The following types of drones are typically known as "camera birds" since their primary function is to provide a stable platform to capture photos and videos. While most of the Drones on this list come with all the bells and whistles there are a few that stand out as the industry standard. All of the drones listed below come with GPS, Altitude Hold, and Return to Home with some offering more features then others. Please follow the provided link for up-to-date pricing and package specifications.
Price Key $-$$=Beginner (10-50) $$$=Intermediate (50-100 ) $$$$=Hobby (100-400) Professional=$$$$$ (400+)
***Price information subject to change based upon website sales and promotions***
Price Key $-$$=Beginner (10-50) $$$=Intermediate (50-100 ) $$$$=Hobby (100-400) Professional=$$$$$ (400+)
***Price information subject to change based upon website sales and promotions***
Advanced Quadcopters (Aerial Photography)
DJI Mavic $$$$$
The DJI Mavic brings in a new era of portability. This pocket sized drone is fully collapsible and folds down small enough to fit in your pocket. The small size and portability does not stop this flying camera from being everything you need to shoot professional grade photos and videos. The Mavic comes with some astonishing features for the price, right around $999.00, that set it apart from all of its predecessors. Some of the key features are: 4.3 mile operating distance which is attributed to DJI's new OcuSync Transmission System, Flight Autonomy which provides improved obstacle avoidance that can sense upcoming obstacles at a distance of 49 feet which allow the Mavic to maintain a traveling speed close to 22 mph, a 27 minute flight time, a high quality 3-axis mechanical stabilization system and a true 4K camera, active track, tripod mode which keeps the Mavic slow and steady as you film, and the level head system which keeps the Mavic at a consistent height off of the ground. The DJI Mavi comes in on top of our list of professional grade quadcopters for anyone interested in aerial photography.
The DJI Mavic brings in a new era of portability. This pocket sized drone is fully collapsible and folds down small enough to fit in your pocket. The small size and portability does not stop this flying camera from being everything you need to shoot professional grade photos and videos. The Mavic comes with some astonishing features for the price, right around $999.00, that set it apart from all of its predecessors. Some of the key features are: 4.3 mile operating distance which is attributed to DJI's new OcuSync Transmission System, Flight Autonomy which provides improved obstacle avoidance that can sense upcoming obstacles at a distance of 49 feet which allow the Mavic to maintain a traveling speed close to 22 mph, a 27 minute flight time, a high quality 3-axis mechanical stabilization system and a true 4K camera, active track, tripod mode which keeps the Mavic slow and steady as you film, and the level head system which keeps the Mavic at a consistent height off of the ground. The DJI Mavi comes in on top of our list of professional grade quadcopters for anyone interested in aerial photography.
DJI Phantom 4 $$$$$
The DJI Phantom 4 is the latest installment of the Phantom line. The Phantom 4 comes with many new features such as the obstacle avoidance system which recognizes hazards at a distance of 2-49 feet (0.7 - 15 m), ActiveTrack which allows you to highlight a person and the drone will follow them (true follow me mode as you do not need to be holding the controller or any other type of locator), and an upgraded battery which allows for 28 minute flight times. This Phantom model comes with sport mode which has a top speed of 20 m/s or 45 Mph which is more then enough pep for the speed enthusiast.
The DJI Phantom 4 is the latest installment of the Phantom line. The Phantom 4 comes with many new features such as the obstacle avoidance system which recognizes hazards at a distance of 2-49 feet (0.7 - 15 m), ActiveTrack which allows you to highlight a person and the drone will follow them (true follow me mode as you do not need to be holding the controller or any other type of locator), and an upgraded battery which allows for 28 minute flight times. This Phantom model comes with sport mode which has a top speed of 20 m/s or 45 Mph which is more then enough pep for the speed enthusiast.
3DR Solo $$ (Recently Discontinued Production)
The 3DR Solo, or 3D Robotics Solo Drone, boasts smart fly technology. Push button flight and computer-assisted Smart Shots make it easy for anyone to get professional aerial photos and video. Solo is powered by two 1 GHz computers for the best and smoothest aerial photography experience imaginable, and offers live video streaming in HD from your GoPro® directly to your mobile device at ranges up to half a mile. A major downside of amazing drone photography is the fact that the pilot is usually not apart of the action. The 3DR Solo offers the following "get in the shot" features: premapped flight paths, to orbit, lock-on-and-follow, and more. Now you can worry less about keeping the drone in the air, and focus on taking amazing footage to share with your friends and family. The 3DR has a 20 minute flight time and uses a WiFi connection to connect to your smart device for easy image storage and sharing.
The 3DR Solo, or 3D Robotics Solo Drone, boasts smart fly technology. Push button flight and computer-assisted Smart Shots make it easy for anyone to get professional aerial photos and video. Solo is powered by two 1 GHz computers for the best and smoothest aerial photography experience imaginable, and offers live video streaming in HD from your GoPro® directly to your mobile device at ranges up to half a mile. A major downside of amazing drone photography is the fact that the pilot is usually not apart of the action. The 3DR Solo offers the following "get in the shot" features: premapped flight paths, to orbit, lock-on-and-follow, and more. Now you can worry less about keeping the drone in the air, and focus on taking amazing footage to share with your friends and family. The 3DR has a 20 minute flight time and uses a WiFi connection to connect to your smart device for easy image storage and sharing.
Hubsan X4 Pro H109S $$$$$
The Hubsan X4 comes equipped with a 1080P camera and 3 axis gimbal for picture stability. It has a control distance and FPV signal distance of 1000 Meters according to the manufactures specifications. The flight time is rated at 20-25 minutes and the drone can be equipped with an emergency parachute to prevent major crashes or damage due to power failure. The X4 features way point navigation which allows the pilot to focus on the video transmission in an effort to ensure higher quality images. The X4 comes in both Standard and High addition with the feature list mirroring the price as the more you add the more you spend. The base model comes in around $400 with the High model hovering around $800.
The Hubsan X4 comes equipped with a 1080P camera and 3 axis gimbal for picture stability. It has a control distance and FPV signal distance of 1000 Meters according to the manufactures specifications. The flight time is rated at 20-25 minutes and the drone can be equipped with an emergency parachute to prevent major crashes or damage due to power failure. The X4 features way point navigation which allows the pilot to focus on the video transmission in an effort to ensure higher quality images. The X4 comes in both Standard and High addition with the feature list mirroring the price as the more you add the more you spend. The base model comes in around $400 with the High model hovering around $800.