Top RC Drones With a Camera

The DJI Mavic Pro is a game-changer for aerial photographers and filmmakers.

Originally marketed as a professional (and portable) aerial media system, it’s small size actually hides a pretty high degree of complexity and sophistication, and it’s priced in a range that makes it available for the novice aerial cinematographer.

People weren’t sure how the DJI Mavic would stack up to the DJI Phantom 4 or the Inspire 1, but if you’re looking for your first professional model, the Mavic is super portable and powerful.

The DJI Mavic Pro boasts obstacle avoidance, sensor redundancy, and runs vision positioning paired with GPS and GLONASS to ensure precise positioning during both indoor AND outdoor flights.

The latest update to the Mavic Pro is the Mavic Pro Platinum, which flies much more quietly than the Pro, and for much longer.

The Mavic Pro Platinum is 60% quieter than the Mavic Pro, and has 11% more battery life, bumping its average flight time up from 27 minutes to 30 minutes.

Key Specs

• Camera Resolution: 12MP
• Video Resolution: 4K at 30 FPS
• Max Flight Time: 27 minutes
• Max Speed: 40 mph (65 kph) in Sport mode without wind
• Notable Attributes: Portability, Battery Life

Based on discussions with our community members and initial market reactions in Facebook groups, forums, and YouTube videos, I think this will be one of DJI’s (and the greater drone industry’s) most popular models within the next 3-6 months.

3 Different Buying Options

• Base Model
• Starter Bundle
• Deluxe Bundle

The DJI Mavic also boasts obstacle avoidance, sensor redundancy, and runs vision positioning paired with GPS and GLONASS to ensure precise positioning during both indoor AND outdoor flights.

DJI Mavic Accessories

• Lens Filters (PolarPro)
• Extra Battery
• Extra Propellers
• Travel Bag
• Car Charger
• Hard Case (PolarPro)

The DJI Mavic is great for traveling, for a serious hobbyists, or for someone just getting into the commercial side of the industry. With DJI, you’re getting access to a huge ecosystem of commercial activity, apps, accessories, and more.

DJI’s Mavic Air is the hottest new drone on the market, and combines the best features of the Mavic Pro and the Spark.

The Mavic Air is super small, like the Spark, and it can fold up to become even smaller, like the Mavic. It can be flown with gesture control, like the Spark, but it also comes with high quality 4K video, like the Mavic.

In short, it’s a drone that’s really easy to fly but also provides high quality stills and video.

Stand Out Features for the Mavic Air

ActiveTrack can sense up to 16 subjects simultaneously, letting you choose the right tracking subject. It comes with higher tracking precision, so you can follow targets even when they’re running, jumping, or cycling, or moving somewhat erratically (for instance, riding a bicycle down a mountain).

QuickShots has six different options: Rocket, Dronie, Circle, Helix, Asteroid, and Boomerang, and can be shared to social media via the DJI GO 4 app.

SmartCapture lets you control the Mavic Air by hand, making it convenient for drone newbies or professionals working with multiple systems. Similar to the Spark, you can launch, fly, and take videos or photos on the Mavic Air using only hand gestures.

TapFly lets you fly wherever you tap on your mobile device screen, and works in Forward, Backward, Free, and Coordinate modes, letting you adjust flight speed to suit your aerial needs.

Key Specs & Details

• 32 MP sphere panoramas
• Foldable and portable
• 3-axis gimbal
• 3-directional environment sensing
• Smart capture / gesture control
• 21 minute max flight time
• Weighs less than 1 lb.
• 8 GB of internal storage

The DJI Inspire 1 is bigger and offers full 360° camera rotation, giving you an unrestricted view of the world below. It’s 3-axis gimbal and camera system can easily be removed from the aircraft for safe transport and future upgrades.

And because DJI offers different camera systems (like the Zenmuse X3, Zenmuse X5, Zenmuse X5R, Zenmuse XT, etc.), the DJI Inspire 1 is flexible and the kind of model you can grow with over time.

Key Specs

• Camera Resolution: 12MP
• Video Resolution: 4K at 30 FPS
• Max Flight Time: 18 minutes
• Max Speed: 49 mph (22 m/s) in ATTI mode, no wind
• Notable Attributes: Dual-Operator Mode, Multiple Zenmuse Camera Systems

Buy With One Or Two Controllers

Ever heard of dual-operator mode? The DJI Inspire 1 lets one person fly, and another person control the camera. I’ll tell you this. Once you fly dual-operator mode, it’s hard to go back to flying solo. Operating sUAS with a talented crew member is really fun.

• One Controller
• Two Controllers
• Hard Case (Go Professional Cases)
• Extra Propellers

DJI Inspire 1 Accessories

• Lens Filters (PolarPro)
• Extra Battery
• Deluxe Bundle

If you’re looking for a bigger bird with payload flexibility, 360° camera rotation, and dual-operator mode, the DJI Inspire 1 is a great fit.

The DJI Phantom 4 is one of the top drones on the market right now.

It’s the fastest Phantom so far, capable of reaching top speeds of 45 miles per hour. It also gets an excellent flight time of 28 minutes — great for pro pilots to get the shots they need and minimize downtime.

The Phantom 4 also has a built-in camera that can record video at 4K, 2.7K, 1080p and 720p. But one of it’s most notable features is the obstacle avoidance system. The drone can intelligently position and maneuver itself around obstacles mid-flight.

Couple all of this with a Tap to Fly system, DJI’s reliability, and robust software, and you’ve got a tough drone to beat.

Extras

These extra parts are available for the DJI Phantom 4:

→ DJI Phantom 4 Carrying Case

→ PolarPro DJI Phantom 4 Camera Filters

→ DJI Phantom 4 Accessory Bundle

→ Extra DJI Phantom 4 Battery

→ DJI Phantom 4 Propeller Package

Phantom 4 Pro Obsidian

DJI recently released the Phantom 4 Pro Obsidian, which comes with a magnesium shell and anti-fingerprint coating, not to mention the super cool-looking matte-grey obsidian coloring.

Check it out:

You can buy the Phantom 4 Pro Obsidian now on the DJI website.

Key Specs

• Camera Resolution: 12MP Adobe DNG RAW
• Video Resolution: 4K at 30 FPS / 1080p at 120FPS
• Max Flight Time: 28 minutes
• Max Speed: 45 mph (20 m/s) in Sport mode
• Notable Attributes: Battery Life, Obstacle Avoidance, Flight Modes

DJI Phantom 4 Accessories

• Extra Battery
• Battery Charging Hub
• Quick-Release Propellers
• Lighting Kit

Improvements to the Vision Positioning System (VPS) and front-mounted obstacle sensors help provide greater security and confidence when flying indoors or with lots of obstacles around.

The DJI Inspire 2 launched November 2016 and will start shipping January 2017. This newest model is tougher and more powerful than the DJI Inspire 1.

One of the first upgrades you’ll notices it that the Inspire 2 has TWO DIFFERENT CAMERAS. One slung underneath the aircraft offering full 360° camera rotation, and the other mounted on the front of the aircraft for better first-person-view (FPV) opportunities.

So using the Inspire 2’s dual operator mode, one Remote Pilot-in-Command could be looking through one camera, likely the front-mounted one, while a photographer or videographer controls the bottom-mounted camera system.

Pretty cool.

High End ZenMuse X7 Camera

DJI recently released the ZenMuse X7 camera, a Super 35mm camera created for aerial cinematography, which is compatible with the Inspire 2.

Learn more on the DJI website, or by watching the video below.

Key Specs

• Camera Resolution: 30MP in DNG RAW mode
• Video Resolution: 5.2K at 30 FPS / 4K at 60 FPS
• Max Flight Time: 27 minutes
• Max Speed: 67 mph
• Notable Attributes: Dual-Operator Mode, Two Cameras, Obstacle Avoidance

The model’s new image processing system, CineCore 2.0, can capture 5.2K video at a whopping 4.2Gbps bitrate. To handle all that data, the Inspire 2 has added an onboard SSD.

You can buy the DJI Inspire 2 with the new Zenmuse X4S or X5S camera. The X5S boasts a micro 4/3 sensor and supports 10 different lenses, including zooms.

For aerial photographers, there is a DNG RAW mode that captures 30-megapixel still images.

DJI is a drone manufacturing juggernaut.

Their DJI Phantom 3 series arguably represents the best selling drone models of 2015 and 2016, and one of the best drones with a camera. Within the series, there are four different models: Standard, 4K, Advanced and Professional.

The DJI Phantom 3 Professional is the most sophisticated option in the series, and as the name suggests, was designed for professional pilots.

It offers 4K video, 23 minutes of flight time, and a whopping 5km control distance.

The quadcopter also comes with five advanced flight modes:

1. Follow Me
2. Course Lock
3. Waypoints
4. Home Lock
5. Point of Interest

These autonomous modes free you up to focus on camera control and getting the right shot. This makes the DJI Phantom 3 Professional a smart choice for pro pilots.

Key Specs

• Camera Resolution: 12MP
• Video Resolution: 4K at 30 FPS
• Max Flight Time: 23 minutes
• Max Speed: 36 mph (18 m/s) in ATTI mode, no wind
• Notable Attributes: Older Model = Lower Cost (But Still Quality Aircraft)

DJI Phantom 3 Professional Accessories

• Extra Battery
• Extra Propellers (2 Pairs)
• DJI Phantom 3 Propeller Guard
• DJI Phantom 3 Camera Lens Protector + Cover
• Remote Controller Strap
• DJI Phantom 3 Hardshell Backpack

If you’re on a budget and/or able to sacrifice some of the bells and whistles of the newer systems, the Phantom 3 series offers more affordable pricing but units that still pack a lot of punch.

If you haven’t heard of Yuneec, you’re missing out on some high-quality aerial camera platforms that may very well be the perfect fit for your recreational (or business) needs.

The H520 is equipped with six rotors, a 360-degree gimbal camera and retractable landing gear with Yuneec’s standard of being ready out of the box, easy and safe to fly, with stunning Ultra HD 4K video and stills.

The H520 was built for both industrial use and ambitious professionals. It comes with a long focal-length lenses that allows the drone to fly at a greater distance from an object and data storage that may be shared instantly from the ST16S Ground Station or delivered directly in 4K/2K/HD video or 20Mp still images.

Key Specs

• Remote Control: ST16S
• Max Altitude: 500m
• Max Flight Time: 25 minutes
• Weight: 3.6 lbs (with battery, without gimbal)
• Notable Attributes: Hexacopter = better redundancy, Obstacle Avoidance, 360-degree camera

The U49C Red Heron quadcopter looks sleek and is a great camera drone for the beginner drone pilot.

Force1 RC includes an extra battery in this model, which doubles your flight time and is great for folks logging those first few hours of flight.

The Red Heron also comes with spare motors, which is a great value add, especially for beginner drone pilots.

Features & Specs

• GET GREAT PICS/VIDEO WITH THIS HD CAMERA DRONE: Capture clear imagery that rivals other drones for beginners with a 120° wide-angle 720p video drone camera
• HEADLESS MODE, LOW-BATTERY & SIGNAL ALARMS: Headless Mode and handy alarms make this one of our best drones for kids
• FLY EASY BY REMOTE (NO NEED FOR FPV DRONE APPS): Drone FPV requires a mobile device – this camera drone is good to go out of the box
• RUBBER-DAMPING CAMERA + DRONE ALTITUDE HOLD: Alt. Hold steadies your flight and the stabilized camera produces better HD imagery; ideal in a drone for beginners or pros
• BONUS DRONE BATTERY + MOTORS: This drone kit has spare motors and a bonus battery for longer flight between charges, making it an even better drone for kids

The Spark is a selfie drone that takes off from the operator’s hand and automatically enters “Gesture Mode”, which lets users send it into the air and shoot a video with pre-defined flight paths, like circling, following, or filming from straight up.

With it’s gesture recognition and obstacle avoidance technology, it’s not an exaggeration to say that DJI’s Spark is probably the most user-friendly drone on the market.

If you want to fly longer distances with the Spark you have the option of using a smartphone app for flights over 100 yards away, or you can use a remote control (the Spark can fly a distance of 1.2 miles). The Intelligent Flight Modes available with more professional DJI drones—such as TapFly and ActiveTrack—can also be found on the Spark.

QuickShot

The Spark comes with DJI’s new QuickShot mode, which automatically creates a 10-second video from the footage captured in your flight.

QuickShot allows you to avoid all the work needed to take raw footage and create a final video. Instead of taking your footage, uploading it, editing it, and then downloading it, QuickShot simply creates a video for you using your best shots.

Key Specs

• Flight time/battery life: 16 minutes
• Transmission distance: 1.2 miles
• Speed: Up to 31 mph
• VPS Range: 98 feet
• Gimbal: 2 axis
• Effective pixels: 12MP
• Weight: .66 pounds (SUPER light)
• Camera details: 1/2.3 Sensor Powerful Lens, 1080p resolution

The U45 Raven is another awesome Force1 drone, with a great value at $59.99.

This drone also comes with an HD camera for 720p high def aerial photos and videos with 2MP. It comes with headless mode, and you can fly it right out of the box without needing to adjust the drone’s position or orientation prior to flying.

Another features to note for the Raven is one touch take off and landing, which means the drone automatically hovers at a set altitude after take off and before landing, which makes it easy to control and maneuver, especially for beginners who are not yet skilled. It also has an altitude hold function, which makes it super easy for beginners to fly since this allows for stability in the air, and also comes in very handy when you’re taking photographs.

Features & Specs

• ONE TOUCH TAKE OFF AND LANDING: Drone automatically hovers at a set altitude after take off and before landing making it easy to control and maneuver, especially for beginners who are not yet skilled.
• ALTITUDE HOLD FUNCTION – SUPER EASY DRONE FOR BEGINNERS TO FLY: Makes controlling the drone a breeze for beginners and stabilizes aerial photography. This is the ideal beginner drone with a lot of latest features typically found on higher end models
• HD CAMERA: Capture 720p high definition aerial photos and videos with 2MP camera and included 4GB SanDisk Micro SD Card
• HEADLESS MODE: Fly it straight out of the box; No need to adjust aircraft position or orientation prior to flying
• 360º FLIPS & STUNTS: Impress your friends and family with awesome 3D tricks with the push of a button
• Flight time of 7-9 minutes

Flying a drone may be ridiculously fun, but it’s not as easy as it looks.

I often suggest to newer pilots looking to gain confidence in foundational multirotor proficiency to log practice hours on a less expensive sUAS before buying a professional / more advanced model.

Enter the UDI U818A, one of my favorite aerial photography and videography training quadcopters.

The UDI U818A boasts altitude-hold and a first-person-view (FPV) screen, so you can see exactly what the HD camera of your drone sees…in real time.

Great practice for those of you looking to get into FPV racing, or interested in exploring different aerial photography techniques.

Key Specs

• Camera Resolution: 2MP
• Video Resolution: 720p HD
• Max Flight Time: 10 minutes
• Includes: Bonus Battery, VR Headset, Micro SD Card
• Notable Attributes: Altitude-Hold, Built-In FPV Screen

UDI 818A Accessories

• U818A Drone Carrying Case

If you’re looking for an affordable (yet surprisingly durable) model, the UDI 818A is one of my favorite training drones with a camera. It’s a great gift for the hobbyist drone pilot looking to take some 2MP pictures from the sky, or the budding commercial drone operator who’s looking to master multirotor proficiency on a more forgiving system.

While the above list represents the most popular camera drones at this given time, when it comes to drones with a camera, there are a LOT of choices you have.

Hopefully after reading this article you have found one that fits your goals, skill set, and budget.

If you’d like to take your skills further, check out our premium aerial post-production training course.

Blue skies and safe flying out there!

Do you have any questions? Email us at support@uavcoach.com.