8 Cool Drones to Fit Every Budget
Drones are taking over the world in a good way. They help us out professionally by grabbing property photos, providing tours and tracking progress on construction sites. And it's just a matter of time before they invade the retail market. (Word is, Amazon is working on it as we speak.) But let's be honest; drones are tons of fun, too. So, if you're looking for the perfect gift for the real estate pros in your life (who are in touch with their inner child), we've got a few ideas for you.
Price: $35
Let's say you want to get that special someone the cutest gift ever, but you don't want them to have to clean up after it. This miniature drone might be the perfect gift. The self-proclaimed world's smallest quadcopter is literally about the size of a quarter at 3cm x 3cm x 2cm, and it has four LED lights that make flying at night particularly fun. Flight time is five to seven minutes per 15-minute charge.
Price: $179
You can enjoy this water-resistant mini drone by air or by sea. It has four propeller blades that let it skim across the water at up to 6 mph for about seven minutes. And it can turn on a dime without capsizing. Take off the propeller, and the drone can fly at 11 mph for up to 20 minutes. Check out the video in the link and try not to hum the Jaws theme song in your head.
Price: $499
It's a sophisticated camera drone without the price from a leading drone company. It captures 1080p video without the need for a GoPro, and you can control it from your phone or tablet. Plus, it can generate its own WiFi hotspot. Flight time is 11 minutes.
Price: $675.99
It shoots 1080p video and it can capture 2.7k HD video at 30 fps. It has a range of more than a half mile at an altitude of 400 feet. The still camera has 12 megapixels and the remote control is user-friendly and customizable.
Price: $750 to over $2k
This one is easy to assemble and operate. Bring your own GoPro. You can create GPS-guided flight plans, focus the optional GoPro camera on any one particular object, automatically compensate for the wind and control external lights. You can also choose between controlling it from an app, or using the follow the mood for a hands-free option. Flight time is 16 to 22 minutes.
Price: $699 pre-order, $999 in May
The first throw and shoot drone, this waterproof drone shoots 1080p video at 60 fps. It can hover, or follow you around, and since it flies itself, you can focus all your attention on your skiing or surfing, or whatever activity you're doing. Plus, it's waterproof, so if it crashes in the water, no worries.
Price: $1,349
This is an intelligent, self-flying drone with a three-axis gimbal for stable video while filming. As the name indicates, it has six rotors instead of the standard four. The funky looking drone has an app with 100 different camera movements to choose from, including Follow, Hover, 360, Slide Sideways and Reveal.
Price: About $50k (camera not included)
A collaboration between Brain Farm Cinema and Intuitive Aerial, this drone can handle industry standard cameras and lenses. It can lift up to 50 pounds while maintaining a steady shot. And paired with the Phantom4K Flex—the best 4K slow motion camera in the world—the results are nothing short of spectacular.
