It’s amazing to think that a few years ago camera drones were little more than novelty toys for gadget-heads; now they’re a creative tool few photographers or filmmakers want to go without.
Of course, the possibilities have always been exciting – what makes it practical, and what is the right choice?
The best drones at Affordable Prices
- A6 Drone
Features: Adjustable Dual Camera, 90 Wide Angle Lens, Follow Me Function, Panoramic Shooting, Selfie Gesture Mode, Obstacle Avoidance, Trajectory Flight, Double Shot, Portable Carry Bag, Tap Fly, Foldable Body, Wifi Connectivity, App Control, 360 Flip Action, Emergency Landing, Video Control, Fixed Height, Light Flow, Phone Control Trajectory Flight Path, One Key Take off & Landing and Headless Mode.
2. E88 Drone
Features: Selfie Gesture Mode, Set Flight Path, Motion Control, Trajectory Flight, Spin Fine Tuning, Fixed Height Control, Image Flipping, Auto Hover, Add Music, Speed Mode, Emergency Stop, HD Camera, Foldable Wings, Click Photos & Record Videos, 360 Flip Stunt, Headless Mode, One Key Take off & Landing, Direction Control, Fine Tuning and Zoom.
3. V18 Drone
FEATURES: Dual Camera, Selfie Gesture Mode, 2.4GHz Technology, App Control, Altitude Hold, One Key Return, Headless Mode, 6-Axis Gyro, Optical Flow Positioning etc
4. Phantom Drone
FEATURES: Wi-Fi Camera, Headless Mode, Hovering Function, One Key Take OFF/Landing, 360° Degree Rolling, LED Light. Video Record, FPV Real Time, 2.4GHz Radio, Wider Control Range, Anti-Interference of Wind and 2 Speed/Rudder Modes with One Key Return Function.
What to look out for in a drone
Controller :
Not all controllers are created equal. Most feature the twin sticks but at the lower end, they’ll use standard Wi-Fi with a range of around 100m control and video feedback with a clear line of sight. Higher-end drones (everything on this list) make use of proprietary radio systems.
Camera :
Like any camera, sensor size and megapixels matter, but so too do the means of vibration reduction. At the lower end, cushioning or some kind of digital image stabilization works, but the best systems used motorized gimbals to steady and level the camera on 2- or 3-axis.
Battery:
Battery capacity is the key limit in flying drones. Higher capacities don’t always make for longer flight times since overall weight (not least the battery’s) and efficiency are a factor. The much more useful measure is simply minutes of flight time. Lithium batteries store a lot of power, but “Intelligent Batteries” are safer and include built-in monitors so you can easily check their charge. Drones are at their most efficient when flying forward at an average speed, so right out of the gate, you should assume the hover time for each drone is a little less than the given flight time. Maneuvers draw more power too
The App:
The quality of the manufacturer’s free app is a big part of the experience, since many features, especially on higher-end drones, will require you to dig down through menus. Taking the camera beyond auto is certainly done this way. Cunning developers have also found ways to use the drone sensors and the app’s processing abilities to create easier flying modes and awesome visual effects.
The Bundle:
A lot of drones are sold on their own, with a controller, or with a kit that includes things like spare propellers, extra batteries, filters, and a bag. Spare propellers, well, sad to say but you’ll probably need these early on. Batteries are expensive, and it can be a long walk to charge them from where you use them, so these should be seriously considered a factor in the price of a bundle. A well-designed bag can protect all of these (even if you just stuff it inside your preferred bag).
How we test drones
Our drone tests are carried out in the field, allowing us to assess the quadcopter for its flight performance, easy of use, and its image quality. All our drone reviews are overseen by SUPER TOY who is one of the India's leading experts in drone