Photo by Dose Media on Unsplash

I have been a Certified Drone Pilot for over four years, and I have gotten my fair share of questions about the best drones to buy, how to fly a drone, how to become a certified drone pilot, and why you should. I will be writing about drones in the next few articles to cover some of the most frequent questions I’ve been asked.

From aerial photography to search and rescue operations, drones have many applications and are becoming increasingly integrated into our society. And if you are looking to buy your first drone, it can be challenging to know where to start. With so many options available on the market, it’s essential to understand what to look for to make an informed decision. Here are some factors to consider when picking your first drone:

Purpose

Before buying a drone, it’s important to think about whatyou will use it for. Drones can be used for recreational purposes like flying for fun, aerial photography, or videography, or for commercial applications like inspections, mapping, or search and rescue operations. Photography and videography can also be considered commercial if you are making money from your collected imagery. Drones can also be used for educational purposes like teaching aviation physics or programming.

Knowing the purpose of your drone will help you narrow down your options. An important note on the recreational vs. commercial distinction: Generally, if you make money in any way using your drone or you use it as part of a business or organization, it is considered “commercial use.” To use a drone for commercial purposes legally, you must pass a test and become a Certified Remote Pilot (in the US).

For example, if you collect drone video and post it on Youtube and your channel is monetized, that is commercial use. If you work for a company and fly a drone to collect imagery to be used for internal planning, that is commercial use. If you sell your drone images, that is (obviously) commercial use.

Size and Weight

Drones come in various sizes and weights, from small and lightweight to large and heavy. It’s important to consider the size and weight of the drone, as it will affect its portability and maneuverability. If you plan to use your drone for travel, a smaller and lighter model might be more suitable, while a heavier drone might be more appropriate for commercial applications.

There are different regulatory definitions for drones of different sizes. But I will get into that in a different article focusing more on drone regulation and certification. If you want to know more, the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) is the relevant regulatory agency (in the US). Generally, the lighter a drone is, the less dangerous it is. But, the easier it will be blown around or away by the wind if you are outside.

The smallest drone that can get the job done is usually my go-to option. For added safety, you can purchase propeller guards for your drone. Some smaller, usually toy models come with them attached already.

Flight Time and Range

Flight time and range are important factors to consider when picking your first drone. Flight time refers to the amount of time the drone can stay in the air on a single battery charge, while the range refers to how far the drone can fly from the controller. If you plan to use your drone for photography or videography, a longer flight time and range will allow you to capture more footage. This is also important when considering mapping and survey uses.

Think about how many batteries you will need per project based on the drone’s flight time, then think about how many batteries you are willing to buy and carry around.

The range can be a bit more difficult to gauge as more than just hardware affects it; the same is true for batteries. Weather conditions, the presence of large amounts of metal, lots of obstructions, and the presence of other devices/structures that generate certain electromagnetic waves can all affect the control range of a drone as well as the video feed, if applicable.

As for batteries, temperature, wind, and gust speeds, whether you are flying into or against the wind, and battery age and storage methods can all affect the flight time of an individual drone battery.

If you need longer flight times but don’t want to fiddle with a bunch of batteries, a “fixed-wing” drone may be the way to go. But I will likely talk about that in another article. This article is already twice as long as I intended.

Photo by Ma Ti on Unsplash

Camera Quality

If you plan to use your drone for aerial photography or videography, or even mapping, camera quality is a critical factor to consider. Some drones come with a built-in camera, while others allow you to attach your camera. The camera resolution, frame rate, and stabilization features are important considerations when selecting a drone for photography, videography, or mapping. However, there are ways to work around not having a great camera. Post-processing and the software you use for drone imagery processing for mapping can do wonders, even with bad images or video. But the general rule still applies: Garbage in, Garbage out.

You can save yourself a lot of work and heartache by just starting off with a camera suitable for your needs. So, be sure to check the specs of the camera a drone is equipped with or at least have the return policy memorized.

If you plan on attaching a camera to a drone: First, you are probably way ahead of the game already and likely aren’t purchasing your first drone. And second, be mindful of the carrying capacity of the drone and any changes in weight class as it relates to regulations in your area. Oh, and please make sure there is enough space between the ground and the camera for bottom-mounted cameras. I’ve seen the give of drone legs not being accounted for when landing and the subsequently smashed camera lenses.

Control System and Features

Drones have various control systems and features, including GPS navigation, obstacle avoidance, and automatic return-to-home capabilities. Some can even generate panoramic and 360 views. These features can make flying a drone more comfortable, more fun, and safer, particularly for beginners.

When purchasing a drone, especially a higher-end drone or a drone for a specific purpose like photography or mapping, you should think about what software the drone uses/can use to utilize its various functions. What software is compatible with the collected data and its use case?

Some drones utilize proprietary software and only proprietary software, while others can be controlled with open-source software or other software not created by the drone manufacturer. How much does the software cost? What was it made for? Can it handle the resolution I intend to capture? These and other questions should be addressed before picking out your higher-end drone.

Regardless of which drone/software combo you pick, it’s important to become familiar with the software and controller of your new drone. Preferably, before your first flight…

Price

Drones come at various price points, with some models costing under twenty dollars and others costing tens of thousands of dollars. The price of the drone will depend on its features, camera quality, and flight time, among other factors. It’s important to set a budget before starting your search to ensure that you don’t overspend for something you may not even use much.

Determining your budget beforehand is really helpful when it comes to narrowing down your options. I recommend keeping the costs kind of low for your first drone. You may crash 2 or 3 times before you get the hang of flying or figure out what you like/don’t like in a drone. There is no point in throwing hundreds of dollars down the drain unnecessarily.

On the other hand, you may become a great pilot really quickly and avoid major crashes. But keep in mind, from my experience, drone repair can be really expensive if you don’t have a warranty, and you are often better off buying a new drone. Also, keep in mind the most common places to buy drones are directly from the manufacturer, resellers like tech and camera stores, or secondhand, like from eBay.

Photo by Jonathan Lampel on Unsplash

While I am not endorsing any of the drones below (okay, maybe a little bit…), these are some of the models that I think are good for first-time/beginner drone pilots based on the criteria above and my own experience (in no particular order):

1. Mavic Pro 1, 2, or 3 — Industry standards and very versatile but note that DJI has not released an SDK for the Mavic 3, so a lot of software not created by DJI doesn’t support it.
2. Mavic Mini — Light, small, and easy to fly. Great for indoors but is a fly-away risk outside on windy days.
3. Tello — A great educational drone! Is compatible with a handful of software and can be programmed to perform complex behaviors, even object recognition. I recommend this for classrooms and teaching or even just playing around. Relatively low-cost.
4. Mavic Air 2 — A great drone for photography and videography. I think I flew the 2S version. It has a great, solid feel to it and is easy to pick up and fly.
5. Holy Stone 210 or Holyton 330 — A toy drone, but really great examples of them, in my opinion. Easy to fly with built-in prop guards. Has cool features like hand control and flipping capabilities. The primary differences between the two are that one had a light and a different battery connector.

Flying Your New Drone

Now to fly your new drone! Not to discourage you after all of that research and effort, but I have heard so many stories about people being so excited to fly a drone, finally doing it, and then immediately crashing it into something. One story even involved crashing into a moving car…Below are some quick tips for your maiden flight to avoid accidents:

1. Pick an area where you are actually allowed to fly drones. Apps such as AirMap, B4UFLY, and Aloft can help with determining airspace types. But keep in mind that government property, sports games, hospitals, and airports usually have tough restrictions on flying near them. And just because you can fly somewhere doesn’t necessarily mean you should.
2. Know your takeoff method. Does your controller require you to press a button or move your control sticks in a specific way? Not knowing can easily result in a botched take-off and crash.
3. Start slow. Use gentle pressure on the sticks to get the “feel” of the drone before you put the proverbial pedal to the metal.
4. Figure out your preferred control scheme. Most drones let you change how they are configured to fly. Take advantage of this and experiment. Find what works best for you.
5. Be aware of your surroundings. Try to pick an open area with few trees, buildings, people, or utility poles. At least for your first flight.
6. Don’t forget to look up before takeoff. You’ll thank me later for this tidbit.

Picking your first drone can be overwhelming, but considering these factors can help you make an informed decision. Remember to identify the purpose of your drone, consider the size and weight, flight time and range, camera quality, control system and features, and price when making your selection. With the right drone, you can enjoy the many opportunities and experiences that come with flying a drone.

Oh yeah, and I forgot to mention: HAVE FUN!

I would love feedback on this article, and feel free to leave your questions and thoughts in the comments section. I will gauge what people are interested in and try to tailor articles to answer your questions or answer them directly.

Quick Disclaimer: This article and my other drone articles are based on regulations and my experience flying in the United States of America (USA). Other countries will have different regulatory agencies and likely different rules.

Thank you for reading!

Author: India T Johnson