Taking beautiful high-resolution shots and even 4K videos from the sky are becoming more and more popular nowadays. While I’m not yet a photographer (and would probably need a DSLR for my camera), I would like to get into the drone photography (“drone-photo”) hobby and take some decent-quality pictures with my drone.
Everyone would like to have the best possible quality for the buck, so my question is: What is the best drone for people who want to go into “Aerophoto”?
Now, considering that everyone has different needs, I’m looking for the drone with the best ratio price/quality on the following points:
Camera quality (high resolution, 4k video)
UAV stability (flight height, ability to handle wind)
Reliability (Flight time, can it handle a crash?)
Of course, other factors like folding ability, weather resistance, and other specific features should be taken into account too. However, if one point is significantly weaker compared to the others, I want to know.
Note: I’m not in the market yet, but looking for reviews, youtube videos, etc. Most guides I’ve found are limited to the basics or have a heavy bias toward the hobby side.
I would say that the most recommended for aerial photography are probably the phantom series by DJI. However, the GoPro Karma and the Inspire 1 have not only stabilized cameras but also come with motion stabilizers for smooth shots while in flight (and not on a gimbal).
Are these good enough for photographers?
This will obviously be subjective because it’s about personal preference. There are no objective answers to this question.
I would recommend a DJI Inspire 1. It is one of the most expensive but has a lot of great features. However, it is kind of under the category of photography drones rather than the recreational category. DJI’s latest Phantom 4 is incredible too, but for a bit more money. It’s also really good for photography but might be overkill for beginners.
DJI Phantom 3 Professional is a great choice because it is more affordable and provides the features of a professional drone, including a camera. Although not as stable as the DJI Phantom 4 Pro. For budget travel, I would go for the DJI Phantom 3 SE. It is pretty budget-friendly, and the camera has good quality. Or you can go for the more expensive DJI Phantom 3 Pro if you can afford the extra budget.