Ultimate Drone Buying Guide for Total Beginners 2023

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

Link for the Cinematography & Editing 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 cannot get the best thing do not stress about it, all of the drones I go over are still incredible to be able to get as "entry level."
Even the Mini 2 is STILL an awesome drone. Mini 2 SE should be shipping when I post this, so that would be your model to go for (same as Mini 2 but better signal).

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 $300 or lower.


Mini 2 SE (2020) - $350
(used to be called Mini 2)
4K Video, RAW photos photos, no collision sensors but can live in your pocket

Mini 3 (2022) - $450
4K, RAW photos, Great connection, Vertical Filming, .76 inch sensor, really impressive for the convenience and ease

Mini 3 Pro (2022) - $750/$900
Get the $900 one, it is a billion times worth having a dedicated smart remote especially for so little extra.
.76 inch sensor, 4K footage, vertical filming, 12 megapixel RAW photos, quietest body type, looks like a bug when its flying. Could write a book about this thing. By far the most fun, incredible connection. Footage often looks like it came from a bigger drone. Activetrack to follow you around if you care about that.
I've got a review on the Mini 3 Pro as well, LOVE it.

Air 2S (2021) - $1000
Not as fun as Mini 3, not as quality as Mavic 3, so kind of neither benefit. Color profile is sometimes maybe gud, sometimes maybe sheit.
5.4K footage, 1 inch sensor. 20 megapixel photos which is great for pros.
60fps if you care (I don't). After the Mini 3 Pro being out for a year, that thing just overperforms and I'd say just get a Mini 3 Pro instead.

Mavic 2 Pro (2018) - $700 Used
King of drones up until 2021. 1 inch sensor, 20 megapixel RAW photos. Beautiful image but software/firmware is getting dated. You would do better with most newer drones.

Autel Evo Lite Plus (2022) - $1100
6K 1 inch sensor, 20 megapixel photos. Flies pretty rigid so stick to front/back and left/right. Really nice picture, lovely reds like in all Autels. Oversharpened image but I can live with that. Fun colors to pick from give extra points, could use on a work day no sweat. Doesn't beat DJI but this isn't bad.

Autel Evo Nano Plus (2022) - $700
4K footage, f1.7 lens (just means a bit brighter image) 12 megapixels. Features promoted at launch still haven't come, software janky crashes. Was not a good time. Great at low-light and sunsets compared to the Mini 3 Pro though, that is the one strong suit. Everywhere else it loses bad.

Mavic 3 - $2150/$2850
4/3 inch Sensor, 5.1K footage, 20mp photos. Long flight time. Get the normal version not the $4000 Cine version if you don't know what Prores format is.
This is the Business Class plane ticket drone, there is no going back after having this. Unbelievable dynamic range. UNREAL stability, default color, flight control, flexible rich data for color grading.
A 7x zoom lens comes on Mavic 3 and Mavic 3 Cine, not perfect but SO fun to use that thing. Great for cool angles and cinematography nerds. In general most of what I film on this drone looks better in the end than what I thought I was getting while shooting. They knocked it out of the park with this drone, no limits honestly.

Mavic 3 Classic
Not typing all that again, you get the point. Minus the Zoom lens, everything else is the same. Crapping myself at the price being so cheap now.

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. Cinema formats but such a pain to lug around, and the noise is a lot. 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.

00:00 .
00:40 Buying a cheap drone
01:30 Photo/Video Drones
02:08 Drones Listed
03:10 Drone Quality comparison
03:55 DJI Drones
04:38 Drones Tech Update
06:07 Used Drones
07:52 Noise Test
09:00 Mavic 3 Best Drone
09:50 Sensor chart comparison
11:08 Photography
11:44 Avoid Salesy Words
13:15 SMART REMOTE!!!
14:09 Make a Decision
14:25 Mini 3 Pro vs Mavic 3
16:40 Best Experience
17:20 Fastest Way to Improve

By: QuickAssTutorials
Title: Ultimate Drone Buying Guide for Total Beginners 2023
Sourced From: www.youtube.com/watch?v=QThFesaR1Vw

Look at the 3 best drones on Amazon while they're on sale

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I fly my drone?

Flying a drone requires practice. Pilots need to practice flying drones. They are far more stable than regular aircraft. Practice indoors or at home is the best option for beginners.

When learning how to fly a drone, you'll need to master three basic skills. These skills include hovering, taking off and landing.

Take Off

The drone will take off by simply being lifted into the air. To do this, press the button on the controller until the drone starts moving upward. When the drone has reached a certain height you can stop pressing the button.

Hovering

Hovering refers to keeping the drone in midair. Holding down either the left or right triggers while pressing the throttle will allow you to hover. You can move the drone by tilting the controller by holding down both triggers.

Landing

Landing means returning the drone to earth safely. Release the throttle and turn the controller toward the ground to land. The drone will eventually slow down, and then land.

Fly your drone as comfortable as possible. Be careful not to crash into any object.

Is a photography drone worthwhile?

If you're serious in starting your own business, it's essential to have a great product. If you want to make a name for yourself, you need to have a great product.

Photographers are not selling themselves. Instead of selling their products, they are trying to persuade others to buy them.

If you are running your own company, it won't make sense to wait around for others. You'll have to go out and find customers right now.

That means you'll need to create a compelling story that helps them figure out why they should buy your products instead of somebody else's.

A marketing strategy will be needed to market those products. Even after all that effort, you may still fail because your product prices are not correct.

You may decide to charge too much. Or you may decide to charge too little. Either way, you're probably making a mistake if you don't know what you're charging.

You can avoid making these mistakes by starting to think like a businessman. You don't have to become a billionaire. It means that you need to learn how value your time, money and effort.

And you need to develop strategies for measuring the success of your business.

Once you have a good understanding of pricing, you can now focus on creating the best product possible. A product that makes sense both financially and creatively.

Product that solves problems and delivers real benefits.

One that is distinct from the rest.

And once you've built that product, you'll be ready to launch it. Your brand will be built.

So whether or not you want to take pictures with a drone, you'll want to consider getting one. It will make it easier to start your career as a photographer. It will allow you to enhance your skills. You can also grow your company.

Which drone is the best for photography?

Drones are an exciting technology used in various ways, from aerial photography to filming movies and even delivering packages. What makes drones so useful? Drones are becoming increasingly popular due to two main reasons. Drones are extremely versatile. Drones have many different uses. They can be used for just about any task you might use a regular camera for. They are also very simple to operate. You already know how easy it is to fly quadcopters if you've flown one before.

Drones can also capture incredible images. A drone can easily capture stunning photos of places you wouldn't usually go. These photos include remote areas where you might be in dangerous situations.

Drones can be operated quickly and are easy to use. After you have mastered the basics, your drone can be used to take amazing photos no matter where you are. Take a look at our drone selection if your goal is to capture better photographs.

Where are the best places to take photos with a drone?

Drones are a great tool for taking stunning photos of nature and landscapes. Drones can be used to take close-up photos of birds and butterflies, or capture stunning scenery.

The best locations to use drones include mountains, deserts, lakes, oceans, beaches, and cities. Drone enthusiasts love to capture picturesque views of their home and other local attractions.

It is a good idea to shoot at night so that the lights can illuminate the surrounding area. This allows you to see new places. You could also shoot during other seasons, especially winter when snow blankets.

How do I get started with drone photography?

There are many ways to get started with drone photography. The first is to purchase a ready-made drone set. It will come with everything you need in order to get started. They vary in price from $200 to $500 depending upon the model.

You can also build your own drone. It's possible to make a drone that takes decent photos and videos, even though it can be complicated.

Quadcopters are the best option for those looking to build their drone. Quadcopters have four propellers (or rotors) as opposed to two like traditional helicopters.

A quadcopter takes less time to assemble, and is more reliable than a traditional helicopter. You can also purchase it cheaper and carry it around easier.

You'll first need to select the right parts. You'll need to purchase motors and batteries, controllers, as well as props. Make sure you pick the correct size and weight.

Next, you need to choose what type of controller to use. There are many options available. These include joysticks, touch screens and remote controls. It is recommended to buy one with a builtin camera so that you don't need to attach another device to your drone.

After you've selected the right parts, you can begin to assemble the drone. We recommend purchasing a pre-assembled kit to make things easier. If you would prefer to build your drone yourself, there are a few things you need to do.

Step1: Attach the battery pack

To begin building your quadcopter, connect the battery to the motor. Remove the cover plate on the bottom side of the battery. Next, slide your battery into place.

Step 2 Connect the motors

Next, you'll need to install the motors in the appropriate slots. Each motor must go into its designated slot. When mounting the motors, ensure they face forward and are parallel to the frame.

Step3: Installing the propeller

You will then need to attach your propellers onto the frame. Make sure they are at the same distance apart.

Now you are ready to test your drone. If there is no movement when the engine turns on, check that the propellers point forward. Also, ensure that there aren’t obstructions between propellers.

How much money do drone photographers make?

A photographer could make more or less than $10k depending upon how long he/she is flying for and where he/she takes photos. For those who shoot in remote locations such as forests and national parks, the hourly rate could be between $20-30.

Retail workers make $15-25 an hour, so you could easily earn $50-$75 flying drones. There are still many ways to make even more. Drone pilots typically fly for companies that require them to travel across the country or even internationally.

You can charge anywhere from $100 to $300 per flight, depending on the time you spend flying and the distance you cover. You might find it worthwhile if flying is something you enjoy and you also love taking photos.

Is it possible to make money from drone photography?

If you want to make money flying drones, the problem is that there isn't a product that will solve your problems. A lack of quality equipment and software makes the experience enjoyable.

Photographers also need to consider liability and insurance. Many photographers will choose to shoot from the ground. You could get paid for your efforts if you use a totally new method of photographing images.

Drones capture light in a similar way to video cameras. Use the same technology to take amazing photos.

Companies are already making strides in creating photos that can be captured from above. We have already discussed DJI & GoPro. However, more companies are entering the space.

These cameras are great for ground photography even though they were made for aerial photography. Every major manufacturer is investing heavily in the development and maintenance of their imaging technologies.

This means that one day you might be able to purchase a drone with 4K video and incredible photography capabilities. This is possible. DJI and other companies have released higher resolution versions of their Phantom drones.

DJI just released the Inspire 2 camera, which has a 12-megapixel sensor and can capture images at 5120 x 35656 pixels. And if you want to shoot in RAW format, you can record 8-bit files at 30 frames per second.

It is possible to make money with drone photos.

Statistics

• Greater than 50% throttle stick position generates positive thrust, but less than 50% throttle stick position reverses the direction of the motors, allowing upside-down flying! (photographypro.com)
• Again, no stabilization is applied, and the 50% throttle stick position cuts the power to the motors. (photographypro.com)
• Here's proof: according to an analysis of FAA drone registration numbers by drone market research and data group Drone Industry Insights, DJI had a 76.8% market share in the U.S. (thedronegirl.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)
• 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)

External Links

youtube.com

• YouTube - Mr. CAMPS / Drone Camps RC – YouTube

blog.dronebase.com

• Are Aerial Drone Photos Right for My Commercial Buildings?


• Four ways drone photography can make homebuyers more comfortable

How To

Tips for beginners: How to take great drone photos

These are the top tips for creating great drone photos

1. Your drone should have enough room to fly safely. You should keep it out of buildings, trees, power lines, and other obstructions.
2. Before you fly, ensure you know exactly where you are! Drone flying can make it easy to lose your way. If you don't know where you've flown, you could end up somewhere dangerous, like a cliff edge or in someone's backyard.
3. Don't forget to stay safe while flying! You should always keep your drone close at hand to monitor what's going on. Never fly at night, or in bad weather conditions like heavy rain.
4. Bring extra batteries if you plan to do long flights. Always keep spare batteries handy. So you don't run out mid-flight, it is important to always have spare batteries.
5. Good quality lenses are essential. Clearer pictures are possible with higher resolution lenses. A camera lens with a low resolution, such the one found on most smartphones, may blur the image.
6. Start small. When you first learn how to use a drone, try making short videos. After feeling confident with these, you can go on to making longer videos.
7. Avoid using your drone indoors. Drones should not be used indoors. They can cause damage and destruction to furniture and walls.
8. Practice makes perfect! You can do many things with your drone. Take it with you to capture different angles of the scene. Or, go outside and practice flying around your house.
9. Have fun! Although you might think that you must follow the rules to create great drone images, there are no rules about photography.
10. Learn more information about your camera settings. Cameras today have many advanced features. These settings can be used to improve the quality your photographs.
11. Be patient! You might be tempted to rush, but sometimes you need to wait to get the shot.
12. Have fun. Keep in mind why you bought your drone. The experience can be enhanced by enjoying the flight of your drone.
13. You can share your work with us! Share your top shots on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Let others know how much fun you had shooting them!
14. Keep learning! Learn from magazines and books about photography. Online tutorials. 15. Stay safe! Make sure you are following all safety precautions before you go. You must ensure that your drone's battery is charged up and that its landing gear is working properly. You must also ensure that you comply with all FAA regulations.
15. Find your style! After you've mastered the basics, you'll have developed your unique style. You can experiment with many styles and techniques until you find the one that works.
16. Apps! You can easily download free photo editing apps to your smartphone. These apps will help you enhance your photos.
17. Keep taking notes! You can make it easier to remember what you have read in this article by keeping track. You can write down the most important points in a journal or notebook.