drone with a camera can cost a few hundred dollars, but the price goes higher as you opt for more complex ones.
Most of these devices offer customizable and programmable features that can give them full autonomy and hence is able to make their own decisions.
Which is the best drone that you can get for your money?
The following are what we consider the 8 best camera drones for 2016.
DJI Phantom 3 standard
The DJI Phantom 3 Standard drone is ready to fly quadcopter fully equipped with a built-in camera that can capture a good video in 2.7K resolution thanks to an integrated three-axis gimbal and can also take photos in 12MP.
Its other great features are that it comes with an intelligent GPS-based return to home feature that automatically brings it back to its back to you just in case you lose a control signal or simply not be bothered to fly it back manually.
Aerial photography with this model camera drone is exceptionally excellent in good lighting conditions and it is also built for easy flying hence safe for beginners due to its many safety features.
DJI Phantom 3 professional 4K UHD video camera drone
In the world of aerial photography, DJI Phantom 3 is arguably the single best little drone for drone photography missions. Its built-in 4K Ultra HD video camera makes it the best choice in the market.
The DJI Phantom 3 Professional 4K UHD Video Camera Drone is yet another quad-copter developed by DJI, it comes with a 3-axis gimbal and its features are excellent.
This magnificent drone gives you a tremendous choice of resolutions and setting suitable for photography and filming in any terrain and environment.
This is the top model in the DJI Phantom 3 category and its camera can capture 4k (Pro) video at up to 30 frames per second as well as a 12.4MP photo. This drone also offers an app-enabled first-person view, vision positioning system and a GPS assisted hover.
Yuneec q500+ Typhoon quad-copter
The Yuneec Q500+ typhoon Quadcopter is a member of the big family of consumer drones; it has similar specifications as compared to the much-hyped DJI phantom 3.
It is loaded with useful features suitable for aerial drone photography and video. It is a good quality ready-to-fly drone with all you need and yet easy enough for beginners.
It comes with a full HD 16MP camera with the ability to record 1080P video which is transmitted directly to a 5.5” LCD touchscreen. Included is a 3 axis gimbal and also does FPV (real-time video) where you can see what the camera sees on your transmitter at all times.
Yuneec Q500+ typhoon Quad-copter has received praise from the drone community as well as drone photographers as it is a bit slow moving hence making the video smoother.
DJI Phantom 2 with zen muse H3-3D gimbal for GoPro
DJI Phantom 2 with Zenmuse H3-3D Gimbal for GoPro is manufactured by DJI one of the leading drone companies.it is a complete quad-copter with a remote transmitter and comes already pre-tuned in the factory and therefore ready to fly in minutes.
All you need to do is to charge the provided batteries attach the propellers and add 4 AA size batteries to the remote control and off you are ready to go.
It does not come with a camera but it is designed to work with GoPro cameras. On a single charge, it can manage a flight of 25-28 minutes on a single charge.
Parrot AR.drone 2.0 power edition.
Parrot AR. Drone 2.0 Power edition has an outstanding increased flight time of up to 36 minutes and it is a cool drone for beginners.
A nice feature about this drone is that you can control it and stream the cameras view to your smart device. Moreover, it is controlled via Wi-Fi using smartphones or a tablet hence with the power edition fans can take advantage of its long life battery hence longer flight hours.
When you tilt your device, you control the direction and when you stop it stabilizes. Some of the great features it offers are such as director mode, ability to do flips, AR.
Free flight and an excellent navigation control that improves stability. It also has a pretty good HD 720P camera but without a gimbal.
UDI U818A 2.4GHz 4CH 6 axis gyro RC quadcopter with camera RTF mode 2
This is a great drone for beginners who want an easy to fly a drone without bothering much about its video quality. The UDI U818A 2.4GHz 4CH 6 Axis Gyro RC Quadcopter with Camera RTF Mode 2 comes with a 6 axis gyro with posture control.
This, in turn, guarantees a precise positioning of the aircraft. It has a 4 channel function that provides a stable flying as well as an easy operation. High capacity battery enables the drone to fly much longer and efficiently.
DJI Inspire 1 pro
Equipped with ZENMUSE X5 series of micro 4/3 camera with an interchangeable lens capability, DJI Inspire 1 Pro is most suitable for professional drone photography or cinematography.
It is a rather big drone which weighs about 6.5 pounds and has a width of 1.5 feet. As compared to other commercial drones, it is a bit costly due its reliability and ability to capture crystal-clear shots with 360 degrees orientation.
With its capability of 360-degree shooting, DJI Inspire 1 Pro is great for real estate photography and aerial cinematography.
Hubsan X4 (H107L) 4 channel 2.4GHz. RC quadcopter
Without a camera, this drone is suitable for those who are looking for a low-cost personal drone just to fly for fun. It’s a perfect choice for beginners who are still learning how to fly drones before acquiring advanced ones.
It offers only a single piece with a durable mainframe and it comes ready to fly. It has a high capacity battery and with a 2.4GHz, 4 channel control. The six-axis flight control system makes it excellent for flying both indoors and outdoors.
One disadvantage of this drone is that it doesn’t offer long time flights and probably not the best choice for windy conditions. If you want a low-cost drone for a beginner then this is the best choice.