The best camera drones in 2024: take your photography & video to the skies

It's amazing to think that a few years ago camera drones were little more than novelty toys for gadget-heads; now they’re a creative tool few photographers or filmmakers want to go without.

There are choices for amateur and professional, offering a choice of creative angles and unique perspectives that simply wouldn’t be possible with any other camera. Of course, the possibilities have always been exciting – what makes it practical, and what is the right choice?

When we look at a camera drone, we're looking for the right balance of price, camera capability, and practicality. That last category is affected in most countries, including the UK and USA, by laws that make it easier to operate drones under 250g (0.55 pounds).

If you're looking for high-quality results, you'll need to look for larger image sensors and perhaps even the ability to record using cinema-grade codecs like ProRes. These can be hard for most people to work with though. More important are the essentials – a gimbal to keep the camera stable and a good battery life.

AI is also a key factor for shooting, with many drones having different levels of subject tracking that can greatly ease getting a good flowing shot, while safety is a factor bolstered by collision sensors, though these can come at a price.

UPDATE Oct 15: As I type the DJI Air 3S has been launched around the world – trust me that will replace the Air 3 in this guide very soon as it has almost all the same qualities plus a bigger image sensor on the main camera and some low-light goodness in the form of Lidar collision sensors (that said its predecessor is, of course, available for a bit less.)

The Quick List

Adam Juniper

Adam has been looking at cameras and gadgets since long before drones arrived, so he dived into the flying tech with enthusiasm, building several of his own before off-the-shelf possibilities emerged. He is not just our resident expert on all aspects of camera drones and drone photography, but the author of several books on the subject including bestsellers The Complete Guide to Drones and The Drone Pilot's Handbook.

Best drones in 2024

Best drone overall

This drone's predecessor, the DJI Mini 3 Pro, had a massive effect when it arrived in May 2022 – it redefined what DJI was doing with the ultra-light category, bringing some collision sensors and a 4K 60fps camera which could physically rotate to vertical mode (a feature still not equalled by much bigger craft).

Under 18 months later, the Mini 4 Pro finished the job, making the collision sensors omnidirectional (all-round) and adding 10-bit D-Log M video and waypoint programmable flights while keeping under the magic weight. It can also do HDR at a full 60fps rather than the 30fps limit of the Air 3 Pro.

The Mini 4 Pro also sports DJI's updated O4 radio system which offers up to 20km (over 12 miles) of theoretical range or, more importantly, top-notch reception in sensible operational distances. The updated DJI RC 2, as seen with the DJI Air 3, is an option, which feels very pro in hand, giving the choice of a model with a screen to save the (fairly minimal) fuss of connecting a phone). In some markets (start chanting "USA, USA...") there is also a choice of batteries if you don't mind pushing the weight limit, meaning you can go from the already decent 30 minutes to over 40 (again, always take these with a pinch of salt – it depends on conditions and flying style). You should note, though, that the drone will know about the weight change, and can alert authorities.

The message of the Mini 4 Pro is that DJI will not let the weight restriction prevent creatives from achieving their goals. The inevitable downside is the pricing, which is quite a lot closer to the company's higher-end models than other ultralights. If you want to save, there is the less-expensive DJI Mini 3, which lacks the collision sensors and some of the output options, but will capture similar video and stills for the average user.

Read more: DJI Mini 4 Pro review

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Best drone for flexibility

The DJI Air 3S is more or less perfect. The only real problem is that, if you're based in America, it's not that easy to get hold of unless you order from DJI directly (which you can, no problem) – you might have to go for the older DJI Air 3. That's still a great drone, but...

The Air 3 brings a new, bigger 50-megapixel 1-inch sensor for the 'main' camera, which is 24mm EFL, and keeps a 48-megapixel 1/1.3-inch camera for the 70mm EFL f/2.8 tele lens. Compared to a typical one-camera drone this massively increases your creative capabilities – for example tracking people or moving subjects. It's also great for survey jobs with a bit more safety.

DJI have modernised everything and boosted convenience; the drone boasts 42GB of internal storage so if you forget a MicroSD card you're not in trouble. It skips around the air with impressive confidence, feeling a lot more assured than a 'Mini' sized drone (though, of course, it is nearly 3 times the weight). Low light is impressive,

Something that has been worrying in the past with different-sized sensors has been how the optics blend together, but this question seemed not to present itself in my tests. What I did notice was how impressive the dynamic range was, and the 100-12,800 ISO range is the tip of the iceberg; DJI has even added a new low-light collision sensing system with Lidar which makes crashing that bit harder (I didn't manage it in my testing).

Think of this as a more affordable Mavic 3 Pro which is also more modern and, in some ways, actually better! As well as eclipsing its bigger, heavier cousin with goodies like Lidar, it also gets AI subject tracking and even Waypoints, plus excellent battery life. Why spend more?

If you want to do occasional survey work, and perhaps get some images, then I found the 4x zoom looked very impressive and, honestly, this drone seems to aggressively eat into the use-case for the Mavic 3.

Read my full review of the Air 3S with sample clips

(If you're looking to buy in the USA, I recommend the DJI store; if you need to buy from Amazon, then you'll have to choose the Air 3 – check my review)

Read more: DJI Air 3 review

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Best follow-me drone

This might not be ideal for younger kids without a bit of parental supervision, and it's certainly not the cheapest toy, but it's not too pricy either compared to many on this list and it does offer a very different take on drones that I found very compelling. It's one I've added to my collection, and it's one I find the whole family can enjoy.

When I first tried it, this drone surprised me with its sensibly safe design, and by how the AI could simply follow me, taking off and landing on my own hand. After initial set up, I didn't even need my phone to do it – there is a combination of a speaker inside so voices reassure you that you've asked for the right thing and simple buttons on the frame.

Think of it as an angel on your shoulder which can be passed between family members and follow them running, cycling, or undertaking any activity. An unusual drone, but amazing.

Choosing this drone does involve making a slight compromise when it comes to flight time and range; you can choose to fly it with your phone (wi-fi range) or just let the drone do the flying, but the resolution and flight time doesn't match even most ultralights. That said, it's not only cheaper and smarter but the caged propellors are notably safer than other drones.

NOTE: The new DJI Neo is seriously competitive against this drone in terms of specs and battery life. I've tried both and written my thoughts on whether I'd still buy the HoverAir X1 or the DJI Neo in this category, and as the firmware evolves you can bet I'll be keeping my attention on this.

Read more: HoverAir X1 review

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Best-value drone

DJI defined camera drones as we understand them today way back in 2016 with the first Mavic. It was so usable that drones clearly became a consumer-friendly product and soon after the restrictions started to emerge around the world.

Using a drone over 250g suddenly required registration, an online exam and a small fee in most countries, though by 2019 DJI's Mavic Mini had solved the weight issue. Because so few people love bureaucracy, and drone tech has progressed so well, it is no longer just a drone, but a whole category – ultralight. It is the obvious weight category for beginner drones, but there are also some surprisingly high-end options (like the Mini 4 Pro) and, in between, a sensible balance of capability and cost.

Knowing that history is useful because it explains why, even though the Mini 3 Pro is now superseded, this drone has a '3' in its name – it is essentially a lower-cost version of that, with the key feature removal being the collision sensors. In other words, a drone which was at launch in late 2022 verging on miraculous, became a lot more price more accessible.

You get all the key goodies of the Mini 4 Pro, including the 1/1.3-inch rotating camera for vertical format (selfie mode), and even the ability to shoot RAW images at up to 48 megapixels. Video is saved at 100Mbps, so looks excellent, though it does stop at 30fps (or 60fps at 2.7k). The automated ‘QuickShots’ (the drone keeps the camera on you and performs a cool pre-planned swoop) are also very handy; beginners can look like pro pilots and get dramatic video.

Given that the Mini 3 Pro only had partial collision sensors anyway (front and back), the Mini 3 not Pro was an excellent value choice (collision sensors can actually be very annoying). Now the DJI comparison is against the Mini 4 Pro which at least has more useful all-round sensors, but, again, while they have their uses when travelling sideways, a good pilot shouldn't need them.

The drone also still has GPS and downward vision sensors for landing, so auto return to home and other 'standard' features are available, and the older 'O2' radio system is rated for 6.2 miles/10km – so still perfectly adequate when flying legally.

Read more: DJI Mini 3 review

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Best premium drone

The Mavic 3 Pro is a powerful machine, capable of lifting a triple-camera system based around a 24mm EFL main camera and two secondary cameras (at 70mm EFL and 166mm EFL) that serve to provide a “hybrid zoom.” If the approach hadn't already been adopted – almost certainly – by your phone it might seem a bit confusing and it is a little strange at first but the excellent 20-megapixel main camera
brings the pro features of adjustable ISO, exposure, and, crucially, aperture.

The secondary cameras are less impressive, but they still represent a notable improvement over the original Mavic 3's dual camera system. The Medium Tele is f/2.8 and the tele ƒ/3.4 so you'll get the best imagery from the 'Hasselblad' (main camera – and ProRes video with the Cine option – but the other cameras don't give you the same camera system (unlike, say, the swappable Inspire 3). You can opt to switch between lenses, or have the computer create a long digital zoom (again, like a phone), all the way to 28x, though you'll see the jumps at 3x and 7x (again, like a phone).

If you own an iPhone 15 Pro or 16 Pro you'll understand what it's like to have a 3-lens camera and the worst sensor on the telephoto lens. It's still better than not having one but, inevitably, it occasionally makes you want for more!

Nevertheless, the Mavic 3 will do the job in a lot of situations, and it can do it for much longer too; hovering for up to 43 minutes, which means it can cover over 15 miles in a flight – not too shabby for survey missions either. Some might see the folding form factor as belonging to consumer territory, but that’s an old-fashioned perspective in the drone world and amongst clients; this is an aerial camera that (while being over most weight limits) is more portable than most and certainly priced for professionals.

The Mavic 3 Pro Cine is a variant exclusively for those requiring ProRes 422 HQ format video which also holds onboard a 1TB SSD to store the uncompressed video it can capture, and ships with the DJI RC Pro, a controller with a built-in screen. The video needs to be downloaded directly from the drone as the SSD is fixed.

Read more: DJI Mavic 3 Pro review

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Best drone for creative control

Looking at the word of drones it's easy to think there is only one contender, DJI, but the EVO Lite+ shows that another company can approach things in quite a different way and the result is a drone that, for a good few photo and video enthusiasts, is probably the right choice, especially now that it's price has settled a little since launch.

Despite the name, the EVO Lite+ is not Autel's most lightweight offering – that is the Nano, which is their contender against the DJI Mini 3. It's better thought of as a smaller version of their main EVO drone (If the naming seems weird, it helps to remember that the Mavic and EVO, at about 900g, came first and a lot of drone companies still think of the 'about 900g' as the normal size and everything smaller as the difficult miniature offerings in part forced on them by regulators!)

Anyway, as I said, the EVO Lite and Lite+ (for there are two choices with different cameras) are reasonably meaty drones with a choice of colors and reassuringly sprung arms that make quick setup in the field a breeze. The standard controller seems very console-inspired, but that wasn't actually an issue for me, instead makes it comfortable.

I like to think of this as a drone for folk who believe a little more in specs than digital solutions. The new DJI Air 3 abandoned the 1-inch sensor, but this drone (at least the Lite+ edition) offers it, with lovely big 2.4um pixels, and 5.4K video has its uses. The camera also has a 29mm EFL lens which is a matter of taste, but not as wide angle as most drone cameras.

Admittedly 10-bit video would be better than just a flat profile, and the subject following is a little more limited than DJI's, but low-light performance is excellent and I love the fact I can tweak all the settings.

Read more: Autel EVO Lite+ review

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Best budget drone

Potensic has been making drones for quite a while, but until recently hasn't really worried the market leaders. Until the Atom, its strategy seems to have revolved around getting products out for the family fun / toy market. The Atom, though, really caught me by surprise when I tried it.

On opening the very elegant box, I discovered a drone with a build quality and styling that seemed to owe a fair bit to the DJI Mini 2 (and all the drones DJI have based on that airframe, including the current Mini 4K).

So, with DJI standing still on airframes in this category (though innovating with the DJI Neo), the Atom actually gave itself a lead by arriving at a point when DJI hadn't decided to offer 4K video in their cheapest drone. That has now, finally, been corrected with the Mini 4K (probably because of this Potensic). DJI, though, still have a relatively restrictive feature set on their entry-level drone. There is no option for waypoint mission planning, for example, so a geekier mindset might find the Potensic offers more.

DJI, I think, worry that some aren't to be trusted with this tech and, as a bigger brand facing a lot of legal challenges, are cautious about the features they make widely available.

There are no such limitations on the Atom, which also has a very clever controller design. It accommodates a phone in an extendable body design – even my iPhone Pro Max in a case, the result looks a bit like a Nintendo Switch when in use. The app is good, and the drone's batteries charge either via individual USB-C socket or (if you get a Fly More Kit) using a charging hub.

It feels like Potensic has taken everything it has learned, as well as a good look at what's around there, and successfully moved upmarket without pulling its prices all the way up too. That's a very tempting choice. On the strength of this, I don't see it being an economy brand for long.

Read more: Potensic Atom review (or the cheaper, non-stabilized Atom SE review)

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Best drone for cinema

The Inspire 3, with the required accessories, will set you back the same amount of money as a small car, but for the cinematographers it is aimed at, it'll be worth it. It could even save a bit compared to jibs and dollys, though it does have a bit more downdraft! The accuracy of repeatable routes can be centimeter-level thanks to built-in RTK compatibility.

As for cameras, the detachable unit has its own name: the Zenmuse X9-8K Air camera. Perhaps more will come later? It can rotate 360 degrees beneath the drone's airframe, and can be operated by one pilot – with the assistance of AI subject framing if they choose – or a pilot and one or two camera operators.

This is serious professional stuff, which will only record to DJI's own costly SSD cards (the same as used with its Ronin cinema cameras). Editing will require crunching a lot of numbers, but the results are spectacular, and the dual-native ISO full-frame imaging sensor certainly gets the results you'd expect for the investment.

Read more: DJI Inspire 3 Review

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Best cheap DJI drone

The DJI Mini 4K effectively replaces the DJI Mini 2 SE as the cheapest 'normal' drone in the range (the DJI Neo is a whole other thing!) It can be compared to a mid-range phone in terms of specs; good but not amazing. That, though, is a high standard these days, certainly far higher than toy drones and their shaky video because this drone can hover perfectly thanks to its onboard sensors and has a 3-axis mechanical stabilizer for its camera.

The main gripe tech fans had about DJI's previous low-cost option was that it had lower resolution video, but the era of 2.7K is over – a 4K camera is here. Or, more accurately, the same sensor is connected to better processing so you can get the now-expected standard of video.

The drone scrapes in beneath the 250g registration barrier, like the other 'Mini' drones, and has a folding design with propellers that fold out in use. That makes it easy to transport and relatively safe. Software-wise the app is intuitive and includes auto land, return to home, and some cool orbiting effects which will be sure to earn likes. It also has a basic tutorial in the app.

Incidentally, though there is a remote control (and a well built one that will keep your phone charged up), you will need a phone – Android or Apple. That's because it serves as screen. Video & photos is stored on a MicroSD card so you can download directly to a computer – that's how I use it – but there is also the option of Wi-Fi, albeit not super fast.

This drone's frame has a lot of history – The Mini SE, Mini 2 SE and the (non-budget) Mini 2 before that all had more or less the same airframe, though the inner electronics have changed a few times, as have the controllers. It is simple and reliable, with nearly half an hour of useable flight time.

Read more: DJI Mini 4K review

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Best drone for photographers

The Mavic 3 is a powerful machine and priced accordingly, but while its ‘hybrid zoom’ is a handy tool for surveying, it isn’t a feature that will excite a lot of photographers. This Classic version ditches the relatively low-resolution zoom camera and retains the 4/3 Hasselblad camera on more or less the same airframe (including C1 certification). 10-bit D-log and all the low-light benefits of the large sensor are retained.

That means creators who would only have used the 24mm EFL camera can pay a little less to get the 15km range, advanced return to home (avoiding and re-routing around objects), and the excellent battery life of the Mavic 3 without really losing out. In fact, compared to the original’s launch, there are some advantages – the subject tracking, panorama capture, and other functions are all working from day one, and are pretty high-end.

However, it's worth noting that the Mavic 3 Pro emerged, improving some of the complaints about the Mavic 3, after the Classic's launch and personally – having flown all three – I would do my level best to buy the version with all the cameras if I could; after all the price difference isn't that much when you're already spending this much and it's better to have options, isn't it? (OK, it is – the difference is more than the price of a DJI Mini 3, but you still have to be very confident that you only need the wide which, in fairness, is true of many videomakers and surveyors. It's your call.

Read more: DJI Mavic 3 Classic review

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How to choose the best camera drone

GPS:
Toy drones generally don’t feature GPS, but if you’re composing photos it’s nigh-on essential. The positioning technology was developed with guided missiles in mind, so ideal for drones. Unlike a missile, though, the aim is to stay very much in the same place, rather than be pushed away by the breeze. Not only is piloting easier, but it enables an automatic return to the take-off point should the drone lose contact with the pilot, a useful backup.

Controller:
Not all controllers are created equal. Most feature the twin sticks but at the lower end, they’ll use standard Wi-Fi with a range of around 100m control and video feedback with a clear line of sight. Higher-end drones (everything on this list) make use of proprietary radio systems (DJI alone have come up with names like Lightbridge, OM3, O3, O4). Their range is measured in miles, support for master & slave controllers (enabling separate pilot & camera operator), and first-person-view goggles.

Camera & gimbal:
Like any camera, sensor size and megapixels matter, but so too do the means of vibration reduction. At the lower end, cushioning or some kind of digital image stabilization works, but the best systems used motorized gimbals to steady and level the camera on 2- or 3-axis.

Battery:
Battery capacity is the key limit in flying drones. Higher capacities don’t always make for longer flight times since overall weight (not least the battery’s) and efficiency are a factor. The much more useful measure is simply minutes of flight time. Lithium batteries store a lot of power, but “Intelligent Batteries” are safer and include built-in monitors so you can easily check their charge. Drones are at their most efficient when flying forward at an average speed, so right out of the gate, you should assume the hover time for each drone is a little less than the given flight time. Maneuvers draw more power too

The app:
The quality of the manufacturer’s free app is a big part of the experience, since many features, especially on higher-end drones, will require you to dig down through menus. Taking the camera beyond auto is certainly done this way. Cunning developers have also found ways to use the drone sensors and the app’s processing abilities to create easier flying modes and awesome visual effects like DJI’s Tiny Planet selfie clip, just one of the “Quickshot” options.

The bundle:
A lot of drones are sold on their own, with a controller, or with a kit that includes things like spare propellers, extra batteries, ND filters, and a bag. Spare propellers, well, sad to say but you’ll probably need these early on. Batteries are expensive, and it can be a long walk to charge them from where you use them, so these should be seriously considered a factor in the price of a bundle. A well-designed bag can protect all of these (even if you just stuff it inside your preferred bag). Don’t forget, too, that you can’t just get ND filters to fit most drones – the gimbals tend to have one-off lens mounts, all worth bearing in mind.

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How we test drones

Our drone tests are carried our in the field, allowing us to assess the quadcopter for its flight performance, easy of use, and its image quality. All our drone reviews are overseen by Adam Juniper, who is one of the UK's leading experts on drones, and has written several books on flying drones, including The Drone Pilot's Handbook. He ensures that the tests – most of which he does himself – cover any notable features thoroughly in real-world scenarios.

That means, especially, take-off, landing, flying at speed, negotiating tight turns, flying toward obstacles to see if the AI avoids them (low-resolution sensors might not see tree leaves, for example), and following subjects at different speeds to test AI tracking.

Find out more about how we test and review on Digital Camera World

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