Ultimate Drone Buying Guide for Total Beginners 2022

Best Drones for beginners that still shoot pro quality video and photos compared.
DJI Mini 2 vs. DJI Mini 3 Pro vs. Air 2S vs. Autel Evo Nano Plus vs. Mavic 3 vs. Mavic 2 Pro vs. Autel Evo II Pro K vs. DJI Inspire 2 with X5S

Link to the Editing & Cinematography drone course, includes the drone business/marketing course now too so they are just one thing.
$100 Off because I love you I guess:


If you're on a mega-budget, You can STILL get awesome footage. A mini 2 is still a really good drone and DJI told me they don't want the Mini 3 Pro and Mini 2 to compete. It isn't a replacement its just a more VIP option but the same size.
Mini 2 Pro still gets RAW format photography, 4k footage stabilized, awesome connection on the newer remote, it still kicks man.

It is a 1/2.3" sensor and shoots 12 megapixel photos but it is PLENTY to grow with. Just find it used on Craigslist, Ebay, Facebook Marketplace, Offerup for like $250 or lower.

Mini SE - $250 New
(used to be called Mavic Mini)
2.7k and JPEG photos only but can live in your pocket

Mini 2 - $450
4K, RAW photos, Great connection, really impressive for the size, convenience and ease

Mini 3 Pro - $750/$900
Get the $900 one, it is REALLY worth having a dedicated smart remote especially for this little extra.
1/1.3 inch sensor, 4K footage, vertical filming, 12 megapixel RAW photos, quietest drone so far, looks like a bug flying. Such a crazy fun experience, incredible data. They've made the footage look like it came from a bigger drone. Activetrack to follow you around if you care about that.
I've got a review on this drone already.
LOVE this thing.

Air 2S - $1000
Pay more for the Fly More kit though, you want the batteries and ND filters:
5.4K footage, 1 inch sensor and REALLY bang for your buck at $1000, such a good deal. 60fps if you care (I don't) and competes with the mavic 2 pro image. Most people in the Mini 3 Pro crowd who care a little more about quality (professionals) choose this drone.

Mavic 2 Pro - $1000 Used
King of drones up until last year. 1 inch sensor, 20 megapixel RAW photos. The holy grail, still worth it.

Autel Evo II 6K - $1100 Used
6K 1 inch sensor, 20 megapixel photos. Flies funny, default picture is weird. Have to tweak it in editing but then it is great.
I'd pick a mavic 2 pro used anyday

Mavic 3 - $2150/$2850
Get the normal version not the $5000 Cine version if you don't know what Prores format is.
There is no going back after having this drone. Unbelievable dynamic range. UNREAL stability, color, control. When it launched it was janky, but they fixed everything with firmware updates. A 7x zoom lens as a second option. Everything I have filmed has looked much better than i was anticipating while shooting.
This is for professional who want to knock anything out of the park, no limits honestly.

DJI Mini 4 - No, don't even start asking.

Inspire 2 + X5S camera - $8000+ Used
Shoots 6K RAW Video (literally filming in RAW photos)
5.2K 422 Prores and 4K Proress 4444 incase you know what that all means. Its an insanely high quality image that is mega flexible for color grading and so enjoyable just to watch ungraded b-roll with it, but man is it a pain in the butt to get out, lug around, deal with the attention and the noise it has. It's more like a once in a while, Ace in the hole to blow something out the water or shoot Stock Footage and practice cinematography. Interchangeable lenses are really nice too.

I have other videos on making money, go watch those if you need.
If you want the fastest way to get better footage, watch the Cinematography one, trust me it is very necessary.

:35 Buying a cheap drone
1:00 They are all easy
2:15 Drones Compared
3:25 Drone Quality comparison
4:12 DJI Drones
4:55 Smart Drones
5:35 Mini 2 cheapest
6:20 Evo Nano plus
8:00 Noise Test
9:05 Mavic 3 Best Drone
9:45 Sensor chart comparison
11:48 Avoid salesy words
12:34 Make a Decision
13:05 Mini 3 Pro vs Air 2S
14:30 Best experience
14:45 Fastest Way to Improve

By: QuickAssTutorials
Title: Ultimate Drone Buying Guide for Total Beginners 2022
Sourced From: www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Xje3cqnG-Q

Check out the 3 most popular drones on Amazon while they're on sale

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you get started with drone photography

There are many options for starting to photograph with a drone. The first option is to buy a ready-made drone kit. You'll get everything you need. They cost $200 to $500, depending upon which model you choose.

The other option is to build your drone. Although it is a complicated task, you can still make something that captures decent images and videos.

We recommend that you start with a quadcopter if you want to build your own drone. A quadcopter, like conventional helicopters has four propellers or rotors instead of the usual two.

A quadcopter takes less time to assemble, and is more reliable than a traditional helicopter. It's also cheaper to purchase and easier to carry around.

First, select the right components. Motors, batteries and controllers are all required. Be sure to select the right size and weight.

Next, decide which controller you would like to use. There are many options available. These include joysticks, touch screens and remote controls. A built-in camera is an option, as you don’t need to attach a separate device. We recommend buying one.

Once you've chosen the right parts, you're ready to assemble your drone. To make things easy, we recommend buying a preassembled kit. However, you can also build your own drone by following a few steps.

Step 1: Attach your battery pack

To start building your quadcopter you'll first need to connect it to the motor. Remove the cover plate on the bottom side of the battery. After that, slide in the battery.

Step 2: Connect the motors

Next, you will need to place the motors within the proper slots. Each motor should be installed in its own slot. When mounting the motors, ensure they face forward and are parallel to the frame.

Step3: Installing the propeller

Attach the propellers to your frame. Make sure they are at the same distance apart.

After completing all these steps, you're finally ready to test your new drone! If there is no movement when the engine turns on, check that the propellers point forward. Also, make sure that there are no obstructions between the propellers.

How much money do drone photographers make?

A photographer makes more than $10k per gig depending on how long he/she flies for and where he/she shoots. Photographers who work in remote areas, such as forests or national parks, could make upwards of $20-30 per hour.

The average person can earn between $15-$25/hour working in retail. If you want to fly drones, you could earn $50-$75. However, there are also plenty of opportunities to earn even more. Drone pilots often fly for companies that require them cross-country or international travel.

It is possible to charge $100 to $300 per flight depending on how many miles you cover and how much time you spent flying. These fees can add up quickly but if you love flying and photography it might be worth it.

Which drone is best for photography

Drones can be used for a variety of purposes, including aerial photography, filming movies, and even delivering packages. What makes drones so useful? Drones are becoming increasingly popular due to two main reasons. They are versatile tools. Drones have many different uses. Drones can be used to perform almost every type of task that a camera is capable of. Second, they are extremely easy to operate. If you have flown a quadcopter before, you already know how simple it is to fly a drone.

Drones are also great because they can capture amazing images. Drones can capture amazing photos in places that you might not normally go. These are remote areas that could lead to dangerous situations.

Drones are simple to use, and anyone can quickly learn to fly one. Once you master the basics, you can use your drone to shoot incredible photos wherever you may be. So if you are interested in taking better photographs, check out our drone range today.

Which drone can hold a DSLR camera?

Drones have become more practical for everyday tasks. Already, drones are equipped with cameras capable of aerial photography.

Drones have been around since the beginning of time, but they are not practical for most people. Drones are difficult to control, noisy and expensive.

Drone-A1 has been created to address this need. It is the first quadcopter with fully autonomous flight that was designed especially for photographers.

The Drone-A1's HD camera can take amazing photos and videos. Its powerful onboard computer allows the Drone-A1 to track any subject automatically.

This allows you to concentrate entirely on capturing amazing images while the Drone-A1 takes over flying, hovering and following along with your subject.

Amazing shots can be captured with the Drone-A1 thanks to Smart Follow. Point the Drone-A1 towards your subject, and it will automatically track him or her and keep the distance between the two of you constantly.

You'll have complete freedom and ease when shooting with the Drone-A1. It's no longer necessary to worry about holding the camera steady or knowing exactly where your subject will be.

The Drone- A1 also comes with a GPS built-in that allows you share your photos with friends and family. This allows everyone to view your photos from anywhere on the planet.

The Drone-A 1 is a great choice for anyone who loves to take photos for fun or as a professional photographer.

Is it possible to make money from drone photography?

The biggest problem for any photographer trying to make money off drones is that there aren't any products out there that solve the problems that come with flying them. It's not easy to enjoy the experience if you don't have quality equipment or software.

There are also insurance and liability concerns, so many photographers prefer to take pictures from the ground. However, there is an entirely new way to take pictures that can potentially earn you a commission.

In the way they capture light, drones look very similar to video cameras. So why not use the same technology to create amazing photos?

Companies are already making great strides toward creating photo-quality images taken from above. We've previously discussed DJI and GoPro. We're seeing more companies in the space.

Although these cameras were designed for aerial photography they can also be used on the ground. Major manufacturers invest heavily in their imaging technology.

This means you can eventually buy a drone which shoots 4K videos, and takes amazing photographs. We might already be witnessing this happening. DJI is one of the companies that has started to release higher-resolution Phantom series drones.

DJI recently released the Inspire 2, which features a 12-megapixel sensor capable of shooting at 5120 x 3456 pixels. And if you want to shoot in RAW format, you can record 8-bit files at 30 frames per second.

You can indeed make money selling drone photos.

Can drones be used to take night pictures?

That's the right answer. But it's been a long-standing tradition. We've been taking pictures at night for decades.

There is one catch. Night photography requires special equipment. You can't do it with a camera that costs less then $10k.

Light bounces back when it hits an object in a series wavelengths.

These wavelengths are combined to produce white light at very far distances from their source.

This is why our eyes can see colors even though the sun is millions of miles away.

Instead, light reflects narrow bands of wavelengths when it strikes objects that are close to the source. These wavelengths bounce straight back to us without overlapping.

This means that objects are brighter if they are closer together. This is why objects seem to glow when they are exposed to black light.

The energy that an object absorbs will determine how much light is reflected. If light hits an object, it may reflect less red light than more blue.

The human eye is sensitive to blue light the most so objects appear brighter when viewed in black light.

This is what drones have to do. A very bright light source is required if you are trying to capture dark areas, such as a forest, or cave.

A standard lamp will not provide enough illumination to illuminate the whole scene. It will only create a shadowed scene.

If you want a good picture, you'll need to use a strobe instead. You won't want to lug around a large flashgun so you will need a smaller one.

Because they produce flashes that are so rapid, these lights are often called speedlights.

When we say "stroboscopic," you can watch the light pulse across the screen. The faster the rate, the better quality of the picture.

We won't discuss how to set up a Speedlight here. There are many tutorials available online.

We will tell that it is important to have a bright and even lighting source in order to capture clear images.

To achieve this, you should aim the beam at a 45-degree angle. You can adjust the flashgun's intensity by moving its head.

Once you have set the setting that is right for you, hold the gun steady as the shutter release button is pressed.

Press the shutter once more, just before the flashlight reaches the subject. This will set off the flashgun to start a second burst.

While the first burst illuminates the subject, the second one will capture the moment after the first burst has passed.

The result is continuous exposure, where both bursts are recorded.

Now that you're comfortable taking photos during the day let's get to night photography.

I've covered everything you need about night photography.

The color balance is the last thing we need to address.

Many people believe that images taken at night are too dark.

Yes, it is true. However, it can also be applied to daytime shots.

It doesn’t matter whether you’re shooting at dawn or at dusk. The camera will always record a darker shot.

What drone is best for aerial photography?

There are two options for aerial photography. Either rent a small, remote-controlled helicopter or purchase an expensive camera kit with a stabilizing gimbal.

This option is great for filming a video or film as it allows you to control the look of your shots. The second option requires you to pay more and be dependent on the pilot.

But what happens when you want to ensure that the shot looks perfect, even though you aren't controlling the camera? That's where drones come in.

A drone is a tiny aircraft that flies autonomously and takes photos or videos without input from its operator.

They can fly close enough to buildings or structures to record footage or capture images. They can also fly low to capture photos of people.

Drones are extremely useful for aerial photography as well as videography. Drones are also great for marketing, as they can be used to create stunning visuals that would otherwise take a lot more manpower and equipment.

You can easily place them in strategic locations to capture stunning imagery. They can also be flown remotely making them very easy to use.

A few companies have hired drones for weddings. These wedding photographers can take amazing photos of the bride and groom while their drones fly above the ceremony location.

They can also fly the cameras to relatives to capture portraits. To capture breathtaking views of the venue, they can fly them through reception areas.

These types of activities are ideal for creating promotional material or event coverage. You can also make short films with drones. You could show clients how your company is better than others by using one.

These are all reasons drones have become increasingly popular in aerial photography and videography. If you are looking to be a professional photographer, then a Drone might be the right choice.

Statistics

• A grey card is just a piece of thick paper that is a specific shade of grey (18%), which will be the foundation on which we choose our color temperature. (dronegenuity.com)
• Compared to the old days of the Phantom, this drone is super small, but it will likely require you to check a bag, the way a Mini 3 Pro could easily stow away in an oversized pocket. (thedronegirl.com)
• Again, no stabilization is applied, and the 50% throttle stick position cuts the power to the motors. (photographypro.com)
• 60 second video with branding, captions, contact information, and music Strip / Convenience / Neighborhood / Community Centers pricing per center (up to 400,000 sq ft) PLACE ORDER (dronebase.com)
• Regional & Super Regional Centers pricing per center (400,000+ sq ft) PLACE ORDER (dronebase.com)

External Links

blog.dronebase.com

• Is Aerial Drone photography right for me?


• Four ways drone photography can make homebuyers more comfortable

dji.com

• Geo Zone Map: Fly Safe – DJI


• DJI FPV Redefine Flying – DJI

How To

What is the best distance for a drone to fly?

A good distance for a drone is when it becomes an extension of yourself. The drone becomes an extension of you and you lose sight its physical boundaries.

A good distance for a drone allows you to immerse yourself in the environment without worrying about where the drone is going next.

Flying close to the ground has a psychological advantage. It gives us a feeling of control over the environment and allows us to feel more connected to nature.

There is however a downside. The drone could be damaged if it is flying too close to the ground. How far from the ground can you fly?

This depends on which drone you are using. It is a good idea to maintain a minimum of 500 feet above the ground when you are trying to capture aerial footage.

You might keep your cityscape at 1,000 feet if you're filming it. This allows you to avoid blocking your view by trees and other buildings.

This is because drones tend to struggle with low-light conditions. By lowering the altitude, you can reduce time hovering in the dark.

Also, ensure the area you are flying in is clear of any obstacles such as power lines, traffic signs, or tall buildings.

You might also consider flying during the daylight rather than at night. This allows you to avoid reflections due to street lights or shadows.

Another thing to think about is the size of the drone itself. The closer the drone is to the ground, the greater its size. A large quadcopter for example requires a height of at least 300 feet.

The golden hour is the best time to capture drone footage.

This is when you have maximum visibility between 3pm-6pm. This is the time when you have maximum visibility because of direct overhead sunlight.

It is also known for its "magic hour", which is perfect for capturing stunning images.

However, you should avoid flying your drone at sunset and sunrise. These times can cause poor-quality footage.

Now that you've got all these tips, it's time to start creating amazing drone videos.