If you are a photographer or just an enthusiast of technological innovations, then you owe it to yourself to try flying an aerial photography drone. With this modern marvel, you can capture footage from heights previously unattainable.
However, if you are new to the hobby, then it can be tricky figuring out the market. That is what this article aims to help you with.
Our guide will take you through the 10 best aerial photography drones available until you have all the information you need to pick the best one for your needs.
How We Reviewed
The following products were reviewed based on the following parameters: features, pros and cons, price, where to buy, and warranty.
We chose these parameters in order to provide you with the most comprehensive and least biased reviews possible.
We believe that with this information, you should have no trouble finding the best drones for your needs.
Overall Price Range of This Product (and Similar Products)
These drones fall within the range of $100 to $6,000. The main price determinants include battery life, flight range, build quality, camera quality, and durability.
10 Best Aerial Photography Drones
1. DJI Inspire 2
- Professional image quality
- Efficient workflow
- Sense and avoid
- Spotlight Pro
- Intelligent flight modes
Features
The DJI Inspire 2 is a professional-grade aerial photography drone with a battery life of 27 minutes and a maximum camera resolution of 5.2K/24 megapixels. At top speeds, it flies as fast as 58 mph.
Pros
- Can fly very fast (58-mph top speed)
- Has a dual controller option
- Comes with a fantastic camera system
Cons
- A bit heavy to carry around
- Extremely expensive
WARRANTY
It comes with DJI’s one-year warranty.
2. DJI Mavic Air
- SmartCapture
- 21-Minute Flight Time
- Advanced Pilot Assistance System
- Top speed:68.4 kmph in sport mode
- Tilt: -100° to 22°; Roll: -30° to 30°; Pan: -12° to 12°
Features
The DJI Mavic Air is a light, compact drone with an impressive battery life of 21 minutes, a Wi-Fi range of 80 meters, and a transmitter range of 2.48 miles. Its max camera resolution is 4K/12 megapixels.
Pros
- Stunning 4K video footage
- Produces breathtaking 12-megapixel stills
- Hardy against wind
- Easy to maneuver
- Relatively affordable
Cons
- Makes a slightly annoying high-pitched noise
WARRANTY
It comes with a one-year warranty.
3. DJI Mavic Pro
- SmartCapture
- 21-Minute Flight Time
- Advanced Pilot Assistance System
- Top speed:68.4 kmph in sport mode
- Tilt: -100° to 22°; Roll: -30° to 30°; Pan: -12° to 12°
Features
The DJI Mavic Pro is a higher-end drone designed for portability and easy maneuvering. It has a battery life of 27 minutes and a range of 4.2 miles. Its max camera resolution is 4K/12.35 megapixels.
It features a convenient gesture control function, as well, allowing you to lead the Mavic by simply waving your arms. This drone comes with a shoulder bag, props, a car charger, and 2 extra batteries.
Pros
- Fantastic portable option
- Easy to navigate with
- Durable
- Takes excellent 4K and HD footage
- Very steady flight with an OcuSync transmission
- Comes with two extra batteries
Cons
- None, aside from the steep price tag
WARRANTY
It comes with a one-year warranty.
4. Holy Stone F181W
- Fly for miles. From your pocket; Inside the Mavic's pocket-sized remote controller is DJI's brand new OcuSync transmission technology, with a range of 4.3mi (7km) and Full HD 1080p video streaming; No bumps and scrapes When you know what's in front of you, you won't bump into it. The same is true of the Mavic. Using FlightAutonomy it can see obstacles as far away as 49ft (15m) in front, so that it can fly at up to 22mph (36kph) while avoiding the things it sees.
- Absolute Precision; FlightAutonomy technology means the Mavic can hover precisely in more environments, and automatically land almost exactly where you took off. Stay flying longer; Why fly for 10 or 15 minutes when you can fly for up to 27? With the Mavic you can.
- Use every single pixel; The Mavic is the only drone of its size to carry an integrated high-precision 3-axis mechanical camera stabilization system, giving you crystal clear photos and smooth videos, without losing a single pixel. True 4K video. No compromises; When you have a 4K sensor, you expect 4K results without compromises. Every shot you take with the Mavic Pro can be up to 4K, captured at 30 frames per second.
- Photos with altitude; Everyone loves a good photo. Whether you just want to take a snap or are building up your portfolio, the Mavic's 12-megapixel camera with Adobe DNG RAW support is ready to shoot. Get in the frame; Get selfies like you've never seen before with Gesture Mode. With the Mavic in the air pointing at you, a gesture is all it takes to take a photo.
- Includes: Mavic Pro Quadcopter - Remote Controller - 3 Intelligent Flight Batteries - 5 x 8330 Folding Propellers - Gimbal Clamp - Charger - AC Power Cable - 16GB microSD Card - Micro-USB Cable - RC Cable with Lightning Connector - RC Cable with Micro-USB Connector - 2 RC Cable Slider - Charging Hub - Mavic Shoulder Bag - 32 GB Card - Landing Gear Stabilizers - Memory Card Reader - Cleaning Cloth
Features
The Holy Stone F181W is a 6-axis gyro drone that has been designed with steady flight in mind. It has been made to be especially beginner-friendly. The drone comes with a 120-degree HD Wi-Fi camera.
It features real-time transmission, as well as automatic altitude hold. This option comes with two batteries, each of which lasts around 10 minutes.
Pros
- Extremely affordable at just around $100
- Comes with a decent camera for an entry-level drone
- Comes with a spare battery
Cons
- The battery life could be better, but that is only to be expected at this price point.
WARRANTY
You can request the warranty from customer service.
5. Parrot Disco
- Fixed-wing drone that reaches speeds up to 50 mph
- Ultra-precise piloting and extended flight range of up to 1.2 mile with Parrot Skycontroller 2
- Immersive flight experience with Parrot Cockpitglasses (FPV goggles)
- Shoot full HD 1080P videos and 14Mpx photos with the built-in wide-angle camera. Footage can be captured in RAW, JPEG and DNG format.
- High capacity 2700mAh battery with up to 45 min battery life
Features
The Parrot Disco FPV is a fixed-wing drone that tops out at 50 miles per hour. It has an impressive flight range of 1.2 miles, and it comes with Parrot Cockpit Glasses for the most immersive flight experience possible.
The drone’s battery lasts up to 45 minutes per charge. Its camera takes HD 1080P videos and 14-megapixel photos.
Pros
- Excellent battery life
- Great flight range
Cons
- Prone to occasional glitches
- Not very durable
WARRANTY
You can request the warranty from customer service.
6. PowerVision PowerRay
Features
The PowerVision PowerRay is an underwater drone, ideal for fishing, exploring, mapping, treasure hunting, studying marine life, and recording.
It takes 4K UHD video and can stream at 1080p. The drone also takes 12-megapixel stills with an impressive 5fps burst mode. It has a 98-foot depth rating, as well as a 210-foot tether.
Pros
- Takes excellent 4K videos
- Produces amazing 12-megapixel stills
- 70-yard tether
- Comes with a wheeled carrying case
Cons
- None
WARRANTY
You can request the warranty from customer service.
7. 3DR Solo Drone Quadcopter
- Solo’s video game-style controller will feel familiar the second you pick it up, even if you’ve never flown a drone. Pushbutton commands put both camera and copter at your fingertips. Take off, land or instantly pause your flight midair with a single touch. Click to start and stop recording or snap a photo, even adjust camera angle while you fly
- In case you missed it in the picture…that’s a high-quality HDMI port directly from the controller so you can connect Solo to practically any screen you can think of. Refer user manual below
- Full-featured app for iOS and Android puts total craft control at your fingertips.
Features
The 3DR Solo Drone Quadcopter comes with an intuitive video game-style controller, making it perfect for beginners. It features pushbutton commands for easy control of flight and photography.
It has a high-quality HDMI port, allowing you to connect it to any screen or monitor. It comes with an app for iOS and Android.
Pros
- Easy to fly
- Intuitive controls
- Affordable
Cons
- Lackluster customer support
WARRANTY
It comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
8. Parrot AR.Drone 2.0 Elite Edition Quadcopter
- Piloting is easy from a smartphone or tablet
- Remote control quadricopter controlled using an iOS or Android smartphone or tablet
- 720p high-definition live video streaming & recording to smartphone or tablet while flying
- Record & share videos & pictures straight from AR. Free Flight piloting app
- Processor: ARM Cortex A8 processor 1GHz 32 bit with 800MHz video DSP TMS320DMC64x, RAM: 1GB DDR2 RAM at 200MHz, OS: Linux 2.6.32
Features
The Parrot AR.Drone 2.0 Elite Edition Quadcopter is a drone controllable by smartphone or tablet. It takes 720p HD video, as well as photos. The drone comes fully stocked with an ARM Cortex A8 processor.
Pros
- Easy to fly
- Self-stabilizing
- Can be modified
Cons
- No “return home” feature
- No on/off switch
WARRANTY
You can request the warranty from customer service.
9. Cheerson CX20 Auto-Pathfinder FPV RC Quadcopter
- Auto-Pathfinder FPV RC Quadcopter with GPS RTF
Features
The Cheerson CX20 Auto-Pathfinder FPV RC Quadcopter comes with a wide variety of features, including a “return home” function, GPS hold, a GPS system, and more.
It has a control distance of around 300 meters and a flight time of 15 minutes. It does not come with a camera.
Pros
- 300m control distance
- Relatively affordable
Cons
- Difficult for beginners
- Does not come with a camera
WARRANTY
You can request the warranty from customer service.
10. GoPro Karma with HERO5 Black
- Karma captures amazingly smooth GoPro footage in the air, handheld or body mounted
- The Karma Drone folds to fit into the included lightweight case Take it anywhere When you’re ready to fly, just unfold, attach the propellers and go
- The Karma Stabilizer captures breathtaking shake-free video both in the air and on the ground
- Remove the Karma Stabilizer and attach it to Karma Grip for ultra steady, professional-looking handheld shots
- Karma Grip works with GoPro mounts, including the built-in shoulder mount on the Karma Case, to deliver ultra steady body-mounted footage
Features
The GoPro Karma with HERO5 Black is a folding drone that comes with a lightweight case. It features the Karma Stabilizer, which produces shake-free videos on the ground and in the air.
You can attach it to the Karma Grip for handheld shots. You can also attach it to GoPro mounts.
Pros
- Extremely versatile
- Can be used for handheld shooting
- Very easy to fly
- Compatible with GoPro accessories
Cons
- None
WARRANTY
It comes with a one-year warranty
The Verdict
After reviewing these 10 products, we decided the best among the best is the DJI Mavic Pro. At $$$, it earned a price rating of $$. This aerial photography drone is excellent in every respect.
It has a long battery life and an excellent range, and it is extremely easy to use. It is a significant investment at the price, but you would be hard pressed to find this quality elsewhere.