How to choose your first drone: a beginner’s guide

drone

Is DJI really that good? And why should you go for the “mini” drone version? Is it worth all the money (and how not to pay the full price)? And, above all, is it even worth it?!? No need to wonder, you’ll get all of that in this article

Let’s start from the last question: 

Is buying a drone even worth it?

It depends – are you a content creator? Or is it for you own use only? If it’s the latter and you don’t know if you’ll enjoy it, you can test it by borrowing it (there are companies that have drones you could borrow! Example from Poland: Plenti) or buying with an option to return it. Flying a drone can be a lot of fun!

If you’re creating content, drone footage is jaw-dropping, wherever you’re filming: it can be tropical islands of Philippines or a plain meadow in Poland. I’m absolutely in love with bird-view videos and always watch them till the end. So my very subjective opinion is- HECK YES!

a collage of drone pictures
Drone footage can be incredibly beautiful

Is drone by DJI my only choice?

Of course not! There are plenty of beginner-friendly ones. After doing my own research, the top devices recommended are:

  • DJI mini 4 pro
  • DJI mini 3
  • Ryze Tello
  • Potensic Atom
  • Autel Evo Nano+
  • BetaFPV Cetus X drone

(All drone photos are from the official websites and are linked to the original source)

DJI mini 4 pro

Spoiler alert – this is the one I went for. The newest, with lots of sensors that will help even the most novice users not collide with any obstacle. Its camera will give you an excellent quality 12MP / 48MP images in raw and JPEG, with minimal noise. For videomakers, 4K with up to 100fps and D-Log M color profile. But what will be mostly appreciated by beginners, it has an Omni Directional Obstacle Avoidance, improved subject tracking performance (the auto modes where you just mark what a subject is and then what movement do you want – and then just watch it fly by itself – are incredible!), a more extensive transmission range (up to 20 km – but check the laws in your country/region because they might force you to, for example, always have a drone in your eyesight). 

DJI mini 4 pro
DJI mini 4 pro

DJI mini 3

Often titled as the absolute best choice for beginners. It also has intuitive controls and many useful automated filming modes. However, it lacks collision avoidance, a feature reserved for the Pro version (yes, there also is a DJI mini 3 pro version!). Its camera is a bit worse in quality than the DJI mini 4 pro one but it will still be perfect for social media. 

DJI mini 3
DJI mini 3

Ryze Tello

It might not have the “DJI” in its name but it was actually design in partnership between the two companies. It’s affordable and perfect for beginners learning the basics of flight. It can be controlled via the Tello smartphone app and Wi-Fi, or with a Bluetooth gaming controller at a shorter range – and that’s the main drawback. The flight range is reported to be limited to 30m (rather than the 100m that’s advertised!) and it’s not handling wind too well. The camera is not great (720p) with no local storage (the footage is sent directly to your phone and if the connection isn’t perfect, the final footage might be choppy).

Ryze Tello
Ryze Tello

Potensic Atom

Good beginner-friendly drone on a budget. It features manual camera control, raw 12MP photos, 4K video at up to 30fps, and a mechanical 3-axis gimbal, all uncommon in beginner drones at this price. It has some intelligent flight modes (like subject tracking). Its drawbacks might be lack of obstacle avoidance, a fixed focus lens and no ND filters (the photos might not look great when the sunlight is intense).

Potensic Atom
Potensic Atom

Autel Evo Nano+

A competitor of DJI’s Mini 4 Pro Its sensors will let you take low-light photos and fly when it’s a bit more windy, so it’s perfect for capturing sunsets and twilight cityscapes. It also has collision detection BUT is very fragile and doesn’t have subject tracking (and believe me, it’s just an incredible feature that you’re going to use a lot!). However, they’re updating their software all the time so it might be coming soon!

Autel Evo Nano+
Autel Evo Nano+

BetaFPV Cetus X

One branch of drone flying is FPV – and this one is an excellent choice for that. When you buy it, you’ll receive everything needed for first-person flight, such as a transmitter and basic goggles. It might be a bit more challenging to learn how to fly it, so crashes are going to happen – and they might end up with some drone damage, so be prepared for that. Another important thing – if you tend to get motion-sick, you’ll probably not going to enjoy it! The video feed can experience interference, and it’s not suitable for stills photography. Battery life is really, really short – around five minutes. BUT if you want to start FPV flying, this might be your top choice!

BetaFPV Cetus X
BetaFPV Cetus X

Do I have to choose a lightweight drone?

Drones that are heavier than 250g fall into a different category and have different requirements (they can vary across countries). It will probably mean you’ll need a paid (quite an expensive one!) certification renewed every 2 years, some kind of insurance, etc. If you’re a beginner, my advice would be to skip the heavier models and go for the lightweight ones!

Of course it won’t mean no rules apply to you – there are still plenty of regulations you should abide by. Yes, you could remain unseen but the fines are extremely high so it might not be worth the risk.

What are the lightweight drone-flying rules?

As I wrote, the rules might vary between countries. Here’s an example of what I have to do (Poland, European Union):  

First I needed to:

  1. register as a drone pilot (free)
  2. complete a short training online (free, some people say it’s optional but it will take you up to 30mins)
  3. but your drone pilot number onto a drone (easiest way – write it on a piece of paper and then stick it to the drone with a tape – see a picture – I also added my phone number. If the drone ever decides to fly away and start a new life, whoever finds it will have a possibility to contact me)

Every time I want to fly:

  1. Check into a special app (DroneTower) – the geolocation will take you if you’re allowed to fly there, up to which altitude etc.
  2. The vicinity of my house is close to a military airport – so before any flight I need to call the control tower, let them know i’ll be flying and then, when I finish, call them again. It sounds scary and complicated but it’s not – it’s 2 simple calls that will save you from any trouble.
DroneTower app
DroneTower app, available for Android and iOS

I’m afraid I’ll crash my drone…

Yes, you might. But if you don’t want to lose your money (and you bought a DJI drone!) you can buy a DJI care – a special programme that will guarantee they’ll fix your broken device within the period of coverage. There are some terms but I’ve only heard great things about the service.

If you want more details about it, I’ll soon publish a reel about it – follow my page not to miss it!

Wait… Can I pay less for a drone?

Yes! If your choice is DJI, you can buy a refurbished version (A “refurbished” item is a used product that has been repaired, cleaned, and restored to good working condition, often by the manufacturer or a certified professional, so it can be resold) – checked by DJI with a full warranty + a possibility to buy the abovementioned DJI care! The only disadvantage is you might need to wait a long time till your chosen model becomes available. But it might be a good idea to just check the website every now and then! 

Price comparison between the “new” and the “refurbished” model

All the DJI refurbished equipment (not only the drones) can be found on this page.

Summary

If you’re an enthusiast but you’re not sure if you’re going to enjoy flying a drone, that’s what I’d do

  1. Not an objective statement as I’m in love with drone footage but DO IT. Buy one and enjoy it both when on holidays and when at home!
  2. Go for a DJI mini – which one depends on how much money you want to spend
  3. If it’s available, buy a refurbished version
  4. For sure buy the DJI care
  5. Check all the local regulations before the takeoff
  6. Give yourself some time – it might not be that easy at the beginning but you should get it quickly
  7. Enjoy – and tag me to show your amazing work!

If you liked this article, check out other ones is “Tech hacks” category!

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