Are you looking for a drone for commercial purposes? Do you want a professional done?
For those who want a durable, reliable and fast quadcopter for aerial photography or videography, or for advertisements, I’ve got a list of the best professional drones in the market.
The quadcopters in my list come at different price points and each of them offer various features that will surely make them valuable in your profession whether it’s for advertising, blogging, or real estate.
So, without further ado, here are the brands to buy if you are looking for the best professional drones in the market.
1. DJI Spark
Specs
Dimensions: 143×143×55 mm
Flight time/battery life: 16min
Transmission distance: 1.2mi
Speed: Up to 31mph
VPS Range: 98ft
Gimbal: 2 axis
Camera resolution: 12mp
Video resolution: 1080p 30fps
Weight: .66 pounds (SUPER light)
Camera details: 1/2.3 Sensor Powerful Lens, 1080P resolution
Notable attributes: PalmLaunch, Gesture and TapFly Control, Obstacle Sensing, Subject Tracking from Various Angles
DJI Spark is a mini camera drone that features all of the brand’s signature technologies. This is a small quad but it offers great features that will surely impress you.
Spark has intelligent flight control with mechanical gimbal for stability and an incredible camera for high-quality photos and videos. This camera drone will push you to explore your creativity.
Whether you are using this to film a blog or ad, the job will be very easy because it comes with UltraSmooth technology that dramatically reduces shake and rolling shutter effect to keep the shots stable and detailed.
This delivers consistent sharp and vivid photos with very little color aberration and distortion. It has 1/2.3 inch CMOS sensor for stabilized videos at 1080p and stills at 12mp. The larger pixels make Spark accurately sensitive to light and enable it to record colors precisely.
This is also very versatile because it adopts all the previous DJI drone shooting modes. It even offers two new modes: Pano and ShallowFocus.
Overall, I’m very happy with Spark’s camera and portability. You can conveniently bring it along with you wherever you go. Considering its performance and quality, I highly recommend Spark.
PROS
- Portable
- Gestures controls
- Quickshot modes
- Control, edit and share via DJI GO app
CONS
- Short flight time
- Wi-Fi range is limited
- No controller
2. DJI Mavic Pro
Specs
Camera Resolution: 12mp
Video Resolution: 4K at 30fps
Max Flight Time: 27min
Max Speed: 40mph
Notable Attributes: Portability, Battery Life
Mavic Pro is another impressive drone from DJI. It is compact in size but has a high degree of complexity that makes it one of the most sophisticated drone cameras in the market.
It has an all-new transmission system with a 7-kilometer range, 5-vision sensors and a 4K camera stabilized by a 3-axis mechanical gimbal. All of these features are at your command with just a push of your thumb or a tap of your finger.
This drone is a game-changer for aerial photography. You don’t need a film crew when you fly the drone because it has ActiveTrack feature that tells it who to track and it handles the rest of the process making you shoot like a pro.
This drone is also smart. It has finely tuned control that lines up a photo and helps you determine the perfect speed for accurate framing. With its Flip on Tripod Mode, every move of Mavic becomes slow and precise.
You can also conveniently control this with your gestures. Mavic’s Vision System can recognize your gesture. Just raise your arms or wave to it and it will follow you or take selfies for you. Thanks to this, you can put your phone and controllers down because all you need is a gesture to make this work for you.
This drone also comes with two sets of sensors which makes it twice as reliable. One of the most common problems among drones is when the sensor stops working. It’s unlikely for you to experience that with Mavic Pro because when one sensor goes wrong, the other kicks in to take its place.
I’m very pleased with Mavic Pro because it is very easy to use and reliable. Also, it has the best camera that is perfect for various applications. In fact, this is one of the best drones for real estate photography. So, I highly recommend this drone.
PROS
- Portable
- Crash-resistant
- Obstacle avoidance
- Quieter than other drone models
- Can be controlled via hand gestures
- Has built-in Active track feature mode
- Has excellent flight time compared to other DJI models
CONS
- Camera doesn’t offer a wide view
- Not for beginners due to its complex models
- The bad light may have blue color interferences
3. DJI Mavic Air
Specs
Camera: 12mp
Video Resolution: 4K at 30fps
Max Flight Time: 21min
Max Speed: 68.4kph in Sport mode
Notable Attributes: SmartCapture, Gesture Control, Foldable and Portable, 3-axis gimbal for stability, 3-directional environment sensing, 8 GB of internal storage
Mavic Air is designed to be your constant companion in your every adventure. This drone is equipped with the best features of the Mavic series.
It has a foldable design making it ultraportable. It also features high-end flight performance and functionality for limitless exploration.
I know that some doubt the capabilities of portable drones because of their design. Maybe some of you are thinking that the other significant features are limited to pave way for its portability, but I’m pleased to tell you that – that’s not the case with Mavic Air.
Air is the most portable drone from DJI and it offers more. It houses a 3-axis mechanical gimbal with its angular vibration range. Its triangular formation and gimbal help create steadier shots.
Its onboard camera integrates 1/2.3” 12mp CMOS sensor and an f/2.8 with a 35-mm equivalent focal length of 24mm to shoot high-quality photos and videos.
Mavic Air shoots video at an incredible 4K at 30fps and records at 100mbps to capture every second with UHD quality. If you are into slow-motion video, this camera drone supports that, too. It can record 1080p 120fps slow-motion videos to capture epic high-speed adventures.
It has new HDR algorithms too that enables it to obtain the right exposure settings intelligently, according to lighting conditions. The overexposed or dark areas are processed for more natural transitions between highlights and shadows while DSP acceleration allows for more efficient shooting.
For additional convenience, because DJI knows that you need big storage for your photos and videos, they equipped this with 8gb internal storage. You can also export the files through its USB 3.0 Type-C port. If you need more, the drone has a Micro SD card slot.
I’m very happy with DJI Air’s portability and high-quality camera. I must say that this is a great companion, easy to bring and equipped with a great camera.
PROS
- Foldable
- Portable
- Stable
- Compact and small
- Better build quality
- Won’t struggle to fly back home even with strong headwind conditions
CONS
- Video crop
- Short battery life
- Doesn’t support D-Log
- Poor range and radio signal quality
- Only slim smartphones fit in the controller
4. DJI Inspire 2
Specs
Camera Resolution: 30mp in DNG RAW mode
Video Resolution: 5.2K at 30fps / 4K at 60fps
Max Flight Time: 27min
Max Speed: 67mph
Notable Attributes: Dual-Operator Mode, Two Cameras, Obstacle Avoidance, Micro Four Thirds System, FlightAutonomy, ActiveTrack, Forward and Downward Vision System, DJI Lightbridge Technology
Inspire 2 is the second generation of Inspire 1, the first filmmaking drone in the world to integrate an HD video transmission system, 360° rotating gimbal, and a 4K camera, as well as the simplicity of app control.
For filmmakers, this is highly recommended because this is designed to do that job excellently. Inspire 2 takes everything that was good about Inspire 1 and improves it.
It has two different cameras, one slung underneath the aircraft with a full 360-degree camera rotation and the other one mounted on the front of the aircraft for better first-person view (FPV) experience.
This also comes with dual operator mode that enables two users to control the aircraft independently at a distance of up to 100 meters from each other. This feature allows a pilot and a director framing the action to control the drone at the same time because each of them receives their own live video feed.
Inspire 2 is expensive compared to most drones from DJI, but it offers a powerful flight performance that is far better than the other drones from the brand. It can fly up to 58mph at 9m/s. Its two controller sticks are tuned for more sensitivity making delicate maneuvers easier.
It can also fly in extreme conditions including over 2500-5000m above sea level with its optional dedicated propellers and in temperature as low as -4°F because it has self-heating Intelligent Flight Batteries which make it perfect when you are doing a documentary outside and have to battle extreme weather conditions.
Also, this is very reliable. DJI understands that when it comes to doing your job, you need a highly functional drone. This comes with a new obstacle sensing system to avoid obstacles, minimizing the risk of collision.
This drone has dual battery system to prolong flight time and an upgraded video transmission system that supports dual signal frequency and dual channel, so you can stream video from an onboard FPV camera and the main camera simultaneously for better pilot and camera operator collaboration.
Inspire 2 is an advanced camera drone for filmmaking. If you want a professional drone to do amazing shots and videos, this is the way to go. Yes, it is expensive but if you want a state of the art camera drone, this is highly recommended.
PROS
- Shoots in RAW
- Interchangeable lens system
- Solid build quality and backup systems
- Capable of live 1080i
- Two camera options
- Offers PCIe SSD storage
- Has intelligent flight modes
- Has retractable landing gear
- Supports 360-degree camera rotation
- Dual operator control using FPV pilot camera
- Obstacle avoidance and detection system
CONS
- Expensive
- Dual battery makes getting spares expensive
- Props need to be locked into place
- Requires high-performance CPU for post-processing (for videos with 5.2K resolution)
- Micro Four Thirds camera unit is costly
5. DJI Mavic 2 Pro
Specs
Camera Resolution: 20mp
Video Resolution: 4K 10-bit HDR Video
Max flight time: 31min
Max speed: 45mph
Notable attributes: OcuSync 2.0 Digital Video Transmission System, Omnidirectional Obstacle Sensing, ActiveTrack, Trajectory prediction, High-speed Tracking, Avoiding Obstacles, Hyperlapse, Hasselblad camera, 1-inch CMOS Sensor
DJI Mavic 2 Pro is designed to help you see the bigger picture. With this camera drone, you will be able to do a lot of things especially when it comes to shooting photos and videos.
This drone is equipped with new Hasselblad L1D-20c cameras that are renowned for their iconic ergonomic design without uncompromising image quality. This camera is co-engineered in partnership with Hasselblad after two years of tireless research.
It has a unique Hasselblad Natural Colour Solution technology that helps capture gorgeous 20mp aerial shots in stunning color detail. It has 4K 10-bit HDR support, too. You can plug this into a 4K TV with HLG and it will play back footage with the right color tones. The brighter highlights and increased contrast are what make HDR video so appealing.
Its f/2.8-f/11 adjustable aperture also delivers outstanding image quality both in high and low-light environments. In low light, you can set the aperture to f/2.8 to allow more light in and capture bright and clear photos. When shooting in well-lit environments, sets the aperture to f/11 to lower the shutter speed and make videos smoother.
Aside from its very impressive camera, this is very easy and convenient to operate because it comes with a standard remote controller (RC) that offers up to 135 minutes of battery life on a full charge. The RC is ergonomic and foldable design with detachable sticks making it so convenient to carry and store, which is helpful when you travel and take it along with you.
Overall, Mavic Pro is very impressive because it produces stunning quality photos and videos be it in medium-format studio cameras or amazingly attached to the nimble wings of a Mavic. I’m very happy and satisfied with its performance, especially when it comes to the output it delivers.
Read More: 5 Best RC Drones: Buying Guide for Beginners
PROS
- Low noise
- Better design than Mavic Pro
- Higher dynamic range
- Bigger image size
- Longer flight time
- Increased speed in Sport mode
- Delivers rich-colorful images and videos
- Omnidirectional obstacle sensing (via the 6 sensors located around the drone)
CONS
- Expensive
- Slightly heavier than Mavic Pro
As you can notice, DJI drones are my top pick when it comes to professional drones. This is because their drones are high-quality and high-performance. DJI is the leading brand in the drone market and although their drones are pricey, you can rely on them. Their drones are precise, accurate and durable.
Aside from the aforementioned, you should also check out DJI Mavic Matrice 200 and DJI Mavic Zoom. Another brand I recommend is Yuneec because they also manufacture great drones for professionals. Check out Yuneec Typhoon H and Yuneec Mantis Q.
Conclusion
The best professional drones can be pricey, but they are just worth the price because they are durable and high-performance. When it comes to picking drones for a job, you should go for the best like the ones that DJI offers.
Their drones have long flight range and flight time which are very important. Of course, you don’t want a drone that would only give you 10 minutes to film. You won’t also like a drone with a limited range because it will limit your view atop.
So, if you are planning to buy a professional drone, check out DJI and the various models they offer. You may also check out Yuneec drones.
What’s the best professional drone for you? Share your experience with us and help other readers decide what quadcopter to buy.