Which quadrocopter to buy is inexpensive and good. Rating of budget quadcopters for shooting video

Recently, more and more often you can hear about new versions of multicopters serving for different purposes. And in any online store that sells electronics, you can find almost hundreds of different models of these aircraft. That is why we decided to systematize everything we know about drones and write this simple guide to choosing the best quadcopter for your specific purposes.

Society is experiencing a real trendy - small unmanned aerial vehicles that can be controlled through a simple remote control or even using a mobile phone. The sharply increased popularity of multicopters is due to many factors. First, it is the growth of their productivity and capabilities. After all, now drones can be used both for private purposes, for example, for entertainment and shooting amateur photos and videos from a height, and in professional activities.

Remotely controlled unmanned aerial vehicles are used for professional aerial photography of the area, the creation of feature and documentary films, aerial reconnaissance and surveillance, and the delivery of goods. For example, such large companies as Amazon and, as well as smaller firms, for example, pizzerias, are gradually switching to multicopters.

The second factor in the increased popularity of quadcopters is directly related to the first. With the improvement of the technical characteristics and the increase in the capabilities of these aircraft, the price of previous models becomes sharply lower. That is why devices, analogues of which a couple of years ago could cost a thousand US dollars, can now be bought for three hundred.

Well, the main factor in the popularity of drones is people's love for the knowledge of the unknown. Hundreds of thousands of adult men who see a quadrocopter in a store at the price of a good smartphone wake up, it would seem, a child who fell asleep many years ago. The person again begins to think in the “I want!” category, but this time not the parents, but he himself is responsible for the budget, and therefore, in the evening of the same day, this respectable uncle rushes around the yard with the remote control from the multicopter, enjoying the views from a bird’s eye view and flying up to the windows of the neighbors.

But choosing a worthy aircraft that would ideally match your adequate wishes, and not just the inner call “I want!”, Is not so simple. After all, on sale you can find hundreds of various ready-made options, in which a person who first encounters this range of proposals will not just figure it out. Therefore, we will try in this article to help you understand the problem.

Let's start with the fact that all multicopters differ from each other in several basic characteristics.

1. Number of blades
Multicopters is a common name for remotely controlled unmanned aerial vehicles, in which the root “multi” means “many”. The most popular on the market are quadcopters with four blades, but you can also find drones with two, three, six and eight motors.

In this case, the power of the aircraft depends on the number of blades, as well as the stability of its flight. But you need to understand that the more motors, the faster the batteries of the multicopter are discharged.

2. Dimensions
Roughly speaking, multicopters are divided into three main classes by size. The first is large drones. They are often used for professional purposes. This is a real fetish among people who have ceased to perceive quadcopters as an easy hobby, but have turned them into a serious hobby or even a job.

Large drones can lift a fairly solid load into the sky and fly stably at an altitude of several kilometers. Such air vehicles can be equipped with reinforced batteries, as well as a suspension with a SLR camera.

Medium sized multicopters are the most popular among users. We are talking about small enough aircraft that can be carried in a backpack, where there will be room for other things.

Often these drones come with a high-resolution built-in camera, but even more often there are quadcopters that need to be attached separately.

Small and ultra-small multicopters are a proposal for beginners who love remote-controlled flights. These devices can fit in a briefcase or even in a pocket, because their smallest versions can easily fit in the palm of an adult. Due to their small size, such drones have problems with flight stability, because any gust of wind knocks them off the path or even knocks them over to the ground.

3. Presence of a camera
The cornerstone of choosing a particular multicopter. As mentioned above, there are drone models with cameras already built into them. At the same time, the regularity is observed that the larger the multicopter, the less chance that it will have a camera in its basic configuration.

The best option in this case are some models of medium-sized drones with built-in cameras with good resolution (10-14 megapixels). However, most connoisseurs of unmanned aerial vehicles prefer to personally install a camera on their multicopter. Most often we are talking about the famous GoPro extreme camera.

But there are also many other offers on the market for extreme shooting cameras, as well as special modules for multicopters.

On small quadrocopters, in the vast majority of cases, the camera comes as standard, it is built into the body of the aircraft. But this is a fairly simple device with a photomatrix ranging in size from 0.3 to 2 megapixels.

4. Management principles
Most of the most popular models of quadcopters can be controlled using a smartphone or tablet computer, connecting to them via a wireless Wi-Fi connection interface. This is incredibly convenient, because the device is controlled through a simple and intuitive interface. By moving fingers on the touch screen of a mobile device, the user can control the height, speed and direction of the drone, see the real-time image from its camera, and take photos and record videos from a bird's eye view with just one click.

But such a principle of controlling a multicopter has a significant drawback - the device can move away from the person controlling it only a few tens of meters, that is, to the range of receiving a Wi-Fi signal. Therefore, instead of smartphones and tablets, you can use special control panels.

They allow you to increase the flight range to an indicator of several kilometers. At the same time, the control process itself becomes much more complicated - remotes have many additional functions and capabilities that mobile devices do not have.

However, mobile devices can be combined with "professional" multicopter control panels. For example, it is possible to use them as a screen for the image from the drone's camera, if the remote control itself does not have a built-in display.

5. Batteries
Another important point when choosing a multicopter. After all, the larger the capacity of the batteries from which it is powered, the longer and farther it can fly. At the moment, the average operation of a basic drone on one full battery charge is 8-15 minutes.

But larger aircraft can be equipped with additional batteries, which can increase their flight time by up to half an hour. With medium and small multicopters, such an “upgrade” is more difficult to carry out - the power of their propellers may simply not be enough to lift another battery into the air. Moreover, this is not always possible at the hardware level.

However, the problem of low battery capacity in multicopters can be partially solved by using spare batteries, which can be inserted in place of the discharged ones after landing the drone on the ground.

Above, we talked about five main fundamental factors that can affect your choice when buying a ready-made multicopter. And below we will show you some of the most popular modern drone models.

DJI Spreading Wings S900

DJI Spreading Wings S900 is one of the most popular and best large multicopters, it is a device for true professionals in the field of flying drones who really know why they need such an aircraft.

The DJI Spreading Wings S900 hexacopter has six powerful motors and therefore the same number of propellers, which allows it to fly quite stable even at high altitudes.

With its own weight of 3.3 kilograms, the DJI Spreading Wings S900 can lift objects weighing up to 8.2 kg into the sky, including full-size SLR cameras like the Canon 5D Mark III.

The diagonal of this multicopter from rotor to rotor is 90 centimeters, but the DJI Spreading Wings S900 can be folded in half when transporting. Batteries with a capacity of 10000-1500 mAh allow the drone to fly with half the possible load for 18-20 minutes.

The cost of DJI Spreading Wings S900 ranges from 1654 to 4594 US dollars, depending on the configuration.

DJI Phantom 2 Vision+

The DJI Phantom 2 Vision+ is the latest and greatest quadcopter from Phantom. The products of this company have gained high popularity due to the simplicity and reliability of solutions - the devices of this manufacturer can be launched into the sky immediately after unpacking the box.

The DJI Phantom 2 Vision+ features a built-in high-performance camera capable of capturing 14 megapixel photos and 1080p Full HD video.

The weight of this quadrocopter is 1030 grams, the diagonal is 35 centimeters. It can be removed from the control panel for 1 kilometer. At the same time, the user has the opportunity to program the flight route of the DJI Phantom 2 Vision +, indicating a maximum of sixteen points on the map, and the aircraft will automatically fly through all of them, and then return to the starting point.

The DJI Phantom 2 Vision+ has a maximum flight time of 25 minutes. This quadcopter can be controlled both with a special remote control and via mobile devices.

The DJI Phantom 2 Vision+ is priced at $1,369. Phantom's simplest drone model, the DJI PHANTOM FC40 quadcopter, costs $599.

Parrot AR Drone 2.0

Parrot AR.Drone 2.0 is a simple and inexpensive quadcopter for people who are just starting their acquaintance with unmanned aerial vehicles, and therefore cannot give an exact answer whether they are ready to spend the same thousand-odd dollars on a more “serious” device like DJI Phantom 2 Vision+.

The Parrot AR.Drone 2.0 quadcopter is controlled exclusively via Wi-Fi using a smartphone or tablet computer, and therefore it can fly up to a maximum of 50 meters from the starting point. The built-in battery with a capacity of 1000 mAh allows the device to function without interruption for 8-12 minutes.

The Parrot AR.Drone 2.0 has a built-in 2 MP camera that can also shoot video at 720p resolution (1280x720 pixels).

The modest characteristics of the Parrot AR.Drone 2.0 are also confirmed by the low price of this quadcopter. The device can be purchased for $300.

Wltoys V272

Wltoys V272 is one of the world's smallest modern quadcopters with a built-in camera. It is so tiny that it is easy to hide it in a wide pants pocket. It's no joke, but the dimensions of this drone are only 45 by 45 millimeters!

But, despite its small size, Wltoys V272 has a built-in camera with a resolution of 0.3 MP. The remote control that comes with the device allows the baby drone to fly up to 100 meters from the launch site, but it is best to use this device indoors - a slight breath of wind can end in a crash for the Wltoys V272.

The 100mAh battery gives the Wltoys V272 the ability to fly for 4 minutes.

The price of the Wltoys V272 is as ridiculous as the aircraft itself - $30.

This article will be useful to anyone who uses drones for entertainment, photo and video shooting, air travel or the integration of unmanned aerial vehicles into their business or organization. Its goal is to highlight the best camera quadcopters in 2018 currently on the market.

With so many great drones to choose from, you need to decide which one will best suit the task at hand and then explore the best options. This article will introduce you to the features of the most popular models in the world and superficial capabilities. A more detailed description is available at the links in the material with detailed reviews of each model.

It's important to consider a variety of factors, from camera price and features, to handling/response and battery life, and make sure you're buying a drone that suits your needs.

All models in this list are ready to fly. After charging the battery and carefully reading the user manual, you can start turning it on, calibrating, setting up, and then conquering the airspace. This list is pretty arbitrary! Many companies and models are not represented in the article.

DJI Mavic PRO

The appearance can be called a turning point for aerial photographers and filmmakers. Originally designed as a professional (and portable) aerial media system, this quad actually packs quite a bit of punch, and the price makes it accessible to newbie filmmakers.

People weren't sure if it could compete with the DJI Phantom 4 or Inspire 1, but if you're looking for your first professional model, the Mavic is super portable and powerful. It boasts obstacle avoidance, a redundancy sensor and an optical positioning module which, in combination with GPS and GLONASS, guarantees accurate positioning during indoor and outdoor flights.

The latest model update is Mavic Pro Platinum, which flies much quieter and longer. The Mavic Pro Platinum is 60% quieter than the Mavic Pro and has 11% longer battery life, increasing the average flight time from 27 minutes to 30 minutes.

Key features and cost

DJI SPARK

is a selfie drone that takes off from the operator’s hand and automatically enters “Gesture Mode”, which allows users to send it into the air and capture video along a predetermined flight path, such as circling, trailing, or shooting from the front. With gesture recognition and obstacle avoidance technology, the Spark is without a doubt the most user-friendly drone on the market. If you want to fly longer distances, there is an option to use the smartphone app to fly more than 90 meters, or you can use remote control (Spark can fly 1.9 km).

The Intelligent Flight modes available on more professional DJI drones - TapFly and ActiveTrack - are also available on the Spark. The new QuickShot mode automatically creates a 10-second video from in-flight footage. QuickShot avoids all the work of creating a raw video footage and turning it into a final video. Instead of taking a video, uploading it, editing it, and then downloading it, it simply creates a video using the best shots.

Key Features

• Suitable for amateurs
• Camera - 12MP
• Flight time / battery life: 16 minutes
• Transmission distance: 1.2 miles
• Speed: up to 31 mph
• VPS range: 98 feet
• Suspension: 2 axial
• Weight: 0.66 lbs (VERY light)
• Camera details: 1/2.3 Sensor Powerful Lens, 1080p resolution
• Price: 31 thousand rubles

DJI Inspire 1

The DJI Inspire 1 is a flexible version of a large quadcopter with a 360° rotating camera for an unrestricted view. 3-axis gimbal and easy-to-remove camera to safely upgrade from one of the company's offerings - Zenmuse X3, Zenmuse X5, Zenmuse X5R, Zenmuse XT, etc. Have you ever heard of the Dual-Operator mode? The DJI Inspire 1 allows one person to control the flight while another controls the camera. If you try this mode, it will be difficult to return to flying alone. Working with a partner is really exciting.

Key features and price

• Suitable for – professionals
• Camera resolution: 12 MP
• Max. flight time: 18 minutes
• Top speed: 49 mph (22 m/s) in ATTI mode, no wind
• Notable Attributes: Dual-Operator mode, numerous Zenmuse camera systems
• Sold with one or two controllers
• Price: 190 thousand rubles

DJI Phantom 4

- one of the best drones on the market today. It is the fastest Phantom in existence, capable of reaching a top speed of 45 mph. It also has an excellent flight time of 28 minutes - enough for professional pilots to get the shots they need and minimize downtime. The Phantom 4 also has a built-in camera that can record video in 4K, 2.7K, 1080p and 720p. But the obstacle avoidance system is especially noteworthy. The drone can intelligently position itself and maneuver around obstacles. Improvements to the Vision Positioning System (VPS) and frontal obstacle sensors help provide more safety and confidence when flying indoors or with lots of obstacles around.

Combine all this with the Tap-to-Fly system, DJI reliability and reliable software, and you have an excellent model.

Features and cost

• Suitable - for professionals
• Camera resolution: 12 MP Adobe DNG RAW
• Video Resolution: 4K @ 30 FPS / 1080p @ 120 FPS
• Max. flight time: 28 minutes
• Top speed: 45 mph (20 m/s) in Sport mode
• Notable features: battery life, obstacle avoidance, flight modes
• Cost: 117 thousand rubles for the PRO+ version

Accessories

• additional battery
• Charging hub
• Set of quick release propellers
• lighting kit

DJI Inspire 2

It was launched in November 2016 and went on sale in January 2017. This model is much more powerful than the DJI Inspire 1. One of the first notable upgrades is the presence of two different cameras. One under the drone for full 360° rotation, the other mounted on the front side for a better first person view.

Using dual operator mode, one pilot can view one camera, such as the front camera, while another person controls the bottom of the camera system. Pretty awesome. DJI recently released the ZenMuse X7, a super 35mm camera built for aerial cinematography that is compatible with the Inspire 2.

Characteristics

• Suitable for – professional filmmakers
• Camera resolution: 30 MP in DNG RAW mode
• Video Resolution: 5.2K@30FPS / 4K@60FPS
• Max. flight time: 27 minutes
• Top speed: 67 mph
• Notable attributes: dual operator mode, dual cameras, obstacle avoidance
• The new image processing system, CineCore 2.0, can capture 5.2K video at a huge bit rate of 4.2Gbps. To handle all this data, the Inspire 2 has a built-in SSD.
• Cost: 200 thousand rubles

DJI Phantom 3 (Professional)

DJI is a giant in the drone world. Their DJI Phantom 3 series is probably the best selling models of 2015 and 2016 and one of the best camera quadcopters. There are four different models in the series: Standard, 4K, Advanced and Professional. is the most sophisticated model in the series and, as the name suggests, it was designed for professional pilots. It offers 4K video, 23 minutes of flight time and a huge 5km control distance.

The quadcopter has five advanced flight modes:

• • follow me
  • course lock
  • Waypoints
  • home lock
  • point of

These offline modes allow you to focus on controlling the camera and getting the shot you want. This makes the DJI Phantom 3 Professional a smart choice for professional pilots. If you're looking for a budget option and/or willing to sacrifice some of the extra features of newer systems, the Phantom 3 series offers more affordable yet still powerful machines.

Characteristics

• Suitable for – professionals, amateurs
• Camera resolution: 12 MP
• Video resolution: 4K at 30 FPS
• Max. flight time: 23 minutes
• Top speed: 36 mph (18 m/s) in ATTI mode, no wind
• Notable attributes: older model = lower price (but still a quality drone)
• Cost: 60 thousand rubles

Accessories

• additional battery
• Additional propellers (2 pairs)
• Propeller protection
• Camera Lens Protection + Coating
• Belt for remote control
• Backpack

Yuneec H520

If you haven't heard of Yuneec, you're missing out on high quality aerial camera platforms that might be perfect for your entertainment (or business) needs. The H520 is equipped with six rotors, a full suspension chamber and retractable legs. Yuneec is ready for an easy and safe flight, with stunning photos and videos in Ultra HD and 4K. The H520 was built for industrial use and for ambitious professionals. It has a long focal length lens that allows the drone to fly at a greater distance from the object, and data can be obtained from the ST16S Ground Station.

Characteristics

• Suitable for – professionals
• Remote control: ST16S
• Camera: 4K/2K/HD
• Maximum height: 500 m
• Max. flight time: 25 minutes
• Weight: 3.6 lbs (with battery, without gimbal)
• Notable attributes: hexacopter = obstacle avoidance, 360° camera
• Cost - 125 thousand rubles

GoPro Karma - quadcopter with Hero 6 Black camera

The drone is a good mid-ranger that takes high-quality pictures in motion or simply records important moments from life. You can buy the Karma bundled with a GoPro Hero6 Black camera or earlier versions of the Hero series, saving you money on a good 4K camera.

Features and Specifications

• Camera – 4K 60/1080P
• Karma shoots amazingly smooth GoPro video.
• The Karma drone folds up and fits into a lightweight carrying case. Take it anywhere. When you're ready to fly, simply unfold it and attach the propellers.
• The Karma stabilizer allows you to record amazing shake-free video both in the air and on the ground.
• 5100mAh 14.8V battery provides up to 20 minutes of flight time on a 1-hour charge
• Cost: 100 thousand rubles

U49C Red Heron Quadcopter Drone

The U49C Red Heron quadcopter is a great option for a beginner. The Force1 RC includes an extra battery in this model that doubles the flight time, which will be great for people spending their first hours in flight. Red Heron also has spare engines, which is especially valuable for novice pilots.

Features and Specifications

• Suitable for – amateurs and professionals
• Battery life - 15 minutes
• Camera – 13MP, 4K at 30 fps
• The camera delivers a crisp image that rivals other beginner drones thanks to the 120° wide-angle camera
• The headless mode and handy alarms make it one of the best drones for kids.
• Easy flight thanks to remote control (no special apps needed): FPV drone requires a mobile device - this camera drone can work right out of the box
• Sturdy camera delivers HD quality images; ideal for beginners or professionals
• Cost: 6 thousand rubles

Parrot AR Drone 2.0

In 2014 and 2015, the Parrot AR Drone series represented some of the most productive drones on the market. Using their FreeFlight app, you can control this drone with your smartphone or tablet, or with a traditional controller. 720p HD video can be streamed directly to a smartphone. And while the app is open, you'll be able to keep an eye on things like altitude, speed, and battery level. The Parrot AR 2.0 drone sits between more traditional training quadcopters and an introductory professional system.

Characteristics

• Suitable for amateurs
• Camera resolution: 2 MP
• Video resolution: 720p at 30 fps
• Max. flight time: 12 minutes
• Additional propellers
• additional battery
• Reasonable price for a novice pilot - 16 thousand rubles
• Parrot is a respected French company, one of the largest global manufacturers of RC

Two additional inexpensive models

U45 Raven RC Quadcopter

The U45 Raven is another amazing inexpensive Force1 camera quadcopter with a great price. This drone also has an HD camera for high resolution photos and 2MP videos. It has a headless mode and you can control it without first adjusting the position or orientation before flying. Another notable feature is one-touch takeoff and landing, meaning the drone will automatically hover at a set altitude after it takes off and before landing, making it easier to control and maneuver for beginners. It also has an altitude hold function that makes it easier to fly and keep you stable in the air, and it's also very handy when you're taking photos.

Features and Specifications

• Suitable for – hobbyists, FPV racing
• Camera - 720 HD
• The drone automatically hovers at a set altitude after takeoff and before landing, making it easier to control and maneuver for beginners.
• The altitude hold function makes it easier for beginners to control and stabilize aerial photography.
• This is the perfect drone for beginners with a lot of new features usually found on higher end models.
• 4 GB SanDisk micro SD card included
• No position or orientation adjustment required prior to flight
• 360 Flips: Impress your friends and family with stunning 3D stunts at the touch of a button
• Flight time 7-9 minutes
• Price: 3500 thousand rubles

UDI U818A

Controlling a drone can be fun, but it's not as easy as it sounds. For novice pilots, it is best to practice with cheaper models before buying professional or more advanced ones. UDI U818A is one of the successful training drones. It has a height-maintenance function and a First Person View (FPV) screen so you can follow everything in real time. This is good practice for those who are keen to race FPV or explore different aerial photography techniques.

Key Features

• Suitable for amateurs
• Camera resolution: 2 MP
• Video resolution: 720p HD
• Max. flight time: 10 minutes
• Included: extra battery, VR headset, micro SD card
• Notable Attributes: Altitude maintenance, built-in FPV screen
• This is a great gift for an amateur pilot or aspiring drone operator.

While this list represents the top 10 best camera quadcopters for early 2018, the reality is much more to choose from. We hope that after reading this article, you will find an option that suits your goals, skills, and budget.

If you are thinking about buying your first drone but you have no experience in flying, the smartest thing to do would be to choose a cheap beginner quadcopter. Firstly, such a quadcopter is not expensive, so if you realize that this hobby is not for you, you will get off with a loss of 3-4 thousand. Secondly, you will gain the necessary control skills that may be useful to you if you decide buy a drone.

Choosing a quadcopter is not an easy task, especially for beginners. We decided to do all the work for you and prepared Top 5 best quadcopters for beginners.

Syma X5C & X5HW

It has long acquired the status of a national quadrocopter. It is durable, well managed, easy to repair. Syma X5C has an on-board camera capable of shooting HD video and photos with a resolution of 2560x1440. On-board battery 350 mAh 3.7V is enough for 7 minutes of flight in a complete set (with camera and landing gear). In flight, the Syma 5C drone is very stable, it is possible to do flips. The drone has a range of 50 meters.

If you want more, take a look at the Syma X5HW. A feature of this drone is the ability to broadcast video from the on-board camera to your cell phone via Wi-Fi and the presence of a mode.

Both devices have Headless mode (headless mode).

Price: 2500 rubles

Yizhan Tarantula X6 is one of the best drones in this price range. It's big (475X253mm) and really fast, but it's a bit more difficult to fly than the other drones in this review. The flight time is about 10 minutes, which is provided by a powerful 7.4V 1200 mAh battery. The flight range is about 100 meters.

The drone is equipped with fairly powerful collector-type motors, which allows you to carry a GoPro camera or its equivalent. The Tarantula X6 has an acro mode and a headless mode.

Price: 4800 rubles

JJRC H31 Waterproof Drone

The next in the review follows. We want to warn you right away: the waterproofness of the drone is a marketing ploy. Indeed, if you just drop the drone into a puddle, nothing will happen to it, but in no case should you deliberately land it on the water, if only because it will simply drown.

Light weight, only 100 grams, makes the drone really unkillable even without propeller protection, during the tests it did not manage to be seriously damaged. The JJRC H31 has three Low/Medium/Expert flight modes that differ in speed and maneuverability. The drone has a Headless mode, a mode for returning to the starting point by pressing a button on the remote control, it is possible to make flips. Flight time is about 10 minutes.

Price: 1500 rubles

Another budget quadcopter for beginners. It has a full set of flight functions such as headless mode, 3D flip mode, return to takeoff point. A feature of the drone is a rather long flight time - about 12 minutes. The flight radius is about 100 meters. If desired, you can choose a complete set with a 0.3 MP FPV camera and a holder for a smartphone. The image is transmitted to the mobile phone via Wi-Fi.

Price: 38 - 61 USD

And finally, a rather interesting quadcopter with a 0.3 MP camera, Headless mode, return home by pressing a button and the ability to do flips. The 3.7V 390mAh battery allows you to stay in flight for 6-8 minutes, which is actually not bad considering the small size of the drone.

With all these features, this is one of the cheapest drones in the review.

Price: 31USD

This concludes our list of the top 5 best quadcopters for beginners under $60.

Would you like to see the city from a bird's eye view, take spectacular photos and videos, or just fly a drone? Quadcopters today are used not only in aerial photography, but also for search and rescue operations and even for the delivery of cargo, not to mention the fact that this is a cool toy for any child and most adults. It would seem that drones have appeared on free sale quite recently, and their range is already amazing. How to choose a quadcopter that will meet all your needs? What must be considered when buying this miracle of technology? We answer all questions in detail, and our rating of the best quadrocopters will be a bonus for readers.

First of all, worth decide for what purposes you need a drone. If it will toy as a gift to a child, then you can look towards inexpensive and easy-to-manage devices with a minimum of functions. If it is supposed to be done with a drone Photo and video, then you need a quadcopter with a camera or the ability to install one. If you need high quality shooting, it is better to choose a drone with a maximum payload so that it can withstand a SLR camera. There is another category racing drones. Naturally, all these drones will have a different set of features and a different price.

Number of screws

Drones are often called multicopters. The prefix "multi" in this word can change to a number that depends on number of screws:

The last two types of devices are used mainly by professionals, when conducting responsible filming and for delivering goods. They are characterized by increased carrying capacity, they can climb to a great height, and if one of the engines fails, the landing will still be soft - the quadcopter will simply fall.

Dimensions

Depending on the size, copters can be divided into three main types:

Quadcopter with camera or without?

Maybe, the most important question everyone asks themselves when choosing a quadcopter, is a question of the need for a camera. It is clear that with the help of the camera on board the drone, it will be possible to take cool photos and see familiar places from a new angle. After all, you can even peep with the camera!

• quadcopter without camera suitable for learning how to handle a drone, because piloting is a whole science, and at the same time controlling a drone and monitoring the shooting process is very difficult for a beginner;
• quadrocopter with built-in or complete camera is a great option for most users. The quality of photos and videos is not very high, but acceptable for amateur photography. Drones with good built-in cameras with high quality shooting began to appear on sale;
• quadcopter with the ability to install a camera- an option that is suitable for users who want to design a copter for themselves. Many drones are designed to mount GoPro cameras, but since most action cameras have almost identical parameters, it will be possible to mount an action camera from another manufacturer on the drone. Pay attention to the carrying capacity of a particular model, because it depends on whether you can attach a SLR camera or just a light action camera.

The ability to stream video online depends either on the drone itself (if the camera is built in) or on the camera.

Range, duration and flight speed

Average flight time for most amateur quadcopters is 8-15 minutes. There are models that can fly and about 30 minutes, but these are expensive professional devices. Some gadgets support the ability to install additional batteries, but it is important that the drone can withstand the weight of the batteries and has the appropriate hardware capabilities. If the capacity of the installed battery is small, the best option is to buy several spare batteries and use them one by one.

flight distance depends on the features of the device and many other factors. On average, this figure is 200-500 meters, but there are models that fly up to 5000 meters.

Which quadcopter to choose for racing? Definitely one that accelerates to 90 km / h (25 m / s) or more. Such models are lightweight (about 0.9 kg), made of durable materials and have high maneuverability.

Control

The quadcopter can be controlled in one of two ways:

• using a smartphone or tablet with an installed application;
• using a special control panel.

Smartphone control It is carried out thanks to Wi-Fi, which imposes significant restrictions. The drone will be able to fly away from you exactly as far as the range of the Wi-Fi signal allows, which is several tens of meters. But it is very easy to control the drone in this way: a few finger movements on the touch screen, and the drone flies in one direction or another, gains altitude or takes a photo.

Remote Control more difficult to handle, but allows the drone to fly off at decent distances. The remote control can have from 4 to 10 channels: the more of them, the wider the functionality of the transmitter. Often, the remote control is used together with a smartphone, which displays an image from the drone.

Motors

An important point when choosing a quadrocopter is the type of motors. Collector motors they are inexpensive, but have low power, and overheat during operation. brushless motors they are more expensive, but also last longer, do not overheat, have high wear resistance and performance, and are installed only on large drones.

What else to consider when choosing a drone?

When choosing a suitable model, also pay attention to the following parameters:

• readiness for work. If you don’t want to bother, it’s better to take a drone RTFReady To Fly. It is sold fully assembled, the user just needs to put the battery in, figure out the controls and start flying. There are models that still need to be worked on assembling. It is up to you to decide which quadrocopter is better to choose - if you have a design acumen, a desire to assemble the device yourself and give it the appropriate qualities, then it is better to take ARF(Almost Ready to Fly) or BNF(Bind-N-Fly). For the smartest, there are even devices on which you can write the firmware yourself;
• screw protection. The simplest option is rims; in more expensive models, an overload protection system works. If suddenly the copter falls to the ground, the engines will immediately stop working to avoid damage;
• FPV - first person view, the ability to transmit an image in real time to a remote control with a screen or to a smartphone;
• automatic flight mode- an interesting feature that will be useful for beginners and will demonstrate all the possibilities of unmanned flights;
• return home is another useful addition. One has only to press the appropriate button, as the drone will return to the point where it started its flight;
• operator tracking mode.

Finally, to avoid dangerous situations, it is better to keep the drone in sight and carefully monitor the broadcast - this will help to avoid collision with power lines, birds and buildings.

TOP 9 best quadcopters

Syma X8HG

In terms of price-quality ratio, this is one of the most interesting offers on the market. Worth the device about 110$, as a budget smartphone, but allows you to fully enjoy the new technology. controlled quadrocopter via control panel, range - 70 m. The 2000 mAh battery is enough for 7 minutes flight, it will take 200 minutes to charge the battery. This is the case when it is better to take several spare batteries at once.

The camera is external, is included, has a resolution 8 MP. You should not expect high quality shooting, but photos and videos come out quite acceptable. If you wish, you can screw another camera and get better shots. The model boasts a good build quality, nice design and backlight. There is a built-in barometer so that the drone can easily hover at a certain height. Of the minuses - a more or less strong wind can blow off the copter, but the propellers are protected, so it will easily survive most falls.

For $90 you can buy a similar model - Syma X8C. The flight duration is the same, but the camera is worse - 2 megapixels.

DJI Phantom 4

This quadcopter with a camera suitable for professionals, and it's well worth it. Behind 1350$ the user receives a quadcopter weighing 1.38 kg, which can fly on a single charge 28 minutes. In flight model accelerates up to 20 m/s, the maximum speed when climbing - 6 m / s. Great racing quadcopter! The drone received an impressive set of sensors: GPS, height sensor, optical sensor, magnetometer, ultrasonic sensor and accelerometer. All this provides the model with a high accuracy of orientation in space. Among the "buns" the presence autopilot, return home function and follow the operator.

Management is carried out by means of a remote control, operating range - 3500 m. The remote control displays the image that falls into the field of view of the copter. The external camera is included, has a resolution 12 MP and 94 degree viewing angle. The position of the camera can be controlled remotely, thanks to the three-axis gimbal, the picture is qualitatively stabilized. The drone has several flight modes, including beginner mode, sports mode, object tracking mode, and many others. Included, among other things, there is a memory card.

The shooting quality is excellent, the body of the drone is strong. We can talk about the advantages of this device for a long time, there are no shortcomings as such, except for the fact that the range in conditions of dense urban development is less than the declared 3500 m, and in the field and in the forest it is naturally higher. This is one of the best camera drones on the market.

Xiaomi Mi Drone 4K

Xiaomi company decided to get into all areas of gadget production. Xiaomi Mi Drone 4K is a cute stylish drone that is close to professional devices and is not as expensive as competitors. You can buy the device for about 640$ and enjoy long flights and high quality shooting. So what do we get for our money?

The drone has a weight of 1.38 g, built-in batteries are enough for 27 minutes flight, charging time is 90 minutes. Well, it's a good start. Maximum flight altitude 120 meters, range - 2000 meters control is carried out by radio. This copter can accelerate up to 18 m/s, There is autopilot and return home function. One of the clear advantages of the gadget is the presence of a brushless motor. In addition, the model has a good set of sensors for precise orientation in space. Removes built-in 12 MP camera excellent, has a viewing angle of 94 degrees, and thanks to the gimbal, the picture is perfectly stabilized. After the release of their first drone, Xiaomi Mi Drone, the company did some serious work on the bugs and released a completely worthy device that can be compared with the DJI Phantom 3SE. In terms of price / quality ratio, this is perhaps the best quadrocopter, and even the camera is on the level.

DJI Phantom 4 PRO

We warn you right away, this is one of the most expensive copters on the market, but it is worth the money. Such a device is bought by people who know exactly why they need a drone. The unit weighs almost 1.4 kg, and the built-in 5870 mAh battery is enough for 30 minutes of flights. Quadcopter can develop speed up to 20 m/s, equipped with a brushless motor and a full set of all possible sensors that ensure the accuracy of flights.

The complete camera shoots with resolution 20 MP: is it worth saying that the result is at the highest level? 84 degree viewing angle, video can be viewed in real time. Range - 3500 m, in the city, of course, less, the picture can be displayed on the remote control. There is a mode follow the operator, autopilot, return home and even gesture control mode. The drone package is extensive, and the functionality is even greater. A great thing for professionals, however, the price of the drone bites - about 2100$.

DJI Spark

This is a more budget solution from the same manufacturer. DJI is a leader in the drone market, all of its devices are of the highest quality, and the price depends only on the set of functions. This model is a good option for those who already have an idea about drones and want an advanced toy.

Device weighing 300 g is gaining flying speed 13.9 m/s and can fly 16 minutes(charges 80 minutes), maximum range - 500 m. Gadget received brushless motors, can be controlled both via a radio channel and via Wi-Fi using a smartphone, in the latter case, the flight range is very limited - up to 100 m. The camera is already built into the case, has a resolution 12 MP, and a viewing angle of almost 82 degrees. You can broadcast video, the position of the camera is stabilized by a gimbal with two axes. The drone can follow a certain object, there is a face recognition function and gesture control, and this is not all the possibilities. Spare propellers are included. The quality of shooting, stability of work, assembly - all this is at its best and corresponds to professional-level devices, of the minuses - only a short duration of flights and a long charging time. Price - about $540.

GoPro Karma

Great professional quadcopter on which you can mount your GoPro camera. The drone can fly 20 minutes, it needs 60 minutes to charge, it has gimbal stabilizer, FPV function, brushless motor, control range 1000m, top speed 15m/s. Control panel with touch screen. The price of the drone seems a bit overpriced ( 1300$ ), but the quality of the device is at its best, because when GoPro gets down to business, it comes out really cool.

Syma X5HW

We move into the category of more budget devices. This baby weighs 107g, costs $50 and will be a great toy for any child and adult. The model is easy to learn and, as for its cost, is functional enough. The drone has screw protection in the form of rims, height sensor and complete 0.3 MP camera, the ability to broadcast video in real time. The set includes a control panel flight range - 50 m. Headless mode is provided, which will be very useful for beginners and will allow the gadget to fly in the direction that the user has previously set on the remote control.

You should not expect anything supernatural from a 0.3 megapixel camera, its presence is rather a pleasant bonus. Flight duration - 6 minutes, it will take 130 minutes to charge the battery - this is a minus of cheap drones. The kit comes with a set of spare propellers, it is also better to take a spare battery. Users note ease of use, but complain that strong winds can blow the drone away.

Hubsan X4 FPV Brushless H501S Standard Edition

In the inexpensive category, this is another of the most interesting, functional and best quadcopters. The model is equipped with a durable and reliable brushless motor, can fly away from the user for distance 300 m, equipped with a GPS module. Built-in camera writes HDvideo at 17 fps. The battery is enough for 20 minutes flight, the device can develop speed up to 20 m/s, therefore suitable for those who are looking for a racing quadcopter. The gadget weighs 410 g, minus - a long charge time, 150 minutes. Let's take it as a plus price of $230, good shooting quality and the presence of a lot of interesting modes, such as tracking the subject and returning home. Users complain that the compass is not very well calibrated, but despite this, they note that this drone is one of the best in its price category and is suitable for those who want to start learning to “fly” on more serious models than palm-sized quadcopters .

Hubsan is a serious manufacturer that strives to become the market leader in radio-controlled equipment. If the budget is limited, then you can pay attention to the model Hubsan X4 Desire FPV H502S. She is worth 140$ , has collector engines, GPS, a range of 200 m, a built-in 2 MP camera and FPV function, return home and follow the operator. Great device for your money.

Syma X12 Nano Explorers

This is an option for those who want to learn how to fly a drone, but do not want to use various simulators. For 20$ You are getting mini quadcopter with radio control and no camera. For flights around the apartment - that's it. Control range - 20 m, operating time - 8 minutes, it takes 60 minutes to charge . Spare propellers included. Great toy for baby and many parents.

Today, a copter is both a cool toy and a powerful professional tool. Just imagine what cool photos and videos you can get and what a great time to have if you have even the simplest drone at your disposal!

Until recently, aerial photography was possible only from helicopters and airplanes, but in the last few years the situation has changed dramatically. Quadcopters are developing very rapidly, every year more and more new and improved models appear.

We have compiled a list of the best camera quadcopters of 2017 for you to consider if you are looking to buy a drone for photography or videography and discover the world of aerial photography.

Comparison table of quadcopters with a camera

First of all, let's look at the main parameters of the quadcopter models we have selected, their size, flight range, photo and video shooting capabilities, and so on. Only from this table it will become clear that they are all slightly different and designed for different purposes.
The table scrolls left and right.

	Mavic Pro	P4 Pro	P4 Advanced	Spark	P3SE	Karma
Flight time	27 min	30 min	30 min	16 min	25 min	20 minutes
Range	up to 7000 m	up to 7000 m	up to 7000 m	up to 50 m without remote control, up to 500 m with remote control	up to 4000 m	up to 3000 m
Max speed	65 km/h	72 km/h	72 km/h	50 km/h	57 km/h	54 km/h
Sensors		GPS, GLONASS, accelerometer, altitude sensor, magnetometer, ultrasonic sensor, infrared sensor, optical sensor, sensors from 4 sides. Control is possible at 2 frequencies	GPS, GLONASS, accelerometer, altitude sensor, magnetometer, ultrasonic sensor, optical sensor	GPS, GLONASS, accelerometer, magnetometer, infrared sensor, optical sensor	GPS, GLONASS, magnetometer, optical sensor
Modes	Autopilot, Follow Operator, Gesture Control, Return to Takeoff Point, Waypoint Navigation, Beginner Mode		Autopilot, Follow operator, Gesture control, Return to takeoff point, Move to waypoints, Follow object	Tracking Subject Selection, 4 Intelligent Shooting Programs, Gesture Control, Face Detection	Return home, position hold, intelligent flight modes	Return home, hold position
Camera	1/2.3″, 12.4 MP, f/2.2, 28mm	1'', 20 MP, f/2.8, 24mm	1'', 20 MP, f/2.8, 24mm	1/2.3", 12 MP, f/2.6	1/2.3″, 12 MP	Hero 4, Hero 5, Hero 6, Session 5
Viewing angle	78.8 deg	84 deg	84 deg	81.9 deg	94 deg
RAW photo	There is	There is	There is	No	There is
Video	4K 30 fps, FullHD 96 fps	4K 60 fps, FullHD 120 fps	4K 60 fps, FullHD 120 fps	only FullHD 30 fps	4K 30 fps, FullHD 60 fps
Bitrate	up to 60 Mbps	up to 100 Mbps	up to 100 Mbps	24 Mbps	up to 60 Mbps
Stabilizer	3 axis	3 axis	3 axis	2 axis	3 axis	3 axis
Size	compact	big	big	miniature	big	big
Weight	743 g	1388	1368	300 g	1236	1006
average price	74000 rubles	111000 rubles	89000 rubles	37000 rubles	40000 rubles	75000 rubles

DJI Mavic Pro is the best quadcopter for travel

12 MP camera, 1/2.3″ sensor size, 79 degree field of view, ultra compact drone for travelers.

If you are looking for a small quadcopter for traveling, then DJI Mavic Pro is your choice (the average price for Yandex market for December 2017 is 74,000 rubles). Thanks to the foldable leg design, the drone fits easily into a small bag or carry-on backpack for an airplane flight.

Excellent automatic modes, including tracking and flight speeds up to 65 km / h, allow you to shoot even fast moving objects. The flight time is up to 27 minutes, which is a pretty good result for batteries of such a small size.

Video with a resolution of 4K 30 fps and FullHD up to 96 fps

Both photographers and videographers will especially appreciate the tripod mode, which hovers in one spot using all of its visual sensors. In this mode, you can take photos for gluing panoramas, hyperlapse video and even time lapse!

The Mavic can shoot Ultra HD video at 4K resolution at 30 fps and Full HD up to 96 fps with a codec and a bit rate of 60 Mbps. Available photography in RAW format with a resolution of 12 megapixels, which is more than enough absolutely for any amateur tasks.

As a result, the combination of all these parameters has led to the frenzied popularity of the DJI Mavic Pro not only among travelers, bloggers and YouTubers, but also among ordinary fans of aerial photography.

DJI Mavic Pro Pros and Cons:

• + compact design for travel and holiday trips
• + good auto tracking modes
• + obstacle avoidance system
• + 4K video and RAW photos
• - falls from a height can already cost you a decent amount
• – the cost is approaching more professional models with better photo and video quality

Camera 20 MP, sensor size 1″, angle of view 84 degrees, the best photo and video quality at the moment.

Two models - DJI Phantom 4 Pro or DJI Phantom 4 Advanced (the average price on the Yandex market for December 2017 is 111,000 rubles for Pro and 89,000 rubles for Advanced) occupy a solid middle ground between amateur quadcopters and expensive professional models, for example, DJI Inspire 2 with a price about 250,000 rubles.

If you want to get the best quality of your photos and videos for a reasonable amount and not for a few thousand dollars, then these are the models you need to look at. Many professionals have at least one such copter in their arsenal, and this is no accident.

Best photo and video in its class

Both copters are capable of speeds of 72 km/h in sport mode. Add to this a flight time of about 30 minutes and you will be able to follow almost any subject.

The difference between the Pro model and the Advanced one is that Proshka has sensors around the entire perimeter, which makes its collision avoidance system even more serious and reliable, as well as the ability to switch control between two frequencies - 2.4 GHz and 5.8 GHz.

To ensure excellent quality of photo and video materials, the copters are equipped with a 1-inch by 20 megapixel matrix (exactly the same is in compacts like Sony RX100) and a lens with F2.8 aperture.

In addition to this, both models support shooting in RAW format (photos withstand several stops of darkening / brightening during processing), video in 4K at 60 fps and a choice of codec between H.264 or H.265 with a bit rate of 100 Mbps.

DJI Phantom 4 Pro/Advanced Pros and Cons:

• + 20 MP 1-inch sensor
• + codecs with a bitrate of 100 Mbps
• + H.264 or H.265 codec
• - expensive batteries (11,000 rubles apiece)
• - high price

Camera 12 MP, sensor size 1/2.3″, angle of view 82 degrees, the ability to control gestures and take selfies.

The DJI Spark (average price on the Yandex market is 36,000 rubles) is a small drone with a bunch of modes and features that are usually found only in more expensive models of quadcopters. In fact, this is a flying camera of your smartphone with the ability to control it with gestures from the ground.

Spark was created with the aim of using it without a separate remote at all (although it can be purchased separately) - only with the help of your smartphone. It can be launched, steered, landed and all functions activated with special hand movements.

Video recording is limited to 1920x1080 resolution and 30 fps

A great quadcopter for any outing with friends, family outings, jogging or biking. It fits easily in the palm of your hand and can even be run indoors, and will hold up quite nicely in the room as it equipped with special visual sensors.

Spark's speed can reach 50 km / h, and an additional battery costs about 4,000 rubles. It is also recommended to buy a complete set with a remote control right away, because. this greatly simplifies control and increases the flight distance.

Get to the point. The drone has a 12MP camera and a 1/2.3-inch sensor. Unfortunately, the image stabilizer works in only two planes (unlike the Mavic and Phantoms), but it does a good job overall.

Because Since this model is simpler, you can no longer find support for photos in RAW format in it, and video shooting is limited to a resolution of 1920x1080 and 30 fps. The bitrate is also much lower - 24 Mbps.

DJI Spark pros and cons:

• + advanced features in a miniature package
• + gesture control
• + good option for beginners
• - it is better to immediately take a kit with a remote control
• - No Raw photo or video in 4K
• - short flight time

12 MP, 1/2.3″ sensor, 94-degree viewing angle, great features in a classic body.

DJI Phantom 3 SE (not to be confused with the Phantom 3 Standard Edition, these are different things), which was originally planned for sale only in the domestic Chinese market, can still be found here in Russia. At a minimum, order it on the same Aliexpress (which will return you part of the purchase price, about 3-5%).

This model has come to replace the entire Phantom Series 3 and sits somewhere in the middle between the Mavic and the Phantom 4. It has a tempting $600 price tag. It remains only to decide whether you are ready to forgive him for the lack of some chips and functionality.

Shooting in Raw format, 4K 30 fps and 1080p 60 fps

For example, it has a positioning system that allows the copter to hover over a certain place, but there is no collision avoidance system. On the other hand, a flight time of 25 minutes and a top speed of up to 58 km/h look just as good.

In the kit, like all Phantoms, there is a full-fledged full-size control panel. It is perfect for those who do not like to use automatic flight programs and prefer full manual control. The DJI chip was also removed from it - communication via Lightbridge, which can affect the stability of communication in the city and over long distances.

The Phantom 3 SE has a 12MP 1/2.3″ camera. The maximum bitrate is 60 Mbps. We also note the largest viewing angle of all the models listed here. The gimbal features legendary image stability. It is possible to shoot in Raw format, as well as in 4K 24-30 fps and 1080p at 60 fps.

Phantom 3 SE pros and cons:

• + proven case design
• + good photo and video parameters
• + visual positioning system
• - high cost of spare batteries

In fact, this is a flying body for your GoPro camera, as well as a stabilized gimbal with controls.

The GoPro Karma drone was remembered by everyone for its not very successful start of sales, recall of models and their repeated restart. It is quite difficult to find it on sale with us, there are literally a few offers on the same Yandex market. There are two bundle options: $1,200 with a GoPro camera and $800 without it.

We recommend buying DJI quadcopters, but the GoPro Karma has its place too. It all depends on how much of a GoPro fan you are and whether you have any of the Hero 5, Hero 6 or even Hero 4 models (to install it, you will need to purchase a special mount).

The quadcopter that was three years late

In addition to the quadcopter itself, the kit also comes with a removable electronic stabilizer and a separate handle with controls, which, together with the GoPro Hero, are combined into a stabilized gimbal with the ability to control the camera.

The Karma quad itself is made similar to the DJI Mavic Pro with foldable arms, but is vastly larger and lighter than the latter, which travelers won't like as much. The flight time of Karma is up to 20 minutes, and the speed is about 56 km/h.

The kit also comes with a 5-inch drone remote control with a built-in screen, however, the flight range is severely limited using a Wi-Fi signal - a maximum of 1 kilometer, and even less in reality.

Overall, the GoPro Karma looks like a quadcopter that is three years too late to hit the market. Especially considering its cost, comparable to other more reliable and equipped drones from DJI. Let's hope that the next version of the copter will be more successful.

Pros and cons of GoPro Karma:

• + will work with your existing GoPro
• + folding design
• + comes with a stabilizer-suspension and a handle
• - no collision avoidance system
• - short range
• - large weight and size (compared to Mavic)

In our opinion, at the current moment, namely in November-December 2017, these are all worthy of mention and consideration of models that should be considered when choosing your first quadcopter.

Which one do you like more and which one do you think is the best? Write to us in the comments below.