What’s the Best Drone For Photography?
Drone and camera technology is progressing at an incredible rate. This is fantastic news for anyone interested in taking aerial photographs, but it may also be perplexing when deciding which drone is best for photography.
Of course, your budget will play a role in your decision to purchase a camera drone. You don't have to break the bank to have a quadcopter capable of professional-level aerial photography, thanks to mass manufacture and lowering prices. Keep in mind that you may require additional funds for memory cards, a backup battery, filters, and other accessories.
Some other factors to consider when looking for the best drone for photography include the following.
Do you wish to shoot both stills and videos from the air? Although most contemporary drones are capable of producing both, various factors may influence your decision.
If you want to create dramatic aerial videos, the ability to shoot video in 4K should be on your wish list. If you wish to capture video, shutter speed options are even more significant. The DJI Mavic Air 2 can shoot at 60 frames per second in 4K and up to 240 frames per second in 1080p. The latter is ideal for creating spectacular slow-motion images.
The ability to track moving objects can also be important for drone video work. DJI’s ActiveTrack function first appeared with the Phantom 4 in 2016. It enables a drone to identify and follow a runner, car, boat or other moving objects – as long as it’s not going too fast!
Vision and sensing systems maintain flight safety allowing the operator to concentrate on getting the best shots as the drone moves. Most DJI drones have ActiveTrack software and the Mavic Air 2 has the third iteration AtiveTrack 3.0
Do you want to be able to switch cameras and lenses? The DJI Mavic and Phantom ranges can produce fantastic images and video, but if you’re really serious about aerial photography you may want to consider a drone capable of carrying external payloads.
If budget wasn’t an issue most filmmakers would agree that the DJI Inspire 2 is the best drone for photography currently available.
The spec of the machine itself is incredible, but it’s the range of cameras and lenses that really set it apart. If you’re making an action movie the ability to accelerate your aerial camera from 0 to 50 in 5 seconds and to fly at a fraction under 60 mph means you can create mind-blowing sequences!
The DJI Inspire 2 can record video recording video at up to 6K in Cinema DNG/RAW. Advanced obstacle avoidance and intelligent flight modes mean that a single operator can capture complex sequences. Fitted with the Zenmuse X7 camera Inspire 2 really takes some beating.
The DJI Mavic 3 series has the ability to capture breathtaking imagery in a more portable form factor than previously. It can record 5.1K 50fps video. With a Hasselblad 4/3 "CMOS sensor, the footage it captures is nothing short of breathtaking.
Is portability important to you? If you plan to go on long hikes and trek up mountains to capture aerial landscape images the size and weight of a camera drone are important factors to consider.
A folding drone like the Mavic 3 would be a great option as it fits neatly in a backpack. The DJI Mavic Mini 2 shouldn’t be overlooked if you want something you can always have with you and not worry about missing that stunning sunset.
At 249g the DJI Mini 3 Pro is ultralight but still delivers impressive results from its onboard 48 megapixels onboard camera. It’s incredibly easy to fly and its low weight means it’s exempt from drone regulations in many countries so it’s perfect for travel photography.
Because the DJI Mini 3 Pro is 249g it is exempt from most air space regulations (except for private, military or air spaces used by national/ international airports) then you would have to get permission to fly in those areas. Also, it's lightweight which means that you only need an operator ID to fly.