How to Buy a Drone in?2022
As the benefits of drones have been realized by more and more people, the market has grown exponentially. Recently, Best Buy even began selling them in their stores. While it might seem daunting at first, buying a drone doesn’t need to be complicated if you’re prepared with this guide. The following covers everything from starter drones to professional photography drones.
If you’re looking for something fun and don’t mind getting messy (or you’d like to make your own), check out our article on building your own camera-equipped drone. If you already know what type of drone interests you but aren’t sure where to start, continue reading!
First off: What do I plan to use my drone for?
A drone can be used for all sorts of purposes. Most people buy them because they look cool or are simply fascinated by the technology. If you’re reading this, chances are you’re interested in using your new drone for something beyond just flying it around the living room. To choose the right drone for your needs, ask yourself:
Where will I fly my drone? Drone use is regulated by the FAA, which states that drones must be flown a minimum of 500ft away from any person or building not associated with its operation. This means that if you plan on flying close to anything besides open fields and unobstructed airspace, you’ll need a drone suited to those conditions (for example a racing/motorized quadcopter will be able to handle tighter turns and obstacles than a larger consumer drone such as the DJI Phantom 3 ).
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What capabilities do I need? Depending on how you plan to use your drone, certain features may be more or less important. For example, if you want to take video while flying, you’ll probably want a quadcopter with automatic stabilization since it’s notoriously difficult to fly without one ( generally speaking, more expensive drones are also easier to pilot).?
On the other hand, if you’re looking for an aerial photography drone. Getting the most professional-level footage means getting used to flying in manual mode, which requires that you have control over things like the altitude and orientation of your camera. If this is something that interests you, picking up a manual-capable drone such as the 3DR Solo or Blade 350 QX is recommended. For more detailed explanations of what to look for when buying a drone, check out our article on drones with cameras.
What do I expect my operating environment to be like? Most consumer and prosumer drones are designed to handle outdoor use in less than ideal conditions (such as light wind). If you want to fly your drone indoors, you’ll need something small and lightweight enough to not damage anything if it crashes (you can find models such as this one specifically marketed towards indoor flight), and if you plan on flying in low-light conditions or at night, you’ll need something that’s equipped with lights.