‘Camera drones’ are just drones that come equipped with cameras, which in today’s world, is 90% of them. Most people would just call them ‘drones’, as it is almost expected to come with one. They have become increasingly popular for various applications, such as filmmaking, photography, surveying, and more. Camera drones come in a variety of shapes and sizes, ranging from small and portable to larger professional-grade models. They are often controlled by remote or via a mobile device, allowing for real-time monitoring and control. In this article, we will explore the various features and considerations to keep in mind when choosing a camera drone for your needs (and your bank account!).
Here are several reasons why camera drones are great places to learn from:
- Affordability: Cheap consumer drones that come with a camera are an affordable way for beginners to get into drone flying and aerial photography. They offer a low-risk investment that allows beginners to learn and practice without breaking the bank.
- Ease of use: Many consumer drones come with beginner-friendly features, such as one-button takeoff and landing, altitude hold, and simple controls. These features make it easy for beginners to learn how to fly and capture aerial footage without much prior experience.
- Built-in cameras: Consumer drones that come with cameras offer a convenient way for beginners to capture aerial footage without the need for additional equipment. This can be especially helpful for those who are just starting out and may not yet have a dedicated camera or other equipment.
- Educational value: Using a camera drone can also be a great educational tool for beginners to learn about the principles of flight, aerial photography, and even basic programming. As they become more proficient, they can explore more advanced features and techniques, building their skills and knowledge over time.
As you explore these drones, you’ll encounter some specific terminology:
Gimbals
A gimbal is a device used to stabilize a camera on a drone. It keeps the camera level and prevents it from vibrating or shaking during flight. There are several types of gimbals used on consumer drones, including:
- 2-axis gimbal: A gimbal with two motors that allows for movement along two axes, typically pitch and roll.
- 3-axis gimbal: A gimbal with three motors that allows for movement along three axes, typically pitch, roll, and yaw. This is the most common type of gimbal used on consumer drones.
Understanding the different types of gimbals can help drone pilots choose the right one for their needs and ensure that their footage is stable and high-quality.
TL;DR Recommendations
Don’t expect Hollywood-grade camera quality here. But that’s not the point. These drones are your affordable ticket to mastering drone photography basics. You’ll learn to operate, angle, and set up cracking shots without burning a hole in your pocket. Consider these drones as your training wheels before you go full throttle with premium gear. So, ready to take off into the thrilling world of drone photography? Let’s get started!
To save you time, these will be in descending order starting with my number 1 pick. But first, a quick comparison table.
| Name | Dry Weight (g) | Camera | Battery (mAh) | Gimbal | Cost (USD) | |
| #1 | Eachine E58 | 77.5 | 1080p | 500 | N/A | ~$60 |
| #2 | Eachine E520S | 248 | 4K | 1200 | N/A | ~$120 |
| #3 | ZLL SG906 Pro 2 | 557 | 4K | 3400 | 3-axis | ~$250 |
| #4 | Eachine EX5 | 229 | 4K | 2200 | 2-axis | ~$150 |
| #5 | 4DRC F4 | 950 | 4K | 3500 | 2-axis | ~$200 |
| #6 | LYZRC L900 Pro | 213.8 | 4K | 2200 | 2-axis | ~$100 |
| #7 | SJRC F11 Pro | 585 | 4K | 2500 | 2-axis | ~$300 |
Eachine E58
The Eachine E58 is a powerful FPV drone with four 0720 brushless motors. As such, this drone has six gyro axis, allowing it to ascend, descend, move forward, backward, left, and right to give you a full 360 view. Powered by a 3.7V 500mAh battery pack, this drone comes packed with enough force.
The E58 drone is lightweight and comes with foldable arms for easy storage. With the battery, this quadcopter weighs about 96g and has a fly time of about 7 to 9 minutes. And with its 2.4GHz WiFi compatibility, this drone can go about 80m to 100m without losing connection.
There are three flight-level speeds on the E58 which are perfect for an FPV drone. Also, the app compatibility of the drone gives a wholly immersive experience. We also love that this drone has a one-key return function and an altitude hold mode to provide stable flight.
Eachine was gracious by including three camera resolutions on the E58 FPV drone. It features a 1080p or HD, 2.0MP or 720p wide-angle camera, and 0.3MP. Note that only the 720p camera has an SD card slot; the other two don’t.
Cons
- All its cameras don’t support SD card slots.
The upside: Although you can’t store recording on all the E58 cameras directly on an SD card, the one camera that supports SD storage is crisp and provides true colors for taking pictures and video.
- Poor battery life
The upside: The battery doesn’t last very long during flight, but you can always get an extra power pack which you can easily swap when low.
Specifications
| Size | Weight | Camera | Battery | Gimbal |
| 27 x 19.5 x 5 cm | 77.5g | 1080p | 500 mAh | No |
Eachine E520S
The E520S is another powerful FPV drone from Eachine. But unlike the E58, the E520S offers several upgrades that make it more desirable. However, it comes with the same four brushless motors that pack enough power for the drone. It also has a 6-gyro axis that allows the drone to move up and down, left and right, forward and backward.
Also, with the 3-speed levels, you can always move around an object you’re shooting at a desired speed. The surround action on the E520G allows the aircraft to fly in a circle to provide you with a more excellent shooting perspective. Other modes on this quadcopter include GPS positioning, headless mode, waypoint flight, follow me, and more.
The E520S uses a 7.4V 1200mAh battery with a fly time of up to 16 minutes on a single charge. Furthermore, the E520S has a 5G and 2.4G WiFi function that can remain connected up to a distance of 250m. The 5G and 2.4GHz functions can be connected to a real-time app to take pictures and videos.
With three different camera resolution options on the E520S, you can always get the perfect shoot with it. It features a 4K HD camera with a 90-degree adjustable angle that lets you capture everything in beautiful color. It also has 1080p and 720p options. Note that the camera supports only FAT32 format SD cards.
Cons
- The camera supports only FAT32 SD cards.
The upside: Rather than formatting your SD card to lose precious files, you can always get a dedicated SD card for the drone.
- Quite heavy
The upside: Despite its weight, the motor and power pack is powerful enough to provide ample force to travel high and far.
Specifications
| Size | Weight | Camera | Battery | Gimbal |
| 40 x 28 x 7.5 cm | 248g | 3840 x 2160p | 1200mAh | No |
ZLL SG906 Pro 2
The ZLL SG906 Pro 2 is an excellent quadcopter to consider. The Beast 2 is an ideal flagship FPV drone for aerial photography. It features four 1806 brushless motors that have up to 1700KV of power. The motors are retractable, which gives the drone a close look for easy carrying.
Powered by a 7.6V 3400mAh battery, the ZLL SG906 Pro 2 drone has a flight time of about 28 minutes. With its battery, the drone weighs about 557g. And thanks to its 5G WiFi support, the ZLL SG906 can keep transmitting at up to 1200m and share images at 800m.
The ZLL SG906G sets industry standards when it comes to its camera. It has a Sony IMX179 camera with a 4K lens. The camera has a video resolution of up to 2048 x 1080 at 25 frames and a photo resolution of up to 4096 x 3072p. This Sony IMX179 camera comes with a three-axis self-stabilizing gimbal that helps capture crisp images and videos. Also, you get a 50x zoom on this camera.
Furthermore, the ZLL SG906 has several modes that provide the ultimate immersive FPV option. The surround flight, one key return, GPS positioning return, gesture camera, auto follow, waypoint flight, and many more are some modes you can use to get captivating images.
Cons
- Obstacle avoider not included.
The upside: The New version features an additional hole for installing an obstacle avoider. So you can order and install the obstacle avoider if it’s important to you.
- Long charge time
The upside: Charging time can take up to 6 hours. As such, it’s best to have multiple battery packs so that you can have the other on the charging station while using one.
Specifications
| Size | Weight | Camera | Battery | Gimbal |
| 28.3 x 25.3 x 7 cm | 557g | 4096 x 3072p | 3400 mAh | 3-axis |
Eachine EX5
The EX5 is another quadcopter from Eachine worth considering. It is powered by four 1406 brushless motors capable of producing up to 7 m/s flying speed. The Eachine EX5 is an ultimate FPV drone with retractable blades and six gyro axis.
The Eachine EX5 uses a 7.4V 2200 mAh battery that gives the drone an average flight time of 30 minutes. With the battery included, the drone weighs 229g roughly. Eachine incorporated the 2.4GHz and the 5G WiFi technology on this quadcopter. As such, it can transmit videos 1km away.
The Eachine EX5 comes with up to 4 different mode switches for more creative video and image shoots. The self-stabilizing mode helps the aircraft capture crisp images. The waypoint mode sets the aircraft to fly according to a waypoint. The follow-me mode lets the aircraft hover according to a person’s line. At the same time, the surround mode sets the aircraft to fly around.
The machine equips the EX5 with a 4K HD camera lens to capture accurate images. The 4K camera shoots at 25 FPS and has a wide viewing angle of 150 degrees. You can get an image resolution of up to 3840 x 2160 on its camera and a focal length of 50x.
Cons
- Long charging time.
The upside: The powerful 2200mAh battery takes up to 300 minutes to charge fully. On one full charge, they last long, but owning multiple batteries will help reduce the time you stay glued to the charging dock.
- Works only on WiFi IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n
The upside: Devices with this WiFi option allow the drone to support such long distances range of communication.
Specifications
| Size | Weight | Camera | Battery | Gimbal |
| 24.9 x 29 x 5.5 cm | 229g | 3840 x 2160p | 2200 mAh | 2-axis gimbal |
4DRC F4
If you’re looking for a high-end FPV drone built tough, then the 4DRC F4 is ideal. It’s built with a tough ABS material that’s durable. The 4DRC F4 has four brushless motors that deliver a flying speed of up to 30 km/h. As a brushless motor, it has up to 7 levels of wind resistance which is more powerful than a carbon brush motor.
The 4DRC F4 drone uses a 7.4V 3500 mAh battery with an average flying time of about 25 minutes. The drone blades are retractable, making them compact and easy to carry. And when assembled with the battery, the drone weighs about 950g. The drone comes with a 6-gyro axis that makes it the ultimate FPV drone.
Equipped on the 4DRC F4 drone is a 4K HD camera that captures true colors. The camera features a two-axis self-stabilizing mechanical gimbal that provides crisp images. And the best part is that you can transmit the recordings with 5G WiFi support from up to 3000 meters away.
The 4DRC F4 also comes with a GPS positioning mode, surround shooting mode, way flight mode, return home button, and more. The over-distance and low-power return options are helpful to prevent losing your drone.
Cons
- 2-direction camera gimbal
The upside: A 3-directional camera gimbal is preferable by many, but this 2-directional camera gimbal has a wide angle range which allows you to capture wider angles and anti-shaking shoots.
- Long charging time
The upside: Recharging the battery takes an average of 5 hours. Although the battery lasts long, giving you a longer flying time, getting multiple batteries is best to reduce the time the aircraft sits at the charging dock.
Specifications
| Size | Weight | Camera | Battery | Gimbal |
| 36 x 33 x 7 cm | 950g | 3840 x 2160p | 3500 mAh | 2-axis gimbal |
LYZRC L900 Pro
The LYZRC L900 Pro is an excellent FPV drone with four brushless motors. A 7.4V 2200 mAh battery powers its motors and can provide 7-class wind resistance. Folding its blades, you can tuck this drone away when not in use. This drone is lightweight, weighing fairly 213.8g.
The battery of this drone can provide an extended flight time of up to 28 minutes. And thanks to its 6-axis gyro, you can move this drone in any direction effortlessly. LYZRC integrated a 5G WiFi image transmission technology on the L900 Pro, allowing it to transmit images at a distance of up to 600m.
Equipped on the LYZRC L900 Pro is a 4K ultra clear ESC dual camera. This camera has a wide 120-degree lens with a 50x zoom. It can capture images at a resolution of up to 3840 x 2160.
Other features of this drone that make it a great buy include its GPS or optical flow positioning. Also, the point of interest surround mode, gesture video, MV creative video, intelligent modular battery, low power return, and more are exciting features to consider.
Cons
- Long battery recharge time
The upside: The battery on this drone is quite powerful; as such, it takes up to 4.5 hours to recharge fully. But owning multiple batteries reduces the drone’s time at the charging dock.
- Short max altitude
The upside: This drone can reach a max altitude of 120m. While it may not seem like much, Ariel’s photos no longer become clear at a distance above this.
Specifications
| Size | Weight | Camera | Battery | Gimbal |
| 32 x 32 x 5 cm | 213.8g | 3840 x 2160p | 2200 mAh | 2-axis gimbal |
SJRC F11 Pro
The SJRC F11 Pro version is an excellent FPV drone worth getting. It features four brushless motors that provide an ample amount of force. It is powered by an 11.1V 2500mAh battery which can deliver a flying time of up to 26 minutes on a single charge.
The SJRC F11 Pro operates on 2.4G and 5G WiFi technology. As such, the drone can remain in contact up to 1500m away. You can easily tuck the drone away when not in use, as the blades are foldable. It’s also a lightweight drone that weighs about 585g.
The SJRC F11 Pro has a 4K camera that shoots at 30 FPS. Its camera has a resolution of up to 3840 x 2160p. The camera also uses a two-axis gimbal that helps it capture crisp images.
Another fascinating feature of the SJRC F11 Pro is its GPS follow-me mode, which works 10 to 100m away. It also comes with altitude hold, surround flight, waypoint flight, point of interest, and many more intriguing features.
Cons
- Two axis gimbal
The upside: Despite being a two-axis gimbal, the electronic stabilization action allows the camera to remain stable while moving or in turbulence to capture clear images.
- Long charging time
The upside: Recharging this drone takes an average of 4.5 hours. However, its battery is long-lasting, but multiple batteries will reduce the times the drone sits at the dock station.
Specifications
| Size | Weight | Camera | Battery | Gimbal |
| 45 x 40.5 x 8 cm | 585g | 3840x2160p | 2500 mAh | 2-axis gimbal |
Conclusion
That’s it – the top low-cost camera drones that offer beginners an affordable flight into the world of drone photography. Sure, they might not rival their high-end counterparts in camera quality, but that’s not their goal. Their mission is to equip you with the know-how to navigate, capture, and compose stellar aerial shots, all while keeping your budget intact. They’re the training ground for your future high-flying photographic exploits. So, take the leap, pilot these drones, and watch your drone photography skills take off.
If you’re interested in learning to fly, you can check out our recommendations for simulators, or alternatively use a tiny whoop you can crash 1000 times.
Check out the rest of our articles for beginners. Click here.
