Drone aerial photography is, wait for it, taking off.
Whether you’re using them for recreation, to build an aerial service business, or to integrate UAS into your existing business or organization, the goal of this article is to explore the best RC drones with a camera on the market today.
Hobbyists, FPV Racing ![]() U49WF FPV Camera Drone Camera | 720p HD Flight Time | 12-15 Minutes Camera | 720p HD Flight Time | 12-15 Minutes |
For Hobbyists ![]() Holy Stone HS440 FPV Drone Camera | 1080P Flight Time | 20 Minutes Camera | 1080P Flight Time | 20 Minutes |
Construction-Hobbyists-Marketing ![]() DJI Mavic Air 2 Camera | 48MP, 4K Video Flight Time | 34 Minutes Camera | 48MP, 4K Video Flight Time | 34 Minutes |
Construction-Filmmaking-Marketing ![]() Skydio 2 + Camera | 12 MP, 4k HDR Video Flight Time | 27 Minutes Camera | 12 MP, 4k HDR Video Flight Time | 27 Minutes |
Hobbyists-FPV Racing-Filmmaking ![]() DJI FPV Drone Camera | 4K, 60 fps Flight Time | 20 Minutes Camera | 4K, 60 fps Flight Time | 20 Minutes |
Construction-Filmmaking-Marketing ![]() Autel EVO II Series Camera | 48 MP, 6K, 8K, Thermal Flight Time | 40 Minutes Camera | 48 MP, 6K, 8K, Thermal Flight Time | 40 Minutes |
Construction-Filmmaking-Marketing ![]() DJI Mavic 3 Camera | 20 MP, 5.1K/50 fps Flight Time | 46 Minutes Camera | 20 MP, 5.1K/50 fps Flight Time | 46 Minutes |
Construction-Filmmaking-Marketing-Inspections ![]() DJI Phantom 4 Pro V2.0 Camera | 20 MP, 4K Video Flight Time | 30 Minutes Camera | 20 MP, 4K Video Flight Time | 30 Minutes |
Filmmaking ![]() DJI Mavic 3 CINE (Premium Combo) Camera | 20 MP, 5.1K/50 fps Flight Time | 46 Minutes Camera | 20 MP, 5.1K/50 fps Flight Time | 46 Minutes |
Hobbyists ![]() Autel EVO Lite+ Camera | 6K Flight Time | 40 Minutes Camera | 6K Flight Time | 40 Minutes |
Hobbyists ![]() DJI Mini 3 Pro Camera | 4K Flight Time | 34 Minutes Camera | 4K Flight Time | 34 Minutes |
There are a lot of good remote control drones to buy out there, so it’s important to think about what kind of sUAS best fits your intended operation, and then to perform proper research on the best options. This article is an attempt to help you learn the bullet points of each of the most popular camera drones on the market today.
From pricing and different camera specs and handling/responsiveness to flight software and battery life, it’s important to do your research and to make sure you’re buying a drone that’s suited to your needs.
All of the models in this list are ready-to-fly. After charging your LiPo battery and reading through your user manual a few times, you’re ready to power up, calibrate, configure, and then to start racking up those flight hours.
For a quick look at all the models we’ll be discussing in more detail below, here’s the full list:
Click here for a much bigger list of drone companies to check out in the industry.
Enjoy!
Note #1: All specs/features are obtained from the manufacturer or retailer.
Note #2: On this list, we’ve included models available for sale on Amazon, DJI, Skydio, and Autel — as Amazon, Skydio, Autel, and DJI Associate partners, we earn a small commission for qualifying purchases. Please know that we’ve tested many of the models on this list, and we wouldn’t recommend anything we wouldn’t fly ourselves!
720p HD
12-15 Minutes
Hobbyists, FPV Racing
The U49WF FPV Camera Drone boasts altitude-hold and a first-person-view (FPV) screen with Camera Live Video, so you can see exactly what the HD camera of your drone sees in real-time.
It also comes with an extra battery to help you fly for even longer before having to charge, and an outstanding 720p camera for clear HD pictures and live video.
Add to that it’s impressively long flight time of 25 minutes with the extra battery, and you’re looking at a great drone for beginners (or intermediate pilots, for that matter) at an inexpensive price.
1080P HD
20 Minutes
Hobbyists
The Holy Stone HS440 drone proves that you do not have to drop hundreds of dollars for a great starter drone. It features a 1080P WiFi camera system ensuring crisp pictures every time. The included gravity sensor, tap fly, and gesture control modes allow you to capture cinematic footage or even capture a selfie.
Enjoy up to 20 minutes of flight time with the intelligent flight battery system. The rugged design of the HS440 and its altitude positioning system ensures a stable and safe flight experience. The ease of operation and the number of robust features make this the perfect drone for beginner drone pilots.
48MP Still Photos, 4K Video
34 Minutes
Construction Marketing
DJI has done it again — the drone manufacturing juggernaut just released the Mavic Air 2, it is the first consumer drone to be equipped with AirSense. Which is essentially ADS-B In tech that enables the drone to pick up on nearby aircraft. DJI has done an incredible job packing this new drone with a large array of features.
The popular foldable design from the Mavic series has carried on in the new Mavic Air 2, making it one of the highest tech portable drones on the market. With a 34 minute flight time, 48-megapixel camera, and an 8K Hyperlapse feature, it will be difficult to find a comparable aircraft in this size and price range.
The Mavic Air 2 is going to be the drone to beat for the serious hobbyist and content creators, and even for new professional pilots looking to get into the industry with an affordable drone.
See our review of the Mavic Air 2 here.
12 megapixel stills, 4K HDR video
27 Minutes
Construction Filmmaking Marketing
Looking for Hollywood-style shots without complex equipment and high operating costs? Well, then the Skydio 2 + is a drone that you should seriously consider. With an advanced 45-megapixel obstacle avoidance camera system, it’s designed to take the heavy workload off the pilot. Intelligent flight modes allow it to zip through even the most complex terrain without losing sight of the subject. The new KeyFrame mode allows drone pilots to create impossible camera motion that’s smooth, precise, and repeatable.
Featuring a 1/2.3” CMOS sensor, the Skydio 2 + records stunning 4K HDR footage at 60 fps and captures 12-megapixel stills. With autonomous speeds up to 36 mph, it captures dynamic cinematic shots with ease. Fly from the app, hand-held Beacon remote, or with a controller for even more precision. Its portable design makes it a compelling option for travel bloggers, documentary compilers, and commercial drone pilots in any industry.
→ Skydio 2 Beacon
→ Skydio 2 Controller
→ Skydio 2 Battery
Watch this video on YouTube
4K, 60 fps
20 Minutes
Hobbyists, FPV Racing, Filmmaking
The DJI FPV drone has created an entry point for FPV flying. It has also shaken up the more traditional offerings from DJI by allowing those who have never flown FPV before to dive right in without needing to build a custom drone or learn specialized piloting skills. Its hybrid design makes it great for both cinematic FPV flying or racing. With a 4K Super-Wide camera and RockSteady Stabilization, action-packed footage has never looked so good.
The optional Motion Controller redefines the flying experience by giving the pilot real-time control and feedback within a simple hand movement. The new audience mode allows others with FPV goggles to watch your flight in real-time. Other flight modes include:
New to FPV flying? Not to worry, with Emergency Brake and Hover, you can stop on a dime and hover at any moment. Other safety features include:
48 MP, 8K, 6K, Thermal
40 Minutes
Construction Filmmaking Marketing
With a price point starting at $2500, the newly released Autel Evo II Series is a serious contender in the increasingly competitive foldable drone segment. The Autel Evo II Drones pack some serious hardware under their bright orange shells. With 40-minutes of flight time, it also has the longest flight time of any prosumer drone offered on the market.
A unique feature with the EVO II is the ability to change out the gimbal payload. It can be equipped with an 8K sensor, 6K Pro Sensor, or a Dual sensor that combines an 8K sensor with a thermal sensor. The ability to alternate sensors is unheard of in the consumer/prosumer drone market. With 12 advanced omnidirectional computer vision sensors, the drone can easily navigate the most challenging environments while focusing on the task.
*Still image and video resolution vary depending on which gimbal is equipped.
Watch this video on YouTube
20 MP, 5.1K/50 fps
46 Minutes
Construction Filmmaking Marketing
The DJI Mavic 3 is a lightweight, highly portable prosumer drone that comes with two high-quality cameras. Compared to its predecessor, almost every aspect of it has been upgraded from the Mavic 2 Pro. The dual-camera system features a Hasselblad 4/3” sensor and a ½” Tele camera sensor that has 28x hybrid zoom.
One of the biggest upgrades in the new Mavic is that its flight time has increased by almost 50%—it can fly for 46 minutes, 15 minutes longer than the Mavic 2 Pro’s 31 minutes. The Hasselblad sensor provides a 12.8-stop dynamic range that retains more details in highlights and shadows, upgrading your work to a professional level. Advanced Active Track 5.0 and the new omnidirectional collision avoidance sensors ensure a safe and smooth flight every time.
20 megapixel stills, 4K Video
30 Minutes
Construction Filmmaking Marketing Inspections
The DJI Phantom series drones are some of the most capable and recognizable drones on the market. The Phantom 1 was a revolutionary aircraft that put DJI and prosumer drones on the map. The Phantom 4 Pro V2.0 has collectively built on the series success and continues to be used for photography, filmmaking, inspections, and various other applications.
The Phantom 4 Pro V2.0 features a professional-grade 1-inch CMOS sensor that can record in 4K video resolution and 20 megapixel still photos. Its mechanical shutter makes this model a rarity and highly sought after for aerial inspections and mapping. Advanced omnidirectional obstacle sensing makes it even easier to capture that picture-perfect shot, without compromising the safety of the operation.
→ Standard RC
→ RC with Screen
→ Phantom 4 Series Intelligent Flight Battery
→ Phantom 4 Series Battery Charging Hub
20 MP, 5.1K/50 fps
46 Minutes
Filmmaking
The Mavic 3 CINE is DJI’s latest creation that pushes the boundaries of what a foldable drone can achieve. It builds on everything that made the Mavic 2 Pro successful, but the CINE version is unlike any Mavic drone before it. The dual-camera system features a Hasselblad 4/3” sensor and a ½” Tele camera sensor that has 28x hybrid zoom.
With up to 46 minutes of flight time, you will have to worry about having enough battery life to get that picture-perfect shot. Speaking of its imagery capabilities, The Hasselblad sensor provides a 12.8-stop dynamic range that retains more details in highlights and shadows, upgrading your work to a professional level. Drone pilots will enjoy the built-in Apple ProRes 422 HQ encoding and 1 TB SSD for true professionals.
The Mavic 3 CINE premium combo includes:
See our review of the Mavic 3 CINE here.
6K
40 minutes
Hobbyist
The Autel EVO Lite+ is the perfect balance of power and portability. The Lite+ can stay in the air for 40 minutes and features cinematic flight modes and camera settings to further enhance its professional-grade camera.
With up to 40 minutes of flight time, you will have to worry about having enough battery life to get the shot you want. With Dynamic Track 2.1, your Lite+ can automatically follow any person, animal, or vehicle so you can focus on your activities.
The Autel EVO Lite+ premium combo includes:
4K
34/47 minutes
Hobbyist, Content Creator
The DJI Mini 3 Pro sports a completely new look that is optimized to get more out of every flight. With larger propellers, an aerodynamic body tilt, and a powerful obstacle sensing system, the streamlined design allows for increased flight time and safety.
The reimagined gimbal offers a wider rotation range for low-angle shots and True Vertical Shooting, allowing endless creative opportunities. Every aspect of this facelift has been carefully considered to take Mini to never-before-seen heights.
The DJI Mini 3 Pro has three buying options and the option to add one of two ‘Fly More’ kits. In the Fly More Kit Plus, you’ll receive two Intelligent Flight Batteries Plus which has a 47-minute flight time.