Best Drones for Photography and Filming in 2024

It is amazing to think that drones of today’s generation have already made aerial photography and filming vastly available.

Filmmakers, photographers, and hobbyists are now able to capture and film beautiful, high-quality images and videos from different angles and viewpoints.

In the past few years, we have seen the fast growth of drone technology giving them a lot of advanced and helpful features like intelligent flight modes, stronger flight control systems, and higher quality cameras.

Today, even a drone beginner can already record smooth and polished videos in more advanced settings.

In this blog, we have tested, reviewed, and listed the Top 3 Best Drones for photography and filming that will suit you perfectly!

What Defines a Drone for Photography and Filming?

These types of drones are primarily built with high-quality cameras. They are specifically designed around carrying cameras and how can maximize their use while flying.

You can tell and recognize this type of drone straightaway based on the image and video quality it can produce.

Here are some features where Drones for Photography and Filming stand out:

• High-Quality Camera: Many of these types of drones offer 4k video resolution and 20-megapixel images or more.
• Smooth and Stable Flight: This feature is very important because. it’ll allow you to take shots without the challenge of shaking and disorientation.
• Stabilizing Gimbal: Without this part, photos and videos captured will be of poor quality no matter how high the camera quality is.
• Long Battery Life: We always aim a hassle-free drone flying experience so they must be equipped with long-lasting batteries.

Quick Comparison Chart

Drone Model	Flight Time	Image Resolution	Video Resolution	Weight	Price
DJI Air 3	46 mins	48mp	4k	720g	$1099
Autel Robotics EVO Lite+ (Premium Bundle)	40 mins	20mp	6k	816g	$1399
DJI Mavic 3 Pro	43 mins	48mp	4k,5.1k	958g	$1,908.78

All drones mentioned above exceed the 250 grams weight excemption of the FAA. Learn more about the drone weight regulation covered by the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA)

Top 3 Best Drones for Photography and Filming

The DJI Air 3 is DJI’s one of the best drones for photography and filming. It’s going to wow anyone who uses it: filmmakers, drone fanatics, photographers, etc.

It is a quadcopter drone that weighs 720 grams with dimensions of 3.9 x 3.6 x 8.2 inches. It has a portable design and gray color.

The drone’s camera captures stunning 4k resolution footage with different frames per second in different modes: 60fps in standard, 100fps in slowmo, and 30fps in new night mode.

Moreover, it has dual cameras that supports 3x zoom technology, 48MP resolution with JPEG/DNG RAW image format, and 2.7k vertical shooting.

It also comes with one intelligent flight battery that provides up to 46 minutes of flight time and Omnidirectional Obstacle Sensors for extra layer of protection.

Read our full product review about DJI Air 3

Specifications

Video Capture Resolution	4k
Still/Photo Resolution	48MP
Flight Time	46 minutes
Weight	720 grams
Special Feature/s	46 Min Extended Flight Time, Portable, 4K HDR, Obstacle Avoidance, One Button Return
Wind Resistance	Level 6 wind resistance (12m/s)
Zoom Technology	zoom up to 3x

Pros and Cons

Features and Details

FEATURES	DETAILS
AMAZING DUAL CAMERA	It can capture stunning 48MP pictures and 4K videos. Plus, its 3-axis gimbal stabilization mechanism will ensure steady and smooth videos.
EXCELLENT SAFETY FEATURES	Navigating in challenging environments like forests will be stress-free because it has omnidirectional obstacle sensors. This will ensure the safety of our beloved drone. These sensors detect obstacles from all directions (front, back, top, bottom, and sides) so you can confidently fly in any type of environment.
VERY DETAILED AND FASCINATING FOOTAGE	As mentioned earlier, it has a dual camera that can capture incredible HDR films at 4k/60fps. With this, you can record amazing videos with a very detailed appearance.
Consistent 04 HD TRANSMISSION (for excellent air travel)	DJI Air 3 has greatly enhanced video transmissions because of its 6-antenna array. It provides a stable 1080p/60fps live video feed and also has a range of up to 20 km.
Awesome Capture Modes	You can enjoy QuickShots, Panorama, and ActiveTrack which will make capturing images easy and make it expert-looking.

The Autel Robotics EVO Lite Plus is one of the best drones for photography and filming. It even rivals the well-known DJI drones with its unique and outstanding features.

This is a quadcopter drone that weighs 816 grams (1.8 lbs) with dimensions of 4.8 x 3.7 x 8.8 inches. It is also a medium-size folding drone with 3 different color options: Arctic White, Autel Orange, or Deep Space Gray.

The drone’s camera captures stunning 6k resolution videos and 20MP still resolution. Its transmission range reaches up to 24km keeping a stable 2.7k/30fps quality.

Moreover, it supports Night Scene Mode and Intelligent Moonlight Algorithm to capture impressive quality night sceneries and make them sharp & vibrant.

You can choose from many shooting modes to fit your preferences: Single, Burst, AEB, Timer, HDR imaging, Night, and Panoramic.

This drone features a rare adjustable aperture (f2.8-f11), letting you control the amount of light entering the lens.

Autel Robotics EVO Lite Plus has 150° Three-way Obstacle Avoidance, which adds extra safety for this adorable drone.

Read our full product review about Autel Robotics EVO Lite+

Specifications

Video Capture Resolution	6k
Still/Photo Resolution	20MP
Flight Time	40 minutes
Weight	816 grams
Special Feature/s	Night Mode, Defog Mode, HDR Mode, Adjustable Aperture
Aperture	f2.8 to f11
Geo-fencing	NO

Pros and Cons

Features and Details

FEATURES	DETAILS
6K Video Capture Resolution & 20MP Still Resolution	What’s better than 4k and 5k? You got it! With this amount of resolution, camera quality steps up to a whole new level.
Night Scene Mode & AI Moonlight Algorithm	Night sceneries are just so underrated! Coupled with this Moonlight Algorithm, all low-light scenes become sharp and vibrant!
Shooting Modes	You can choose different styles of capturing aerial sceneries such as Single, Burst, AEB, Timer, HDR imaging, Night and Panoramic.
HDR Mode	Capture several photos with different exposures and combine them creating a photo with more contrast and dynamic range.
Defog Mode	This drone has built-in one key haze removal function that cuts through the haze with a fog penetration function. This will then let you capture sharp photos and videos even in this kind of scenarios.
Dynamic Track 2.1 and SkyPortrait	EVO Lite+ can automatically follow any person, animal or vehicle so you can focus on your activities. SkyPortrait automatically blurs the background to add cinematic effect, with one-key press, this drone will lift into the air and capture a photo.
150° Three way Obstacle Avoidance	Freely fly into the skies as this drone is built with obstacle sensors that functions in front, back and bottom part.
F2.8 to F11 Adjustable Aperture	Feel free to adjust the aperture of the camera from f2.8 to f11. Remember, the lower the aperture, the more light it allows on the lens. The higher aperture, the lesser light it allows on the lens.

The DJI Mavic 3 Pro is DJI’s flagship triple-camera drone that will wow every user with its outstanding camera quality.

It is a quadcopter drone that weighs 958 grams with dimensions of 13.68″L x 11.44″ W x 4.24″H inches. It has a black color and foldable design too.

All three cameras of the Mavic 3 Pro can perform at 4K resolution/60fps. Its main camera, the Hasselblad camera, can shoot at 5.1K/50fps and 4K/120fps with an f2.8-f11 range.

Moreover, the main camera also supports shooting RAW photos with a dynamic range of up to 12.8 stops. Its 10-bit D-log M Mode can record up to one billion colors.

The exclusive “Explore Mode” has 28x zoom technology that is superb for aerial sceneries!

This purchase comes with a remote controller with a screen and an intelligent flight battery, providing up to 43 minutes of maximum flight time.

Read our full product review about DJI Mavic 3 Pro

Specifications

Video Capture Resolution	4k, 5k
Still/Photo Resolution	48MP
Flight Time	43 minutes
Weight	958 grams
Special Feature/s	46 Min Extended Flight Time, Portable, 4K HDR, Obstacle Avoidance, One Button Return
Wind Resistance	Level 6 wind resistance (up to 13.8 m/s)
Zoom Technology	zoom up to 28x (only available in Explore Mode)

Pros and Cons

Features and Details

FEATURES	DETAILS
Hasselblad Main Camera	This drone has a triple camera that produces excellent 48mp photos and 4k to 5.1k video resolution
Omnidirectional Obstacle Sensors	It senses obstacles through 8 vision sensors that work with a vision computing engine.
Impressive Flight Time	It has a maximum flight time of up to 43 minutes which is plenty of time for filming and photography.
Transmission	Mavic 3 Pro is built with DJI 03 Transmission making a 15km range of lag-free connection.
Remote Control	This drone comes with a DJI RC with a screen and one battery.
New Camera Functions	Auto/Manual Focusing, Explore Mode (lets you zoom in up to 28x), Color Mode, Shooting Styles, and many more will capture stunning aerial angles.

Photography/Filming Drone vs Recreational Drone

The main differences between these 2 different types of drones are particularly found in their usage and features:

Photography/Filming Drone

• Significantly capturing high-quality images and videos is its ultimate purpose
• It is equipped with an impressive camera/s so it can capture high-resolution images and videos
• It has a gimbal stabilization mechanism and an adjustable camera
• Designed for smooth and stable flights (which certainly improves image and video quality).
• Usually built with higher payload capacity (ensures the accommodation of bigger cameras and additional tools)

Recreational Drone

• Its main purpose is to be used for fun and enjoyment (so, it may not have advanced cameras onboard)
• Agility and speed is its main priority
• Usually has lower payload capacity (it’s just not built to carry heavy stuff)

Special Regulations for Photography/Filming Drones

Read this, especially If you’re using these drones for commercial purposes (like advertising, real estate, filmmaking, or any other business-related purposes).

Here are the 2 important regulations for photography/filming drones:

1. Commercial Use Authorization: this is a very important regulation to follow because many countries (especially the US) require specific authorization/certification before you can use this type of drone.
2. Respecting Privacy: You guessed it right! Because this type of drone is specially built for taking photos and videos, you must always be aware of your surroundings to prevent invasion of privacy.

Other than these 2 important regulations, filming drones also needs to follow every other drone’s laws and restrictions.

Conclusion

Photography and filming are two of the biggest industries that made a lot of things ascent from their humble beginnings. And, pairing them with drones had certainly made it reach a whole new level.

High-resolution stabilized cameras, advanced flight features, and extended flight time and range surely make these drones stand out compared to other categories of drones.

In this journey, we have seen that they have their strengths and wekanesses. If you want the Best Starter drone for photography and filming, DJI Air 3 is the best choice out there.

If you want to choose a mid-price range premium drone for this line of work, Autel Robotics EVO Lite+ is your way to go.

And if you want to choose the best overall drone that is certainly impressive, DJI Mavic 3 is the undeniable choice.

Overall, drones for photography and filming possess an incredible edge to enhance these industries even further; a very unique perspective edge that sees the world in a more incredible manner.

Now, which one of these Top 3 Best Drones for Photography and Filming will you choose?