Unless something changes between now and then, on Dec 23rd drones from the manufacturer DJI may become much more difficult to get in the US. They make the best consumer drones in the world for photography/videography. If you were thinking about buying one in the next few years, now is the time to figure out if the drone you want is a DJI and if you need to buy it now. The answer to that depends on what you want the drone for.
- FPV racing/freestyle - This is the type of drone that you wear goggles while flying for a first person view of what the camera on the drone sees. You have complete manual control over the drone; this type of flying takes skill and a decent time to learn. While DJI does make one drone like this, they aren’t the best in this category so no rush to buy anything.
- Following/tracking drone - These are the drones that follow you around and take video of you while you're doing some activity like hiking/skiing/biking. Some of these you can fly with a controller but the main purpose is autonomous flight while tracking you. Drones made for this purpose tend to have propeller guards and be more resilient to crashes. DJI currently makes the best drone in this category, the DJI Neo 2. It's rather versatile since it can be flown manually with your phone, or at greater distances if you get it with a controller allowing it to be used for basic photography, and can even be used with goggles for a fun FPV experience. There is a good non-DJI alternative with the HoverAir X1 that is similar, but I’d rather have the Neo 2. There are no goggles for the HoverAir.
- Photography/Videography - This is the category that DJI really excels in and has no rival. These are the easiest drones to fly thanks to GPS and all their other sensors. If you want something for taking great photos and/or videos then now is the time to buy. Here is a list of your options going from cheapest to most expensive. As you go up in price, you get better cameras, and better sensors for improved obstacle avoidance and improved automatic return to home. These drones do have a tracking/follow feature, but they are less ideal for this use than the Neo 2 and HoverAir since they are more prone to damage when crashing. The first two on this list come from the brand “Skyrover” which is really DJI in disguise trying to get around the ban; they have a higher chance of being available after Dec 23rd. Also the first two are less than 250 grams which puts them in a category that doesn’t require FAA registration (only a $5 fee so not a huge deal) and more importantly can be flown in more places when traveling internationally. If you plan on taking allot of trips overseas and want to take pics/vids with the drone, these are the ones to look at.
- Skyrover S1 - Most budget friendly option, has obstacle avoidance when moving forward
- Skyrover X1 - Over the S1 this gets you a much better camera, rotating gimbal for portrait video/photos, better obstacle avoidance that is now available when moving in all directions. This one bounces in price on amazon between $630 (right now) and $900. I’d personally only get this when its < $750.
- DJI Mini 5 Pro - Over the X1 you’re getting a better camera, lidar sensors for better obstacle avoidance in low light, a smarter automatic return to home that can work even when you don’t have a GPS signal, longer flight times per battery, faster flying speed, and better wind resistance.
- DJI Air 3S - The previous three were all of a similar small size, but the Air 3S is in the medium size category and a bit under 3x the weight of the others. This does give you much better wind resistance and faster speed (~55mph). Also, you get an additional 3x telephoto camera (70mm vs the main camera thats 24mm) that the Mini 5 Pro lacks. This zoom lens lets you get shots with the Air 3S that would be impossible with the Mini 5 pro.
- DJI Mavic 4 Pro - A big jump in price, but this is the best “prosumer” camera drone there is. The next step up would be something used for movies/TV like the Inspire 3 that would run you ~$14k. The Mavic 4 is a much larger drone than the others, weighing in at over 2 pounds, and that gives it really great wind resistance and a top speed of ~60mph. The camera system here is significantly better, with the main camera having a larger sensor that can do higher resolution photo and 6k video, a third 6.5x 168mm telephoto camera for even more zoom, and a gimbal that has a much greater range of movement. The camera on this thing is incredible. You probably don't want this unless you're one of those people that just likes having the best of the best, photography/videography is a serious hobby of yours, or the drone will make you money.
