For a person just starting out in aerial drone photography, it would be simpler to just buy a RTF – Ready-to -Fly– copter.
You can get started right away after purchase. A beginner pilot is pretty much sure to crash, so you will want both your
camera and your drone to be durable, yet not cost so much. “Just over a year after release, the DJI Phantom series
quadcopters are still the only proven, reliable platform for beginners in this hobby.”1 When playing with toy cars, the
more you pay, the harder it becomes to work. Not so with camera drones. The more you pay the easier it is to operate.
“The easiest [camera] drones to fly are in the $700 range.”2 You may be able to pay less than this, but your drone will
not have a good camera (if one at all).
The battery life of a camera drone can last anywhere from only 3 minutes up to 20 minutes. The less you pay for a
copter, the less battery life it will have. To practice flying without taking photos or video, dismount the camera. It will
use up the battery because of its added weight. Some cameras even attach to the copter’s motor which further drains
the battery. Also to know – larger propellers enable the battery to last longer because they support more weight so the
battery does not have to work as hard. An ordinary rechargeable battery for a camera drone can be used and recharged
about 300 to 500 times. A good tip to remember about that is to not fully charge it and it will last longer. So you do not
have to pause from your fun from flying because the battery is almost drained, you really should purchase extra
batteries. Also, a charger that will hold 2 batteries at once would be a necessary purchase.
“New pilots often crash and burn a few times before learning how to really master their flying.”3 It is good not to use
manual mode when first learning to fly. This mode does not offer stability, which without, will cause you to crash. This
should go without saying but, for more ease of control for beginners, do not attempt to fly on a windy day. It would be
wise also to not try fancy maneuvers when you are first starting out. Just fly using basics moves such as up and down,
forward and back. Do not expect to be able to hover at first, either. This technique may be helpful for photographing or
videoing, but it is not as easy as it looks. Much practice is required for many different flying techniques.
Durability is another feature you must consider when buying your first camera drone. This may not sound like what you
would want to hear, but educate yourself on how to crash. As soon as you see that you are coming down without
planning to, stop the throttle. This will keep the blades from continuing to turn and tearing up your copter even more.
Another thing that will make the inevitable crash not as bad is using propeller guards. These will help to prevent the
propellers from being destroyed if hitting trees on the way down, or when your copter hits the ground. One of the most
important aspects of buying a drone is what it is made of. Carbon copters are the most durable. Not only this, but it is
also pretty to look at.
All in all – buying your first camera drone is significant. Learning how to fly, how to crash that doesn’t cause too much
damage, how to expand the life of its battery – are all needed knowledge and skills that will enhance your flying
experience for years to come.