As the drone industry continues to expand, it can be difficult to find the perfect quadcopter for capturing breathtaking aerial views. If you’re looking for top-quality picture resolution, investing in a pricier drone may be your best option.
To make the search easier for you, we provide a selection of the best drones available on the market. Our drones cater to serious filmmakers and professional aerial photographers and videographers. You can even find the top 10 most expensive drones in our collection.
1. Freefly Systems Alta X
The Alta model holds the title of the most expensive drone in the world, with a cost of around $18,200. It’s an excellent choice for professional videographers and those who want to capture action footage with heavy equipment and payloads of up to 15 pounds. Moreover, it can accommodate almost any camera, including some compact cinema models, and supports a gimbal mounted on top for stunning aerial shots from different angles.
The Free Fly Synapse flight control system combines calibrated sensors with patented control algorithms, making even the most complex flight patterns effortless to execute. With its vibration isolation system, this drone boasts impressive image stability, making it one of the best high-end aerial shooting drones on the market.
2. DJI PHANTOM 4 RTK
The PHANTOM 4 RTK, a heavy lifter drone from DJI, is the reliable assistant that serious cinematographers need for their film projects. With its six rotors for added balance and redundancy, as well as six batteries for extended flight time and safety, this drone is a top performer. When used with the Zenmuse X5 or XT camera, the PHANTOM 4 RTK can fly for up to 35 minutes, while it can fly for up to 18 minutes with a heavier payload like the Ronin-MX.
The Matrice 600 Pro can carry a maximum payload of 33 pounds and is compatible with DJI’s Zenmuse cameras and gimbals. Equipped with an A3 controller and the Lightbridge 2 system, the PHANTOM 4 RTK allows for live streaming of 1080p footage and supports dual video input and dual operator setups. It has a top speed of 40 mph in quiet conditions and can fly up to 8,200 feet above sea level.
This powerful quadcopter is ideal for professionals who want to customize their drones according to their specific shooting needs. With a price tag of around $6,500, the PHANTOM 4 RTK is a high-end option that justifies its cost by providing excellent performance and features for cinematographers.
3. DJI Mavic Air 2
Have you heard of the DJI Mavic Air 2? It’s a portable quadcopter that looks like something out of a science-fiction movie! When it’s folded up, it’s no bigger than a water bottle, so you can easily take it with you wherever you go.
The Mavic Air 2 can fly up to speeds of 40 mph and can handle winds up to 24 mph. You’ll be able to stay connected to it for up to 4.3 miles, and one battery charge will give you up to 27 minutes of flying time. Plus, it has obstacle avoidance technology that can detect and avoid objects up to 49 feet away.
The Mavic Air 2 has a three-axis mechanical gimbal that stabilizes the camera, which can take 12MP photos and shoot 4K video at 30fps or 1080p at up to 96fps. It also comes with a pocket-sized controller that connects to your smartphone with a built-in cable, so you can view 1080p footage directly on your phone.
If you decide to buy the Mavic Air 2, you’ll get two extra batteries and one bank adapter, two more propellers, a charging hub, a car charger, a 16GB memory card with adapter, a cleaning cloth, and a shoulder bag. While it’s considered an expensive drone, it’s actually much cheaper than previous models and costs around $1,100. It’s a great option if you want a high-quality device without spending thousands of dollars.
4. DJI Matrice 600 Pro
The Matrice 600 Pro is a top-of-the-line choice for professional filmmakers seeking a high-quality quadcopter for their industrial needs. This drone boasts six rotors, ensuring it can continue flying even if one of its propellers, motors, or ESCs malfunctions during flight. It also features six separate batteries, which provide added assurance and security in case of battery-related failures during operation.
The DJI Zenmuse cameras and gimbals can be tailored to your specific requirements, making the Matrice 600 Pro one of the most versatile drones on the market. It can fly for up to 35 minutes using the Zenmuse X5 or XT camera, and up to 16 minutes with a heavier payload, thanks to its lightweight design and six-battery capacity. It can hold up to 34 pounds while remaining stable and redundant.
This drone can reach a maximum altitude of 1.5 miles above sea level and a top speed of 40 mph in no-wind conditions, making it one of the most powerful drones available. The package includes the A3 Pro flight controller and Lightbridge 2 system, providing triple redundancy and real-time diagnostic information. With its customizable cameras, gimbals, and accessories, the Matrice 600 Pro is an invaluable tool for bringing your vision to life. It is important to note that this drone is on the pricier side, costing approximately $6,999.95.
5. DJI Phantom 4 Pro V2.0
The Phantom 4 Pro V2.0 is the ultimate drone choice, with widespread popularity due to its unbeatable features. It boasts a high-quality camera with a 1-inch sensor, perfect for capturing breathtaking aerial views of landscapes. The camera can record 4K Ultra HD video at 60 fps and take still photos at 20MP, ensuring the best possible image quality.
The drone comes equipped with obstacle avoidance sensors, ensuring that it’s crash-proof and can detect trees, walls, and people. It also has gimbal stabilization technology and a hover function that ensures clear and smooth images, even in strong winds. The remote controller features a built-in 5.5-inch 1080p screen that offers a brightness of 1000 cd/m2, more than twice that of regular devices.
The drone has a 5,870 mAh battery that provides 30 minutes of flight time per charge, and it includes a charger for both the battery and controller. Additionally, it comes with a carrying case that holds everything you need to fly. This superior drone comes with a hefty price tag of around $1,599, but it’s worth every penny for its unparalleled image quality.
6. DJI Inspire 2
Are you in the market for a professional-grade drone that is perfect for cinematic filming? Look no further than the Inspire 2. This drone comes equipped with preinstalled Cinema DNG RAW and Apple ProRes codec licenses, allowing you to record 4K and 5.2K video in low-compression, post-processing-friendly formats. It is metal composite bodywork and obstacle avoidance system make it highly durable and resistant to crashes and bumps.
With a dual battery system, you can enjoy a flight time of approximately 25 minutes, reaching a maximum speed of 58 mph with a control range of 4.3 miles. The Inspire 2 can even fly in temperatures as low as -4°F using self-heating Intelligent Flight Batteries. Control it using the remote that comes with the drone, which can also be connected to your smartphone or tablet using DJI’s GO 4 app. With intelligent shooting modes like Active Track, Quick Spin, and Tap Fly, capturing those challenging shots has never been easier.
You can attach a wide range of DJI Zenmuse cameras to the drone, and the onboard FPV camera isolates the flight view from the main camera view, making shooting simpler for one operator. While the Inspire 2 is perfect for experienced photographers and video creators, it is worth noting that it is one of the most expensive drones out there, priced at $3,299.
7. Walkera Voyager 3
Are you in search of a drone that can cater to both enthusiasts and professionals? Look no further than the Voyager 3! This drone guarantees an unparalleled flying experience and effortless capture of stunning HD aerial videos and stills. Its outstanding camera has the ability to record stunning 4K video at 30fps and 1080p at 60fps, producing high-quality images with vibrant colors and sharp details.
With retractable landing gear and a 3D stabilization gimbal, you’re guaranteed stable and smooth 360-degree footage with no dead angles. Additionally, its 3000mAh lithium polymer battery offers an extended flight time of up to 25 minutes. You can control the drone with your smartphone or the included controller, which establishes a secure connection between the drone and your device. Moreover, the Voyager 3 boasts advanced features such as flight planning, automatic cruise, and intelligent take-offs, returns, and landings.
Even if you’re an amateur photographer, you can effortlessly navigate this drone and capture professional-looking aerial footage. Although the Voyager 3 is priced at around $1,838, it’s worth every penny and remains one of the most premium drones on the market.
8. DJI PHANTOM 4PRO
Looking for a quadcopter to capture stunning aerial footage and photographs? Look no further than the PHANTOM 4PRO. This sleek and modern drone is powered by a 5700mAh battery, providing up to 18 minutes of flight time. Equipped with the Zenmuse X5 camera, it can shoot 4K video at 30 fps and capture still images at 16MP. The camera features a removable lens and a fixed three-axis gimbal, which can be manually controlled through the DJI GO app.
The controller is user-friendly and designed for aerial cinematography, with buttons for photo and video capture and dials for gimbal tilt. By connecting the controller to your smartphone or tablet, you can view the drone’s camera feed, altitude, battery life, and location. With HDMI and USB ports, you can easily connect the controller to a larger display like a TV. Although it comes with a hefty price tag of $3,329, the PHANTOM 4PRO’s advanced features and capabilities make it a worthwhile investment for serious photographers.
9. Yuneec Typhoon H
For all drone enthusiasts seeking a professional-grade device, the Typhoon H drone is unquestionably the ultimate choice. Its unique design, featuring six rotors that only require five to fly, sets it apart from all other flagship drones. This indicates that even if one rotor or prop is damaged, it can still return to safety. The all-in-one ground station guarantees full functionality without the need to connect to a smartphone or tablet. Moreover, this drone is incredibly safe to use, thanks to its front-facing sonar and visual collision avoidance features.
The Typhoon H drone is equipped with top-of-the-line features, including GPS-stabilized flight control, eight smart flight modes, and auto-return, auto-take-off, and auto-landing capabilities. With its 360-degree camera, you can capture stunning 4K video at 30fps or 1080p video at 60fps, as well as 12MP still shots. Additionally, with a 5400mAh battery, the drone can fly for approximately 25 minutes.
This drone is out-of-the-box ready and delivers impeccable videos and stills. You can order it for about $450.
10. Power Vision Power Egg X Explorer AI Camera & Drone
The Power Vision drone is the ultimate choice for exploring underwater environments. It can capture high-quality 1080p video and 12MP photos of marine life, making it perfect for documenting your underwater adventures. With built-in LED lights, no depth is too dark for the perfect shot. Whether in fresh, salty, or chlorinated water, the Power Egg is versatile enough to explore oceans, rivers, and swimming pools. With the ability to dive up to 98 feet and remain submerged for four hours, this device is an ideal companion for any fishing trip.
The Power Seeker Fish finder can detect fish up to 230 feet below the surface, and a remotely operated bait drop line makes this drone an angler’s best friend. The Power Egg Wizard edition comes with a pair of Zeiss VR One Plus Goggles for an immersive first-person view. This edition includes a base station, a carry-on case, a wireless controller, an intelligent charger, and a 64GB memory card. At just $899, this device is an affordable option compared to many other models on the market.
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