Whether you want to take photos recreationally or professionally, a well-chosen drone can come in very useful. Drones have had a revolutionary effect on photography practice; indeed, they can be great for capturing the kind of high-level shots that could otherwise seem beyond photographers’reach. However, with so many camera-equipped drones on the market now, which of them most warrant your attention? We’ve thought carefully about this and decided on the following list.
DJI Phantom 4
Here, DJI has refined its already impressive Phantom 3 Professional for effective photography meeting commercial ends. The Phantom 4’s improvements on its predecessor include a sturdier construction, plus updated technology for the avoidance of objects in the air. While DJI does offer more advanced drones, this one is packed with abundant functionality for its price, making it especially suitable for aspiring – rather than thoroughly experienced – photographers.
DJI Mavic Pro
DJI is a major force in the commercial drone market – and, indeed, BGR has called the Mavic Pro “the best drone of 2017 (so far)”.This drone can, even in winds meeting 19-24 miles per hour, capture 12-megapixel photographs. The camera also has a rotating module allowing the orientation to be toggled between landscape and portrait. The Mavic Pro is available to buy from COPTRZ, which also offers drone courses if you’re interested in commercial photography.
GoPro Karma
This drone gets a mention by CNET, largely because the camera is detachable. Therefore, you can take it off for capturing images on occasions when you don’t strictly need the drone itself. However, when you do need that machine, the camera can be stabilised in the air by a motorised gimbal. That gimbal can itself be removed before being put on a handgrip also included with the GoPro Karma. Therefore, you can choose to take stabilised photos at ground level, too.
XiroXplorer V
Even if you knew nothing about drones, you’d probably think that the XiroXplorer V looks intended for outdoor use. It’s got a ‘camo’ colour scheme and, with its LED lighting and sharp edges, can nearly fit into the optional extra that is a specially designed backpack. For capturing wide shots, this drone has a fisheye lens – though TechRadar warns that “there’s quite a bit of distortion towards the edges of the frame”. This drone is still recommended, largely due to its relatively low price.
ZeroTech Dobby
The ZeroTech Dobby might have a peculiar name, but it delivers a lot of functionality in a small casing and at an appealing price.While ZeroTech has called the Dobby a “selfie drone”, you could be surprised by this little machine’s versatility – especially if you’re not familiar with selfie drones…
The small size makes the Dobby easy to transport – it can even fit into a bag! Sadly, the size also means that strong winds can batter the drone around – but, when you can control it well, you could come to particularly appreciate the orbital movement and object tracking features. It’s a 13-megapixel camera that is on board here.
I love tech things, especially the way they infiltrate our lives without us even realising. I don’t like having to explain how a gadget works to every member of my family though!
