11 best quadcopters with a good camera

Ratings of electronics and engineering goods

Review of the best according to the editorial board. On the selection criteria. This material is subjective and does not constitute advertising and does not serve as a purchase guide. Before buying, you need to consult with a specialist.

We live in amazing times. Now we can take a picture from absolutely any point. Even shooting from a height does not cause any problems – you can use a quadcopter for this. However, choosing such a drone will prove to be very difficult. The fact is that the stores are filled with the simplest copters, the camera of which is far from ideal. Yes, and such drones fly close and not for long. If you want to buy a standing quadrocopter with a camera that will definitely not disappoint you, then check out our selection. It includes devices with a decent flight radius, long flight duration and decent photo resolution. Some of the models considered can take off to a height of over a kilometer!

Rating of the best quadcopters with a good camera

Nomination a place Name of product price
The best professional quadcopters with a good camera 1 DJI Inspire 2 Professional RUB 210,990
2 DJI Inspire 2 RUB 209,000
3 DJI Phantom 4 Pro Plus RUB 127,990
4 Walkera VOYAGER 3 RUB 51,410
5 DJI Inspire 1 RUB 182,000
The best foldable quadcopters with a good camera 1 DJI Mavic 2 Enterprise RUB 169,990
2 DJI Mavic 2 Pro RUB 96 800
3 DJI Mavic Air RUB 47,990
4 DJI Mavic Pro RUB 57,990
5 Parrot anafi RUB 45,990
6 DJI Spark RUB 28,990

The best professional quadcopters with a good camera

DJI Inspire 2 Professional

Rating: 4.9

DJI Inspire 2 Professional

The most expensive drone in our collection. It is used in full swing for shooting music videos and videos of other kinds. And this is a real monster – it is recommended to bring the quadcopter to the take-off site in the trunk of a car. The weight of the device reaches 3440 g, and its 'legs' look as intimidating as possible. At the moment of takeoff, the landing gear rises up so as not to fall into the frame.

The Professional version is regularly updated. As of 2018, it continues to offer separate flight and camera controls. This means that the DJI Inspire 2 Professional can be used by two people at the same time. The operator will film what is happening, while his assistant will control the drone itself. At the same time, each person will see his own picture – this is provided by a full-fledged FPV camera, embedded in the stern of the quadcopter. It is curious that even it has a two-axis gimbal, thanks to which the picture is free from jitter. By the way, the buyer of the drone will not need to purchase a second remote control – it is already included in the kit. Additionally, a GPS module can be connected to one of the remotes. This is necessary in cases where the person controlling the quadrocopter is moving somewhere, which is why automatic return home is excluded. However, such a module is not available in every kit – this point needs to be clarified in advance. Ground survey equipment is also optional. Eight batteries come with absolutely every DJI Inspire 2 Professional. Surprisingly, even this number does not seem excessive. The fact is that there are two battery compartments inside the quadcopter, and the flight time from a full charge does not exceed 23 minutes. The parameter does not boggle the imagination due to its heavy weight, professional camera (it consumes energy with great appetite) and heating function. The latter helps the drone in cold weather.

Of course, this drone can fly a long distance. Also, the device with carbon fiber beams is trained in all kinds of automatic shooting modes. In particular, a quadrocopter is able to follow a person, a car and any other object. At the same time, it accelerates as much as possible to an impressive 26.11 m / s. This model is designed for open space flight. However, obstacles will not harm it – they are recognized by visual positioning sensors, as well as ultrasonic and infrared sensors. The product also includes a magnetometer, accelerometer, barometer and gyroscope – this is a standard set even for inexpensive DJI quadcopters. And this drone, for a minute, costs about a million rubles!

The drone comes with a few things that budget copter owners can only dream of. For example, these are two monitors, the diagonal of which is close to 8 inches – it is with their help that the picture received from the cameras is viewed. The box also contains a pair of 240GB CINESSDs. The CINESSD Station reader connected to the USB 3.0 port should also come in handy. The buyer will also receive a flywheel with a bracket, an activation key for the codec Apple ProRes, insulating stickers for batteries, a case for transporting the copter and various little things.

As you already understood, this is a purely professional model. This is evidenced not only by the equipment of the quadcopter, but also by the camera supplied with it. In this case, it's the Zenmuse X5S. The drone also supports the even more advanced Zenmuse X7 camera. However, even the option offered in the kit is able to cope with video recording in 5.2K resolution, and more is often not needed even by a professional film studio. Video shooting is carried out with a frequency of 60 frames / s. If you reduce the resolution to Full HD, then the frequency is doubled. H.265, Apple ProRes and CinemaDNG codecs can be used to save material. Each of them has certain limitations in terms of resolution and frequency, so you need to be careful. And if H.265 is limited to a bitrate of 100 Mbps, then in CinemaDNG this parameter can reach 4.44 Gbps. The camera is also capable of photographing – in a second it can take up to twenty frames in 20-megapixel resolution.

Perhaps, the DJI Inspire 2 Professional and the camera that comes with it can be talked about forever. This is a professional kit that should suit any studio. But not all of them have enough money to purchase such a purchase, so we must consider less expensive drones as well.

Advantages

  • Quietly controlled at a distance of up to 3500 m;
  • High flight speed;
  • The richest complete set;
  • Built-in high quality FPV camera;
  • The battery may warm up;
  • Flight and camera can be controlled separately;
  • Comes with a gorgeous professional camera;
  • Many automatic functions are supported;
  • Has a large number of sensors.

disadvantages

  • Very large dimensions and weight;
  • Scary high cost;
  • Flight time is not very long.

DJI Inspire 2

Rating: 4.8

DJI Inspire 2

A completely ordinary DJI Inspire 2 should also be present in our rating. This drone has been on the market for a little longer. Moreover, in terms of its design, it is no different from the model discussed above. Here, too, there are terrifying legs that rise up immediately after takeoff. The difference lies in the equipment of the quadcopter. At a cost of 300 thousand rubles, it is foolish to expect two monitors, an additional remote control and other 'goodies'. Alas, by default the drone comes without a camera. Therefore, the buyer will have to pay at least for the Zenmuse X4S. But this, when you think about it, is standard practice for professional drones.

If the design of the DJI Inspire 2 does not differ from its more professional version, then there is no point in talking about the characteristics of the device in full detail. Again, 23-27 minutes are waiting for you in the air, depending on which camera is used (Zenmuse X7 is the most power hungry). Communication with the drone is not lost even at a three-kilometer distance, especially when it comes to control outside the city. Not forgotten here, and many sensors, thanks to which the copter tries to recognize obstacles. The excellent stabilizer to which the camera is attached has not gone anywhere – it does its job perfectly even in a terrible wind.

The device comes with only two batteries. This is very small. It seems that every buyer at the same time will try to purchase additional batteries, even if they cannot be called in any way cheap. Many studios use the DJI Inspire 2 for a reason. Yes, this drone is very large, and preparation for the flight takes a long time. But it is as safe as possible. The operator is waiting for a stable connection, which can be interrupted only in conditions of dense urban development. Also, this drone has a duplicate navigation system, which will definitely not let it get lost. There are also other means of protection – in a word, you can only drop it on the ground on purpose. All sorts of automatic functions could be noted, such as tracking and self-return home. But our rating will let you know that much more affordable DJI drones also have them.

Advantages

  • Many sensors are built in;
  • There is an FPV camera;
  • Different people can control the camera and the flight;
  • High speed of movement;
  • Various automatic functions are supported;
  • A very long distance flight is possible.

disadvantages

  • Poor equipment;
  • The flight time is not particularly long;
  • The camera needs to be purchased separately;
  • Still, a very high cost;
  • Large size and weight.

DJI Phantom 4 Pro Plus

Rating: 4.7

DJI Phantom 4 Pro Plus

The Phantom 4 Pro must be one of the most popular quadrocopters right now when it comes to strictly professional solutions. Many regional studios are making their choice in favor of this drone, which are busy shooting commercials and relatively inexpensive video clips. The secret of the copter's popularity is in its small size and wide capabilities. At the same time, the DJI Phantom 4 Pro Plus is much cheaper than the models discussed above – in Russia they ask about 130-160 thousand rubles for this drone. And this is already for the version with a camera! With a very good, I must say, camera!

Let's get to know exactly how this drone shoots. Its camera is located on a gimbal-stabilizer, working on three axes. The picture remains smooth in the vast majority of cases. It can shake the frame a little only in extremely strong winds, when launching the copter is simply scary. Video is recorded in 4K resolution – this is the maximum available parameter. In this case, the frequency is equal to 60 frames per second, which is good news. The resolution can be reduced to Full HD, then 120 frames / s are waiting for you – this is important, for example, for shooting car races and other sports events. Unfortunately, there is no longer support for Apple ProRes and other advanced codecs. The user is provided exclusively with H.265 and H.264, which do not overload the hardware. At the same time, the first is limited to 30 frames / s, if we talk specifically about 4K-resolution. The maximum available bitrate is 100 Mbps. The above codecs do not need more.

The quadcopter shows itself perfectly in wedding photography. Of course, his camera is capable of more than just video recording. She also creates photographs. What is important, they can be saved in RAW format, which makes their subsequent editing much easier – drawing out highlights in the shadows and performing other actions is not difficult even for a beginner of this business. By the way, shooting is carried out using an inch 20-megapixel matrix, so the detail is very high. For you to understand, similar sensors are installed in mirrorless cameras!

Despite not the highest cost, the quadcopter is capable of boasting a redundant navigation system and sensors. Also, this drone can also fly long distances – the manufacturer guarantees a stable signal reception of 3.5 km. The only pity is that the quadrocopter has remained very large – for its transportation you will need a special backpack. But the weight is no longer so great, as a result of which the manufacturer was able to increase the flight duration to thirty minutes. This is already a very decent figure that will definitely satisfy every buyer.

It goes without saying that this drone has all the automatic features a DJI buyer could want. This means that the quadcopter can track the subject, fly around it, take panoramas and fly around obstacles.

You may find it easier to buy the regular version of the DJI Phantom 4 Pro without overpaying for the Plus version. But in reality, the improved drone has several advantages. Firstly, it has a slightly richer package bundle. Secondly, the picture on his remote control is displayed with a delay of only 160-180 ms, in contrast to the standard version, where this parameter can exceed 220 ms. The DJI Phantom 4 Pro Plus also comes with a remote control with a built-in display – it does not require a smartphone connection.

Well, what can a buyer of such a device complain about? It is extremely difficult to answer this question. Only the battery comes to mind – the drone comes with only one battery. Of course, it is impossible to get by with such a quantity, and such batteries are not cheap.

Advantages

  • A very large number of sensors;
  • Excellent camera with an inch matrix;
  • Numerous automatic modes are supported;
  • Decent flight duration;
  • Can be operated over a very long distance;
  • The console has a built-in 5.5-inch display;
  • High frame rate 4K video is possible.

disadvantages

  • Still large in size and weight;
  • The cost will suit only a professional;
  • CinemaDNG and Adobe Prores codecs are not supported.

Walkera VOYAGER 3

Rating: 4.7

Walkera VOYAGER 3

You may have noticed that our ranking is mainly composed of DJI products. It just so happens that it is her quadcopters that are equipped with a camera that you can be proud of. Our selection includes only two drones from other manufacturers. One of them is Walkera VOYAGER 3. Of course, such a copter cannot be expensive, otherwise any professional would look exclusively towards its competitors. But with a price tag of 50 thousand rubles, I want to think about it. Why not? Even if the result is not satisfactory, then you can sell the device and buy something from DJI. So let's find out if this drone will suit wedding operators and people filming countryside views.

To begin with, let's look at the complete set of the device. She turned out to be rich enough. The box contains not only the drone itself, but also a pair of batteries, mounting screws, suspension, case, Bluetooth – transmitter, radio equipment and some other little things. All that is missing is a spare set of propellers. However, most buyers will not need it – you need to try to collide with an obstacle. The quadcopter itself turned out to be very heavy – it must be admitted. The scales underneath will show 3650 grams. This must be why the flight time does not exceed 25 minutes. Although this parameter can be considered quite good – competitors in this price segment are not always able to offer a longer flight.

Perhaps the most vulnerable point of a drone is radio communications. The fact is that even in the field, the signal is lost at the moment when the quadcopter is removed approximately two kilometers away. What is most disgusting is that the video from the monitor attached to the radio equipment disappears already within one to one and a half kilometers. Therefore, VOYAGER 3 is not such a traveler. If you want to shoot nature, then you better buy something from DJI.

When flying near the console, no problems are observed. In this case, you can use automatic shooting modes. For example, a drone can independently follow an object – a car or a person. However, it should be noted that in terms of the number of such automatic functions, this drone is also inferior to devices from DJI. The same can be said about the camera – the competitor integrates better matrices and optics. However, you can easily buy Walkera VOYAGER 3 with one or another gimbal that will fit the camera you have. In particular, you can attach a Sony RX 100 or GoPro HERO 4 to the drone. If the three-axis gimbal has a complete camera, then you can shoot video in resolution Full HD. Not bad, but again, it is not enough for nature photography.

Walkera VOYAGER 3 sits on an elegant chassis. It is removed during takeoff – in this respect, the quadcopter is similar to the drones from the DJI Inspire series mentioned at the beginning of the rating. Of course, the device is capable of transmitting numerous telemetry – altitude, range, speed and other useful information. As for the radio equipment, it turned out to be very cumbersome, but convenient. Its only problem is in the method of nutrition. The fact is that the remote control works with AA-type batteries or rechargeable batteries. On the one hand, you can take an additional set of batteries with you, completely eliminating the possibility of being with a discharged remote control. On the other hand, with long-term use of such a quadcopter, a remote control with a lithium-ion battery would be much more convenient, and it could also be slightly lighter.

Advantages

  • There are options with a three-axis suspension for the user's camera;
  • Many useful automatic functions are present;
  • The flight range should still suit many buyers;
  • The sensors include gyroscope, digital compass, barometer, accelerometer;
  • The radio equipment is complemented by a large display;
  • Supplied with two batteries;
  • The buyer additionally receives a case for transportation;
  • Very low cost.

disadvantages

  • The complete camera is far from ideal;
  • Calibrating the compass regularly can get boring;
  • Not everyone will like the flight time;
  • Very large size and weight.

DJI Inspire 1

Rating: 4.7

DJI Inspire 1

The first Inspire has been on the drone market for several years. Surprisingly, it is not outdated at all, you can consider buying it now. At one time, this drone literally amazed all professionals. DJI has turned out to be a real transformer, able to raise its chassis so that it does not fall into the view of the camera. For flight, four propellers are used here, their rotation at maximum speed allows acceleration to 22 m / s. The only pity is that the weight of the drone was 2935 grams, which is why even a 4500 mAh battery is only enough for 18 minutes of flight. However, the aforementioned camera is also actively consuming the charge.

The drone is equipped with a gorgeous three-axis gimbal. It eliminates any shaking without any problems, making the video as smooth as possible. As for the camera, there are options. The Zenmuse X3 is included by default. This model is capable of shooting 4K video, but only at 25 frames / s. Alas, the standard 60 frames / s by modern standards are only achieved when the resolution is reduced to Full HD. A 12-megapixel sensor is used for shooting, the size of which is 1 / 2.3 inches. In fact, this camera is no longer superior to those modules that are built into less expensive and much more compact DJI creations. For the better, it differs only in the lens, which here is a nine-layer. It is also that rare case when a single person can control the camera – you just need to buy a second remote control. In fact, it is for this that the manufacturer asks so much money.

The DJI Inspire 1 is mainly used by film studios that shoot films, music videos and promotional videos. Such a quadcopter is not really used for long-distance flights to take pictures of nature. Although the manufacturer claims that his drone can still move away 2 km and return back, a full battery charge should be enough for this. During the flight, the quadcopter is guided by readings from ultrasonic and visual sensors, a barometer, an accelerometer, a magnetometer and a gyroscope.

Do not forget that there are now several versions of DJI Inspire 1. For example, the v2.0 version got the Zenmuse X5 camera at its disposal – it already includes a slightly larger matrix, the resolution of which has been increased to 16 megapixels (a wider dynamic range should provide smooth transitions and almost complete absence of overexposures). Other versions of the quadcopter can be found on sale. However, some of them can be purchased for relatively little money – for 120-150 thousand rubles. Therefore, this is one of the most affordable drones for full-fledged film studios and advertising agencies. Let's be honest, they won't consider competitors from other companies.

Advantages

  • High flight speed;
  • A large number of sensors;
  • A large number of Zenmuse cameras are supported;
  • A decent number of automatic functions;
  • The flight and camera can be controlled by different people;
  • Excellent three-axis gimbal;
  • Some versions are equipped with a sun filter;
  • The cost is not extremely high.

disadvantages

  • Flight time is poor;
  • A complete camera will most often not suit a film studio;
  • Large dimensions and weight;
  • Additional batteries are sold separately.

The best foldable quadcopters with a good camera

DJI Mavic 2 Enterprise

Rating: 4.9

DJI Mavic 2 Enterprise

DJI devices with foldable design and small size could be called hobbyists. But the language does not dare to do this. Firstly, such drones often cost so much money that an ordinary person would have to save up to buy about six months. Secondly, many models are hardly inferior in their capabilities to professional quadcopters. In particular, some advertising agency may well use the DJI Mavic 2 Enterprise. In fact, this is an enhanced version of the Mavic 2 Zoom. The main difference of this model is not only the higher cost, reaching $ 1999. This drone can be equipped with various attachments designed for professional use.

The quadcopter was presented at the end of October 2018. Now it is actively used to solve a variety of tasks. It can be safely launched in the dark – what is happening nearby will try to illuminate the LED floodlight, the glow power of which reaches 2400 lumens. You can also attach a speaker to the drone that can play a given audio recording. Another module included in the kit is a flashing beacon.

The drone is powered by the familiar Mavic 2 Zoom battery. But if the quadcopter will be used at subzero temperatures, it is recommended to stock up on a special self-heating battery. A special case will also be useful – in it the drone will withstand even the most careless transportation. The product also received an unusual receiver, thanks to which the DJI Pilot mobile application will notify about the presence of signals from the nearest airliner. This opportunity should delight those who launch the drone in a space that has a large number of routes for passenger aircraft.

The DJI Mavic 2 Enterprise comes with a familiar small remote control to which you need to connect your smartphone. There is a display between the sticks, which shows almost all telemetry. By the way, the sticks are removable. If they get lost, then you can always use the spare.

Interestingly, DJI offers to expand the functionality of the device by purchasing additional modules. Perhaps the most expensive is the thermal imager. This module can be useful for hunters – with its help, detection of some elk nearby will not cause any difficulties.

Well, what is the camera here? It is directly borrowed from the already mentioned, but not included in our rating Mavic 2 Zoom. It has a 12-megapixel 1 / 2.3-inch matrix at its disposal. It has 2x optical zoom. It is thanks to him that you can shoot very beautiful videos with the approximation or removal of the background, when the subject itself does not visually move anywhere. With the maximum use of such a camera, you can shoot 4K video, but the frequency will not exceed 30 frames / s. If you reduce the resolution to Full HD, then the frequency increases as much as four times! The camera is mounted on a three-axis gimbal. He is tiny, but he copes with his task perfectly. In the air, this quadcopter is able to hold out no more than 31 minutes. And even this figure is achievable only when the remote modules are turned off. As for the flight speed, it can be 20 m / s. On a full charge, the drone can fly four or even five kilometers, and then return back. Interestingly, in theory, the communication standard used here finishes the remote control even if it is eight kilometers away!

In short, this is an excellent copter that will suit many professionals. Only its price can confuse. But you need to take the Fly More Combo version – additional batteries will definitely not interfere with the user.

Advantages

  • Huge flight range;
  • There are 24 GB of internal memory;
  • Able to fly for 31 minutes;
  • A large number of sensors;
  • Numerous automatic functions are supported;
  • A good camera for this size, with an optical zoom;
  • Various external modules are available – spotlight, loudspeaker and others;
  • Self-heating battery supported;
  • There is an ADS-B receiver for aircraft warning;
  • Relatively small size and weight.

disadvantages

  • High price.

DJI Mavic 2 Pro

Rating: 4.8

DJI Mavic 2 Pro

This representative of our rating is the best buy for an amateur. He will offer exactly everything that you could only dream of before. Flying around the subject, taking off over it, and other automatic modes – all this will be available with a couple of clicks of the corresponding icon in the DJI GO 4 app. In this case, shooting is carried out using a camera with an inch matrix! And how did she fit in here? For you to understand, such a sensor is usually built into mirrorless cameras, which are already very close in size to this quadcopter. And here, after all, there is also a three-axis gimbal, which perfectly manages its task.

This drone is relatively small. It certainly won't take up much space in a backpack. The remote control will not require it either. And if you carefully read our rating, you have already realized that there is a display on the front panel of the remote control, on which telemetry is displayed. This allows you to free up space on the smartphone screen for the picture coming from the camera.

Video is recorded here in 4K resolution, while the frequency does not exceed 30 frames / s. If required, it can be quadrupled down to 1080p. The user also has a resolution of 2.7K – when you select it, you can set the frequency to 60 frames / s. But watching such a video would require a powerful computer, not to mention editing it. As for the photos, they are 20-megapixel. Overexposures are unlikely to happen, since the aperture of this camera can vary from f / 2.8 to f / 11. Previously, in such small quadcopters, this was even impossible to imagine!

Files are saved to a memory card. But if she's suddenly forgotten, it doesn't matter. The drone has built-in 8 GB of permanent memory, which in this case should be saved. Of course, when shooting in 4K resolution, this is only enough for one flight. But at least something is better than nothing.

Of course, this quadcopter has many sensors, thanks to which even a beginner will not be able to injure the drone.

You can buy the DJI Mavic 2 Pro in many Russian stores that sell household and computer equipment. You will have to spend 130 thousand rubles on it. But everything is not limited to this amount. Whatever one may say, but in addition you will need the so-called Fly More Kit. It includes additional batteries and a special charger that can charge them one at a time.

Advantages

  • Long flight time;
  • The picture is broadcast in very high quality;
  • The camera is located with an adjustable aperture;
  • Long flight range;
  • Small size and weight;
  • High flight speed;
  • Numerous automatic functions are supported;
  • The camera uses an inch matrix;
  • The sensors look in all directions.

disadvantages

  • Complete with only one battery;
  • The cost will not suit everyone.

DJI Mavic Air

Rating: 4.8

DJI Mavic Air

This quadcopter is available in three colors and two trim levels. The most common drone is with a white body. As for the kit, we recommend purchasing the Fly More Combo version – it includes a bag, three batteries (instead of one) and a special charger for four batteries.

This drone is technically an amateur. Indeed, it is noticeably easier to manage, and it offers fewer opportunities. You can't shoot a beautiful hyperlapse with it – even if you have the skills of video editing, there simply won't be enough flight time to shoot such a video, which does not exceed 21 minutes here. But on the other hand, many other automatic functions are in place – the quadcopter can fly around the subject of shooting, beautifully move away from it, and also spin in a spiral. Of course, target tracking is also available – many people use this mode almost most often.

The quadcopter uses a small camera that houses a 12MP camera inside. Surprisingly, its capabilities are quite enough for 4K video shooting, albeit only at 30 frames / s. The bitrate will be 100 Mbps. Available to the user and a resolution of 2.7K with a frequency of 60 frames / s. A modern TV must cope with the playback of such a video, but an old computer can drop frames. As for the resolution Full HD, when you select it, the frequency of 120 frames / s becomes available. However, we do not recommend setting this resolution – the picture becomes noticeably worse with it. This drone can also take pictures. And not only ordinary shots, but also the so-called spherical panoramas.

Something like Wi-Fi is used here as a radio channel, but in an improved form. This means that in the city you are unlikely to fly further than 1 km, even when switching to the 5.8 GHz frequency. In nature, there are no such problems – here the flight range depends rather on the battery charge.

This quadcopter has a large number of sensors. However, certain restrictions are still present. The DJI Mavic Air does not see obstacles above it or to the left and right. Therefore, you need to fly sideways with caution, and take off in an open area. There is a USB Type-C connector on the back of the device – it is recommended to transfer files to a computer with its help (the speed will please you).

Perhaps the most surprising DJI Mavic Air is its size. The quadcopter fits in the inner pocket of the jacket! And the remote control, if you remove the sticks, can fit in a regular pocket. The drone weighs 430g.

Advantages

  • Very small size and weight;
  • Convenient foldable design of drone and remote control;
  • Excellent camera for this size, capable of shooting 4K video;
  • Excellent stabilization;
  • It is possible to replace the protective glass with an ND filter;
  • Decent control range;
  • Control from a smartphone is possible (without a remote control);
  • Many automatic functions are supported;
  • Numerous sensors are available;
  • There are 8 GB of internal memory;
  • The price is not astronomical.

disadvantages

  • Not very long flight time;
  • Owners iPhone may have problems transitioning to 5.8 GHz;
  • I would like to get sensors on the right and left ends.

DJI Mavic Pro

Rating: 4.7

DJI Mavic Pro

The first Mavic Pro is gradually becoming less relevant. However, it is still used by a large number of amateur photographers. Yes, and you can buy it without any difficulty – this drone is still available in many stores that sell such equipment. Therefore, the DJI Mavic Pro could not fail to be included in our rating. In the end, in some ways it even surpasses the aforementioned Mavic Air!

This quadcopter folds up comfortably. The device will definitely not take up a lot of space in a backpack. At the same time, the Chinese manufacturer managed to achieve a decent flight duration – in some cases, the battery charge is enough for 27 minutes in the air! There are no special restrictions on the speed of rotation of the propellers – the drone can accelerate to 18 m / s. As for the maximum flight altitude, it is 500 m – this is the limit for all DJI quadcopters.

This model uses a special radio channel. The picture is transmitted on it in a very high resolution, and even with a good bit rate. But its main advantage is its excellent control range, reaching 4000 m here. Of course, we are talking about ideal conditions – in a city you will definitely not get such a figure. Well, we must not forget that a good flight range is achieved only when using the remote control. If you only want to control the drone with your smartphone, then you will be limited by the Wi-Fi signal, which can be transmitted over a maximum of 80 meters.

The DJI Mavic Pro includes a fairly large number of sensors. However, there is no question of any 360-degree view of obstacles, so you need to operate the drone carefully. As for the automatic shooting modes, the quadcopter is able to follow the object, and fly around it, and take off over it, and perform some other actions.

As expected, the drone received a three-axis gimbal, due to which almost perfect image stabilization is carried out. The gimbal houses a 12-megapixel camera. She writes video in 4K resolution, while the frequency is 24 frames / s. If you lower the resolution to 1080p, then the frequency will increase to 96fps. Already by these parameters, it is clear that in terms of shooting quality, the Mavic Air does better. Indeed, the slightly more compact drone includes a better camera, you can't argue with that. That is why we recommend that you think ten times over whether a longer flight is worth less quality video. It should be noted that the prices of the Mavic Pro and Mavic Air are about the same. This is another reason to think.

Advantages

  • Very long flight time;
  • High range of signal propagation;
  • Not very large size and weight (734 g);
  • Well-functioning 3-axis gimbal;
  • Control from a smartphone is possible;
  • Various automatic modes are supported;
  • A large number of sensors are built in;
  • Decent flight speed.

disadvantages

  • The camera is not perfect;
  • No built-in memory;
  • I would like more sensors.

Parrot anafi

Rating: 4.6

Parrot anafi

The second representative of our ranking, not released by DJI. This quadcopter is also foldable. It turned out to be very light – the weight barely reaches 320 grams. It does not include built-in memory, so you need to write video exclusively on a microSD card, which must be high-speed. Connecting to a computer is carried out via a USB Type-C connector, which is good news. The corresponding cable is included.

The product is controlled by a simple black remote control. It has a folding smartphone holder. It is on the mobile device that the picture is displayed that falls into the field of view of the camera. The manufacturer claims that the drone can be controlled even at a four-kilometer distance. In reality, the figure will not be that big. At least due to the fact that at a speed of 15.3 m / s you are unlikely to be able to fly such a distance that there is sufficient battery charge left to return back. By the way, the maximum drone can stay in the air for 25 minutes.

Unfortunately, the programmers did not endow the satellite application with a large number of automatic shooting modes. Of course, a drone can fly after a person or a car. He is also able to fly around the subject and move around the points on the map. He should also return to the takeoff point. But do not count on more – all sorts of 'boomerangs' and 'rockets' are not familiar to the drone.

The Parrot Anafi comes with a decent camera. It can shoot 4K video, albeit only at 24fps. If you want to get the standard 60 FPS, you will have to lower the resolution to 1080p. By the way, the camera has a built-in 21-megapixel matrix, which is felt when viewing photos. But the dominance of photocells on such a small matrix affects video shooting in the evening and in winter – you will notice a decent amount of digital noise in the resulting frames.

The main disadvantage of the drone is its suspension. Whatever one may say, but fighting DJI in this regard is very difficult. The creators of Parrot Anafi managed to implement only two-axis stabilization. Therefore, sometimes you can still notice some shaking of the picture. But on the other hand, the user has the ability to tilt the camera up to 180 degrees – something that DJI quadcopters cannot do.

Advantages

  • Convenient foldable design;
  • Lossless digital zoom is available when shooting at 1080p;
  • Very small size and weight;
  • High definition built-in camera;
  • Decent control range;
  • Flight time is not the lowest;
  • Some automatic shooting modes are supported;
  • The price cannot be called prohibitive.

disadvantages

  • Follow operator is purchased separately;
  • Far from the best camera;
  • The suspension is only two-axis;
  • Not a very large number of sensors;
  • No built-in memory;
  • The flight speed will not suit everyone.

DJI Spark

Rating: 4.5

DJI Spark

You could tell about this drone in our rating of quadrocopters for kids. But using it as a toy is a waste. Yes, this is one of the cheapest drones from DJI, but still it cannot be called cheap. In Russia it is sold for 35-40 thousand rubles. Many parents will turn gray hair if their child ditches such a drone.

How did the Chinese manage to reduce the cost of their device? Firstly, they have significantly reduced the size of the drone, providing it with the least amount of components. Second, they decided to sell a quadcopter without a remote control. This means that the control of the drone is assigned exclusively to the smartphone, at least at first. Do I need to say that in a city, the Wi-Fi signal is lost already in a couple of tens of meters? However, the stability of the connection is still enough to take a selfie. Namely, this drone is intended primarily for taking selfies.

Several color options of the copter have gone on sale – there are versions with white, blue, yellow, green and red housings. The drone has tiny propellers, which makes it completely unable to deal with any strong wind. And the maximum speed of the device is low – only 13.9 m / s. As for the flight range, even with a remote control it does not exceed 500 m. Neither the power of the transmitters nor the battery is enough for more. By the way, a full charge of the latter provides 16 minutes of flight. Again, enough for a few selfies, but nothing more.

As in the case with the quadcopter discussed just above, a gimbal is used here, which stabilizes the camera along two axes. He copes with his task to the best of his ability – it is better to launch the drone in calm weather. In fact, a mobile camera module is used here. It has a 12-megapixel sensor and fixed aperture. The picture is written only in resolution Full HD, and the frequency will not exceed 30 frames / s. Modestly. But it's not without reason that this drone costs about one and a half to two times cheaper than the Mavic Air.

I am glad that DJI Spark supports almost all automatic modes invented by Chinese developers. He also has several sensors. However, we do not recommend seriously hoping for obstacle detection – it is better to visually control the movement of the quadcopter yourself.

I am glad that even such a small drone received a removable battery. Its recharge time is 50 minutes, as is the case with most other batteries that come with the quadcopters discussed here. The DJI Spark comes with only one battery. It is recommended to immediately stock up on a couple more.

Advantages

  • Miniature size and weight (300 g);
  • Comes with a storage case;
  • Relatively good quality of photography;
  • With the remote control, it can fly up to 500 meters;
  • Various automatic modes are supported;
  • There are a number of sensors;
  • Not very high cost;
  • Five color options.

disadvantages

  • Very short flight times;
  • By default it is delivered without a remote control;
  • Two-axis gimbal only;
  • 4K video is not available;
  • There is no built-in memory;
  • The flight speed is poor.

Conclusion

This is a list of the best camera-equipped quadcopters. As you may have noticed, budget devices were not included in our rating. This is because their camera is downright lousy. Also, such drones often do not know how to adequately fly around a person. What can I say, they may not even be equipped with a GPS chip! However, these quadcopters are very interesting for children. Even if a child breaks such a device, the low cost will not make you regret it. In a word, it is possible that we will write a separate article, which will deal exclusively with inexpensive drones.


Attention! This rating is subjective and does not constitute an advertisement and does not serve as a purchase guide. Before buying, you need to consult with a specialist.

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