13 Best Camera Drones

One of the ways you can make your photos stand out from the crowd is by photographing your subjects from new and fascinating perspectives.

This is where the drones with cameras comes into the picture. It allows you to move out of places that were not previously possible like impassable mountains, deep oceans or rushing waterfalls to name a few.

It opens up scenarios, angles and ideas that you have not been able to realize before, and the results can be almost artistic.

The market is littered with camera drones that leave you wondering which one is your best companion.

Whether you’re a hobbyist or you’re looking to purchase a professional drone, where are our top pick on the best camera drones in the market.

Disclaimer – This article may contain affiliate links, this means that at no cost to you, we may receive a small commission for qualifying purchases.

The 13 Best Camera Drones in 2021

1. DJI Inspire 2 Camera Drone

The DJI Inspire 2 is one plane that is known for its safety features and thus making it ideal for beginners and pros alike. The flight time comes to about 25 minutes, but that matters with the type of camera you use if you opt to use something other than what the drone comes with, which is the Zenmuse X5S camera. It takes 4k-plus video. With this camera you’re able to get some amazing high-resolution phots that show the mark of professional photography.

Another aspect that makes the Inspired 2 stand out is the object tracking. That allows you to follow a subject as you capture video, making for YouTube and social media worthy content. That paired with the 360-degree gimbal, you have a lot of creative freedom when it comes to shooting. There’s also a separate FPV camera, the X7, that has streaming ability. You can use your smartphone or the remote to control the camera drone, and you can use two controllers at the same time.

The other feature that makes the Inspire 2 safe is the collision avoidance feature so you don’t have to worry about your drone ramming into something midflight. This camera drone is quite fast, being able to reach speeds of 50mph in just five seconds. There’s also the return-to-home feature when you do lose sight of your drone.

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2. DJI Mavic 2 Zoom Camera Drone

There are cool things that you can do with the Mavic 2 Zoom. It is fantastic when it comes to taking aerial imagery and also has the Hyperlapse that makes for amazing time-lapse footage. Something creatives also love is the dolly zoom effect where the drone zooms in on the subject as it flies back. In general, the DJI Mavic 2 Zoom lives up to its name with impressive zooming capabilities and auto focus.

The drone is quite fast but what you’ll find surprising is how quite the propellers are. The motors are powerful as well, allowing you to reach great hovering heights. It is also these same motors that keep the drone airborne and steady even on a windy day. The omnidirectional sensors on the drone mean that your drone is quite safe at all times. Beginners will appreciate this feature because they are more prone to crashing drones as they get a hang of it. The sensors are also used in object tracking.

What makes this drone quite liked is its portability. You’re able to fold it and carry with you wherever you’re going. If you’re jacket pocket is big enough, you can fit in the drone. One more feature you get with the Zoom is the intelligent flight modes that even professionals will appreciate.

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3. DJI Mavic Air Camera Drone

Here we have another foldable drone thanks to DJI. The controller is also able to fold away and you’re even able to unscrew the joysticks for storage. Overall, this drone is ideal for both beginners and professionals. Some notable aspects are the ability to capture 32MP sphere panoramas, and TapFly where you can use your smartphone.

The Mavic Air has downward, rear and front-facing distance sensors so it can identify and avoid obstacles with ease. Even as it avoids obstacles, it alerts you, the pilot, of something blocking its path. Another cool feature the Air has is ActiveTrack with the ability of sensing up to 16 objects at any given moment. From there, you’re able to select who or what to track. The precision is super impressive; you can track a jumping, cycling, running or moving subject with ease.

The Mavic Air pairs with DJIs apps on your smartphone that allows you to add some cool effects on the pics or videos you’ve taken. Apart from the smartphone and the controller, you can navigate this drone using gestures via the SmartCapture feature. You get maximum maneuverability all the while getting high quality vides and stills. Thanks to the QuickShots features you’re able to get the types of photos you want, including Boomerang and Asteroid, and share on social media using the DJI Go 4 app.

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4. DJI Spark Camera Drone

With the 1080p full HD videos that you can capture with the Spark, you’ll be more than happy with the quality of what you capture. There is also the option of tracking subjects which works as well as the Mavic Air. What really stands out when it comes to the Spark is gesture recognition. Launching the drone is possible for your hand, and you can capture specified shots using simple gestures. That’s what makes the Spark mostly a selfie drone, making it ideal for hobbyists.

The only part of this drone which folds is the propellers, but all the same it has a rugged body. Otherwise, steering the drone further than 100 meters requires you to use your smartphone and a downloaded DJI application. Alternatively you can purchase a remote compatible with the drone. There is also the DJI obstacle avoidance technology which keeps the drone safe as you fly it. Spark also has the Intelligent Flight Modes that comes with the other series such as TapFly and ActiveTrack.

An added feature that you get with the Spark that you don’t get with the other drones in the series is the QuickShot mode. How it works is it automatically creates a ten second long video from the footage you capture while flying. It removes the hustle of editing to create a final output. It takes your best shots and comes up with footage ready to share on your social media channels.

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5. DJI Phantom 4 ( Version UE ) Camera Drone

Though the Phantom is bulky, there is a lot to like about it. You’ll have to spare some space in the back of your car as you’re travelling to where you wish to shoot. The features available are ideal for professionals. Phantom 4 drone is a lot quieter when flying. As compared to the other Phantoms, the Phantom 4 is the fastest so far as it can do 45 miles per hour. In general, those taking videos and stills for professional purposes are going to be impressed with the features

There’s also the OcuSync radio system that makes 1080p quality videos that are visible on monitors. You can also record lower resolution videos if you need to. There’s of course the obstacle avoidance system where the drone can maneuver round obstacles when it is flying. The TapFly system is available in this model as well, letting you chart a flight path.

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6. Parrot PF728000 Anafi Camera Drone

The Parrot Anafi boasts one of the best constructions in the market. It is made with carbon-fiber elements that make for a sturdy body. Other features to like include the automatic take-off, and landing, as well as the return-to-home features which is GPS driven. Another aspect that works in the drone’s favor is that the gimbal can get turned up and giving you an unobstructed angle. A lot of drones at the same price range cannot do that. The zoom features are also quite impressive.

One thing to note is that you’ll have to be keen to avoid obstacles because the Anafi doesn’t have obstacles sensors. The drone however does come with a hard-fabric case that you can use to carry your drone almost everywhere with you. The controller is foldable and has a hinge phone-grip. It is essentially easy to use as compared to other models in the market.

With the Anafi there is in-app purchases that you’ll have make. That includes feature such as follow-me modes that you can find, for example, on the DJI.

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7. Yuneec H520 + E90 Bundle Camera Drone

Here we have a drone that is ideal for professionals and also for recreational purposes. It has six rotors, making it a powerful craft for hovering and withstanding windy conditions. It also has a 360 degree three axis gimbal camera. It is able to take stunning Ultra HD 4K videos as well as stills. The Yuneec H520 is best for professional purposes and industrial use.

There’s also retractable landing gear, with the drone generally being easy to fly. Overall, this drone is able to fly greater distances and capture awesome footage thanks to the long focal-length lenses. The Intel RealSense Technology is what the drone uses not to ram into obstacles. The other aspect about the H520 that is impressive is that the more you fly the drone, the better it becomes at detecting and avoiding obstacles.

There is also the Waypoint technology that allows you to key in coordinates for where you want the drone to go. That means you don’t have to keep directing the drone on where to go, allowing you to focus on the capturing video, stills or simply investigating. Overall, this Yuneec drone has a sturdy construction and can withstand hits and bumps.

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8. Ryze Tello Camera Drone

Here we have a drone that does well indoors when it comes to taking videos and stills. The easy flying makes it ideal for beginners as they work their way up to expert status. The marketing on this drone states that they are powered by DJI meaning that you’ll get some of the same features. One of them is the positioning sensors where you’re able to guide your drone.

With this drone you have to use a smartphone to record and capture whatever you’ve shot. Everything you capture is saved directly to your phone that also makes it easier when you have to share it on social media. It is worthy to note that there is no GPS with this drone and you will have to charge the battery using a USB cable while it is within the drone.

When it comes to flying the drone, you can launch it from your hand or you can throw it into the air. There’s also the option of recording 360 degree videos with the Tello. You can also do tricks and flips with this drone, all directed by a few flips.

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9. Skydio R1 Camera Drone

There are quite a few things to also like about this drone. One of them is the object tracking feature. You’re able to do fantastic shots with the Skydio R1 even in terms of having the drone take selfies. Additionally, the drone is able to make a 3D map of the environment and equally predict the movement of the subject, in this case you as you’re taking selfies or doing a certain activity.

There are also two cameras on this drone, so you’re able to take more stills and videos from varying perspectives. That means that you’re able to get a full view of everything around while you are shooting. There is also the fact that the camera has collision avoidance systems so you don’t have to worry about ramming into things. As mentioned it is able to tell things apart in the environment and thus able to avoid trees and the like while in the tracking mode or even when you’re just flying.

It is worth noting that the R1 is quite an impressive camera drone when it comes to selfies. You’re able to access all your shots via the smartphone app and post them on social media.

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10. Yuneec Typhoon H Plus Camera Drone

One aspect that makes the Typhoon H Plus great is the fact that it is able to return home in the event that one rotor breaks down. That means you don’t have to worry about losing your drone entirely. The drone also has retracting landing legs so you’re able to get a 350 degree rotation on the imaging.

So that the drone does not ram into an obstacle there is the Intel-powered collision avoidance system. It is also the same system that gets used when it comes to tracking a subject. With all that you’re able to view whatever you’re tracking using the 7-inch screen that is located on the controller. Do note that the transmission distances is not the best, so you’re better off using is drone for selfies and other close shots.

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11. Power Vision PowerEye Camera Drone

Next on the list we have the PowerVision PowerEye. What makes this drone great is that it is able to work well even on windy days. That way you’re still able to take great images without worrying about the quality that you get.

The propellers do found so you’re able to carry the drone where ever you need to go. Overall, the FPV camera is of a high grade that also allows dual-pilot flight in the case where there are two pilots navigating the drone. Thanks to the two cameras you’re able to capture two varying perspectives with ease

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12. Yuneec Mantis Q Camera Drone

The things that makes this drone ideal for all, professionals and hobbyist in particular is that it is has quite a long flight time of 33 minutes. The other thing that makes it ideal for users is that it has voice control technology. There is no drone on this list that has this feature. You’re able to take a picture or a photo merely by using your voice.

The Mantis Q lives up to its name in that you’re able to fold it and fit it into your bag. It is also light so you won’t have to fuss about carrying it around. You’re also able to use your phone when you’re flying the drone.

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13. Force1 F200SE Shadow Hex Camera Drone

The features that stand out the most for this drone are Point-of-Interest and the Follow-Me modes. You’re able to snap the photos how you wish and take the camera drone on the speed that you like. There is also WIFI FPV that you can use with your smartphone. The camera quality of this drone is 1080p thanks to the Shadow HEX feature.

There is also the return-to-home mode that you can activate when you’re done taking footage. The GPS feature is able to let you do that. The GPS signal for the Force1 is also able to let you take 360 degree imaging of wherever you set the drone to fly to. Generally, the features are great and even kids are able to make the most of this drone.

Phone’s GPS map

1-BUTTON CONTROL: Great camera drone for kids and newbies with 1-Key Lift/Land, Altitude Hold + Headless Mode for stable camera drone flight; men, women, boys and girls can snap a selfie or explore drone photography with this cool drone

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Wrap up

There is much to be liked about the drones on this list. They come with varying features that you will like, depending on what you value. We do hope that you’re able to find the right kind of drone for you on this list, whether you’re a professional or you’re merely looking for camera drones for a hobby.

Resource

The beginner’s guide to drones for travel photography – WanderLust