Saturday, November 3, 2018

Emirates Airbus A380 Jet Close Encounter With A Drone

Drones are amazing little gadgets that have been doing us a world of good for plenty of years already. However, with drone tech becoming cheaper and more advanced with every passing generation, there are lots of amateurs that are getting their hands on technically capable equipment. Mainly, I am referring to 4K drones such as DJI Mavic or DJI Phantom series since these are the most popular ones.

However, some of these amateur aerial photographers are making our hobby look bad. Not like it’s already on a very bad reputation all across the globe. You see, there’s a gentleman that shot an up-close video of an Airbus A380 Jet taking off. The location was at the Plaine Magnien airport on the beautiful island of Mauritius. Needless to say, such an act is illegal and outright stupid… but hey, there’s all sorts of people out there.

Reckless flying such as this one can lead to a massive catastrophe but I’m afraid the person who shot this video didn’t even think twice about what he could cause. But how did it got to this? Aren’t there some sort of protective systems that deny flying in areas close to airports. Well, there is… Newer high-end drones come with NoFly Zones embedded into their firmware but there are usually not enough to stop potential thrill-seekers.

 

NoFly Zones not doing their job

Yes, even though certain high-end drones indeed to have NoFly zones incorporated into their firmware, it’s still a long shot to stop potential lawbreakers. How come? Well, some can simply be completely turned off while others are susceptible to bypassing one way or another. The end result – amateurs can still get their drones to fly in dangerous locations and there is pretty much nothing there to stop them. Except for common sense, but I guess they don’t have that, do they?!

However, there’s another issue with the Plaine Magnien airport. You see, certain drones do in fact recognize it as a NoFly Zone… but the radius is too small for such a runway meaning that the drone could’ve easily had NoFly zones turned on and still be able to record the video. Also, some people are suggesting that this video is not illegal simply due to the fact the drone was outside of the NoFly zones.

 

Is this still illegal?

Of course, it is! Just because there is a misunderstanding with the NoFly zone area doesn’t make this flight any less illegal. In fact, it’s not just illegal but outright stupid as well. I mean, why on Earth would you record an Airbus takeoff from such a close distance. There’s a ton of things that could’ve gone wrong and the outcomes could’ve been catastrophic. These types of drone users are what’s pushing our hobby down and making a bad name for it. This is among the reasons why people don’t like drones in the first place. Yes, I am triggered by this flight and the pilot’s irresponsible behavior, and so should every drone lover be!

AirBus A380 Drone Video

Different countries have different laws as far as small unmanned vehicles are concerned… but there’s one thing that’s the same throughout the globe – flying near airports is a criminal offense. So, hopefully, the culprit will answer for his deeds which could’ve led to a tragedy on the beautiful Mauritius island. So, will there be some sort of prosecution for the person flying the drone? Well, here is what we know so far:

 

Will there be an investigation?

Once again, as far as the public knows, the flight was recorded next to Plaine Magnien airport on Mauritius. The plane taking off seems to be Airbus A380 but unfortunately, the exact flight number still hasn’t been figured out. Some people suggest it was a flight connecting Mauritius to Dubai but so far it has not been confirmed.

Many people are also talking about what sort of a drone was used to record the footage. Some suggested it was the likes of DJI Mavic Pro or DJI Phantom, but such claims quickly broke down. How come? Well, the video shows camera zooming in and out several times and there is only a handful of drones with a zoom feature. The most likely model is the all-new Parrot Anafi (read Parrot Anafi review here) which is known to produce a similar zooming effect to the one seen in the footage.

But how did the public learn about this video? Well, it originates from a facebook post uploaded by a man called Thierry Paris. It is unknown whether or not he’s the one piloting the drone. But it’s pretty likely. Plus, he was quick to delete the video soon after it became viral. All things considered, Mauritius local authorities have already announced they’ll be starting the investigation soon. From all we’ve seen so far, Mr. Thierry Paris is most likely going to be the first person of interest.

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[Review] Holy Stone HS700 | Is it better than MJX ?

Holy Stone has been a steady player in the drone industry for quite some time now. They started out with miniature drones aimed primarily at children but moved their way up the food chain since then. HS170 Predator, their most notable mini-drone, received quite a lot of praise in its time. There were few iterations afterward but none managed to create enough fuss. But then, they surprised everyone with HS100 – their first ever mid-range model. With impressive build quality, GPS, return to home and an interesting motorized camera, Holy Stone HS100 was a massive success.

holy-stone-hs700-ophelia_web

Driven by such good sales and customer feedback, Holy Stone staff rolled up their sleeves and went to the drawing board. Now, they are presenting us with a brand new model – the best one yet, may I add… It goes by the name Holy Stone HS700 and brings several new features to the table… as well as improved specifications.

 

Holy Stone HS700 Review | Tech Specs

Flight time : Up to 20 minutes

Flight range : up to 400 meters

Camera : 1080p FHD Camera

Advanced Features : GPS, Follow Me,

Battery : 2800mAh LiPo 

Transmitter : A dedicated physical transmitter

holy-stone-hs700-ophelia-main-img_web

 

We’re talking about a smart drone here

holy-stone-hs700-smart-drone_webAfter experimenting (and doing a great job, if I may add) with miniature, toy-grade drones, Holy Stone decided to take a bold step and invest time and money into more advanced UAVs.

First off, they released HS100 which was an absolute hit in every meaning of that word. At the time of writing this Holy Stone HS700 review, its little brother, HS100, has close to 1200 unique reviews on Amazon. And the average rating is 4.5 stars – I believe that speaks enough about the quality.

Now, after such a huge success, Holy Stone is proud to present their newest endeavor – HS700. It looks somewhat similar to the old champ 3DR Solo but with a couple of twists here and there.

As for the actual features, HS700 just like HS100, has an onboard GPS module. It enables smart features including follow me, circle around me, return to home and TapFly. All features are pretty precise plus the GPS locks in around 19 to 22 satellites in less than a minute from bootup.

Calibration is pretty easy to deal with too with clear and simple instructions. Furthermore, there are 3 types of return to home with HS700, similarly to MJX models such as the highly popular MJX Bugs 2W. They are as follows – Low Battery RTH, Signal loss RTH and Manual RTH. Altitude Hold is present as well, but I guess that’s logical considering the presence of GPS.

 

The camera could be better

holy-stone-hs700-camera_webIf there is one thing we could change with Holy Stone Hs700 Ophelia, it would definitely be its camera. Perhaps switch it out for a GoPro Hero 3 or maybe even a newer model. The bracket supports GoPro Hero 2 3 and 4 so there should be no issues as far as mounting is concerned. This would, needless to say, do it a world of good as far as image quality is concerned.

How come? Well – the stock camera won’t really impress you with its sharpness. Plus, it has that weird fisheye effect due to the fact its lens has 110 degrees field of view. It can shoot videos in Full HD, but they are pretty shaky due to the obvious lack of motorized gimbal.

The camera is mounted in a small bracket which does have basic anti-vibration dampening, but nothing that will smoothen out your aerial footage. Luckily, if you aren’t impressed with the camera, you can always switch it out for a better one. Anything with proper onboard image stabilization will work wonders with Holy Stone HS700 Ophelia. You will notice the difference at the very first glance – much sharper footage with smoothened transitions and great general quality.

 

Good choice of brushless motors

Let’s start off by stating the official names of the motors that HS700 comes equipped with. We are talking about 2204 1500Kv brushless motors, first ever for Holy Stone. It’s true – this is their first brushless model and, mind you, there’s a huge difference between brushless and their brushed counterparts. First of all – endurance. Brushless motors can withstand a lot more mileage before they give out and stop working. This is simply because they don’t possess a brush that tends to wear out with time and use.

Furthermore, we are talking about high-quality brushless motors too. 2204 1500Kv poised with a mere 7.4v battery might not sound like much at first, but once you see this little bugger in action you’ll immediately change your mind. This thing is powerful – and that’s awesome to see since it’s a pretty big drone. You can get high-speed aerial footage with it, and at the end of the day, that’s what a drone is all about for some people!

 

Decent battery for the price

If you were expecting a monstrous battery with this one, I am sad to inform you that it’s not. However, it’s not a trash battery either – it’s a golden middle if you ask me.

A solid 2800mAh LiPo that guarantees extended longevity and good power efficiency. For those of you who are more interested in the flight time of this beauty, I hope you weren’t thinking of reaching the numbers of premium models.

With drones such as HS700, you really have to adjust your expectations to match the price tag… And we all know HS700 is quite the bargain. With that being said, it’s specifications offer great value for money.

Battery duration tends to get close to 20 minutes which is, mind you, roughly what you can expect from DJI Mavic Air. Now go ahead and compare the prices and you will understand what I’m talking about here!

 

Holy Stone HS700 | Conclusion

That’s about it, guys! We have to bring Holy Stone HS700 review to a close since there’s nothing more to be said about it. It’s a good drone, no doubt about it. A combination of brilliant built quality, decent camera and a solid set of features makes it a force to be reckoned with in the mid-range market.

It just came out and we’ve heard there is already a huge buzz for it. Sales have skyrocketed this week so I wouldn’t be surprised if it sells out in the next few days. This all means Holy Stone took another step in the right direction… with another splendid drone to their name. Good work Holy Stone, you’ve done well !

The post [Review] Holy Stone HS700 | Is it better than MJX ? appeared first on DronesGlobe.com.

Thursday, July 26, 2018

Amazing Drone Display Courtesy of Intel

Back in 2015, a couple of Intel’s employees that were working on drone projects were wondering whether or not it is feasible to fly 100 drones over Intel’s headquarters. The drones would create the company’s logo through the use of lights and colors.

This was all thought of jokingly, but not even half a decade later, we’ve been seeing aerial displays like never before. Intel has already broken a world record when they flew more than 1,500 drones that were designed for the light show. This was the first time in history that this many aerial vehicles were flying at the same time. And keep this in mind: the breaking of the world record happened just last week! The display was absolutely fascinating! Here’s a picture of a previous iteration of Intel’s display show, hosted half a year ago:

Amazing Drone Display Courtesy of Intel

 

How did they manage to do this?

Intel’s drones are lighter than your commercial drone examples but are very maneuverable. They’re called the Intel Shooting Star Drones and have 4 propellers that are encased in plastic. The drones also have a center made out of styrofoam and a special type of LED light (flashing) on the bottom part of the drone. This LED light can display a staggering four billion colors!

Here’s another interesting piece of info: Only a couple of people were behind this light show! That’s right, there weren’t huge numbers of pilots operating each drone; it was all pre-programmed by Natalie Cheung and her engineer team. The drones themselves are made just for entertainment purposes and that’s partly what makes them so interesting.

 

The Light Show was a proper spectacle

During the light show, we could see many different shapes and objects, all created by the choreographed drones. The show went on for around 8 minutes and many onlookers decided that this was how they’d spend their night. And they didn’t make a mistake! 3D objects like a globe of the world that was rotating around its axis and a dance party were on display. The scenes were absolutely beautiful and enjoyable.

Natalie Cheung is extremely proud of the achievements of her team and has said that these drones and light shows are evidence of how quickly technology can advance. It’s also evidence of how the human mind works; Cheung and her team were telling a story through small balls of lights. It’s also worth noting that, because the drones are small and light, caution must be used when planning. Any wind stronger than 15mph (and sometimes even less) is enough to cause safety concerns.

This is why Cheung and her team is completely dedicated to their jobs and hobbies – flying drones and giving the people of the world something to enjoy. It is safe to say that after all of these displays of engineering marvel and creativity, Natalie Cheung has achieved what her team first thought of a couple of years back. Plus, there is a big benefit to what they are doing – the ability to fly multiple drones at the same time.

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Tuesday, July 24, 2018

The Zephyr Stratosphere Drone – A Solar-Powered Marvel

Time to talk about something relatively large. 25 meters wingspan large. Yep, it’s the Zephyr S. This is a rather new stratosphere drone that comes from Airbus and they have, in fact, opened up a production line for it. The main use for this type of drone is aerial surveillance, broadband access to remote regions, and reconnaissance. As such, a lot of technology needs to be used for this type of creation. Airbus understands this and they’ve created something incredible.

The Zephyr can fly at an altitude of around 21km; above jet streams, clouds, and the ozone layer. The drone is unobstructed because air traffic flies at a lower altitude. Airbus is very optimistic and creative with their goals – 100 days of flight with no landing need and a travel distance of 1,000 nautical miles per day. This is ambitious, to say the least, but if anyone can do it, Airbus can.

Here’s an interesting bit of info – the Zephyr weighs only 75kg which is almost the average weight of a human. However, the Zephyr is by no means a lightweight and can easily carry a load up to 5 kilograms.

Also, here’s a comparison of the two main Zephyr models:

Zephyr Stratoshpere Drone Comparison

The Future

Airbus is sure to earn a lot of money from the deals between them and other parties for the Zephyr. In fact, the United Kingdom’s Ministry of Defence already made purchases of UAVs. At the moment, Airbus is looking to create a drone that would be capable of creating a communication network for both military and/or civilian uses. In the near future, we’ll probably see similar drones delivering Internet access to remote areas of the world.

The Zephyr S is the first commercial iteration of the original concept. All previous models were just for research purposes and acted as development prototypes. Here’s what Sophie Thomas, Zephyr’s head of programme at Airbus said:

“The vision was there over ten years ago. What we’ve been waiting for and working on is the technology developments in different areas like battery technology and the solar array — for that to be ready and available to the standard we need to make this a really viable product. That’s where we are today”.

It’s no surprise that Airbus is excited to be pushing out their first drone of this kind. It’s also evident that they’re constantly pushing the boundaries and looking for ways to make this technology even better.

 

What’s the difference between Satellites and Stratosphere drones?

There are two key advantages that drones get over satellites and we can’t ignore them:

Firstly, the drone is closer to earth so the images that get taken by the drone are much clearer and in higher quality than what you’d get from traditional (read obsolete) satellites.

The latency with drones is significantly reduced (when talking about communications), not to mention the fact UAVs are also cheaper to create, release, and pilot than satellites.

Final words

In a decade, we might see thousands of these drones flying above Earth’s surface. There’ll be many more photos of our planet, maybe even internet access at places that can’t get it traditionally. There’s all to play for here and stratosphere drones like the Zephyr S will advance technology many years. Who knows what kind of an effect these drones will have on our future, but one thing is sure – they’re here to stay.

What do you guys think about Zephyr Stratosphere drones? Can you imagine yourself being in charge of creating, maintaining and piloting one of these bad boys? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section down below!

Until next time…

Happy flying!

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Friday, July 20, 2018

[Review] Parrot Anafi – DJI Mavic Air killer ?

Parrot is a well-respected name in the drone industry. In fact, I rank it really high, somewhere rather close to DJI. However, they’ve been awfully quiet in recent months. Recent year to be more precise, with no real high-end models being released. True, they had numerous variations (some would say bundles) of their bestselling Bebop 2… but those can’t be considered as new drones, not by any means.

With all that being said, the announcement of Parrot Anafi and first emerging videos on YouTube really struck most of us by surprise. I mean, it’s not that Parrot had gone off the radar, but somehow we weren’t expecting a new drone from them… let alone a new drone such as this one.

Parrot Anafi Foldable 4K Drone

Parrot Anafi Review

But come to think of it… Anafi is basically the embodiment of where the drone market is currently heading. A small, foldable drone with a top tier camera, mechanical stabilization, and smart, autonomous features. Logically, the biggest competitor will be the all-new Mavic Air… However, instead of comparing these 2 models (more on the comparison down below), we’ll first take a closer look at Parrot Anafi! So, if you’re interested in Parrot Anafi and its specifications, design, features and all that good stuff, don’t stop reading now as the fun part is just about to start!

Source : Parrot

 

Specifications | What do we know so far?

There’s not a lot of information available on Parrot Anafi, but we managed to dig up some numbers for future comparisons:

  • Max flying speed: 33mph
  • Battery type: 2S 2700mAh LiPo
  • Battery duration: 20 to 25 minutes
  • Operating range: up to 4 kilometers
  • Imaging sensor: Sony IMX230 
  • Video bitrate: up to 100mbps

Source : Parrot

 

Parrot Anafi review : Camera promises a lot!

Parrot Anafi drone doesn’t stray too far from the latest DJI model – Mavic Air. It boasts with a Sony IMX230 sensor bringing 21 effective megapixels to the table. This is, needless to say, quite a high number; in fact, higher than that of DJI Mavic Air. However, there’s more difference between these 2 cameras than mere megapixel count.

Video bitrate is equally (if not more) important – and luckily for both of these drones, their video bitrates are standing high at up to 100mbps. That’s becuase Anafi and Mavic Air are capable of recording 4K Ultra HD videos at solid 30fps. However, DJI Mavic Air does best when it comes to lower resolution fps. More precisely, Parrot Anafi does 1080p videos at 60fps while Mavic Air does incredible 120fps.

Source : Parrot

There is, however, a special trait that makes Parrot Anafi’s camera rather interesting. Well, not just interesting but useful as well… Can you guys name a few drones that come with zoom cameras? I’m sure many of you couldn’t name a single one. Yes, there are a few… including the likes of mainstream DJI models such as Phantom 4 and Mavic Pro… but Anafi takes it to another level. It supports lossless zooming up to 3 times, but it will take a toll on the video resolution. It’s kind of a double-edged sword if you ask me.

Furthermore, what’s far more important than zoom on this baby is its stabilization. This time around, we are technically looking at a mechanical 3-axis gimbaleven though, in reality, it’s a hybrid model. 2 axis are mechanical and 1 is electronic. But that’s not the best part, not by a long shot. You see, Parrot Anafi’s gimbal has a pitch motion of 180 degrees.

What this means is that it can look straight up, which is something only a few drones can do (and they cost several thousand dollars, if we’re to be completely honest here). That’s all thanks to the fact there are no obstacles on top of the camera like we’re seeing with virtually all mainstream drones of today. This is a huge plus, there’s no doubt about it; an uncommon characteristic that gives drone operators a brand new shot perspective.

 

Parrot Anafi Review : Interesting design

Interesting… to say the least! Starting off with the obvious, Parrot Anafi is a foldable drone just like its biggest competitor – DJI Mavic Pro. However, it feels much lighter and doesn’t come with a gimbal protector. It’s not a manufacturing or packaging flaw though – Anafi doesn’t need a gimbal protector since it’s protected by its front arms. As far as the build design is concerned, this thing resembles insects. Well, bees; if we are to be really precise.

Moving on, the 2S 2700mAh battery snugs nicely on the top of the drone, and you it’s actually charged via USB C instead of traditional proprietary plugs. Honestly speaking, I find this to be a huge plus since you’ll be able to charge this thing with your phone charging cable if you somehow manage to lose the original one. Last but not least, night flights won’t be a blast with Parrot Anafi since it only sports a single LED down at the bottom side.

Now there’s something many users already reported on – Anafi arms are too narrow… and indeed they are. They are so narrow that it might look like they will break during the very first crash. However, once you take the drone into your own hands, unfold it and start closely inspecting it, you will realize just how stiff and sturdy it really is.

 

Main features

Parrot Anafi ControllerMoving onto the features, Parrot has really done a good job with this one. Parrot Anafi review, sort of like Bebop, has access to all the latest (and greatest) autonomous features that are bound to help it make its way to the top of the market. With that being said, you will get to enjoy the likes of dronie, orbit, follow me and even dolly zoom, which is a brilliantly implemented feature that will turn your small sketches into works of art!

As far as the dedicated controller is concerned, it looks sleek but doesn’t feel so premium as the drone itself. It sports 2 sliders, 1 dedicated to gimbal and 1 to zoom. There aren’t a lot of physical buttons on it, but that’s only because the app will provide you with all the functions you will need. Talking about buttons, the first thing you’ll notice once you set your eyes on this little fella is that there’s no power button. Yup – this thing is powered on automatically once you open the top portion (the antenna).

We also shouldn’t forget about some of the most basic of features that we’ve come to take for granted nowadays. GPS, altitude hold, smart return to home and geofence… all of these features are supported by Parrot Anafi. If you ask me, it’s really impressive to see such an abundance of technology and processing power crammed up in such a small drone. Best of all, it weighs less than its direct competitors while still retaining their main feats (Anafi weighs in at just slightly over 300 grams). 

However, there is something about Parrot Anafi that many of you won’t like at all. Even though WiFi transmission tech has come a long way in the last decade or so, drone fans are still not quite impressed with it. Still, DJI Mavic air uses roughly the same technology and is being regarded as pretty decent in terms of range. The same can be said about Parrot Anafi, with up to 4 kilometers (basically what you can expect from Mavic air too) it stands pretty well. However, keep in mind that you probably won’t be getting anywhere near 4 kilometers in urban areas with lots of interference and obstacles.

 

Parrot Anafi – Price and Release Date

The majority of people reading this will want to know all the freshest information about where can they get their hands on Parrot Anafi. Well, I’m here to bring you good news – Parrot Anafi, just like all other Parrot drones so far, will be available on Amazon as well as the official Parrot website. Don’t get your hopes up too fast though – it’s not available for sale just yet!

On the bright side, there’s info on Parrot’s official Anafi page that it is scheduled to be in stock on 2nd of July. So that’s just a couple of more day (or it’s already in stock, depending on when you read this).

As for the pricing, you can buy Parrot Anafi for $700 which is slightly cheaper than DJI Mavic Air. Still, a more proper price comparison would be against DJI Mavic Air Fly More Combo (which is a lot more expensive than Anafi) considering the fact the basic version does not sport a dedicated controller.

 

Parrot Anafi vs DJI Mavic Air – Is it too early for comparisons?

Well, considering the fact Parrot Anafi still hasn’t hit the shelves, in-depth comparisons of these 2 drones are not yet possible. There are bound to be several changes (presumably in the Parrot app) before the final product, so it’s only logical to keep the comparison for ourselves… at least for the moment. This, however, doesn’t mean there will be no Parrot Anafi vs DJI Mavic Air comparison on DronesGlobe. As soon as there’s more information available, we’ll make sure we have a dedicated comparison article waiting for you guys!

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[Comparison] Best 4k drones 2018

A couple of years ago, 1080p was the reference for high-quality displays. Anything below this was considered low end and price drops were raging. Since then, the situation has changed drastically, up to the point of 1080p being considered as mediocre… and even obsolete. But what does all this mean for a drone with 4K camera?

best 4k drone

With modern-day video game titles (for both consoles and PCs) adapting quickly to the new standard in resolution, 4K, it’s quite clear our good old 1080p won’t be able to cut it for much longer. Yes, the majority of people are still using 1080p panels, but the transition to 4K has already started and it’s expanding rapidly… thus those who already transitioned are demanding more 4K content.

That’s why, today, we will be taking a look for the best drone with 4K camera. As already stated above – the potential 4K-ready audience is rapidly expanding, so if you’re wanting to provide your clients with the best media consumption experience – drones with 4K cameras are the obvious way to go. However, If you want to make those aerial pixels count, you must prepare yourself for quite the spending as the top models go for rather vigorous amounts of money.

With all that in mind, I suppose we can start off with our countdown of 10 best 4K camera drones!

TABLE : DRONES WITH 4K CAMERA

Name Image Camera Battery Range Price
10. Yuneec Breeze 4K@30fps 12min 80m See best offer
9. Upair One 4K@42fps 20min 600m See best offer
8. Walkera Vitus Walkera Vitus Table 4K@30fps 22min 1500m See best offer
7. GoPro Karma GoPro 20min 2000m See best offer
6. AR X-Star Premium 4K@30fps 25min 2000m See best offer
5. DJI Mavic Pro 4K@24fps 27min 7000m See best offer
4. DJI Mavic Air DJI Mavic Air Table 4K@30fps 20min 4000m See best offer
3. Yuneec Typhoon H 4K@30fps 25min 1500m See best offer
2. DJI Phantom 4 Pro+ DJI-Phantom-4 4K@60fps 15min 150m See best offer
1. DJI Inspire 2 6K@30fps 15min 150m See best offer

10. Yuneec Breeze

Yuneec Breeze with Transmitter

A good drone with 4k camera to start this list off is a miniature little fella that goes by the name Breeze. And it really is a breeze to fly! This is one of those selfie drones which are compact, usually foldable and have great cameras. The same goes for this one. It’s easy to fly, has several autonomous features and doesn’t require a professional behind the transmitter. Besides that, let’s see what else is this little bugger capable of!

Electronic image stabilization spices up the footage

Until the release of DJI Spark, not a lot of selfie drones had mechanical image stabilization. As a matter of fact – there are only several models (including this one) which sport electronic image stabilization. As many of you already know, EIS trims the edges of your footage in order to stabilize it. This means EIS can’t work in the maximum resolution the camera offers.

In other words, even with Yuneec Breeze having a 4K capable camera, if you turn EIS on the result will be in 1080p. So, you are basically forced to choose between shaky footage in 4K or smooth footage in 1080p. As for the actual image quality, I’d say this 13MPX camera does a pretty good job. FPS doesn’t drop plus Breeze sports 5 autonomous flight modes. They are as follows: Selfie, Pilot, Follow Me, Orbit, and Journey.

Dashing looks but underpowered hardware

Let’s get one thing out of the way – Yuneec Breeze is an absolute beauty. It sports a glossy white canopy with stunning silver decals. The camera doesn’t stand out from the general design and those landing legs, even though they look fragile, are actually quite robust.

The main issues I have with Yuneec Breeze are its specifications. I don’t mind the flight duration that goes up to 12 minutes that much. In fact, I find it great in comparison to flight height which stretches out to only 80ish meters. It’s a selfie drone, I get it… But I still expected a bit more explorative spirit with Yuneec Breeze. If you’re like m, perhaps this next drone will be more your cup of tea.

Yuneec Breeze Camera Spec

HTML Table
Yuneec Breeze
Max Video Resolution 3840 x 2160 @30fps
Max Photo Resolution 4160 x 3120
Effective Pixels 13MPX
Sensor 1/3.06 CMOS
FOV 117°
Bitrate Up to 50mbps

 

 

9. Upair One

Upair One Novi

In contrast to Yuneec Breeze, Upair One is a huge 4k drone camera. Realistically speaking, it looks like one of those DJI Phantom copies… but it’s actually a solid all-around drone. The resemblance is there, no doubt about it (heck, even the transmitter looks similar to that of DJI Phantoms), but with an affordable price tag and great performance, can Upair One be a real Phantom killer in disguise? Let’s find out!

Upair One doesn’t fail to deliver

This dashing 4K video drone sports brushless motors and has several cameras to choose from. 4K (obviously), 2.7K and 1080p cameras are available. Since the price gaps aren’t too huge, I warmly suggest going for the high-end 4K version. Another great thing about it is the fact that it sports GPS + Beidou positioning systems which ensure pinpoint accuracy. Also, they allow the return to home feature. 3 types of RTH to be more precise – Manual, low voltage, and signal loss.

Altitude hold is another feature of crucial importance for Upair One. Thanks to AH, it’s able to capture smooth and steady aerial videos. The provided 2-axis gimbal does its share of the work as well, eliminating shakiness and providing controls over the camera positioning. Overall, there’s no doubt Upair One is capable of delivering excellent 4k camera drone performance!

Great value for money with this one

Considering the price you’ll end up paying for Upair One, it goes without any doubt that it offers great value for money. If the above was not enough to convince you, perhaps these next couple of paragraphs will. Starting off with the battery, Upair One sports a bulky 5400mAh 3S intelligent LiPo pack. It can keep it in the air for close to 20 minutes… even 25 without gimbal and camera mounted on it.

Operating range is amazing too. You will be able to go as far as 500 to 600 meters. I almost forgot to mention Upair One sports 5.8Ghz FPV. It doesn’t go the full operating range distance but compensates for it with a large 7-inch display clamped on its stylish transmitter. When you consider everything mentioned, you’ll come up to a conclusion this is a very good affordable drone with 4k camera.

Upair One Camera Specs

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UPAIR ONE
Max Video Resolution 3840 x 2160 @24fps
Max Photo Resolution 4160 x 3120
Effective Pixels 16MPX
Sensor Sony 1/2.3 CMOS
FOV 120°
Bitrate Up to 50mbps

 

 

8. Walkera Vitus

Walkera Vitus With Transmitter

Walkera Vitus is a relatively new drone that got released in summer of 2017. There was really a lot of hype behind it at that time. Many people believe it to be DJI Mavic Pro killer… But it’s safe to say Walkera Vitus hasn’t lived up to the initial expectations. What went wrong? Why is this gorgeous 4k 60fps drone not that popular? Well, here’s the deal…

Walkera Vitus is a drop dead gorgeous foldable aerial photography drone

When you put Vitus and Mavic Pro side by side you will notice Walkera’s model has a much more aggressive look. I, personally, love it and would choose it over DJI’s masterpiece at any time of the day. It’s a matter of personal preference though – I am sure some of you will prefer Mavic Pro’s more industrial design… but I can’t help it – I’m in love with this little birdie’s looks.

Appearance aside – Walkera Vitus doesn’t perform badly either. With approximately 22 minutes of flight time and as far as 1 to 1.5 kilometers of operating range (thanks to the provided DEVO F8S transmitter), it wasn’t too far off Mavic Pro. The price difference was reflecting that as well… In fact, Walkera Vitus has a great 12MPX Sony camera recording 4K at 30fps and FHD at 60fps with up to 64mpbs bitrate and provides with FPV. Moreover, there’s even an integrated obstacle avoidance system that detects at roughly 7 meters of distance. So, if everything is rainbows and butterflies with this one – why hasn’t it live up to its expectations?

Several downsides

The biggest issue with Walkera Vitus is their unpolished firmware. When this drone was initially released, a ton of advertised features was missing from the app. Even though they’ve fixed some of the issues, a few still remain alongside several notable bugs. The biggest one being random flyaways which were reported by several YouTubers.

Unfortunately, if your best 4k drone ends up flying away, you won’t be able to get a refund since Walkera’s warranty policy requires you to send them your drone so they can check whether or not the mistake was on their end… These flyaways aren’t that common… but it’s still something to consider before purchasing Walkera Vitus.

Walkera Vitus Camera Specs

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WALKERA VITUS
Max Video Resolution 3840 x 2160@30fps
Max Photo Resolution 4000 x 3000
Effective Pixels 12MPX
Sensor Sony 1/2.3 CMOS
FOV 85°
Bitrate Up to 64mbps

 

 

7. GoPro Karma

GoPro Karma Novi

7th spot belongs to GoPro Karma. The first and last GoPro’s entry to the drone industry. Yup – they announced it awhile back – Karma won’t be getting an official successor meaning for all you thrill-seekers out there… you wi.. either have to get the original Karma or the hyped up AirDog ADII. But what’s so special about Karma that makes it the best drone choice for thrill seekers? Well, it seems as though the key is in its accessories…

Amazing versatility at your disposal

The best thing about GoPro Karma is that it offers a complete package. Not only are you getting the actual drone but you’re also getting a carrying case, a controller and removable gimbal. On top of all that, the biggest addition is definitely the so-called Karma Grip which allows you to take both aerial and handheld videos. As far as the video quality is concerned, GoPro Karma supports all the newest GoPro Hero models including the newest GoPro Hero 6 Black

With that being said, once you mount GoPro Hero 6 Black on the removable gimbal and connect it to the drone, you’ll be all set to record amazing aerial footage. Sick and tired of flying or the battery is all gone? Simply take the Karma Grip and you are good to go – GoPro Karma allows both aerial and body-mounted/handheld footage making it the most versatile drone package out there.

General performance is pretty solid

After the initial launch, all GoPro Karma models were taken off the shelves due to technical issues. Now that they’ve been fixed, it is safe to say that Karma offers pretty decent performance. The only bad thing to say about it is that it has marvelous competition. Mainly, I am referring to DJI Mavic Pro which completely wrecked Karma as soon as the first sale figures came in.

Still, with up to 3 kilometers of operating range and somewhat of a solid 20-minute flight time, GoPro Karma seems like a pretty decent smart drone. Yes, it boasts GPS connectivity as well as a handful of autonomous modes such as Cable Cam, Orbit, Reveal, and Dronie.

GoPro Karma Camera Specs

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GoPro Karma
Max Video Resolution 3840 x 2160@60fps
Max Photo Resolution 4096 x 3072
Effective Pixels 12MPX
Sensor GoPro Hero 6 Black 1/2.3 CMOS
FOV 3 types of FOV
Bitrate Up to 80mbps

 

 

6. Autel Robotics X-Star Premium

Autel Robotics X-Star Premium Novi

Autel Robotics X-Star Premium is a brilliant drone with 4k camera that’s considered to be an outright steal at the moment. It’s priced significantly lower than DJI Phantom 4 Pro but offers similar performance as far as aerial videos are concerned. Of course, the range is much shorter, but that’s only due to the fact DJI has the most advanced transmission system in RTF drones market. So, with all that in mind, let’s take a closer look at X-Star Premium and see if it’s a good replacement for DJI’s Phantom lineup of drones!

Great performance… and then some!

X-Star Premium is a premium grade drone, there’s no doubt about it. With a spectacular 4K camera and a couple of well put together autonomous modes, this thing can do a very good job in terms of aerial photography. It sports a 12MPX sensor capable of recording in 4K at 30fps. Lower that to FHD and you get 120fps and smooth slow-motion footage at your fingertips. With access to both GPS and GLONASS and HD live view via integrated LCD display – you basically get the entire package in one go.

Not a single notable downside

Even after taking a closer look at X-Star Premium’s specifications we will not find a single notable downside. It’s true! This birdie has roughly 2 kilometers of operating (and live video streaming) range, making it miles ahead of all other competitors other than DJI. Battery duration seems solid as well. That’s because Autel Robotics X-Star Premium can endure up to 25 minutes of being in the air and recording at the same time.

Another key aspect of Autel Robotics X-Star Premium is the fact that it’s one of the most reliable drones out there. With all the latest safety gimmicks and pinpoint GPS accuracy, X-Star Premium is a commercially viable device capable of doing all sorts of demanding aerial tasks.

Autel Robotics X-Star Premium Camera Specs

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Autel Robotics X-Star Premium
Max Video Resolution 3840 x 2160@30fps
Max Photo Resolution 4096 x 3072
Effective Pixels 12MPX
Sensor 1-inch CMOS
FOV 108°
Bitrate Up to 60mbps

 

 

5. DJI Mavic Pro

DJI Mavic Pro Novi

At the time of its release, DJI Mavic Pro was the most advanced mini foldable drone available on the market. Even though the competition did not take too long to come close to its performance, I still believe it’s the best of what mini foldable drones have to offer. However, with Autel Robotics Evo and DJI Mavic Air coming out, it makes us wonder if Mavic Pro has enough juice in it to battle it out with the new arrivals…

Smallest of packages hide the strongest of poisons

Obstacle avoidance, GPS connectivity and full support for DJI GO app make this little bird an exceptional device. The app contains a ton of useful features, some for casual and others for professional usage scenarios. ActiveTrack and TapFly are 2 of the most popular ones as they represent easy methods of recording excellent aerial footage. As for the camera, DJI Mavic Pro relies on a powerful 12MPX sensor capable of recording 4K footage at 30fps. It’s mounted on a 3-axis gimbal that greatly contributes to the overall video smoothness and quality.

After checking out a whole heap of features, I believe we should go back to the basics and notice just how small this thing is… especially considering what it has to offer. Marvelous performance and professional-grade camera in such a small package! And that’s the genius part about it! The fact that you’ll be able to take it with you wherever you go without it being too much of a hassle… That is invaluable and basically what makes DJI Mavic Pro that awesome.

Thrilling all-around performance

And this thing doesn’t fail to perform either. Another fantastic thing about it are its specifications. I kid you not – they are pretty much identical to those on the newest Phantom 4 models. Yes – that means DJI Mavic Pro has access to 7 kilometers and can fly for up to 27 minutes. The new DJI Mavic Pro Platinum even goes to half an hour thanks to certain tweaks and optimizations. Overall, if you’re in need of something commercially viable and small at the same time, DJI Mavic Pro is still the best drone for the job!

DJI Mavic Pro Camera Specs

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DJI Mavic Pro
Max Video Resolution 4096 x 2160@24fps
Max Photo Resoluton 4000 x 3000
Effective Pixels 12MPX
Sensor 1/2.3 CMOS
FOV 78.8°
Bitrate Up to 60mbps

 

 

4. DJI Mavic Air

DJI Mavic Air With Transmitter

Mavic Air is a serious contender for the title of best 4K drone 2018 for casual users. It’s small, lightweight, foldable and acts like a professional aerial camera. Basically, everything that DJI Mavic Pro is… but just a little bit smaller. With that in mind, is DJI Mavic Air a proper successor to the, now already aged, Mavic Pro? Or better yet – is it good enough to beat its predecessor?

Is it good enough to beat DJI Mavic Pro?

Obviously, there will be lots of DJI Mavic Pro comparisons out there. As a matter of fact, there’s already a number of them available on various YouTube channels and drone blogs. And why not – these 2 drones are direct competitors to each other, as far as I can tell.

What I also can tell is that Mavic Air is actually better than Mavic Pro in certain aspects. Primarily, I am referring to camera gimmicks which have been slightly improved. Mavic Air has superior bitrates and higher frames per second in lower resolutions. More precisely, Mavic Air can record 4K at 30fps, 2.7K at 60fps and FHD at amazing 120fps. On the other hand, Mavic Pro records 4K also at 30fps but 2.7K and FHD at 30 and 86fps respectively. So, if bitrates and low res fps are accountable measures, then Mavic Air definitely is good enough to beat (or be on par) with Mavic Pro.

Impressive specifications

In terms of specifications, I’m sure the majority of you won’t believe their eyes. Of course, DJI Mavic Air has superior range and battery duration when compared to DJI Spark. However, it still hasn’t reached the heights of DJI Mavic Pro. You shouldn’t criticize this little bugger because of it – after all, it’s much smaller than Mavic Pro which is a big advantage nowadays.

Moving forward to the actual specifications, Mavic Air can last up to 21 minutes in the air and fly up to 5 kilometers in clear and unobstructed areas. This means 5 minutes shorter battery duration and 2 kilometers shorter operating range which, at the end of the day, isn’t that much of a difference to begin with.

DJI Mavic Air Camera Specs

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DJI Mavic Air
Max Video Resolution 3840 x 2160@30fps
Max Photo Resolution 4056 x 3040
Effective Pixels 12MPX
Sensor 1/2.3 CMOS
FOV 85°
Bitrate 100mbps

 

 

3. Yuneec Tyhpoon H

Yuneec Typhoon H Novi

In addition to Breeze, we have another one of Yuneec’s drones with 4k camera featured on this list. It’s none other than their impressive Typhoon H hexacopter with might specifications and great aerial task manageability. It might not have specifications as high as DJI’s newest models (and by specifications I primarily refer to flight time and operating range), but it still performs demanding aerial tasks making it extremely viable for all sorts of industrial uses.

Intel RealSense provides exceptional reliability

There are several versions of Yuneec Typhoon H available on the market. The one we are focusing on here comes with a successful collaboration with Intel. This collaboration resulted in Typhoon H having Intel’s RealSense technology which is basically a comprehensive and highly accurate obstacle avoidance system. That, plus 5-rotor failsafe feature, are the backbone of Typhoon H’s reliability meaning stress-free flights each and every time.

There are other features that come with Yuneec Typhoon H as well. For instance, it sports Follow Me, Orbit, Point of Interest and many more… all used with the integrated display on its dedicated ST16 transmitter. Video link is in HD, brightness is OK and it’s generally easy for people to get a hold on the basics of controlling this giant.

Support for infrared vision

Yuneec Typhoon H supports an infrared camera which can be purchased separately. It’s branded by Yuneec and enables Typhoon H to perform various tasks which require infrared vision. Whether we’re talking about agriculture, wildfires, cable inspection or any other type of demanding IR work – Yuneec Typhoon H with its infrared camera can do the trick.

However, the standard package comes with a standard CMOS camera which records in 4K and supports FPV transmission up to cca 1.5 kilometers. More precisely, it records ultra smooth 4K footage (thanks to a 3-axis gimbal it’s mounted on) at 30fps but the fps goes higher the more you lower recording resolution.

Yuneec Typhoon H Camera Specs

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Yuneec Typhoon H
Max Video Resolution 3840 x 2160@30fps
Max Photo Resolution 4000 x 3000
Effective Pixels 12MPX
Sensor 1/2.3 CMOS
FOV 98°
Bitrate Up to 50mbps

 

 

2. DJI Phantom 4 Pro Plus

DJI Phantom 4 Pro Novi

Best drone with 4k camera ?

The runner-up for the first spot on this list is the almighty DJI Phantom 4 Pro Plus. Yes, after DJI Inspire 2, this is the most capable commercially available model with an impressive 4K drone camera. However, it falls short of Inspire 2 solely due to the fact it’s not that much oriented for professional users and doesn’t sport such a powerful sensor like the one on Inspire 2. However, DJI Phantom 4 Pro Plus is still a brilliant drone with a lot to offer to anyone who uses it.

Gorgeous all white design breathes quality

Before jumping to all technical details and features of this little fella, I first want to say that I am simply charmed with its design. Of course, it has the traditional Phantom-style design, but this time around it’s an all-white finish with well-placed silver motors that add to the overall professional-looking appearance.

Now that we got that gorgeous design out of our way, it’s time to move to the actual quality. Starting off with the features, you can expect basically everything DJI has to offer. This includes 5-directional obstacle avoidance with a plethora of sensors, fluid GPS connectivity, DJI’s Lightbridge transmission technology and a whole set of autonomous flight features including the every so popular ActiveTrack and TapFly.

Finally an integrated display

The only real addition to the Plus package of DJI Phantom 4 Pro is the integrated Android-powered tablet that comes with its transmitter. It’s pretty bright (1,000cd/m2), has 16GB of internal memory and sports a high quality 1080p display. The best thing about it is definitely its brightness which eliminates the struggle of viewing DJI Phantom 4 Pro’s FPV footage on your smartphone in direct sunlight.

Specs are great too. Operating range, thanks to the previously mentioned Lightbridge transmission technology goes up to 7 kilometers. Battery duration stretches out to approximately 25 to 27 minutes, which is enough for a drone carrying such a good camera. As for the actual camera, DJI Phantom 4 rocks a 1-inch 20MPX sensor which records 4K videos at buttery smooth 60fps. With support for dual coding (H.265 and the newest H.265), aperture control and even a fully fledged mechanical shutter, this camera is second only to the newest Zenmuse X7 featured on Inspire 2.

DJI Phantom 4 Pro Camera Specs

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DJI Phantom 4 Pro Plus
Max Video Resolution 4096 x 2160@30fps
Max Photo Resolution 4096 x 2160
Effective Pixels 20MPX
Sensor 1-inch CMOS
FOV 84°
Bitrate Up to 100mbps

 

 

1. DJI Inspire 2

Best drone with 4k camera

DJI Inspire 2 Novi

At the moment, the best 4K video drone is definitely DJI Inspire 2. As if there were and doubts about this one. Just from looking at this monstrosity you can conclude that it’s an epic drone. And still, as soon as it takes off and its arms raise up in the air to make room for 360 camera movement, you’ll be even more amazed by its presence… Furthermore, the performance is nothing short of brilliant too, especially the camera which is an absolute monstrosity. So, without too much small talk, let’s see what exactly am I praising this much.

Supports operating with 2 separate transmitters

Inspire 2 is a feature-packed drone… and it should be considering the price it goes for. In addition to ActiveTrack and TapFly, Inspire 2 also has dual IMU, dual-signal propulsion system, dual battery design and even dual barometer. Yep – it’s like Noah’s ark in there, everything comes in 2’s. 

I should also note that some of DJI’s premium drones have the ability to be controlled by 2 separate controllers, including this one. Here is how it works – 1 person controls drone’s movements while the second one controls the camera orientation. This requires a lot of teamwork but can result in breathtaking aerial shots… especially with the Zenmuse X7.

Zenmuse X7 is the pinnacle of aerial photography tech

Considering the fact DJI Inspire 2 is primarily meant to be a robust aerial photography drone for professionals, it comes as no surprise to see a state of the art camera coming with it. Well, you can buy it separately too! Of course, I am referring to Zenmuse X7, the newest addition to Zenmuse X series which sports amazing all-around performance. With 6K CInemaDNG, 5.2K Apple ProRes and 24MPX stills, this thing outperforms all other commercially available camera drones out there.

14 stops of dynamic range and support for RAW output for post-processing allows professionals to take full use of this device without any limitations. Last but not least, when it comes to specifications DJI Inspire 2 basically has the exact same numbers as DJI Phantom 4 Pro. That means up to 7 kilometers of range and cca 25 to 27 minutes of flight time per charge.

DJI Inspire 2 Camera Specs

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DJI Inspire 2
Max Video Resolution 6016 x 3200@30fps
Max Photo Resolution 6016 x 3200
Effective Pixels 24MPX
Sensor 1-inch CMOS
FOV Variable FOV
Bitrate 100mbps

 

 

What are the most popular video resolutions nowadays?

Before diving into the depths of video resolutions, first, we have to agree on the standard aspect ratio. While the majority of big-screen movies are made in 21:9 aspect ratio, 16:9 is still a standard for sitcoms, animated series and, believe it or not, the internet. More precisely – YouTube – works in 16:9 with only a small portion of videos being rendered in 21:9.

What does this mean for the average user? Well, considering the majority of TV’s and monitors are 16:9, YouTube, sitcoms and general internet media consumption takes up the entire screen. However, newer movies will have black bars at the top and bottom since their 21:9 aspect ratio is stretched out on 16:9 displays. The same thing happen when 16:9 displays cast 4:3 videos, only this time the black bars are at the left and right side. That’s simply because of the fact the source and casting device’s aspect ratios don’t match.

Now that we have aspect ratios out of the way, now we need to agree on the most popular 16:9 video resolutions nowadays.

There are several types of displays featuring true 16:9 resolutions that are commonly used today:

  • 1920 x 1080FHD displays
  • 3840 x 21604K UHD displays
  • 5120 x 2880Retina 5K displays
  • 7680 x 43208K Super Hi-Vision displays

Drone camera resolutions chart

If we are going with more precision into this topic, then let’s get rid of the bottom 2 entries – 8K and Retina 5K. Why? Well, their representation is extremely low compared to the top 2.

So what are we left with? FHD and UHD, or more commonly known as 1080p and 4K resolutions. Want to know more about the main differences between these two? Well, continue reading then…

 

Is 4K UHD resolution two times as good as 1080p FHD?

Given the fact that 2 most popular resolutions in drone world are FHD and 4K, it’s only logical to explain just how much better 4K resolution is.

First and foremost – many people are convinced 4K is just double the size of pixels in comparison to FHD. This is wrong on so many levels and simple mathematics might fool you at first.

FHD – 1920 x 1080 pixels

4K – 3840 x 2160 pixels

With just a simple multiplication process, most people conclude that 4K resolution has double the pixels of FHD. However, it’s not true! You see, 4K has double the pixels in both horizontal and vertical grids. That means 2×2=4 which makes 4K resolutions have 4 times more pixels than FHD. Still not convinced? Check these next few equations then:

  • 3840 times 2160 = 8,294,400 pixels
  • 1920 times 1080 = 2,073,600 pixels
  • 8,294,400 pixels divided by 2,073,600 pixels = 4

In reality, this means that a single 4K display can fit 4 FHD displays in a grid alignment as far as pixel count is concerned. With that being said, if you want a clearer image with more sharpness and details – 4K is the obvious way to go.

4K is 4 times bigger than 1080p Example

 

 

Is video resolution the most important thing in a camera?

Many people think of resolution as the only important characteristic of a digital camera. In reality, there are so many factors in play when it comes to forming a high-quality photo/video. Without getting into too many details, here is some brief info about the 2 secondary camera characteristics you should know about:

Bitrate

Video bitrate is essentially the number of bits processed in a unit of time. For example, if a video runs at 1 megabyte per second, it has a bitrate of 8mbps (1 byte consists of 8 bits). This basically means that higher the bitrate, the better video quality is. Codecs are also important in this equation and should not be taken for granted. For instance, a video with the 6mbps bitrate in newer H.264 codec will look much better than a video with the same bitrate in the older H.263 codec.

FPS

Frames per second or commonly known as FPS is a well-known characteristic for measuring the fluidity of videos. It represents exactly what its name suggests – the number of different frames the video shows in a unit of time (seconds). Using that formula, a 60fps video has 60 frames per second and will show much smoother and more fluid footage than a 30fps one. The majority of YouTube videos are played at 30fps with 60fps reaching popularity over the last 2-3 years.

Image stabilization – how important is it for drone footage?

3-axis gimbal for droneVideo resolution, bitrate and FPS all play key roles as far as image and video quality are concerned. However, besides quality – drones also have to battle with difficult weather conditions during their flight. As a matter of fact, the flight itself brings a lot of issues even for cameras with electronic image stabilization. Vibrations and shakiness are huge issues when trying to capture breathtaking aerial shots with drones. However, there is a simple (yet costly) solution.

The answer to all these issues are mechanical gimbals which offer unparalleled image stabilization. They possess several brushless motors as well as a built-in gyro that allows them to move freely across 3 axis and eliminate all shakiness and vibrations… if we are talking about a 3-axis gimbal, that is. There are 1-axis and 2-axis models too. They also do a great job with eliminating shakiness and vibrations but their 3-axis counterparts do a much better job and allow their users to move the camera freely with their transmitter.

 

Types of camera sensors

In the drone world, there are 2 main types of camera sensors. The size of them is a completely different story and it’s safe to say that DJI Phantom 4 Pro pushed the boundaries with its 1-inch CMOS sensor. However, the size won’t be the topic of today’s discussion. Nope – we will be focusing on the 2 main types of camera sensors and their most appropriate practical uses.

CCD vs CMOS sensors

CCD sensors

Stands for Charged Coupled Device. This type of sensors is a lot more expensive to produce than CMOS which is basically the main reason why CMOS sensors have such a huge representation in various devices nowadays. However, CCD sensors don’t have rolling shutter problem and are much better at low light performance and have good dynamic range, making them better for certain applications such as FPV racing.

CMOS sensors

Stands for Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor. Just like I already explained above, CMOS sensors are cheaper to manufacture which led to them being inside of virtually all camera-equipped electronics. Smartphones, drones, digital cameras, laptops… you name it! They are more power efficient too and possess extra circuitry in the form of amplifiers in each pixel which do a lot of work once data starts arriving.

 

Conclusion

I’m afraid that’s it boys and girls, ladies and gentlemen… oh who am I kidding, there are no girls here. Anyways, those were the 10 best drones with 4K cameras at the moment. There weren’t that many surprises but still a couple of CES 2018 (and post-CES) additions made it onto the list.

The entire drone industry is keeping everyone at the edge of their seats with continuous growth and significant price drops. Mark my wordsin February next year I’m 100% sure we will have drones with 4K cameras and mechanical gimbals for less than $500!

Thank you all for sticking to the end of this article!

Until next time…

Happy flying!

Vito Dronelli, content editor @DronesGlobe

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