Quadrocopters have come a long way from highly specialized professional machines for military purposes, video filming and filmmaking to entertainment and leisure tools. Today, these are rather tiny and easily transportable devices that have a decent battery capacity, can fly at high altitudes and take impressive panoramas of the area.
At the same time, the control has become so easy that even a child is able, after a little practice, to steer quite confidently with any device of the mass segment. The best camera quadcopters of 2020 featured here serve both semi-professional operators and original and memorable leisure activities with friends or children.
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Yuneec Typhoon Q500 4K
Large and well-assembled sample of a Chinese manufacturer who creates real professional products. The build quality is excellent, the chassis is strong and not playful, the blades rotate quite well and have an easy stroke. The set includes a 4K camera that mounts directly under the body. It is equipped with an optical stabilizer that works on four axes at once and allows you to give out a smooth and clear picture even in strong gusts of wind at high altitudes.
The maximum distance from the operator is 800 meters, if it is not rough terrain, for example, an open field, the indicator can reach up to a kilometer. In this case, however, you need to ensure that the device is in line of sight from the pilot.
The videos are of acceptable quality, quite comparable to some models of action cameras of equal resolution. Taking pictures is a little worse, despite the presence of a 12-megapixel sensor and high-quality optics. Especially the quality of static images suffers in the dark.
For control, the set includes an intuitive and well-designed remote control, which has a built-in display that transmits feed from the camera in real time, without significant delays. With its help, you can program a fixed route, indicating up to 16 points that the drone will fly around automatically and strictly along the outlined lines. If an obstacle appears on the way, it will not fly around it, as there is no system for overcoming them.
pros
- Nice camera.
- Brutal design.
- Build quality.
- Remote control with display.
- Four-axis stabilization.
- Good range and flight altitude.
- Capacious battery.
Minuses
- Prices vary by configuration.
- No automatic obstacle crossing function.
Xiaomi MiTu Minidrone 720P
A beautiful and bright toy for children with minimal functionality for a quadcopter. The drone is compact, has a rigid structure and brackets that protect the blades from damage, and the operator from injury to the hands. The camera is built into the body and does not have any stabilizers. The picture from it is HD-quality, which will be quite enough for amateur filming and memorable videos from children's events.
Long flights are beyond him, the maximum distance is only 50 meters.On the one hand, this may not be enough for impressive videos, on the other hand, you do not need to ask the permission required for filming in public places. The battery lasts only 10 minutes, the kit includes a completely standard charger that will charge the drone even from a regular power bank. Removable batteries are sold separately and are relatively cheap.
Management is carried out from a smartphone with any modern OS. The application captures the video stream from the camera, and the on-screen buttons allow you to position the device quite accurately in the air. The only problem is low response and noticeable delays, which you need to get used to and learn how to stop them.
pros
- Cheap.
- Lasting.
- Intuitive controls.
- Good battery life.
- Protection of blades from damage.
Minuses
- Sits only on the bottom.
- Management is tied only to the mobile application.
- Hard to be exploited by a child.
- On-screen joystick responsiveness.
DJI Mavic Air
A model that can hardly be called a budget one, but at a fairly affordable price, it has a number of functions that until recently were the prerogative of professional drones with a video camera.
A high-quality 12-megapixel sensor shoots video in 4K resolution and at a frequency of 30 frames per second. Its sensitivity to light allows you to shoot even at night and get impressive shots with a minimum of noise. The optical stabilization is not very powerful, but sufficient to make the video look smooth and without significant shaking. In conditions of strong gusty winds, it may not help, especially given the low stability of the apparatus in such an environment.
Above the camera are sensors for automatic obstacle avoidance. They help the device to navigate the terrain and not fly at full speed into tree branches or walls of houses. Five more of the same sensors are located around the entire perimeter of the case. The maximum range of one flight is about 2 kilometers, while the height is about half a kilometer, and the duration until the batteries are almost completely depleted is 21 minutes. At a certain charge level (manually set), the drone automatically returns to the control panel.
The body is powerful and does not lend itself to external influences. The blades are strong, fold compact in length and do not interfere with fast transportation. There can be two colors - completely black or black with red.
pros
- Shooting quality.
- Automatic obstacle avoidance.
- Good battery life.
- Incredible agility.
- It is very compact when folded.
Minuses
- There is no mechanical stabilization of the camera.
- The blades are not protected.
- Small size.
- Non-removable battery.
Hubsan X4 Desire FPV H502S
A decent quadcopter with a camera, inexpensive and good. It has several functions that allow you to separate it from other budgetary ones and recommend it for purchase to those interested, whose budget is modest. Firstly, it is a bracket under the built-in camera that allows you to carry small loads, larger batteries, or even connect external optics. Secondly, this is almost the only model in this price range that has a GPS tracker, which can be used to easily and accurately plot a detailed flight route. Thirdly, this is a good remote control with a large display to which the video stream from the main camera is transmitted.
The low weight of the device does not allow using it at full strength in windy weather. The maximum time of one flight is 12 minutes, if there is no additional load under the bottom of the hull - about 15. The signal reception range is 200 meters in line of sight, less - on rough terrain.
Overall, this is the best quadcopter for those who are just getting started with these devices and want to try out a model from the "entry-level" segment. It is enough for basic tasks, and children will appreciate the ease of use and control from the remote control.
pros
- Small.
- Folds into a compact box.
- There are replaceable batteries with increased capacity.
- Space for external loads.
- Sufficient traction.
- Acceptable flight range.
Minuses
- The blades are not protected.
- The autonomy "out of the box" is low.
- Built-in low resolution camera.
3DR Solo
A drone from a manufacturer that has proven itself in the market of professional devices for flying and shooting from a height. Has open source software based on the Linux kernel, which allows enthusiasts to independently modify and improve it, adding new functions or improving existing ones.
There is no camera in the kit, but there is a gimbal for securing the popular GoPro action optics. Together with the quadcopter, the box also contains a remote control, the screen of which can be a smartphone with a diagonal of 4.5 inches. It only needs to install the proprietary application of the camera itself.
A high-capacity battery is installed to power both the copter and the GoPro hung on it. The maximum operating time is 20 minutes, which is quite enough to carry out a series of flights and shoot impressive videos from different heights. The distance at which the connection is not broken is about 1 kilometer in all directions, including upwards.
The flight system is equipped with vibration dampers, and the camera mount provides three-axis stabilization. As a result, in calm weather the video comes out smooth and smooth, as if the shooting was carried out from a tripod. There is no system for overcoming obstacles, and therefore you will have to plan the route more painstakingly and accurately. It will also not be possible to build a route using the points of GPS communication, since the corresponding module is also not installed.
pros
- Great appearance.
- Low latency when broadcasting a video stream.
- Good flight parameters.
- Good camera stabilization.
- Open source software.
Minuses
- No camera included.
- GoPro-only.
- No GPS or obstacle avoidance system.
Syma X8C
If you are thinking about which quadrocopter is better to buy for a child in order to instill in him a love of flying and video filming, take a closer look at this model. It's cheap, has a perfectly acceptable 2-megapixel camera, which lacks any stabilizers, but is capable of rotating at different angles. The mode "live feed" is supported, in which you can broadcast in real time with minimal delays between signal transmission and its output to the network.
The lifting force of four propellers protected by special bows is able to withstand not only the apparatus itself (its weight is about 600 grams), but also an external camera or a reinforced battery for longer flights. The supplied battery lasts only 6 minutes, the remote control works at a distance of up to 100 meters.
The body is solid, there are legs on which the device lands when landing. The lightness of the design practically does not affect the stability in the air, allowing you to fly the drone without errors, even in turbulent weather.
pros
- Cheap model.
- Ease of management.
- Structural strength.
- Stability at low weight.
- Good lifting capacity.
Minuses
- Low resolution of the complete camera.
- Mediocre remote control.
- Poor autonomy.
DJI Phantom 4 Advanced
Equipped with a 20-megapixel camera, this top 10 best quadcopter is able to truly amaze with the quality of the final image. The device is intended for those lovers of shooting at heights who keep video diaries and create beautiful panoramic videos. The maximum quality is 4K at 60 frames per second.
The set includes a functional remote control with mount not only for smartphones with any display diagonal, but also for tablets. The joysticks are of very high quality, with a tunable dead zone and a powerful antenna that can exchange a signal and a compressed video stream at a distance of 6 kilometers. Due to the fact that the proprietary Lightbridge is used as a wireless communication protocol, and no less functional Wi-Fi, the stability of sending and receiving a signal does not suffer even at a large distance from the operator of the drone.
In addition, there are several advanced shooting modes. So, built-in sensors are able to bend around obstacles with high accuracy, follow an object highlighted on the display, or reach a point on the screen that the pilot pointed to. There is also a gesture control that allows you to capture stunning selfies with simple body movements that can be customized to suit the owner.
Autonomy is quite sufficient for long-term shooting, there are functions of energy saving and automatic return home before full discharge. A single charge lasts about half an hour, along with an estimated return time.
pros
- Functionality.
- Range of flight.
- Session duration from one charge.
- The presence of systems for tracking and avoiding obstacles.
- Image stabilizers.
- High image quality.
- Nice remote control.
Minuses
- High price.
CXHOBBY CX-10W
A Chinese mini-drone that fits in the palm of your hand and has good flight characteristics for its size. So, the maximum distance from a person with a remote control is 30 meters, and the time it takes for the battery to completely discharge is 4 minutes. At the same time, control via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth is quite responsive, and a proprietary application for a smartphone acts as a joystick.
The camera has a low resolution - only 0.3 megapixels, but this is quite enough for organizing small video sketches with the participation of the pilot. There is no feed stabilization, so you need to control the device very smoothly to get a non-blurred picture. The weight is very small, the wind easily overturns the device and knocks it to the ground, so it will have to be launched in a calm period. The screws are removable, there is a large selection for quick replacement. Their low strength makes them vulnerable to falling. Cheapness will allow a child to buy it in order for him to get the most basic idea of quadcopters and their purpose.
pros
- Compact.
- Easy.
- Convenient smartphone control.
- Robust case.
- Replaceable propeller blades.
Minuses
- Low screw strength.
- Low autonomy.
- Bad video quality.
- There is no digital stabilization of the video stream.
GoPRO Karma
One of the best add-ons to GoPro action cameras ever made by the manufacturer. The camera is not only hung from the front, but also in several additional places on the body, which increases the number of options for use.
The rugged case has four external fans, which, however, lack any protection. Therefore, you have to be careful not to injure yourself or break the propellers near the quadcopter. For launching from the surface of the ground, there are ergonomic feet on which the apparatus can land at the end.
The camera mount is equipped with a three-axis mechanical stabilization, which provides a very smooth and shock-resistant video stream. The maximum resolution and frame rate are limited only by the characteristics of the attached camera. Decent autonomy - up to half an hour of flight at a distance of up to a kilometer. If you fly in the city, the declared range is slightly reduced - to about 700 meters. In this case, no system for overcoming obstacles is provided, as well as the construction of complex routes with their subsequent automatic overcoming. At the same time, there are several built-in modes designed to partially replace the GPS tracker.
pros
- Excellent build quality.
- Nice control panel.
- Foldable design with handy carry case included.
- Excellent autonomy.
- High-quality video stabilization.
- Possibility to hang the camera at different angles.
- Quality feet for planting.
Minuses
- The camera is not included.
- There is no automatic obstacle crossing system.
- There is no support for mobile OS as a remote control.
- Unprotected blades.
Yuneec Typhoon H
A multicopter that easily topped this rating due to its unique features. 6 double-bladed propellers provide unparalleled stability even during strong gusts of wind.The gimbal has several axes along which the camera can move, which allows you to capture truly unique shots with its help. The 360-degree visibility excludes the rotation of the device around its axis, which makes it even more versatile. There is support for an FPV headset that allows you to look at the video from the camera with your own eyes, but you have to buy it separately.
The powerful 4K video camera features one of the best image stabilization systems on the market. The frame rate can reach 60, the user can choose from several modes, including slow-motion shooting at a lower resolution. At the same time, it makes no sense to record sound, all 6 motors are very noisy, so you won't be able to shoot a full-fledged video here, you have to limit yourself to re-sounding.
The body is made of a bond of carbon and metal, which makes it quite lightweight. Moving the drone from place to place is easy, especially when fully folded. The battery is quite powerful, providing up to 25 minutes of flight time. The power of the transmitter is enough to provide communication at a distance of one and a half kilometers in the field or half the distance in the city.
pros
- Maneuverable.
- Easy.
- Stable even in the wind.
- High quality camera with support for night vision.
- Built-in obstacle avoidance system.
- Robust construction.
- Virtual reality headset support.
Minuses
- Very noisy.
- You can only launch from the ground.
- Very large when fully unfolded.
Which drone is the best to buy in 2020?
Our rating is intended to help in choosing a drone model that will best suit the buyer's requirements. First of all, here you need to look at the budget. If there is very little money, you will not have to hope for some advanced functions or stable operation at long distances, and therefore it is better to choose the model that will be reliable at a minimum distance. Briefly summarized as follows:
- Best Budget Drone - Xiaomi MiTu Minidrone 720P.
- For fans of extreme sports - GoPRO Karma.
- Semi-Professional Operator - DJI Phantom 4 Advanced.
- Lover of night photography - Yuneec Typhoon H.
- Child - Syma X8C.
If you have something to add or tell about a model that impressed you, but was not represented in this rating, write in the comments about its features. High-quality quadcopters are becoming more and more affordable, and video amateurs are getting new models for their experiments with pictures.
