Welcome to a world full of breathtaking scenery!
Once drones were used only by the military for area reconnaissance. Now, UAVs can be bought by everyone. You can take the same photos or even better with top-end aerial photography drones. We have collected 16 of the best in this rating, respectively, the prices for them will not be small. Let's start with the last - 16th place.
 Hubsan Zino 2 | ||||||
 FIMI X8 SE 2020 | ||||||
 Parrot Anafi | ||||||
 DJI Mini 2 | ||||||
 XDinamics Evolve | ||||||
 Yuneec Typhoon H Plus | ||||||
 DJI Mavic Pro (Platinum) | ||||||
 Autel Robotics EVO | ||||||
 Skydio 2 | ||||||
 DJI Mavic Air 2 | ||||||
 DJI AIR 2S | ||||||
 Yuneec Typhoon H3 | ||||||
 DJI P hantom 4 Pro V2.0 | ||||||
 DJI Mavic 2 Pro | ||||||
 Autel EVO II Pro | ||||||
 DJI Inspire 2 |
16th place: Hubsan Zino 2
Top mid-range solution from Hubsan built for high quality aerial photography. The key cinematic features of the Zino 2 include: 4K camera built on 1 / 2.3-inch Sony CMOS sensor; High-performance Ambarella H22 chipset; Shooting in 4K mode at 60 fps; Panoramic shooting modes; Hyperlapse mode; 5 × automatic flight modes; Max. bitrate 100 Mbps. Recommended in hobbies as an alternative replacement for expensive copters when buying the latter is not considered. Read more about the Hubsan Zino 2 in our review.
Pros
- Workmanship
- Foldable frame and propellers
- Easy to operate
- Flight performance
- 4K at 60 fps
- FPV removal distance 8 km
- Automatic flight and survey modes
- Flight time 33 minutes
- Price
Cons
- Does not detect obstacles
- Not included in the prop protection set
15th place: FIMI X8 SE 2020
filming with drones of top brands. The list of key cinematic features of the 2020 version includes: 12MP 4K camera built on a 1 / 2.6-inch CMOS sensor with a pixel size of 1.55μm; Top-end Hisilicon ISP chipset; 3 × digital zoom; F-Log and DNG RAW modes; HDR mode for photo / video; Mode for shooting in low light conditions "Night Shot"; 3 × options for the execution of panoramic images; 3 × Motion-lapse versions that do not require post-processing; Max. bit rate 100 Mbps; Video compression format H.264 / H.265. Recommended as a high-quality, long-lasting solution for aerial photography / video filming, when buying drones from the premium segment is not considered. Release date for version 2020: April 2020. More details about the FIMI X8SE 2020 in our review.
Pros
- Workmanship
- Portable (folding arms and props) / Quick release props
- Powerful low-noise propulsion system
- Controllability and positioning accuracy
- Shooting quality of the modified camera / Added HDR mode for photo / video; Added night mode
- Added codec H.265
- Auto flight and shooting modes
- FPV flight up to 8 km
- Sliding design of the remote control with removable sticks (for smartphone / tablet)
- Price
Cons
- Does not fly around obstacles
- No 4K at 60 fps / with
- Bulky remote control
14th place: PARROT ANAFI
A portable developer's answer to all existing competitors, unlike any of them. For aerial photography, the drone received a high-performance 21MP 4K HDR camera, which works in tandem with a hybrid image stabilization system consisting of a 2-axis motorized gimbal and 3-axis electronic stabilization. Innovative lossless digital zoom, various cinematic photo / video effects, Hyperlapse and Slow-Mo modes, supported Adobe / DNG / RAW formats, automatic flight and shooting modes, will allow the user to easily get unique content from the air. Will be one of the best options for anyone looking for a compact and easy-to-use drone to expand their creativity in photography / video. He will maximize himself on vacation and travel. Model release date: June 2018. More details about Parrot Anafi can be found in our review.
Pros
- Quality / Portability
- Patented material structure (Durable and lightweight)
- Unique foldable beam design
- Positioning GPS / Glonass sensor complex
- Low noise propulsion system / Dynamic (up to 50 km / h)
- 21MP 4K HDR camera (bitrate: 100Mbps)
- 2-axis mechanical 3-axis EIS
- Auto flight and shooting modes
- Max. removal distance 4 km / Max. flight time 25 min
- Comes in a transport case
Cons
- Not officially supplied to the Russian Federation
- Does not fly around obstacles
- No 3-axis gimbal
- No 4K @ 60 fps
- Viewing angle
13th place: DJI Mini 2
The best portable lightweight solution for aerial photography / filming. The potential of the second version is so good that the model can easily compete with many full-size UAVs. Key cinematic features of the drone include: 12MP 4K camera built on 1 / 2.3-inch CMOS sensor; 24mm lens; Aperture F / 2.8; FOV 83 °; 3-axis mechanical suspension; 4x digital zoom; Max. bit rate 100 Mbps; Photo modes DNG / RAW / AEB / Panorama; 5 × automatic flight and shooting; 3 × auto panoramic shooting. Release date: November 2020. Price depending on configuration (standard / extended) - $ 449/599. The most detailed information about Mini 2 can be found in our review.
Pros
- Flight weight 249 g
- Workmanship and performance
- More durable than its predecessor
- Foldable design
- More powerful yet quieter propulsion system
- Indicative wind resistance
- 4K camera with zoom / JPG / RAW / AEB / Panoramas
- New more convenient remote control / OcuSync technology / Max. flight range 10 km / Support DJI Smart Controller
- Max. flight time 31 min
- Direct upload and instant photo / video editing functions
Cons
- Cannot fly around obstacles
- The charging hub cannot charge the batteries and the remote control at the same time
- Propeller guards are not included in the Combo package
12 place: XDinamics Evolve
Winner of various awards for the best design of a monocoque carbon construction, as well as for the best functionality, adapted for different consumers from amateur to professional. Depending on the tasks, the user can choose one of three available cameras built into a 3-axis mechanical gimbal with a patented quick release mechanism. The stock high-speed 12MP 4K camera built on a 1 / 2.3-inch Sony CMOS sensor with a 21mm f / 2.8 lens, coupled with a patented multifunctional remote control with two displays, will allow the user to realize any conceived shooting scenario in impeccable quality. And thanks to the transmission of a video stream in 1080p resolution at 60 frames per second with zero latency (below 10 milliseconds), long-range FPV flight will be as comfortable and safe as possible. In addition to amateur aerial photography, it will become an indispensable tool in such areas as television and film production, infrastructure inspection, monitoring, etc. Model release date: February 2017 Ready for FPV flying out of the box. More details about the unique Evolve can be found in our review.
Pros
- Quality / Design
- Carbon monocoque (Light / Durable)
- Powerful propulsion system (up to 96 km / h)
- Ultra-precise positioning system
- 4K camera
- 3-axis mech. gimbal with quick release mechanism
- Multifunctional remote control / Video stream quality 1080p at 60 fps
- Add. accessories: SLR / Panoramic / Thermal cameras
- Automatic flight and shooting modes
- Voice control
Cons
- Not officially supplied to the Russian Federation
- Price
- Flight time
11th place: YUNEEC TYPHOON H Plus
The one and only hexacopter designed from the ground up with a number of key enhancements recently that keep the drone's potential to easily compete with the best of the best in the drone hobby.... In the arsenal of the Plus version, a new high-performance camera is built on a 1-inch Sony CMOS sensor, capable of shooting in 4K resolution at 60 fps. It is positioned by the developer as a simple and affordable tool for the implementation of high-quality photo / video shooting from the air in both manual and automatic modes. More details about the hexacopter can be found in our review.
Pros
- Workmanship / Design
- 6-motors / Folding structure
- Flight quality
- Automatic flight and shooting modes
- Intel RealSense / IPS (Optical Flow Sensor) flies around obstacles of any size, even at night
- Range of versions with cameras / Quality of each shooting / Ability to shoot 360º
- Emergency landing mode for 5 motors
- Handheld Wizard remote / The ability to connect FPV SkyView goggles
- Does not require UAV control skills
- Price
Cons
- Baggage dimensions
- Noisy
- The current battery charge of the drone can only be found on the display of the personal station
10th place: DJI MAVIC PRO (Platinum)
Has almost all the capabilities of a modern drone and at the same time a computer who folds up. One of the best travel drones that fits easily into any bag. With its portability, it has in its arsenal a 3-axis mechanical gimbal and a camera that shoots video in 4K resolution. When unfolded, the Mavic is about the size of a Parrot Bebop 2, but the latter has only 1080p video quality and electronic image stabilization. Learn more about the Mavic Pro in our reviewof the Mavic Pro Platinum
Pros
- Compact when folded video
- Portable control panel remote control
- OcuSync
- Flight range
- Camera / Gimbal (image quality)
- Autonomous qualities
- Gesture Controls
- Follow Object Mode
- Compatible with DJI Goggles
- Ready to Fly Out of the Box
Cons
- When flying with a protective cap, glare appears on the recorded video / photo
- Narrow camera angle
- There is no mechanism or system warning about not removed the gimbal lock
- Obstacle detection system is not perfect. Caution is required when piloting.
9th place:Autel Evo
The only portable solution that can stand in front of the legendary Mavic Pro ( Platinumreview.
Pluses
- Foldable design
- Compact and convenient control panel with wide information OLED display
- Mobile application (convenient and informative interface)
- Flight performance holding position (confidently holding position even in strong wind)
- Positioning accuracy
- 4K @ 60 fps (overall image quality)
- Sensing sensors front and rear obstacles
- Distance up to 7 km
- Autonomous flight modes
- Ready to fly out of the box
Cons
- In tracking mode, prone to object loss
- Rear sensors are extremely demanding on the structure of the recognized surface
8th place: SKYDIO 2
Today's best flying robot built on powerful artificial intelligence. It is capable of realizing intelligent stabilized 4K aerial photography in selfie mode without human intervention, in almost any environmental conditions (forest, room, etc.). The drone's filming arsenal includes high-performance electronic stuffing, working in tandem with an equally powerful 12MP 4K HDR camera mounted in a 3-axis motorized gimbal. Despite such powerful potential and functionality, any user can master the control of the drone without being tied to the experience of ownership. Depending on the user's preferences, it can be controlled either by means of one smartphone / Beacon controller, or in a pair of smartphone remote control. It will recommend itself to the maximum in any manifestation of an active lifestyle, as well as wherever the best angle and high quality shooting are required. Model release date: October 2019 Ready for FPV flying out of the box. The most detailed information about the most intelligent drone can be found in our review.
Pros
- Portable design / Quality
- Developer's warranty
- A unique system for determining and flying around obstacles implemented on AI algorithms
- Dynamic (up to 58 km / h in auto mode)
- Powerful 4K photo / video system
- 3-axis mech. gimbal
- Automatic flight and shooting modes
- Controls: Smartphone / Beacon / Remote Smartphone / Apple Whatch
- Max. distance 3.5 km
- Compatible with DroneDeploy
Minuses
- Non-folding design
- No landing feet
- Officially not supplied to Russia
7.place: DJI Mavic Air 2
When creating the second generation Mavic Air, marketers clearly gave engineers a little more freedom than usual. For a drone from an average price niche, the final result was so impressive that even despite the software dampness of the first copies sold, the novelty immediately received consumer acceptance, and after the developer fixed the identified bugs, Air 2 became the most recommended drone in the hobby.
In the list of key cinematic features of the novelty: 48MP 4K camera built on 1/2-inch Sony IMX586 CMOS matrix with a pixel size of 0.8 microns, with a built-in Bayer color filter array; Max. video recording mode: 4K @ 60 fps; Poppy. bitrate 120 Mbps; D-Cinelike color profile; 4-mode 8K Hyperlapse; HDR modes for photo / video / panorama; 5 × automatic flight and shooting modes, H.264 and H.265 video codecs. All this and not only combined with the exponential flight potential from DJI Innovationsreview.
Pros
- Portable Design / Foldable
- Front / Back and Bottom Surround Imaging System
- OcuSync 2.0 Digital Video Transmission (Max. FPV distance 10 km) / Support DJI Smart Controller
- Max. flight time 34 min
- 48MP 4K camera (the best shooting quality among competitors) / 4K @ 60 fps
- The best potential in photo / video shooting (thanks to various modes and functions that improve the quality of the filmed material)
- D-Cinelike Color Profile (more freedom in post-processing)
- FocusTrack Intelligent Follow Mode Set
- APAS 3.0 (Safe Control)
- Price
Cons
- Not detected
6th place: DJI AIR 2S
An incredibly powerful solution for the mid-budget niche, looking at which it is excitingly difficult to imagine what the upcoming DJI premium models will be capable of. The minimum inherited from the ideal predecessor, otherwise only top-end and innovative technologies that allow you to easily implement any creative idea in aerial photography at a high level without reference to experience.
The key arsenal of the AIR 2S includes: flight weight 595 grams, foldable portable design, 20MP 5K camera built on a 1-inch CMOS sensor with a pixel size of 2.4 microns, 8x digital zoom, HDR photos / videos / panoramas, 10-bit Dlog-M color profile, RAW format with dynamic range up to 12.6 stops, H.265 / H.264 video codecs, 4-mode 4K Hyperlaps, 3-mode panoramic shooting, groundbreaking intelligent MasterShots function, top-end and more advanced set Intelligent Tracking Modes FocusTrack, automatic QuickShots modes, top-of-the-line digital video transmission technology OcuSync 3.0, powerful 4-way imaging system, advanced pilot assistance system of the latest generation APAS 4.0, and support for the remote control DJI Smart Controller. Release date: April 2021 As much detail as possible about the best all-round drone in our review.
Pros
- Portable design / Foldable design
- 4-way imaging system
- OcuSync 3.0 digital video transmission technology (Max. FPV distance 12 km) / Support DJI Smart Controller
- Max.flight time 31 min
- 20MP 5K camera built on a 1-inch CMOS sensor with a pixel size of 2.4 μm
- 10-bit Dlog-M / RAW color profile with a dynamic range of up to 12.6 stops
- ActiveTrack 4.0
- DJI AirSense / APAS 4.0 Security Systems
- MasterShots Pioneering Intelligent Flight and Capture Function
- Price
Cons
- 8 GB of internal memory
- There is no scroll for EV control on the remote control
- Editing with the application is limited to 1080p
- Working HDR HLG process for professionals only
- Raw images are not automatically transferred to smartphones and tablets
5th place: Yuneec Typhoon H3
Top solution implemented by developers Yuneec InternationalTyphoon. A professional tool designed to expand the creative potential of the photographer, the list of key cinematic features includes: a 20MP 4K Leica ION L1 Pro camera built from the ground up on a 1-inch CMOS sensor, built into a 3-axis 360-degree mechanical gimbal; Optimized and calibrated Leica image modes (AWB, color rendering, sharpening, noise reduction, etc.); Leica calibration of DNG format with corresponding ADOBE profile; 10-bit YLog video mode based on Leica specifications; Semi-auto ISO / Shutter and 1/3 EV / ISO / Shutter step setting; Wide dynamic range (WDR); AEB (Auto Exposure Bracketing) mode; Short JPEG intervals for Hyperlapse videos; Custom Picture mode and sharpness settings; Professional histogram; Lossless digital zoom; Max. video quality 4K at 60 frames / s with bitrate up to 100Mbps; Panoramic shooting; Possibility of separate control of the drone and shooting. More details about the Yuneec Typhoon H3 hexacopter can be found in our review.
Pros
- Workmanship / Design
- 6-engine configuration / Foldable design
- Flight performance
- 360- degree gimbal
- Cinematic potential with the arrival of the new Leica ION L1 Pro camera
- Automatic flight and shooting modes
- Intel RealSense / IPS (Optical Flow Sensor) flies around obstacles of any size, even at night
- Emergency landing mode for 5 motors
- Handheld Wizard remote / The ability to connect FPV glasses SkyView
Cons
- Baggage dimensions
- Noisy
- The current battery charge of the drone can only be found on the display of the Personal Station
4th place: DJI P HANTOM 4 PRO V2.0
An improved version of the not without that unique drone. The drone's arsenal is a 20-megapixel camera with a mechanical shutter, built on a 1-inch CMOS matrix, which, coupled with high-performance electronics, allows you to shoot 4K video at 60 frames per second, recording high-quality video material at a speed of 100 Mbps. And also one of the best video streaming systems OcuSync, 4-way obstacle avoidance and detection system, autonomous flight and shooting modes. Today, P4P V2.0 is the best tool in the UAV niche for the implementation of high-quality photo and video content from the air, the potential of which has already been appreciated not only by amateurs, but also by professionals. You can learn more about the quadcopter from our review.
Pros
- Quality
- Design
- Modified low-noise power setting
- Flight characteristics
- Standalone qualities
- OcuSync video transmission system
- Camera / Mech. shutter / Gimbal (the best shooting quality in a niche)
- Distance up to 7 km
- Price
Cons
- Side obstacle sensors are not active for all flight modes
- Bulky baggage during transportation
3rd place: DJI MAVIC 2 Pro
Mavic 2 is the best that the developers of household UAVs can offer today to the modern user who is looking for affordable, high-tech, portable solutions for high-quality photo / video shooting with air. Each of the two M2 models will allow both a beginner on vacation and a professional at work to get the maximum result coupled with a sea of positive emotions. We recommend our detailed survey.
Pros
- Portable
- Sturdy
- Cameras Zoom / Pro (shooting capabilities and quality)
- Dynamic [1678
- APAS
Cons
- Does not shoot in 4K @ 60fps
- No water resistant and dust
- The ability to change cameras only through the service center
- Unlike its predecessor, it does not have a Wi-Fi connection (it is impossible to launch a drone from a smartphone, which, for example, is very important during a bike ride, when the aircraft is operating in the automatic tracking mode of the ActiveTrack object). As a result, you have to constantly bother with fixing the tandem (smartphone remote control) on the steering wheel.
2nd place: Autel EVO II Pro
Top solution in occupied by the UAV niche realized for obtaining photo / video filming from the air from Autel Roboticsreview.
Pros
- Portable (Dimensions folded)
- 3 camera options with quick replacement
- Shooting quality 6K camera
- 10-bit A-LOG Color mode (more freedom in post-processing)
- 10-bit 4K HDR video mode
- Dynamic (up to 72 km / h)
- Controlled
- Comprehensive Obstacle Avoidance and Avoidance Operation / Dynamic Track 2.0 Operation
- Max. flight time 40 min
- Max. FPV removal distance
Cons
- Not supplied officially in RF / No service support in RF
- No protection against water and dust
- Doubtful shooting quality 8K camera (possibly corrected with the next firmware updates)
1st place: DJI INSPIRE 2
The Inspire 2 can be summed up in three words: quality, unique, powerful. Suitable for those for whom the size and price are not the main thing, who wants to get the quality of aerial photography at a professional level. The Inspire 2 is more than just a drone, it is a professional tool designed specifically for the film and broadcast industry. For a detailed review of the Inspire 2 at reference
Pluses
- Quality
- Design
- Reliable (complex of redundant sensors 2 batteries)
- Flight performance (Controllability / Dynamism)
- Professional cinematic potential
- Supported cameras
- Separate control capability (Drone / Shooting)
- Automatic flight and shooting modes
- Flight time
- Price
Cons
- Dimensions
- Noisy
