7 Best DSLR Drones

If you really want to get into aerial photography, there’s no better way than purchasing a good DSLR drone. In the past, aerial photography and videography required complex aircraft. Now, with the advent of the drone, you can get sweeping aerial shots with relative ease. That being said, if you just want to take a few shots, there are cheaper options; these products are designed for people that are looking for the best DSLR drone with a capability of taking high-definition videos and photos.

In this article, we’re going to hit on the best DSLR drone models available for anyone who wants to have a high degree of quality for top-notch aerial photography and videography.

5 Best DSLR Drones Overview

7. Parrot AR.Drone 2.0 Elite Edition Quadcopter Specs & Features

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With a price tag under $300, the Parrot AR.Drone 2.0 is a relatively affordable option for someone who is interested in high-definition video streaming and recording to tablet and smartphone while flying. The 1000mAh lithium polymer battery gives this DSLR quadcopter a runtime of about 12 minutes and a video definition of 720p. The best part is that you can easily control this unit with your tablet or smartphone; in fact, it is both iOS and Android compatible.

Pros:

• Learning to fly this DSLR drone is easy.
• It is a self-stabilizing drone, so you can still fly it in the wind.
• This drone is easy to modify if you wish.

Cons:

• This isn’t the best DSLR drone for multiple mobile platforms; some functions don’t translate well.

6. Parrot Bebop 2 – Red

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The Parrot Bebop 2 is a stylish red drone that is designed for someone who needs a quality DSLR drone that costs roughly between $300 and $400. It has a 2700 mAH battery that offers 25 full minutes of runtime, and it also has a motor that allows you to climb to high altitudes with ease. The 14 megapixel camera with a fisheye lens takes great pictures, and it is also capable of 1080p video recording. If you like to fly your drone when the sun is no longer shining, there is a rear LED light that illuminates the unit so that you can see it better. The Parrot Bebop 2 can be flown with any smartphone or tablet.

Pros:

• This is a compact, lightweight DSLR drone that is easy to use.
• It has a stunning design.
• The runtime is great.

Cons:

• The picture image could be better.

5. DJI Lumenier RX2205-12 2400KV Specs & Features

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One of the better features of this product from DJI is its excellent footage taking capabilities. Not only is it capable of recording footage in full UHD, but it also has the ability to quickly and easily transmit that video data through to the mobile device of your choice. This footage is in 720p resolution, which is HD, and it lets you really keep track of what you’re recording.

It’s on the more expensive side of things; you can expect to spend anywhere from $2,000 to $2,600 for this quadcopter with 4K video camera with controller, but the robust features make this a great option for the cash. With this powerful drone camera, you will be able to take 12 megapixel photos and shoot up to 4k video. Also, as tech evolves, you can fully remove the gimbal and replace it and your camera, which makes this a good future-proof solution. It has a good rechargeable remote and its compatibility with modern mobile devices is a very useful feature.

Pros:

• This is a good videographer’s drone; it’s responsive and provides HD playback.
• It’s made of quality materials like carbon fiber.
• This is a very upgradeable device.

Cons:

• It’s very expensive.

4. DJI Phantom 2 Vision+ V3.0 Quadcopter Specs & Features

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The 3-axis gimbal on this product is stabilized, which means that your video footage will always appear balanced and still. While this product is only capable of standard HD resolutions, its stability is one of its best overall features. You can even monitor your footage via an FPV link that broadcasts visual information to your remote.

This product also features a very robust battery that is rated at 5,200 mAh. With it, you should be able to fly for about 25 minutes. The remote is fairly responsive and is rechargeable, which can be useful when you want to charge both components. The HD video camera of this DSLR drone guarantees crystal-clear video streaming.

Pros:

• This is a very stable device.
• It can fly for 25 minutes.
• This product has efficient propellers.
• It has a follow mode.

Cons:

• Live feed functionality can fail from time to time.

3. Yuneec Typhoon H Pro Specs & Features

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We all have to start somewhere, and this Yuneec drone is probably the best DSLR drone for beginners. Not only does it have some robust features like an all-in-one controller with a screen, but it incorporates automatic takeoff, landing, and return to home functionality.

Due to its advanced features, you can expect to spend more than $1,000 for this DSLR drone. It even has GPS-stabilized flight control that’ll keep you steady during the 25 minute flight time. This might be one of the best indoor DLSR drones because of the fact that it has ultrasonic collision prevention that’ll keep the drone from colliding with walls and objects. With this drone you will be able to take 12 pixel photos, and up to 4 k ultra HD video.

Pros:

• This is easy to fly and has several systems to make it a good beginner device.
• It’s very stable.
• You can use it right out of the box.

Cons:

• The compass has a tendency to go out of whack and may need to be calibrated from time to time.

2. DJI Mavic Pro Specs & Features

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The first product on our list has a great design that actually folds down to the size of a bottle so that you can quickly transport it from place to place. This is a full UHD drone; it’ll film footage in startling 4K and has an excellent 27 minute flight time – it flies this long via a 3,830 mAh battery.

With the Occusync remote control, you get a fairly agile flight experience, and the control can easily fit inside a pocket. This drone is great for anyone looking for a top-notch video performance and it even has a range of 4.3 miles. For features, this is one of the best DSLR drone models out there; you can usually find this drone for less than $1000.

Pros:

• This product has a great range.
• It produces excellent video quality.
• The DJI Mavic Pro is very durable and works well both in indoor and outdoor settings.

Cons:

• At a 40mph top speed, it can be hard to control for beginners.

1. Yuneec Q500 4K Typhoon Quadcopter Specs & Features

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Any aerial videographer understands that it’s not always all about resolution; sometimes you need framerate, and filming over the industry standard of 45fps provides some really nice fluidity to your footage. The Yuneec Q500 is capable of 60fps, and has a UHD level of performance. It has the some of the best DSLR drone control schemes for allowing you to fly in any indoor or outdoor environment as well.

This product comes in a kit that includes a remote that can interface with your phone to provide real-time footage. Also included are two 5400mAh batteries that allow it to be flown for up to a grand total of 50 minutes, which is fairly impressive. Overall, for less than $800, you get one of the best value 4K systems.

Pros:

• It comes with a hard carry case.
• Using a smartphone is a great way to provide video footage.
• This device has a one-year extended warranty.

Cons:

• You won’t get a lot of 4K video footage on the 32GB SD card that comes in the kit.

Bottom Line

Finding the best DSLR drone can be difficult, but once you find one that works for you, you’ll be filming professional looking aerial footage effortlessly. If we had to pick a winner of the product that we reviewed, the Yuneec Q500 4K Typhoon Quadcopter edges out the other devices due to the fact that it has just about everything you need to get filming. If you have any questions, please feel free to send them in – we’d love to hear from you.