Drone photography has never been more popular or widespread. There’s a broad collection of models available across different budget tiers, more and more brands all the time, and a blossoming array of features and functions. Which drone should you buy then? We tapped a collection of experts to help you cut through the clutter and find the best drone to meet your needs.
But first: Before buying a drone, be sure that you know the requirements, and potential restrictions, involved. “You must register your drone with the FAA if you’re going to be operating it in the USA and it weighs more than 250 grams — about a stick of butter,” says Josh Ziering, founder of Kittyhawk, a drone companion app that tells you if your airspace is permissible to fly in. “Operating a drone responsibly also means having situational awareness. For example, you can’t ever fly in certain areas — like Washington, D.C. — or if there is a ‘Temporary Flight Restriction.’”” You’ll also most certainly want a drone with GPS and flight stabilization. “This makes it much easier to fly,” Ziering says. “A drone without flight stabilization is like driving a stick-shift car while juggling.” With those fair warnings in mind, here are the drones to buy.
Blade Nano QX RTF Quadcopter
“The first and most important piece of advice that I can give any aspiring drone owner is to not just go out and buy a fully functional drone; buy a cheapo one so you can learn how to fly them first,” says Patrick Gavin, a Minneapolis-based journalist and filmmaker. These entry-level drones are lacking what Gavin calls all the “real bells and whistles,” and even a camera, but that’s the point. “You absolutely will crash a drone at some point or another, everyone does, and more than likely, you’ll do just that during your first week of trying these things.” Spend a minimal amount of money on something you’re comfortable potentially breaking. Gavin recommends the Blade Nano QX RTF Quadcopter for the job of learning the basics of flying a drone and remote-control operation.
DJI Mavic Pro Collapsible Quadcopter Drone Essentials Bundle
A lot of drone users want to be able to travel with their drone, which means overall size, folding capabilities, and weight are all factors to consider. “Portability is important, and there are a number of folding drones available on the market right now,” Ziering says. Mostly, though, he says you’ll want to consider the weight of the drone. “Just because it folds up into a small area doesn’t mean it’s going to be light. If you’re into traveling with your drone, make sure you take this into consideration.”
Gavin looks for portability when he’s taking his drone to shoots, and uses the DJI Mavic Pro. “I now use the DJI Mavic Pro, which can shrink down nicely when you fold in its legs,” he says.
DJI Spark, Fly More Combo, Alpine White
To keep both cost and size down, he has another suggestion. “The DJI Spark is even smaller, and even though it’s not a high-end drone, I’m tempted to buy that, too, just for its portability,” Gavin says. “Remember that drone-flying is akin to that oft-quoted axiom about photography, ‘The best camera is the one you have on you.’ You can have the nicest drone in the world, but if you don’t actually have it on you because, say, it’s too big to fit in a backpack or it’s just too much of a pain in the butt, you’re going to miss shot after shot.”