We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post.
When deciding on which drone to buy it’s important to take many thoughts into consideration. Here are some questions to think about before you buy a drone:
- What do I want to use my drone for?
- Will I want to earn money with this drone?
- Which is the best drone for photography and videography?
- Which drone is best to travel with?
- What kind of drone accessories do I need to buy?
How do you want to use this drone?
With drones being more affordable than ever, many people want to purchase a drone to get great photography for personal use. Maybe you want a cool shot of the family on a picnic or hike. Maybe you would like to take it with you to Hawaii (that’s what we did!) for some awesome ocean and beach videos.
Others are looking to expand their business and work a side-hustle. Adding drone capabilities can increase sales and services in many lines of work. We use our drones for advanced technical work in agriculture, mapping, and collision investigation.
The type of drone you purchase should fall in line with what you hope to do with it.
Consider the size
Size does matter… but bigger is not always better. A larger drone may seem more powerful but it also takes more power to create lift. In the drone world, battery life can make or break you. The more battery power your drone needs to fly, the shorter the flight often is.
The other drawback to a larger drone is the weight of carrying it around. The first time we took our DJI Phantom4 2.0 on a day trip we realized a travel-size drone would’ve been much easier.
While larger drones can drain a battery and be heavy to carry around, they are also a great option for some of the technical fields that require a heavy-duty body. Strong winds, dust in the air, or fog can slow down smaller drones, but a larger quadricopter can keep going.
Consider the Camera
A drone is really a camera with wings. So besides the body of the drone, you should pay close attention to what kind of camera it has. There are digital shutters and mechanical shutters. There are cameras that shoot 4K and those that are only 1080p.
If you are hoping to get some fun family footage, a 4K camera may not be the most important thing to you. You can save your money to spend on a great carrying case.
But if you plan to do any technical missions at all, invest in the highest resolution camera for stills and video. This will give you the greatest outcome.
Our favorites
We fly three of the most popular DJI drones.
The DJI Phantom4 2.0 is our original. While on the larger side, and a bit bulky to lug around, we still love it. The videography and photography from this beast is great every time.
The DJI Mavic2 PRO is our favorite. This drone does it all. If you’re looking for a midsize, reliable, workhorse with great aerial camera skills, this is the one for you. The case is manageable, making it easy to throw in the car for road trips. But the technical abilities also make this Lee’s favorite for all missions with Pix4D and DroneDeploy.
Lastly, our DJI Mavic Mini is the newcomer to the gang. This little drone is not as fragile as you would think. We love it for travel. A sturdy case smaller than a purse is all you need to take this one on the go. Also, it only weighs 249 grams which means you don’t technically have to register it with the FAA. (Although, you still have to fly responsibly!)
