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Since drones were released onto the consumer market they have been revolutionizing photography by giving people access to shots, angles and panoramas that were hitherto completely impossible! In the past of course, a photographer would be limited to being able to take photographs only of what they could actually see with their eyes and from their own perspective. Drones however, have opened up whole new horizons and now, quite literally, the sky’s the limit!
Using a Drone for your Photography will open up a whole new world of possibilities for you!
- If you employ a drone to help you will be able to take photographs of hard to reach places without fear of injury. With the assistance of a drone you can take photographs of the waves crashing against the rocks from the safety of the shore or outstanding images from the top of a building looking down at the world below!
- Drone photography gives you access to a whole new range of perspectives, angles and sights.
- With the drone as a new piece of kit in your tool box it will inspire you with new ideas and projects to work on and open up an infinite number of new possibilities.
Drones and Photography on a Budget – Drones that don’t need to be registered.
In the United States, as well as other countries, drones over 250 Grams must be registered with the government. This can be time consuming, cost you money and you may even have to take a test to be able to operate it (if you are planning to use it for commercial purposes)!
However, there are a good range of drones that weigh under 250 Grams that can fulfill all the functions and more that a photographer might need. We’ve collated some of the best drones that weigh under 250 Grams on the market to meet the needs of absolute beginners right up to experienced professional aerial photographers.
DJI Mavic Mini: The DJI Mavic Mini is extremely light, weighing just 249 Grams, and is small enough to fit into your pocket! It’s portable, tough and long lasting. The Mavic Mini is fitted with a 3 axis gimbal camera that provides stable footage and is capable of performing several types of camera mode. The camera can either take single shots, which are crystal clear, or record in it’s CineSmooth mode that slows down the flight speed so you can increase the levels of precision. The camera is powerful, being able to support 12 MP aerial shots and 2.7K Quad videos.
The remote control for the drone operates at up to 2 km away and with a 30 minute battery life you will have plenty of time and scope to capture exactly what you’re trying to achieve and with intuitive, easy to use controls you’ll have no problems operating this model. NOTE: You should maintain line of sight with your drone. It’s the law in many countries. You will also have difficulty flying the drone for 2 km in crowded areas due to interference.
You can also use the Mini Mavic’s inbuilt intelligent fly modes, selecting either:
- Dronie, which is when the drone flies up and backwards allowing you to smoothly pan away from the subject.
- Rocket, in which case the drone will fly upwards into the sky with it’s camera pointed down towards the subject.
- Helix, will make the drone fly upwards while also spiraling.
- Circle, when the drone will circle around your subject.
The DJI Mavic Mini is a masterpiece of design and the ideal companion for any photographer looking to take their passion to the next level.
Potensic D80: This remote controlled quadcopter is a good choice for photographers who are new to drone flying. It’s a handy, portable drone that folds up neatly and can be stored in a bag or carry case. The drone can reach speeds of up to 25 miles/hr, and with a 2K video camera it can capture some good shots. It uses 5G wifi to transmit the images and they come through crystal clear.
The drone has a 1 gimbal camera which means it’s not as stable as some of it’s rivals but despite this it’s still capable of producing some great footage. The drone has a maximum battery life, and therefore flight time, of 20 minutes allowing you plenty of opportunity to get the perfect photo! It also has a very helpful GPS return home mode, so it’ll always find its way back!
Holy Stone HS110D: This drone was designed with children and completely new drone operators in mind. It has a maximum total flight time of around 13 minutes and can be operated from up to 954 feet away, but with an inbuilt GPS once it starts to run low on battery it automatically returns to its take off position.
The drone has some nice features, for example the ‘follow me’ mode which means it will hover above and follow your footsteps while filming and in another mode you can draw out an exact flight path in advance on the control panel which it will then follow on command.
A good fun drone that’s perfect for parks, beaches and parties but it probably doesn’t have the capacity for more challenging photography.
Altair Outlaw SE: This GPS capable drone is a well built, reliable and high quality that comes with some great selectable mode options. A good all round drone for photography that captures videos with its rugged design and sleek form it’s a favorite among YouTubers everywhere.
It has a reasonable 20 minutes of battery life but a disappointing 600 metres of control range that limits its capabilities. That said though it’s ‘hold altitude’ feature is a great addition and given that it comes with a nice 1080P High Definition camera it’s ideal for personal footage. It has good flight controls and the camera is easy to use.
Top pick for Drone Photography on a Budget.
The DJI Mavic Mini is one of the most impressive drones in its weight class on the consumer market and with superb camera facilities, a great range and good intuitive flight controls, this is our top pick for drone photography on a budget.
The high definition, multifunctional camera is a fantastic tool and when combined with the choice of intelligent fly modes this drone has amazing capabilities.
Lightweight, portable and durable, this drone has a superb battery life and a huge 2 km remote control distance, meaning you can really stretch the possibilities of imagination with this by your side!
Which is your favorite drone? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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