Putting aside the fact that remote control drones are simply tons of fun to operate, they also open up some great possibilities when equipped with a built-in camera. For this reason, we've got a great selection of drones capable of transmitting video imagery in real time, along with recording still shots and videos - starting at just over $50.
Typically, higher-end camera drones feature higher-resolution cameras - a factor worth considering. Would you be using the video function just to navigate or get information? Or would you be using a drone camera to capture and display higher-resolution images to wow others with?
In this article, we'll discuss some beneficial and fun uses for drones you may not have thought of, and we'll note a few features and benefits to keep in mind when choosing one. No matter what type of drone you select, it's important to remember that flight times can vary depending on outside factors such as air temperature, humidity, and wind speed. As an FYI also, drones weighing over .55 pounds in the United States must be registered with the FAA (see their guidelines here).
Uses For Camera Drones
Once you really think about the many ways a camera drone can be used, it's easy to see how it becomes a productive business tool or around-the-house aid. A necessity rather than a luxury. For this reason, we've got drones for a variety of applications and budgets.
Drones can help you figure out when it's time for home maintenance. Monitor your storm gutters to see if they're clean or full of junk before going to the hassle of climbing on a ladder. While you're at it, inspect the condition of roof tiles on your house or barn. And if you're worried about any questionable tree branches falling, just peek into the trees (carefully) for a close-up examination of the wood. You'll probably end up getting some great nature views of nests when you're up there.
Building safety inspectors, appraisers, architects, or other related construction professionals can get fast and easy video confirmation when it comes to areas of a structure that are difficult or impossible to access (often the roof). For foremen that need to inspect progress or find where someone left a tool in a high-rise under construction, just fly the drone in and check each floor as needed.
Got bees, bats, or other pests in your attic or walls somewhere? Without putting yourself at risk or scaring rodents away, a camera drone can be used to hover and move around the entire house - closely inspecting roof overhangs or ground areas to watch them enter and exit.
If you have animals or run a farm, it's easy to take a spin around the property and check on things any time - an especially helpful function for hard-to-reach, far away plots. Keep an eye on your livestock, barn, chicken coup, or outdoor pets at any time. We've even heard of using drones for herding purposes! And if you see predators, an experienced flier can use the drone to effectively chase, distract, or lure them away until you can get on the scene yourself.
For serious gardeners with lots of flowers, vegetables, or other food items growing constantly, camera drones are equally effective at chasing deer and other animals away without leaving your easy chair.
If you're coaching a sports team, there's no better way to get useable practice footage for review, study, and critique. Individual players can use automatic hover in place mode to easily create wide-angle video shots of themselves for college applications or to improve their own technique. With permission, it's also the best method to get professional-grade game footage of school, little-league, or club sporting events.
Camera drones can greatly enhance security, whether you have a big warehouse to patrol and watch over, or you just want to monitor front and back doors from upstairs. Unlike stationary cameras that are fixed, a camera drone can provide live feed whether you choose to leave it stationary or quickly move it to a better vantage point.
Whether you're a realtor or selling a home yourself, a camera drone that takes high quality images is a must - especially if you've got property that shows well from above. It's a fact that aerial camera shots catch the eye and get a property noticed as potential buyers look through pages and pages of online listings.
If you've got another remote control flying toy such as a helicopter or plane, just think of the action footage of them you'll be able to capture aerially. Several camera drones we offer even have a "follow me" feature where the drone can be set to automatically follow a tracking wristwatch that's included. If the wristwatch is too heavy for an aerial toy to carry, it can always be strapped to a remote control car or boat. Even without a follow-me function, you'll get some great fast sweeps from the air.
Drones equipped with a "follow me" tracking feature are also great for capturing overhead video footage of your own full-size car or truck on the move, especially if you like to drift or drag race. Or, get some choice shots for posterity - such clips can be particularly persuasive if you're selling a vehicle.
What A Gimbal Is - And How It Improves Camera Operation
A gimbal is an assembly that stabilizes a camera mounted on a drone - eliminating tilting motions and dampening vibrations so you can get a steady video shot. If the drone shifts, a gimbal allows the hanging camera to remain stable by swinging along one axis or multiple axes as gravity pulls on it.
A 1-axis gimbal will compensate only for changes in drone pitch. A 2-axis gimbal will compensate for both pitch and roll, but it will not compensate for yaw (rotational motion). In other words, it turns with the drone. 3-axis gimbals, which are less common, add the ability to account for yaw - keeping the camera pointing in the same direction whenever the drone spins clockwise or counter-clockwise. Typically, gimbals place the camera in a hanging position beneath the drone.
Drones We Offer
Drones Without Cameras
Basic drones without cameras fill the role of fun remote-control helicopters. They're easier to control than traditional single-rotor helicopters because four separate blades create a smoother, more harmonic balance. Compact drones make great birthday or holiday gifts that can spark a young person's interest in remote control vehicles and flying in general.
An interesting subset of non-camera drones are tiny micro copters, which typically measure just over 1" x 1" with an overall height of less than an inch. If you appreciate miniatures in general, take a look at the Mota Nano Series Drone, Rage RC Pico X Ultra Micro RTF Drone, Kyosho Quattro X Mini Quad, and World Tech Toys Micro Supernova Drone. These typically have flight times of 4 to 5 minutes on a single battery charge, and relatively short ranges of approximately 75 feet.
If you prefer a more traditional size basic drone, we've got the Hubsan H107L Series Drone. Rage RC's Jetpack Commander Drone features a housing that simulates a person seated in a jetpack-wearing flight position. Larger drones will typically have longer run times and a greater transmitting range.
We've also got drones that are designed to take off and land vertically, but also create their own lift as they fly forward. For example, as the Rage RC X-Fly VTOL Aircraft Drone tilts from vertical to horizontal, its helicopter blades turn into forward-thrusting propellers and its body takes on the role of lift-producing wings. Rage RC's HoverJet VTOL Electric Aircraft features 4 blades positioned for the traditional style of drone flying. However, when the drone is traveling forward, its fighter jet-shaped body is creating extra lift. Both of these Rage RC drones feature extremely lightweight Styrofoam bodies, 5 minutes of run time, and range of approximately 130 feet.
Value-Priced Camera Drones
If you'd prefer a very small drone with a camera, check out the Rage RC Nano Cam Ultra-Micro FAV RTF Drone first. Moving up in dimensions, but only slightly, we've got the Rage RC Orbit FPV Pocket Drone with blades that fold up neatly into its compact housing that's about the size of a hockey puck. There's also Rage RC's Triad 3-in-1 Pocket Drone that comes with multiple body housings of different colors.
Priced under $50, all three of these compact Rage RC camera drones offer excellent value - especially since they've got wi-Fi technology. This means the user can connect to a smartphone to stream video from the camera, or to use the phone as the controller instead of the one supplied by Rage RC. Additionally, these drones offer features typically found in higher-priced units such as one-touch takeoff/landing as well as altitude hold.
For those that prefer larger, standard-size camera drones, we've got some great values also. World Tech Toys' Striker Series RC Spy Drone also offers wi-Fi capability but adds the ability to do acrobatic flips at the touch of a button. The Orion Camera RC Drone adds LED lights and the option of a 1-axis camera gimbal for steadier videos.
Full-Feature Camera Drones
Full-feature camera drones often (but not always) provide greater operating ranges, longer run times between charges, high-resolution cameras, long-lasting brushless electric motors, LED lights, first person view (FPV) goggle compatibility, high top speeds, acrobatic stunt capabilities, and more auto-pilot features including the ability to automatically "return home" to your location.
An advanced drone will contain software that allows on-board computers to keep it flying as stable and level as possible on multiple axes, so you can focus more on viewing and capturing live video. Most also include a "hover" feature that keeps the drone in place automatically. However, when you do want full manual control for expert-level maneuvers, drone stabilization settings can be fully turned off. This helps particularly when chasing quick-moving things such as remote control cars.
Even if you're a practiced pro, there will be times where you'll suddenly become slightly disoriented and confused at the controls when the drone does something you're not expecting - or when you lose track of its location. By letting let you pause, catch your breath, and regroup as necessary, brake and hover features help avoid crashes and make you a better pilot. Even if you do crash in the high grass, some drones can make audible beeps to locate them easily.
We'll start with the Redcat Carbon 210 Race Drone featuring a body made of light and strong carbon fiber that can endure hard knocks without damage. With a top speed of 45 miles per hour and 3 sensitivity settings, this drone is designed to provide lots of performance for the money.
In addition to other features, Traxxas' Aton Drone gives the operator 20 minutes of flying time (13-15 with camera in use), adjustable camera speed, and an incredible range of up to 1,000 feet. The Aton Plus Drone adds a 2-axis camera gimbal and a higher-capacity battery. When summoned using the "return home" mode, the drone will rise to 45 feet of altitude in order to clear any trees, find its way back to you, then descend where you are.
The World Tech Toys Raptor Series 3-Axis Gimble Drone w/ Connected Live Feed Camera features GPS tracking, a 40 mph top speed, 3-axis camera gimbal, 25 minutes of battery life, and an amazing camera transmitting range of 1,900 feet. The Raptor's "Point Of Interest" mode will automatically fly in a circle over an object you tell it to focus on for optimal video coverage.
When the latest and greatest technology is what you crave, check out the World Tech Toys Elite Series Recon Follow Me Drone w/Live-View 4k Camera. It features a very high-resolution camera, GPS tracking, 2-axis camera gimbal, "point of interest" orbit mode, and a smart watch which the drone can track and literally follow. This makes it easy to get airborne videos of any moving objects on the ground that you can strap the watch onto. Additionally, the watch can also be used as a remote control for the drone. If you choose, the 4k camera can be detached from the drone and used to take high-quality still pictures.
That concludes our RC drone overview. Note that in our Remote Control Toys main section, we also offer more than what you've just read about. You'll also find a great selection of remote-controlled cars, helicopters, and boats!
We also encourage you to check through other sections of RECREATIONiD where you'll find great products for climbing, water sports equipment, camping & hiking, fishing, optical equipment, winter sports, helpful equipment for pets, and much more. If you have questions about anything on our website, we'll be happy to help on the phone seven days a week!