Beginners
Mavic Mini
$399
Best Value
Mavic Air 2
$799
Top Pick
Mavic 2 Pro
$1599
How to Choose a Camera Drone
Exceptional aerial photos and videos appear in magazines, television and social media on a daily basis. Stunning drone imagery probably has you in awe thinking about how you can acquire a camera drone to shoots these shots for yourself. Here's all you need to know before buying a camera drone in 2020.
Why Choose a Camera Drone?
Camera drones enable us to access spaces and create compositions in fresh new ways compared to a traditional handheld camera. They are increasingly used in a variety of occasions: for professional aerial photography or cinematography, recording moments in different sporting events, getting cool travel snaps, and capturing unique photos for special events like weddings.
How to Choose a Camera Drone
It is a good time to get yourself a camera drone in 2020. The best UAV companies are continuously trying to impress the market with unique and innovative camera drone models that not only have great features but are also reliable and intuitive. What’s more, prices of camera drones have come down. You can buy an entry-level camera drone for less than $400 USD. For above $1000 USD you can purchase a professional drone with professional image quality and performance.
Camera drones come with a ton of features, and it is important to think about these to find the one most suitable for you:
Flight Safety & Reliability
Safety is always a key issue when buying a camera drone. Stable and worry-free flight requires an advanced flight controller, which handles commands intelligently. The more intelligent the processor, the greater the smoother your flight experience will be. Try to find a camera drone with an advanced obstacle avoidance system. Top drones even have features like auto return-to-home when the drone’s battery is running low.
Camera Performance
Good camera drones are powerful tools that have high-definition camera settings for industry-leading image quality. Sensor size, ISO range, shutter speed, photography modes, and more decide which bracket the camera drone will fit. Professional level camera drones will have 1 inch sensors and are able to capture at least 12 megapixels photographs and video in 4K or even 5.2K and RAW formats.
Equally important is the gimbal quality. Aerial photography requires stabilization for capturing smooth footage during flight. That is why we emphasize choosing a top quality gimbal that can reduce the shake resulting from flight. Currently, on the market, there are 2-axis gimbals and 3-axis gimbals, and we strongly recommend going for no less than the latter.
Flight Performance
Video transmission is a vital aspect of aerial photography in that it transmits what the camera captures straight to your phone in real time. If video transmission is delayed or interfered with, you might find it difficult to control your drone’s HD camera, let alone store those carefully captured images. Advanced transmission systems support dual frequencies of both 2.4GHz and 5.8GHz for greater interference resistance, and have a long transmitting distance.
Intelligent Functions
The best camera drones in 2020 are equipped with a handful of smart flight features. These make capturing stunning footage in difficult situations much easier and fun. For example, for times when you are shooting fast-moving objects, a feature like ActiveTrack will direct the camera drone to recognize and track a subject while keeping it in the frame. There are a variety of other intelligent features available on camera drones, so do be sure to check those out before buying yours.
Portability
Portability is the new trend of the camera drone market. Most of the time, it is inconvenient and tough to carry a large, heavy camera drone around. This is particularly the case for those of you who want to shoot when traveling. By that rationale, mini drones make it infinitely easier for you to shoot on the go, no matter if hiking or attending a family barbecue.
Service
Value-added services are crucial factors when deciding which drone manufacturer to go with. Besides the standard warrantee, buying your camera drone from a company that offers in-depth tutorials, personal training, workshops, and so on is a smart decision. What’s more, there is also accidental insurance coverage. For novice pilots, these services are always a big plus.
Camera Drone Comparison
Drone | Camera | Video | Transmission | Max Flight Time | Portability | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
12MP 1/2.3” CMOS | 2.7K/30fps 40 Mbps | Enhanced Wi-Fi | 30 minutes | 249 g Foldable | ||
48 MP 1/2" CMOS | 4K/60fps 120 Mbps | OcuSync 2.0 | 34 minutes | 570 g Foldable | ||
20 MP 1” CMOS | 4K/30fps 100 Mbps | OcuSync 2.0 | 31 minutes | 907 g Foldable | ||
12 MP 1/2.3” CMOS | 4K/30fps 100 Mbps | OcuSync 2.0 | 31 minutes | 905 g Foldable | ||
20 MP 1" CMOS | 4K/60fps 100 Mbps | OcuSync | 30 minutes | 1375 g | ||
Zenmuse X4S Zenmuse X5S Zenmuse X5 Zenmuse X7 | 6K CinemaDNG/RAW (Zenmuse X7) | Dual-band Lightbridge | 27min (Zenmuse X4S) | 3440 g (Propellers + two batteries, without gimbal and camera) |
Mavic Mini
Mini Camera Drone
Mavic Mini is the lightest camera drone in the Mavic series, weighing underneath 250 g. It offers beginners and experience pilots extreme portability, and the new DJI Fly app gives you the simplest of flight experiences. Mavic Mini is an exceptional mini drone that easily makes its way into the best camera drones list.
Ultralight
Mavic Mini is ultralight and weighs less than 250 g. You can slip this mini camera drone in your pocket and take it wherever you go. If you are looking for an extremely portable camera drone, Mavic Mini is an incredible drone choice for 2020.
2.7K/30fps Video
Don't let its size fool you. Mavic Mini features a 3-axis gimbal that produces stabilized 2.7K Quad HD footage. This mini camera drone can also take 12MP photos that you can share in a few clicks using the DJI Fly app.
30-Min Max Flight Time
The best camera drone is the one you can take around and fly wherever you go. Mavic Mini offers you ample time to capture your footage with a 30-minute flight time.
Dedicated Remote Controller
You can fly with a HD live feed up to 4km away with the Mavic Mini remote controller.
Vision Sensor & GPS
Mavic Mini is also the perfect indoor camera drone because it has a vision sensor and GPS functionality that keep it hovering in place. Remember to follow these indoor tips if you want to take your adventure inside!
DJI Fly
Your entire flying experience is simplified with DJI Fly, which delivers a simplified app interface as well as easy access to editing and flight tutorials.
Recommended Users
If you are looking for one of the lightest and most portable camera drones to film everyday adventures, Mavic Mini is the perfect choice for you!
Mavic Air 2
Best Value Camera Drone
Mavic Air 2 is the newest camera drone in 2020, offering new features like 48MP Photo, 8K Hyperlapse, and an exceptional flight time up to 34 minutes. This upgrade from the original Mavic Air delivers the latest drone technology and features some of DJI's most advanced drone technology.
Foldable
Continuing on the line of portability that can be found with all Mavic series drones, Mavic Air 2 is compact and foldable. It weighs 570 g, which is slightly heavier than the Mavic Air, but still makes it a lightweight camera drone.
4K/60fps Video
Mavic Air 2 is the first camera drone in the Mavic series to feature 4K/60fps video at 120 Mbps! This means you can produce exceptional footage that is also stabilized by 3-axis gimbal technology.
48 MP Photo
If you are looking for a drone to capture stunning footage or pictures, Mavic Air 2 delivers incredible 48 MP photos.
SmartPhoto
Mavic Air 2 also features SmartPhoto, a brand new feature that takes out all the complications for producing incredible footage. It works similar to modern-day smartphone technology, giving you scene recognition, HDR optimization, and low-lighting optimization. We're talking about incredible footage without all the hassle.
HDR Panorama
Mavic Air 2 features yet again another state-of-the art camera drone feature. HDR Panorama is the most advanced panorama that can be found on any DJI drone, which gives you breathtaking wide-angle photos with exceptional detail and color.
34-Min Max Flight Time
Mavic Air 2 has the longest flight time on any DJI consumer drone, maxing out at an impressive 34 minutes.
8K Hyperlapse
Are you after a camera drone with the latest drone technology? Mavic Air 2 can take a 8K Hyperlapse, creating professional footage that showcases time and movement. Check out more Mavic Air 2 tutorials here.
ActiveTrack 3.0
This brand new drone tracking feature lets you track your subject and fast-moving objects with incredible precision and control.
Spotlight 2.0
You can track your high-speed subject while you have full control over the Mavic Air 2. This gives you the ultimate freedom to film action scenes.
POI 3.0
POI 3.0 is an advanced intelligent feature that lets Mavic Air 2 fly around objects like cars, boats, or other fast-moving objects.
OcuSync 2.0
When you compare Mavic Air vs Mavic Air 2, a significant difference can be found in the transmission systems. OcuSync 2.0 on Mavic Air 2 offers an improved transmission up to 10km and delivers an impressive 1080p HD livestream.
APAS 3.0
APAS 3.0 is an obstacle avoidance technology that provides the best obstacle avoidance on any DJI camera drone. If you require an intelligent drone that features the latest technology, Mavic Air 2 is an excellent drone choice.
DJI Fly
Similar to Mavic Mini, Mavic Air 2 is operated using the DJI Fly app. This simplified flying app provides you with a new interface and easy-to-access tools that will get you flying in no time.
Recommended Users
Mavic Air 2 is one of the best camera drones in 2020 for under $1000.
Mavic 2 Pro
Camera Drone with Professional Features
Mavic 2 Pro is one of the best camera drones in 2020, offering professional camera features like a 1-inch Hasselblad camera, adjustable aperture, and 10-bit HDR video. You can enjoy gorgeous colors, details, and low-light performance that can't be matched in a drone of its size.
Foldable
Mavic 2 Pro is foldable, compact, and portable.
4K/30fps Video
You can capture 4K/30fps cinematic footage with Mavic 2 Pro, which also features a 3-axis gimbal to stabilize your shots.
1-Inch Camera Sensor
This is where things get a little interesting. Mavic 2 Pro has the largest sensor of any DJI Mavic series drone, which gives you exceptional low-light performance an improved ISO range for more sophisticated photography.
10-Bit Dog-M Color Profile
Whether you filming spectacular displays of nature or bustling cityscapes, you can now shoot jaw-dropping content with exceptional colors and details.
HDR Video
4K 10-bit HDR support gives the Mavic 2 Pro camera drone great contrast and details for exceptional-looking content.
HDR Photo
Mavic 2 Pro also supports enhanced HDR photo, which produces images with better dynamic range.
HyperLight
This mode enhances your low-light photography and produces crisp images with exceptional detail.
H.265 Codec
Mavic 2 Pro features an advanced H.265 codec that records video at higher bitrates and better compression. Enjoy better details wherever you are shooting.
31-Min Max Flight Time
Mavic 2 Pro offers up to 31-minutes flight time, which gives you plenty of time to capture all of your footage.
72 kph Max Flight Speed
The new aircraft body has an improved aerodynamic performance that offers faster flying speeds.
Hyperlapse
Are you looking to create awesome footage with minimal fuss? Hyperlapse is a great camera drone feature on Mavic 2 Pro that produces professional timelapses with a few clicks. You can even save the photos as JPEG or RAW files, which gives you ultimate control during post processing.
ActiveTrack 2.0
If you are looking for a camera drone that follows you, Mavic 2 Pro features precise recognition, trajectory prediction, high-speed tracking, and obstacle sensing. All these features take your tracking footage to the next level.
QuickShots
You can choose from four different QuickShots, which all give you unique ways to capture aerial photography with your camera drone.
Panoramas
The best drones support a wide variety of shooting modes. Mavic 2 Pro supports four panorama modes that deliver outstanding wide-angle images.
Omnidirectional Obstacle Sensing
Mavic 2 Pro has in-built omnidirectional obstacle sensors, which provide you with the best flight safety technology.
OcuSync 2.0
Transmission is greatly improved in Mavic 2 Pro, with video quality and anti-interference giving you the most control over your drone. OcuSync 2.0 also offers a 1080p video transmission up to 8km away!
APAS 3.0
Apas 3.0 is an obstacle avoidance technology that provides the best obstacle avoidance on any DJI camera drone. If you require an intelligent drone that features the latest technology, Mavic Air 2 is an excellent drone choice.
DJI Go 4
DJI Go 4 offers you complete control over your drone settings and function such as obstacle avoidance, return-to-home settings, and advanced camera settings.
Recommended Users
Mavic 2 Pro is one of the top camera drones in 2020, offering the best camera performance in a foldable drone of its size.
Mavic 2 Zoom
Camera Drone with Zoom Lens
Mavic 2 Zoom has a 1/2.3” 12MP sensor with up to 4x zoom, including a 2x optical zoom (24–48 mm). This zoom lens, not seen on any other Mavic series camera drone, gives you incredible options for creative filmmaking without sacrificing on any image quality.
Foldable
Similar to Mavic 2 Pro, Mavic 2 Zoom is foldable, compact, and portable.
4K/30fps Video
Mavic 2 Zoom offers 4K/30fps footage that is stabilized by a 3-axis gimbal.
1/2.3" Camera Sensor
Mavic 2 Zoom features a 12MP 1/2.3" sensor.
48mm Telephoto Lens
If you are looking for a camera drone with more functionality, Mavic 2 Zoom has a 48mm telephoto lens that compresses your perspective for a classic cinematic feel.
48MP Super Resolution Photo
This exciting camera drone feature is perfect for capturing spectacular landscape photography details. The camera patches together 9 photos to create a stunning 48MP image.
4x Lossless Zoom FHD Video
Mavic 2 Zoom is all about offering new perspectives, featuring 4x zoom and 2x optical zoom, which lets you capture everything from mid-range to wide-angle shots.
Dolly Zoom
This QuickShot mode can only be found on Mavic 2 Zoom, giving users the ability to warp their environment and create spectacular shots.
31-Min Max Flight Time
Similar to Mavic 2 Pro, Mavic 2 Zoom can fly for up to 31-minutes.
72 kph Max Flight Speed
The new aircraft body has an improved aerodynamic performance that offers faster flying speeds.
Hyperlapse
Create great footage with minimal fuss with Hyperlapse. This mode produces 4 different styles of professional timelapses in just few clicks.
ActiveTrack 2.0
If you are looking for an intelligent camera drone, Mavic 2 Zoom combines precise recognition, trajectory prediction, high-speed tracking, and obstacle sensing to give you the ultimate precision of tracking subjects.
QuickShots
You can choose from five different QuickShots, which include POI 2.0, Waypoint 2.0, Dolly Zoom, Boomerang, and Asteroid.
Panoramas
Mavic 2 Zoom also supports four panorama modes including Sphere, 180°, Horizontal, and Vertical.
Omnidirectional Obstacle Sensing
Mavic 2 Zoom shares the same in-built omnidirectional obstacle sensors found on Mavic 2 Pro. They give you the ultimate protection when flying your drone.
OcuSync 2.0
The best camera drones have stable and reliable transmission systems. Mavic 2 Zoom delivers on all fronts with OcuSync 2.0, offering 1080p video transmission up to 8km away.
APAS 3.0
Mavic 2 Zoom offers an advanced APAS 3.0 obstacle avoidance technology that can steer the aircraft away from obstacles during flight.
DJI Go 4
DJI Go 4 offers you complete control over your drone settings and function such as obstacle avoidance, return-to-home settings, and advanced camera settings.
Recommended Users
Mavic 2 Zoom is a game-changer for all types of aerial photography. The zoom lens lets you capture everything from a safe distance and the 48MP telephoto lens give a cinematic feel to your footage.
Phantom 4 Pro V2.0
Professional Camera Drone
Phantom 4 Pro V2.0 is one of the best professional camera drones. A 1-inch sensor, mechanical shutter, and 4K/60fps video give you the ultimate power for creativity. The mechanical shutter is perfect for capturing fast-moving objects without any blur distortion in the shot.
Iconic Profile
Phantom 4 Pro V2.0 has an aerodynamic and iconic design that is recognized all over the world.
4K/60fps Video
Phantom 4 Pro V2.0 offers professional 4K/60fps video, which lets you take cinematic slow motion shots. You can also record in D-log mode with a H.265 codec to capture professional footage with high dynamic range.
1" Camera Sensor
An onboard 1" 20MP camera sensor captures details effortlessly, giving you the ultimate control for advanced post-production.
Mechanical Shutter
If you are looking to capture fast-paced objects with incredible clarity, a mechanical shutter eliminates rolling distortion.
30-Min Max Flight Time
Phantom 4 Pro V2.0 offers up to 30 minutes of flight times.
72 kph Max Flight Speed
You can turn on sport mode to reach up to a blistering 72 kph.
ActiveTrack
ActiveTrack on Phantom 4 Pro V2.0 lets the aircraft automatically recognize and start tracking your subject.
Return to Home (RTH)
The best camera drone is the one that offers the most reliable flying experience. The RTH feature returns the aircraft back to the take off position in the result of a loss of signal, battery, or you require it to come back.
TapFly
Phantom 4 Pro V2.0 features unique modes like TapFly that let you tap on your smartphone screen to control the flight path. This frees up your time so you can focus more on capturing the best aerial images.
Draw Mode
You can draw a flight path on your screen that Phantom 4 Pro V2.0 will follow. This intelligent camera drone features simplifies your entire flying and filmmaking experience.
Gesture Mode
Last up, we have Gesture Mode, which allows the aircraft to automatically to detect your arm gestures, center you in frame, and take an automatic selfie shot.
Intuitive Remote Controller
The Phantom 4 Pro V2.0 also comes with an option to purchase the remote controller with an in-built screen. The ultra-bright 5.5-inch screen is easily visible in direct sunlight. The DJI Go 4 app is in-built into the screen, so you don't need a smartphone to operate the aircraft. The remote control has up to five hours of battery life, which gives you a comprehensive camera drone suitable for advanced aerial photography
DJI Go 4
DJI Go 4 offers you complete control over your drone settings and function such as obstacle avoidance, return-to-home settings, and advanced camera settings.
Recommended Users
Phantom 4 Pro V2.0 is expertly engineered for professional users looking for an advanced camera drone for aerial photography. If you're looking for exceptional camera and flight performance for professional shoots, this is the right drone for you.
Inspire 2.0
Professional Industry Camera Drone
Inspire 2 comes in at the very top end of the camera drone scale, offering professional industry features like 6K CinemaDNG/RAW, a 360° rotating gimbal, and a dual battery system. The Inspire 2 is every professional photographers dream, providing you with a complete filmmaking experience.
Dual Battery
Inspire 2 features an excellent dual battery system that significantly improves your entire flight experience. The batteries are also self-heating, which means you can extend your filmmaking to a variety of environments.
Transforming
The composite shell and transforming carbon fiber arms make this filmmaking camera drone a real marvel of engineering skill.
6K CinemaDNG
CineCore 2.1 is capable of recording breathtaking 6K/30fps CinemaDNG, which will add Hollywood quality to all of your footage.
H.265/H2.64 at 100 Mbps
The H.265 compressed videos more efficiently, perfect for high-resolution filmmaking.
20fps Continuous Burst
CineCore 2.1 also supports burst shots up to 20fps with the Zenmuse X7, which is ideal or capturing fast-paced action shots.
DJI Cinema Color System
For seamless editing, the DJI Cinema Color System preserves accurate colors for easier post-processing.
27-Min Max Flight Time
Inspire 2 offers up to 27 minutes of flight time, which is even more impressive when you consider just how powerful this professional camera drone is.
0-80 kph in 5 Seconds
You can reach incredible speeds with Inspire 2, accelerating from 0-50 mph (80 kph) in just 5 seconds at a max attitude angle of 40°.
Control Stick Sensitivity
For specific maneuvers that require delicate control and precision, Inspire 2 has controller sticks that are expertly tuned.
Incredible Reliability
Inspire 2's intelligent flight control system monitors the redundancy system, giving it accurate flight data. The propulsion system is combined with key sensors and a dual-battery design to provide an exceptionally reliable flight.
Spotlight Pro
Inspire 2 empowers you to create complex shots that one required a dedicated camera operator to produce. Spotlight Pro is a tracking mode that uses advanced algorithms to lock on to subject while you have full control over the aircraft's movement.
It has two shooting modes, Quick mode and Composition mode. In Quick mode, you can simply select your subject to begin tracking. In Composition mode, you can select your subject and a desired tracking position.When the subject enters the preset tracking position, you can press the shortcut to begin tracking. Spotlight Pro can be used with TapFly, Waypoint, and Point of Interest.
TapFly
The 2-axis onboard FPV camera separates the flight view from the main camera view, which gives the Inspire 2 a dedicated TapFly camera. You can select your flight movement on the screen and Inspire 2 will automatically fly along that route, leaving the pilot to focus on the perfect gimbal movement for that once-in-a-lifetime shot.
ActiveTrack
If you are looking for a camera drone to track different objects like people, cars, and boats, ActiveTrack allows you to adjust tracking profiles for greater precision.
Return to Home (RTH)
As the Inspire 2 flies, it will create a real time map of the route. If you enable RTH and the aircraft signal is lost, the aircraft will automatically return home safely.
Lightbridge Transmission
The advanced Lightbridge transmission has a max range up to 7 km and can deliver a 1080p livestream output. There is even an option in some countries to switch between 2.4 GHz and 5.8 GHz frequencies to avoid signal interference.
DJI FlightAutonomy
Forward and downward vision sensors allow obstacles to be detected up to 30 m ahead, upward sensors scan obstacles 5 m above, and all obstacle sensing systems are active during normal flight, RTH, and all Intelligent Flight Modes.
Primary and Secondary Controllers
The primary and secondary controllers use an HD transmission technology to send information to each other from extended distances.
DJI Go 4
DJI Go 4 offers you complete control over your drone settings and function such as obstacle avoidance, return-to-home settings, and advanced camera settings.
Recommended Users
Inspire 2 is a complete industry package that offers the best camera drone features for Hollywood-style projects.
