Drones have exploded on to the scene in recent years (literally if you’re an Al-Qaeda operative) and where they were once just tools of the military, they are now being used for everything from exploration, to commercial film making.
And filming is one of the areas where drones truly excel. In recent years, a few drones have become available on the public market, and they are being used extensively in photography and movie making. You can find them on the sets of major movies, in the skies above weddings and in the hands of amateur photographers as they push the envelop of what is possible.
So here at the Robot Stockpile, we set out to find the top 4 drones with cameras, and through extensive testing (and one unfortunate crash landing), we bring you the list of the best drones with cameras.
1. DJI Phantom 2 Vision Quadcopter with Integrated FPV Camcorder (White)
The DJI Phantom 2 Vision Quadcopter is the Cadillac of drones, and boasts technology that wouldn’t be out of place in an advanced nations air force. It incorporates impressive speed and an extremely high quality camera, into an easy to fly design.
One of the coolest features, is that the camera can be utilized through most of today’s smart phones, and offers tilt control through an smart phone app. It can create stunning aerial photography and can take some unbelievable panoramic photos from hundreds of feet in the air.
Having used the DJI Phantom 2 Vision Quadcopter for a brief period of time, it’s easy to say that in my personal opinion, this is the best drone with a camera on the market.
Features
- Range Extender offers WI-Fi distance up to 980 ft. (300m.)
- GPS assisted flight and emergency home point return.
- Drone locater on most smart phones.
- Low Voltage Protection
- Speeds up to 49 ft.(15 m.) per second.
- Support for HD recording (1080/p30 or 1080/60i).
- 14 Megapixels Camera with tilt, and multi-capture options.
- Up to 30 minutes of flight with the included battery.
You can order the DJI Phantom 2 Vision Quadcopter at Amazon.com
2. Parrot AR.Drone 2.0 Quadricopter Controlled by iPod touch, iPhone, iPad, and Android Devices
Where the DJI Phantom 2 Vision Quadcopter is the Cadillac of drones, the Parrot AR. Drone is the zippy sports car, with a better paint job (especially if you pick up the elite version, like we did). It offers robust construction, ease of repair, an excellent camera – all with an affordable price.
Where you really wouldn’t want to take too many risks with the higher end drones, you can try precisions flying, or even tricks with this model, since it incorporates such a tough design and an array of electronic assistance options to provide automatic stabilization.
Having extensively tested this drone, it’s not as impressive as the DJI Phantom, but it’s hard to overlook how affordable the price is on this unit. If you’re looking for a good entry point for drones – either for fun, or for business, it would be hard to go wrong with the Parrot AR. Drone.
Features
- Range up to 100 ft. (30m.)
- HD Camera 720p, 30fps
- Video storage with USB key or WI-Fi
- Fully repairable. Parts and instructions available through the manufacturer.
- Up to 12 minutes of flight on a full charge (7-8 minutes on average).
The Parrot AR.Drone 2.0 Quadricopter is available at Amazon.com
3. UDI U818A 2.4GHz 4 CH 6 Axis Gyro RC Quadcopter with Camera RTF Mode 2
The UDI U818A is somewhat comparable with the Parrot AR. Drone 2.0, but doesn’t come with as many bell and whistles. If you’re just looking for a solid and durable starting drone – and at a lower price than the Parrot AR. Drone, then this is your drone.
It offers extremely durable construction, a modular design making repairs quick and easy, and a very basic camera. While the camera does allow for some fun, if you need a drone specifically for the camera, you should stick with the Parrot AR. Drone or the DJI Phantom 2.
Here at the Robot Stockpile, we were able to extensively test the UDI, and it’s a fun drone, that took all the abuse that we could through at it. It survived several collisions indoors and some pilot error outdoors, and emerged relatively unscathed. It makes a great first drone, and through it’s 4 channel remote controller with LCD display, you really get a feel for how to pilot a drone aircraft.
Features
- Range up to 100 ft. (30 m.)
- 3D flight with the option for 360 degree turns.
- Up to 9 minutes of flight (6-7 minutes on average).
- Video recording and photographs.
The UDI U818A Quadcopter is availabe at Amazon.com
4. WL Toys V959 Quadcopter RC 4 Channel V989 – Future BattleShip Gatling Machine with Onboard Camera
With the V959 Quadcopter, you’re well in the range of toys – though that doesn’t mean that this isn’t still a fun drone. However, it completely unsuited to any sort of serious work that requires a camera. If you need the camera for some sort of professional work, then you should at least be looking at the Parrot AR. Drone.
With that being said, this drone is great for just learning the ropes of drone flying, and it’s low price ensures that any mistakes won’t haunt your bank account for years to come. In flight tests, it still performed well for a drone, though it’s camera was a disappointment.
Features
- Range up to 328 ft. (100 m.)
- Up to 10 minutes of flight (7-8 minutes on average).
- Remote activated camera
You can order the V959 Quadcopter at Amazon.com
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