Unmanned aerial vehicles are great expensive toys. However, if you do not understand the intricacies, it is almost impossible to choose a specific model and make a purchase decision. The choice will be very difficult, since there are many options, both in functional content and in the price range.
To begin with, you should clearly define what exactly you are looking for, and look through the reviews of the models of interest to compare the characteristics. If price is a weighty criterion for a purchase, then you should familiarize yourself with a review of the best cheap devices. If you are interested in the very best drone, pay attention to the options presented below.
Difference between drone and quadcopter
Basically, they are the same thing. A drone, or unmanned vehicle, is not necessarily an aircraft, it is a generic name for remotely controlled devices. Quadrocopter is an unmanned aerial helicopter powered by four engines and controlled by a remote control.
Copters come in oxo, hexa and quadcopters, depending on the number of rotors driving the device. More expensive devices are sold as drones, cheaper toys are sold as quadcopters.
Entertainment cost
The price range for these fashionable toys is very wide. The simplest one can be purchased for 1,500 rubles on average. The desire to have a camera will add a couple thousand more to the price. Having increased the budget to 8 thousand rubles, you get a live video (first-person view) on your smartphone using the application you need to view or on the color screen of the remote control.
In addition, by purchasing a device at a higher price, you get a longer flight and lifting height. Expensive vehicles should also fly easier thanks to automatic hovering. Without this, you will have to make more efforts to keep it in the air.
Flight time and range
The flight of cheap aircrafts, as a rule, lasts 5-10 minutes. Next, you will need to replace the battery or recharge the batteries. It will take 30-60 minutes to charge if you have a USB charger. To prolong the fun of your entertainment, it is a good idea to also purchase one or more sets of spare batteries for your drone.
Some manufacturers claim that the flight range of their quadcopter models is 100m. The value is questionable, so let's stop at 50m, this radius is quite enough.
Small and lightweight drones will easily succumb to gusts of wind, so warm, calm days are the best time to fly.
Larger aircraft such as DJI's Phantoms series have a flight time of about 20-25 minutes. They use more powerful batteries, but the devices are larger and significantly heavier than budget small drones. But even the most expensive unmanned aerial vehicles (costing more than 150,000 rubles) do not fly for more than 30 minutes.
Required spare parts and their availability
If you had to operate the toy for the first time, the likelihood of accidents is quite high. Rotors and propellers are usually the first to fail. Almost all drones come with a full set of spare rotors, but since two rotate counterclockwise and the other pair clockwise, you only have two spare. Therefore, it is worthwhile to familiarize yourself with the availability and cost of spare parts for the selected model. You may be able to find a complete repair kit right away.
Cameras
Not all drones are equipped with cameras. But since you must always have your device in line of sight during the flight, there is no need for uninterrupted live video. And even if the drone has a camera, it may not broadcast live video, which must be viewed in order to operate it without line of sight.
Among the cheaper models, you may be lucky to get 720p (1280x720) video quality, but remember that you should not trust only the specifications of the camera. Read our reviews to find out how good each drone's camera is.
However, if you buy one with a gimbal, the drone footage is great. Gimbal - A stabilizing camera mount that keeps it stable when moving or tilting the device.
Nevertheless, the gimbal is not a cheap pleasure. If you're on a budget and already have a GoPro action camera, consider a GoPro or gimbal. The WLToys V303 and Flying 3D X8 models are capable of carrying a GoPro camera, and two-axis gimbals can be purchased for 4000 rubles.
Some cameras record video directly to a microSD card (or USB stick), but others record video via a remote control or even directly to a smartphone. Direct recording is generally more reliable and of better quality.
Review of the best drones of 2017:
- DJI Mavic Pro
- DJI Phantom 4
- 3DR Solo
- DJI Phantom 3 Professional
- DJI Phantom 3 Standard
- ViFLY R220
- Hubsan H501S X4
- WLtoys V303
- Flying 3D X8
- Hubsan X4 FPV
DJI Mavic Pro
Compact folding drones are undoubtedly the future. And the Mavic Pro is at the top of the list. It may sound expensive, but the fact that it has better technology than even the Phantom 4 means that it is actually very good.
There is one downside: you can't remove the gimbal and ground camera like you can with a GoPro camera. But the portability of the Mavic Pro completely eliminates this disadvantage. Compared to the Phantom, the Mavic Pro's body is smaller and lighter, making it much easier to transport. Easy to carry around - you can take the Mavic Pro anywhere.
DJI Phantom 4
The Phantom 4 isn't cheap, but it shoots decent 4K video and is super easy to control. The batteries are expensive, and the Smart Modes don't quite match up with the 3DR Solo, which is still the undisputed quality leader for challenging aerial cinematics, but the Phantom 4 is still a great choice if you can. afford it. Don't forget, however, that the Phantom 3 can provide video of this quality, and its price starts from 33,770 rubles.
3DR Solo
The 3DR Solo is the ideal tool for capturing stunning aerial footage that even experienced pilots would not be able to capture. Nevertheless, its price will not be affordable for many. Since despite the initial $ 38,000 to $ 95,000 on the internet, you'll still need a gimbal and a GoPro camera. For example, the Phantom 3 Advanced costs the same as the naked Solo, but already has a great camera and gimbal, so it can provide similar shots for a lower overall cost.
DJI Phantom 3 Professional
The Phantom 3 is the previous generation model today. However, it is still popular as it is very stable in flight and produces amazing video footage. Its shooting range is beyond what most consumers would need, and the only additional requirement it needs is a compatible iOS or Android device to use with the controller.
Even beginners will be able to fly on it, as it is equipped with safety features to prevent the Phantom 3 from flying away, as well as to land when the battery is low. The professional model online now costs around £ 60,000, but for those who don't need 4K, you can save up and get the Advanced model for a lower price.
DJI Phantom 3 Standard
Intelligent Flight (Autopilot) mode is not the easiest to use, but it produces images of a quality that would be nearly impossible to achieve with manual flight control. The Go app is the same as for other DJI drones, the video price-quality ratio (1080p) is excellent, its distortion is much less than that of the Phantom 2 Vision +.If you are financially short of the Phantom 3 4K, then this is the best value for money.
ViFLY R220
FPV (first person view) flying racing drone that is well designed and well built. Very fast and manoeuvrable, equipped with a built-in video transmitter. You only need to add FPV goggles (with an appropriate video receiver) in order to receive exceptionally high-quality first-person video during the flight of the device.
Hubsan H501S X4
Slightly more expensive than the WLtoys W303, the Hubsan H501S comes with a built-in camera and remote control with a convenient 3.7-inch screen. This means that on the screen, you really enjoy the first person view, as if you were on board.
The remote has an analog video output for use with matching FPV goggles and GPS. One battery charge lasts about 20 minutes. Recharging takes several hours, so it is recommended to immediately purchase one or more batteries - they are quite cheap.
WLtoys V303
The WLtoys V303 is a great Phantom alternative if your goal is budget picking. In fact, even with the added expense of the gimbal and camera, the V303 is roughly $ 10,000 less than the Phantom 3 Standard. Spare parts for it are not too expensive, which also adds to the attractiveness of this model.
Flying 3D X8
The Flying 3D X8 is a good value quadcopter and a good alternative to the DJI Phantom. Of course, you will have to pay additional fees and shipping when buying from the online store. It is also worth considering additional costs for the gimbal and camera.
Hubsan X4 FPV
Despite the high cost, you shouldn't expect stunning bird's-eye views from this device. The reason is simple - just a toy in your hands. But if you take care of the extra batteries and spend some time learning how to fly, the entertainment and fun is of the highest quality.
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The coolest quadcopters in the world, some of them only have a model and have not been released into mass production, but they would undoubtedly be successful.
