Drone Buying Guide - 2020
I get asked fairly regularly some version of, “What drone should I buy?”
Unfortunately, there is no one-size-fits-all easy answer to that question. At least, when it comes to models. When it comes to brands, however, there are some pretty clear distinctions. DJI is the current king of Drone Mountain and my recommendation is to go with one of their drones. There are three non-DJI drones that I think are worth considering for very specific reasons that I’ll discuss at the bottom.
A key question to ask is, “What do they (you) want to do with the drone?” If the answer is just to have fun looking at stuff from another view point, then any toy drone with a camera will probably do. They should cost less than a couple hundred bucks so you won’t feel bad when they (you) get it stuck up in a tree or drowned at the bottom of a lake. These things are hard to fly and unreliable though, so going with a low end DJI model might be a better fit.
If the answer to that question is to take quality pictures and videos, then it’s going to cost more money. The determining factor becomes how much you are willing to spend. A common approach is to start cheap to learn how to fly so you are not risking more expensive equipment. DON’T DO THIS. First, resale market on the cheaper drones is tough. Second, the more expensive drones are far easier and safer to fly. ANYONE can learn how to safely pilot a top of the line drone within the span of one battery. However, if you are thinking of going cheaper because you’re not quite sure of interest level, that is a reasonable option, though it might make more sense just to tag along with someone who is kind enough to let them (you) have a go.
DJI Mavic 2 Pro - $1700
This is the drone I fly. It is the most expensive drone on the list, and gets even more expensive when you consider adding the “fly-more” package, which for all these drones I recommend doing so. One battery just isn’t enough. This is a drone for someone who wants professional looking pictures and video. The 1” Hasselblad sensor is the best on the market producing quality 20MP images. It’s not quite a DSLR, but it’s close. The range listed at up to 5 miles, and there are videos online of them going further. There are also videos of those drones crashing into the ocean, so definitely don’t do that. This drone’s three hundred and sixty degree obstacle avoidance is unparalleled. As long as you don’t turn it off, this thing is borderline uncrashable. Note: Flying in sport mode turns off obstacle avoidance. Speaking of flying in sport mode, it definitely reduces the battery life, which is listed as 31 minutes, but in reality is closer to 25 minutes as you should never be landing with less than 20% battery left.
DJI Mavic 2 Zoom - $1300
The only difference between the M2P and this drone is the camera. This trades the 1” sensor for a 1/2.3” (12MP) and adds a variable focal range from 24-48mm, which allows you to zoom in on a subject. This can be handy for photographers who are used to a zoom lens, however, if you’re shooting landscapes, and you want to zoom in, just fly closer. This is only really valuable for shooting wildlife from a greater distance, which really isn’t the point of a drone anyways. This drone is significantly cheaper though, so if you’re looking to save some money it’s a reasonable choice.
DJI Mavic Pro Platinium - $850
These are out of stock on DJI’s site but you can find them on amazon and even some nice refurbished units. Same 12MP sensor as the Zoom (but without the zoom obviously). Battery life and range are both a bit shorter but I never noticed the difference. The obstacle avoidance is a bit of a downgrade as well as it only has forward and downward sensors. However, if you’re looking for a drone that can do close to professional level work for a bargain price, this is an excellent unit.
DJI Mavic Air 2 - $799
This drone just came out a few weeks ago. Has some impressive specs including a 48MP option (multiple shots at 12MP blended). Doesn’t have all the sensors the M2P has, but has some great new tech to help with obstacle avoidance. 4K video up to 60fps. 34 minutes of flight. And the range, advertised at over 6 miles, is far beyond the legal and necessary limits. The sensor is half the size of the M2P which makes sense as it’s half the cost. This is fairly new model and I’ve seen mixed reviews. I wouldn’t step down to here from a M2P but I think it would make an excellent first drone or upgrade from a lower model.
DJI Mavic Air - $600
Honestly, after the MA2 was released, I considered moving this down to the “drones I don’t recommend” section. The major draw backs are the battery life (advertised 21min, actually 15min) and the range, which is still plenty far for most cases, but around half that of the M2P. It has the same sensor as the Mavic Pro, but an additional layer of obstacle avoidance with addition of backward facing sensors. Its size factor is no longer a big bonus as the MA2 is now comparable with much better features. The only reason I’d go with a MA is the price. You can get the drone and the fly more package for about the same cost as the MA2 with only one battery.
DJI Mavic Mini - $400
This thing borders between real camera and toy. It folds up to the footprint of a smartphone, and has a comparable sensor and lens. The battery life is astounding, but the range is limited compared to the higher end drones. The biggest drawback is the lack of ability to shoot in RAW. It also lacks some of the shooting modes like panos. The biggest plus is the size and price.
Non DJI Drones
Skydio 2 - $999 - This is the drone for people who want dynamic aerial video of themselves doing something active. It can autonomously track and film an object with a borderline creepy degree of accuracy. I have seen videos of the Mavic Air 2 trying to keep up with the Skydio using Active Track 3.0, its good, but not this good.
Autel EVO - $1049 - This is the drone for people looking for a US company that doesn’t currently engage in geofencing (locking you out from flying places you shouldn’t fly). Sometimes DJI’s geofencing is in error, and sometimes people just want to break the rules *please don’t.* This drone also eases some users concerns about data collection. It’s very similar to a Mavic Pro in terms of features, but with a bigger price tag.
Autel EVO II series - Much like the Mavic 2, there are two versions with different price points and specs.
EVO II -$1495
Fixed aperture, 8K (yes, you read that right) video. 48MP images(I’m assuming these are composited from multiple images, otherwise the pixel density is through the roof). Though it does feature a crop sensor.
EVO II Pro -$1795
Variable aperture, 6K video, and a larger 1” sensor that shoots at 20MP. My guess is they are again trying to preempt the release of the Mavic 3 Pro, but have missed the mark that the M3P will have better features, a lower price, or both. Given the current situation however, who knows how long before that is released, and if it will be available in the US. That being said, if my M2P was eaten by a bear tomorrow (M2P are currently out of stock from DJI) I’d really consider switching to this drone. I just don’t see it as a large enough upgrade to make the switch unprovoked.
Parrot Anafi - $699 - The one feature of this drone that sets it apart is the ability of the camera to be pointed directly upward. Most drones can only angle there cameras up 10-30 degrees. The major drawback to the Anafi is that it has no obstacle avoidance.
Drones I’d Stay Away From
DJI Spark - Similar in size to an unfolded Mavic Mini. Battery life is super short. No 4K video. Very unreliable WIFI signal for remote. And if you include the remote, it’s more expensive than the brand new Mini.
The Phantom Series - Hurts me to say this as I learned to fly using a Phantom 3 Standard, but these drones are likely a thing of the past. Their biggest fault is the size. These things are huge, and with the exception of the Phantom 4 Pro, don’t have the range, battery life, or camera quality of the newer drones. Don’t get me wrong, the P4P is an amazing drone, it shoots 4K at 60fps and handles wind a bit better than the M2P. I’ve heard from some other aerial photographers that they stick with the Phantom because it “Looks more professional” when they break it out for a gig. But the cost is still quite high for a drone that is over a year old, and that’s if you count the version 2 update they put out last year.
