If you have a passion for photos and videography, you probably know the importance of having drones on the set while filming.
Drones allow you to capture all the shots and footage that are just not possible with a regular camera — no matter how much you try.
Luckily, drones have now come a long way from when they were first released. Thanks to the advancement of drone tech, now no more blurry and shaky shots.
Moreover, nowadays drone manufacturers just keep on releasing drones with high-quality cameras to support photo and videographers.
If you’re one of those people who’s looking for the best drones for photos and videos, you’re in the right place!
Let’s check it out!
Best Drones for Photos and Videos in 2021
Here we’re going to give you a short overview of 12 of the best drones for photos and videos this year!
1. DJI Mavic Air 2
If you’ve been into drones for a while, you’ve probably heard of DJI Mavic Air 2. The mini drone released on April 27 2020 is one of the most affordable options there are.
At just $799, the DJI Mavic Air 2 features a 60 fps 4K HDR camera with a 48-megapixel half-inch CMOS sensor. The camera offers many shooting modes like Hyperlapse and such.
At 1.3 pounds, the DJI Mavic Air is thin and slim enough to bring around on any adventure. To add, it also offers a longer flying time of an impressive 34 minutes.
When it comes to design, the DJI Mavic Air 2 gets a completely redesigned remote control that lets you attach your smartphone above the controller.
You can purchase this drone from its official website or third-party retailers like Amazon. DJI also offers bundles and packs containing batteries and cases just in case.
2. DJI Mini 2
Aside from the Mavic Air 2, DJI also offers another affordable option for the best drones for photos and videos that you can get this year.
Released in November 2020, the DJI mini 2 comes with a 3-Axis motorized gimbal and 4K camera for clear and smooth images quality at all times.
The 12MP camera along with its 4K/30fps video resolution allows users to produce the most stunning quality no matter how fast and shaky the drone goes.
On top of that, DJI also claims that the DJI Mini 2 can withstand 29-38kph winds and a max altitude of 4,000 meters, resulting in the best footage imaginable.
Despite being a low-range drone, the DJI Mini still provides its users with a max battery life of up to 31 minutes on a single charge, giving users time to compose the perfect shot.
In addition, the Mini 2 also comes with the DJI Fly app. The app features intelligent shooting modes and optimizations such as QuickShots and Photo Enhanced.
As of right now, the DJI Mini 2 is priced at $450. The rone can be purchased on the DJI official website, official retailers, or third-party eCommerce such as eBay.
3. DJI Air 2S
Released on April 15th, 2021, the DJI Air 2S drone combines the compact design of the Mavic Air 2 with the image quality of the Mavic 2 Pro.
If you’re looking for a premium high-quality drone, this one can be a perfect choice. Priced at $999, the drone features a 1-inch sensor camera with a 20MP resolution.
This drone camera is capable of producing videos with a resolution of 5.4K/30fps and 4K/60fps. Recording at night is guaranteed to stay clear and bright with accurate color reproduction.
In terms of design, the DJI Air 2s comes with a compact and foldable frame. It weighs only 595 grams and looks very similar to the DJI Air 2.
Thanks to the renowned safety features of the Mavic series, the DJI Air 2S is very easy to fly. It comes with a lightweight controller and a beginner-friendly interface.
The camera features of this drone include Single Shot mode, Timed Photo, AEB (Auto Exposure Bracketing), Panorama, HDR, and hyperlapse mode like on the Mavic 2.
The Air 2S’s maximum flight time is up to 31 minutes in calm air conditions. The average flight time in all conditions is about 20 minutes on a single battery charge.
Another great thing is that when the battery percentage has reached 25%, the drone will activate the Return-To-Home function and return to the starting point.
4. DJI Mavic 3
If you’re looking for a newer release drone to capture the best photos and videos for you, the DJI Mavic 3 might be the one for you!
Along with the Mavic 3 cine, The DJI Mavic 3 is one of the newest drones released by well-known drone manufacturer, DJI.
The Mavic 3 and Mavic 3 Cine have identical specifications with a number of differences. Both are successors to the 2018 Mavic 2 Pro and Mavic 2 Zoom drones.
However, here we will be focusing on the DJI Mavic 3 which carries a dual-camera system of 20 MP sensor camera made by Hasselblad and a 24 mm wide-angle lens.
The 20 MP main camera carries a 4/3 CMOS sensor with a 24mm lens. The second camera is a 12 MP with a 162 mm telephoto lens, offering hybrid zoom capabilities up to 28x.
These cameras provide the drone with exceptional image and video quality up to 5K resolution at 50 fps or 4K resolution at 120 fps.
The DJI Mavic 3 carries a thinner body than the 2018 Mavic 2, which makes it more aerodynamic. On top of that, the Mavic 3 drone is also lighter, weighing only 895 grams.
In terms of power, the batteries are removable and can be charged directly inside the drone via a USB-C cable with up to 65 watts of power. It flies for up to 46 minutes on a single charge.
Right now, the DJI Mavic 3 retails for $2,199.
5. Parrot ANAFI Ai
In the second half of 2021, Parrot, one of the best drone manufacturers to date has just released its very first foldable drone with a 4G connectivity.
The design of the Parrot ANAFI AI drone is inspired by a grasshopper. It comes with compact dimensions of 304 x 130 x 118 mm. To add, it only weighs 898 grams.
Its unique design brings a camera module with a 1/2-inch sensor size with a resolution of 48 megapixels. The camera is equipped with a 24mm lens with an F2.0 diaphragm.
This makes the Parrot ANAFI AI camera quite reliable even in dim conditions. To add, the lens also supports digital zoom features.
The digital zoom comes with up to 6x zoom capability, 4x zoom with uncompressed image quality a 1080p resolution, and 2x uncompressed image at 4K UHD.
Anafi Ai communicates with its remote control via a Wi-Fi connection. However, every 100 milliseconds, a built-in microprocessor will analyze the quality of its wireless connection.
If the connection is bad, the drone will automatically switch to an encrypted 4G network which supports 28 different frequency bands (98% of all frequencies used worldwide).
Anafi Ai is capable of flying at a maximum speed of 57 km per hour. Meanwhile, its battery has enough power for 32 minutes of air time on a single charge.
As of right now, the Parrot ANAFI AI retails for $699. You can purchase the drone straight from its official website or any third-party retailer.
6. Autel EVO II Pro
If you’re trying to find a premium drone with stunning high-quality image and video results of up to 8K, Autel Robotics has you covered!
Last year on the 14th of July, Autel has introduced 3 different variants of the EVO II, the EVO II standard, EVO II Pro, and EVO II Dual.
These three drones have the same design with different cameras. The EVO II is equipped with a 28-megapixel camera and is claimed to be able to record video with up to 8K resolution.
The EVO II Pro, as the name implies, targets professional photographers with a 1-inch sensor, 6K video recording, and 20-megapixel camera shooting.
Besides packing a large sensor, the camera is also special thanks to the aperture that can be adjusted from f/2.8 to f/11, not to mention the sensitivity of ISO 100 – 12800.
At the price of $1695, The EVO II Pro is also equipped with a 7,100mAh battery which has a flight time of about 40 minutes, longer than any DJI Mavic drone.
Autel Robotics also claims the EVO II drone is equipped with 12 obstacle avoidance sensors for smooth flight as well as a compact and foldable design.
7. PowerVision PowerEgg X
For those searching for a unique-looking drone to accompany their day-to-day life, the PowerEgg X from PowerVision can be a great option.
As the name suggests, the PowerEgg X is drone-shaped like an egg. It comes with a 3-axis gimbal stabilizer which delivers smooth, stable, anti-shake footage.
Thanks to the wizard bundle and waterproof plastic frame, the PowerVision PowerEgg has the advantage of being able to fly during the rainy seasons.
Its versatile modular design also allows users to use the PowerEgg X as a handheld gimbal and an autonomous AI camera to mount on a tripod.
When it comes to picture quality, the PowerEgg X produces detailed 4K footage in bright conditions with an aperture of a 12MP 1/2.8-inch CMOS sensor.
To add, the PowerEgg X also features accurate face recognition AI. Not only that, the software has deep learning training to continuously improve through its uses.
Other features worth noting are its battery life of 3,800 maH and 6 km flying distance range. This offers the drone up to 30 minutes of flight time on a single charge.
With a price of $799, the PowerEgg X is definitely worth investing in. It’s light, unique, waterproof, with a decent flight time.
8. Ryze Tello
If you’re looking for a mini affordable drone, the Ryze Tello can be a viable option. Released back in 2018, it is now on sale for only $99.
Earlier this year, a startup company called Ryze Tech introduced a low-cost drone product called Ryze Tello targeted at drone beginners.
In terms of design, the DJI Tello has a small and compact design, measuring 98 x 92.5 x 41mm. It weighs only 80 grams even with propellers and battery included.
The compact design eliminates the landing gear section and extends the base of the propeller as the legs, giving the Ryze Tello drone ability to fly indoors.
To add, the Ryze Tello drone is also pretty easy to operate. Users just have to throw the drone out of their hand and it will fly straight away.
However, being priced under $100, the Ryze Tello obviously has some downsides as well. Some examples include its mediocre camera quality, video resolution, and flight time.
The drone is equipped with a 5MP and 720p camera resolution with up to 13 minutes of flying. It flies Iat 8m/s speed and can only be flown outside if there is no wind.
9. Skydio 2
Two years ago, the consumer drone industry saw the arrival of a new, quite ambitious brand, Skydio, with their first product called Skydio R1.
Fast forward to 2019, Skydio 2 drone was released to make up for all the shortcomings of the R1 at a much more affordable price.
At only $949, almost half the price of its predecessor, the Skydio 2 carries far superior camera quality and reduced durable built.
Skydio 2 is equipped with six 200-degree cameras with 45 megapixels. These cameras allow the drone to read its surroundings very well.
In addition, it also features a 12-megapixel camera with a 3-axis gimbal. The camera is capable of producing videos with 4K/60p HDR image quality.
In terms of flying performance, Skydio 2 is able to fly at a maximum speed of 58 km / h for 23 minutes on a single charge.
It also comes with a few different flying modes: through a smartphone app, remote control, and a remote as a tracker method.
10. HolyStone HS160Pro
Another option for the best and the most affordable drone for photos and videos in 2021 is the HolyStone HS160 Pro.
Released back in 2018, this foldable drone now retails for $72. It comes with a 1080P full HD wide-angle WiFi camera with many features and modes.
Some of these include Optical Flow Positioning, Wide Angle FPV Live Video, App Control, Gesture Selfie, Tap Fly, Altitude Hold, and so on.
It comes with two built-in batteries which support up to 24 mins flying time. When it comes to design, the HS160 Pro is foldable, lightweight, and easy to carry.
To add, the drone also comes with intelligent and fun features. Use simple hand gestures to capture selfies, draw the routes for the drone to follow, and so on.
There’s also a gravity and voice feature that controls the drone through spoken commands such as “take off”, “forward” or simple controller adjustments.
When it comes to the design, the HolyStone HS160Pro has a foldable and portable design.
The folded size measures 6.3×2.6×1.5 inch with a weight of under 250g.
The drone comes with Wi-Fi connectivity and is compatible with any IOS 8.0+ & Android 4.3+ devices. You can purchase it through its official website or a third-party reseller.
11. Potensic Elfin
If you’re looking for an affordable drone for photos and videos, you might want to check out the Potensic Elfin drone released sometime in 2020.
Priced at $80, this starter drone comes with a high-quality 2K camera that records and captures footage in stunning and crystal clear details.
Even better, all videos and photos are automatically saved onto your devices. This means you don’t even need a microSD card for the drone.
If you just want to look through the surroundings, the Potensic Elfin also allows you to stream first-person video on your smartphone as the drone soars the air.
Through the mobile app, users can also take advantage of Potensic’s great features to make flying more fun. Gestures control, trajectory flight, headless modes, you name it!
Thanks to all the tech the drone offers, Flying has never been so fun and easy! Even complete beginners can enjoy the drone without much hassle.
In terms of power, the Potensic Elfinn comes with a dual battery with a maximum flight time of up to 20 minutes on a single charge.
With its carrying bag, the foldable palm-size Elfin can be put even in your pocket. It only measures 10.5×10.5×4.5CM and weighs 95 grams.
12. SYMA Z1
Like other drone manufacturers, Syma is not one to fall behind on taking advantage of the surging foldable drone trends.
This led the brand to come up with the Syma Z1 on September 4th, 2018. The drone comes with a sharp and clean design, giving it a unique look.
One of the first things that will impress you about the Syma Z1 is its flat foldable design. It is a lightweight slim drone with foldable arms.
It weighs only around 200gand has small collapsible propeller blades. With arms expanded the drone only measures 25.6*20*3.5 cm.
Priced at only $79, the Syma Z1 is the perfect starter drone for beginners and kids who want to have a stylish and functional drone.
It comes with a built-in optimized 720P HD camera that delivers clear images and video footage to your smartphones.
The Syma Z1 is crafted with durable and long-lasting premium materials to make sure it has a long service life and resistance.
All in all, the Syma Z1 is a toy drone with 7 minutes of flight time and FPV capability. It would make a good first drone for complete beginners.
Wrapping Up!
There you have it! In this article, we have given you a short overview of the 12 best drones for photos and videos to choose from this year.
We hope this article has been helpful. If you still have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask in the comment section below.
See you in another article!
