Flying camera drones make life fun and memorable by capturing life’s precious memories – whether you are at a beach, a wedding or your own backyard. Here are the ten best selling flying camera drones.
If you would like a fun, impressive, and quite frankly the coolest “toy” you’ve ever owned, you would pick the DJI Mavic Pro.
It’s stable, easy to control, responsive and smart. The GPS flight control is awesome and makes learning to fly the drone so much easier. It’s the ideal choice for those getting started with aerial cinematography as well.
Take a look at this video to learn about five ways to take the best drone footage.
RADCLO Mini Drone With Altitude Hold, 360° Flip, Toys Gifts For Kids And Adults
- 【1080p adjustable fpv drone & app control】equipped with a 1080p hd 90° manually adjustable lens, the drone provides a wider breathtaking field of view. it assists you to catch every wonderful moment from a birds-eye perspective, and lets you enjoy 1080p hd pictures and videos via the “radclofpv” app. by connecting your phone/ipad with the long-distance drones with cameras, you can enjoy a real-time panoramic view, and share them on your social media with ease.
- 【easy to use with stable altitude hold function】: just click the one key take-off/landing button to start flying. compared to other drones of the same type, we have a more powerful engine, and more stable hover technology, the altitude hold function can keep the drone at a certain altitude for easy control fly, and shoot high-quality footage.
- 【larger body size & full accessories】: the package comes with a carrying case that is convenient for outdoor travel. with 2pcs 800mah batteries, even its the body is larger than other drones, it can last for 22 minutes. equipped with controller batteries, propeller guard, and spare fan blades, making this drone stands out in its class. it is also a good choice for gifts.
- 【multiple functions fit your need】: high-speed rotation, circle fly, 3 speed gear(the speed button is on the top right of the controller, not the left joystick), gesture control, headless mode, one key take off/ landing, altitude hold, 3d flip, low battery warning, emergency stop. all its functions and great quality make it not only suitable for beginners, but also skilled players.
- 【after sales guarantee】we suggest you test a flight in an open space first time flying the drone with a propeller guard. (note: there might be wind interference when using outdoors) if the drone/remote control/app has any issue during flight, do not hesitate to contact the seller. against product problems, we'll provide 24hrs technical support, quality warranty, and money-back service.
DEERC D20 Mini Drone Start Speed Adjustment, 3D Flips 2 Batteries, Silver
- hd pictures and live videos: d20 equipped with 720p hd wi-fi camera to take better aerial photos and videos; with fpv transmission, you can see the sky from a live video feed through smartphone app
- best drone toy for kids: fly d20 is magically simple, just tap the one key start/landing button to start the fly; altitude hold can maintain the drone at a certain height, which makes it so easy to control and take high quality footage
- powerful and safe: features with low power alarm, emergency stop, and 4 propeller guards to ensure a safe flight, 2 rechargeable and powerful batteries support up to 20mins, charge safe and fly longer
- 3d flips and waypoints fly: pushing the control sticks inwards to perform an impressive flip; drawing a flight course on your smartphone, the drone will fly accordingly, add funs to your flight.
- voice control and gesture selfie: allow to control the drone with simple voice comments like “ take off” “ landing”; post a v sign or palm in front of the camera, the drone can automatically take photos or video, good for selfie
DJI Mini 3 Pro Sensing, Ideal For Aerial Photography And Social Media
- care-free creation - weighing less than 249 g, mini 3 pro doesn't require registration in most countries and regions. the foldable and compact design also makes it easy to carry on any adventure.
- seriously pro shots - capture your world in remarkable detail with 4k/60fps video and 48mp photos. the advanced camera system supports dual native iso and f/1.7 aperture for high-quality imagery, night and day.
- perfect portraits in a tap - the redesigned dji mini 3 pro offers true vertical shooting for portrait shots, ideal for social media. the gimbal rotates 90, so you don't have to compromise image quality.
- sweet air time - enjoy an extended flight time of up to 34 minutes and capture and explore more of your surroundings.
- fly with confidence - dji mini 3 pro features tri-directional obstacle sensing and apas 4.0, bringing unrivaled safety to the mini series.
AnnoyingPCB The Prank Beeping For 3 Years
- one device, unlimited chaos: annoyingpcb is the ultimate gag gift or revenge pranks. simply activate the noise maker and hide it. it will beep, screech, or make a cricket sound at random intervals of 5 to 45 minutes. perfect april fools day prank for your friends or coworkers!
- compact and lightweight: this super small annoying sound device can hide easily in most places. this little noise prank is inconspicuous and hard to find. it is light enough for off-brand tape or a magnet to hold it in place.
- battery lasts 3 years: no short gags here, we're in it for the long con. the included battery won't die in a few days, it will randomly beep for three years! rest assured your victims sanity will fail long before annoyingpcb runs out of juice.
- unique sounds: you're not stuck with just one choice of annoying sounds. with the press of a button, you can easily change the sound. noises include: a normal beep, a high pitch screech, and a cricket chirping. take the crown as funniest prankster on april fools.
- hiding inspiration: prank your friends, neighbors, or co-workers and drive them insane! conceal it inside a drawer with stuff in it or a cupboard near other appliances that already beep. affix it underneath a desk, behind a monitor, inside a tissue box, or in a drop ceiling. no one is safe with the annoyingpcb in your prank kit.
Force1 Scoot Hand Operated Flying Ball Drone Toy For Boys And Girls Blue
- original scoot drone for kids: here’s the first, and the most-loved hand operated drone in force1’s scoot drone family! toss to launch this hand drone into the air and enjoy vibrant leds light up this ufo flying toy with every flight
- indoor hover drone for beginners: equipped with smart, obstacle avoidance motion sensors, use your hand to guide its flight, play modern catch with family and friends, and catch it “hamburger-style” once you’re done
- durable and safe webbed shell design: this flying toy drone is designed with a webbed shell that protects hands, walls, and furniture from the propellers; this webbed shell also keeps the drone safe from damages as it fly around any indoor space
- us-certified stem toy: this ufo drone toy is a great beginner drone for kids and kids at heart ages 8 and up; drone measures 4.7” d and includes a usb recharging cable
- quality assured: fly this cool self flying sensor drone with family and friends for 8 minutes with every 50 minutes charge; we’ll provide a full refund if you’re not thrilled with these hand operated drones for kids and adults
Holy Stone HS190 Foldable And Headless Mode Easy To Fly For Beginners
- altitude hold function: powerful air pressure altitude hold function allows you to release the throttle stick and the drone will keep hovers at it's current height.
- foldable and easy to carry: this mini quadcopter can be folded into the controller, which is small and easy to carry.
- one key take off / landing: drone automatically hovers at a set altitude after take-off and before landing making it easy to control and maneuver, especially for beginners who are not yet skilled.
- headless mode and one key return: enable players of any level to fly and operate the drone easily; one key return: press this button in headless mode, the drone will automatically come back to you.
- high speed rotation: new and interesting function. the drone can do 360° circle and fly at high speeds, offering you a special and exciting feeling.
Q9s Drones For KidsRC Control,Easy To Fly Kids Gifts Toys For Boys And Girls
- 【light up the sky】bright leds on the q9s drone emit vibrant neon green & blue light throughout its entire frame, providing you with a powerful illuminating effect and a vivid flight experience.it also has three different display modes for lighting. we believe that it will surprise you all!
- 【secure & durable】the structured style and four sturdy propeller guards ensures a secure flight which protects your kids to avoids body injury from spinning propellers. high quality abs material to withstand countless crashes or drop. very durable and reliable drone for kids and beginners
- 【user friendly】1:you can simply take-off / land / return the drone with one button. 2:three speeds for you to choose, no matter beginners or skilled players. 3:you have no worry about identifying directions under headless mode. 4:the altitude hold feature allows your drone to hover automatically in the air. (even if you do not do anything with the controller) all these features make the drone extremely beginner-friendly.
- 【double flight time】comes with 2pcs batteries.player will have more time for fun.
- 【multiple operating tricks】featuring with 360 degree flips and auto-rotation functions to enrich your flying experience.good toy for kids.
NEHEME NH525 Foldable Drones Kids Or Beginners With 2 Batteries, Upgraded Version
- ✈hd camera & fpv function: neheme mini selfie drone equipped with 80° adjustable 1080p hd camera, which can broaden your views and record every unforgettable moment in your life. meanwhile, with advanced fpv real-time transmission tech, you can enjoy real-time images through app for beautiful scenery.
- ✈safety & ultra-long flying time: neheme nh525 drone is equipped with 4 propeller guards to protect you from spinning propellers and ensure the drone's propellers from the collision; 2 intelligent batteries for up to 26 minutes ultra-long flight time. besides, it also can reach up to 100m control distance giving you more extensive flight experience.
- ✈user-friendly & designed for beginner: just one key is all it takes to take off and to land the drone, keep it simple to control for even beginners. other functions, like headless mode, speed adjustment functions, altitude hold mode, hand gesture photo/video. best choice with enough fun for beginners.
- ✈multiple fun flight: after improving several times, neheme nh525 is a versatile drone, can perform stunts like 360°flip, high-speed rotation and etc. and you can draw a route on the app screen and the hover drone will fly following the path accordingly. last but not least, there are 3 ratio options available to meet all kinds of needs, you can have fun with this mini foldable drone.
- ✈foldable design & great gift: foldable blades with a gift box design make this quadcopter drone small, you can take it anywhere you like. more user-friendly design, it comes with a detailed manual that provides accurate instructions about the function and usage of this hd drone. add to cart now and buy it as a great gift for your friend, son, grandson, etc.
Holy Stone HS440 Foldable Battery For Long Flight Time, Auto Hover, Carrying Case
- 1080p hd auto-adjustable camera: equipped with a 1080p hd camera that can be adjusted within 90° by your remote control or the app, this drone can give you an exciting experience of aerial scenery from the 112° wide-angle lens, and assist you to catch every wonderful moment from a birds-eye perspective. whether you’re shooting at a deserted beach or capturing the details of a fun family reunion, hs440 can handle it all.
- sweet air time: enjoy an extended flight time of up to 20 minutes with the powerful modular battery and capture and explore more of your surroundings.
- small but mighty: thanks to intuitive and advanced features packed in a foldable frame, hs440 provides complete freedom wherever and however you want to create. in addition, it’s equipped with a carrying case which is very helpful for you to move the drone from one place to another. explore your world without limitations.
- simply operation for stunning content: hs440 carefully optimizes user experience and intelligent features. thanks to automatic takeoff, and precise hovering, operation is more streamlined and safer than ever. one-key high-speed rotation would bring more fun amid flight. the possibilities are endless when the sky is your playground.
- discover a new adventure: hs440 is a must-have for beginners with its intelligent functions such as emergency stop, headless mode, and altitude hold as well as its user-friendly features such as its long flight time for every practice.
DJI Mini 3 Pro Tri-Directional Obstacle Sensing, Ideal For Aerial Photography
- care-free creation - weighing less than 249 g, mini 3 pro doesn't require registration in most countries and regions. the foldable and compact design also makes it easy to carry on any adventure.
- push each fight to the limit - with the fly more kit plus, users can enjoy up to 47 minutes of flight time for care-free exploration. note that with this battery, the drone's weight will exceed 249 g.
- seriously pro shots - capture your world in remarkable detail with 4k/60fps video and 48mp photos. the advanced camera system supports dual native iso and f/1.7 aperture for high-quality imagery, night and day.
- perfect portraits in a tap - the redesigned dji mini 3 pro offers true vertical shooting for portrait shots, ideal for social media. the gimbal rotates 90, so you don't have to compromise image quality.
- fly with confidence - dji mini 3 pro features tri-directional obstacle sensing and apas 4.0, bringing unrivaled safety to the mini series.
Drones For Kids TUDELLO Hovering And 2 Batteries, Great Gift For Boys And Girls
- 【easy to use and more fun】: the drone for kids has the function that can perform toss to launch, circle fly, auto rotation and 3d flips.besides,one key taking-off / landing and auto-hovering function enables this mini drone to take off easily and hover at its current height. the drone is friendly and easy for kids and beginners to control with the throttle stick.
- 【user friendly&more flight time】the altitude hold function enables the mini drone to hover at fixed height stably.using headless mode, direction is always relative to where pilots face so that offering care-free fly for kids, beginners, etc.the drone comes with 2 pcs batteries,8mins for each one, which can extend your fun flight time up to 16 minutes.you can replace another battery if the use one is low power.and it can make kids enjoy more fun time with families and friends.
- 【more durable and safer】the drone's structured style and four sturdy propeller guards ensures a safe flight which protects your kids to avoid body injury from spinning propellers. made by high quality abs material,the drones for kids is very durable and reliable for kids and beginners.no worry for the security.
- 【great gifts for kids】with more fun functions just as one key taking-off circle fly, auto rotation and 3d flips, remote control and so on, there is no doubt that kids would be enjoy the drone as the christmas, birthday gifts.they can play this mini drones at home, party and school,journey and so on.what a toy gifts for your kids!recommended age:14+
- 【what you will get】：the package includes 1* drone & 1* transmitter, 2* drone battery & 1* usb charging cable, 4* extra propellers, 1* propeller screwdriver, 1* user manual. perfect gift for your kids and friends, order it now without hesitation! if you have any questions, please contact us at any time.
Other Top Rated Flying Camera Drones
DJI Phantom 4 PRO PLUS (PRO+) Drone Quadcopter
DJI Phantom 4 PRO Drone Quadcopter
- you will receive v2.0 phantom 4 pro plus! the phantom 4 pro series is just the most powerful drone in the market, it is equiped with the following unparalleled features:
- you will receive v2.0 phantom 4 pro plus! a 5.5in 1080p touch screen display integrated with the phantom 4 pro plus remote controller which offers 1000 cd/m2 of brightness, more than twice as bright as conventional smart devices (please note, the brightness is variable). also the screen is powered by the remote controller battery, you only need to charge 1 device instead of 2. no need cable plugging either. how simple it is
- you will receive v2.0 phantom 4 pro plus! five directions of obstacle sensing, you really need to be the crashing pro to damage this drone. please note, the side obstacle avoidance is only available in beginner mode and tripod mode
- you will receive v2.0 phantom 4 pro plus! 20 megapixels camera with huge 1" sensor and mechanical shutter. fyi, the 1" sensor is over 4 times bigger than the 1/2.3" sensor in the latest gopro hero 5 which is amazing. think about how great the video will be for this machine. also the camera is 20 megapixels compared to 12 megapixels of the gopro hero 5. mechanical shutter eliminating rolling shutter distortion which can occur when taking images of fast moving subjects
- you will receive v2.0 phantom 4 pro plus! up to 4k 60fps video recording! yes 4k 60fps, 4k slow montion is at your figer tips! we make the factory package more complete by adding some unique and must have accessories to the pacakges. please see the description for a list of everyting included in this bundle
DJI Mavic PRO Platinum Drone Collapsible Quadcopter
DJI Phantom 4 PRO Drone Quadcopter
- the mavic pro platinum features a sleek design and compact body that is both powerful and alluring.
- a new and improved 30-minute flight time coupled with 60% noise reduction makes the mavic pro platinum dji’s best portable drone yet.
- new foc sinusoidal driver escs and 8331 propellers mean that up to 4 db (60%) of aircraft noise has been lowered during takeoff and landing, and maximum flight time has been extended to 30 minutes, providing a quieter and more enjoyable flight experience.
- the 8331 propellers have a brand new aerodynamic design giving the mavic pro platinum an impressive noise control performance, and new foc esc drivers offer sinusoidal current for increased stability.
- the dji mavic pro is a small yet powerful drone that turns the sky into your creative canvas easily and without worry, helping you make every moment an aerial moment. its compact size hides a high degree of complexity that makes it one of dji’s most sophisticated flying cameras ever.
DJI Mavic Air
DJI Mavic Air Mavic Air
- 32.0mp sphere panoramas - in addition to horizontal, vertical, and 180° panoramas, mavic air stitches 25 photos together in just eight seconds to create crystal clear 32.0mp sphere panoramas.
- lightweight and compact foldable design - you can take it anywhere with you.
- supports 4k video at 30 fps - the 12.0mp camera with adobe dng raw support is ready to shoot. the three-axis gimbal is capable of stabilizing the camera even during high-speed motion for smooth video and sharp photos.
- control your drone from up to 6562' away - the mavic air intelligent flight lithium battery provides up to 21 minutes of flight time per charge.
- dedicated remote controller- features a foldable, low-profile, ergonomic design to hold your smartphone for maximum convenience. the detachable control sticks store inside the remote controller to pack more comfortably on the go.
Yuneec Typhoon H Pro Hexacopter Carbon Fiber Drone
DJI Mavic Air Mavic Air
- the typhoon h pro with intel realsense technology, winner of the 2016 consumer electronics show
DJI Phantom 3 Professional Quadcopter Flying Camera Drone
The Phantom 3 Professional brings several improvements to already popular DJI Drone series.
Before we get into the details, just to be clear, it comes fully assembled and ready to fly out of the box. It’s one of the easiest drones to fly and even if this is your first time flying, you will be mastering it in no time.
It includes the standard features of any DJI drone – including GPS navigation with auto takeoffs and auto landings, intelligent high power flight battery, a built-in safety database of no fly zones, etc.
The motors are a bit larger and this is acutally a good thing – becuase it allows for a more precision control. If you have large enough space, you can fly it indoors, thanks to the new “sonar”-like sensors at the bottom of the drone. These optical and ultrasonic sensors called Vision Positioning allow you to fly indoors precisely without a GPS signal.
A fully stabilized 3-axis 4k UHD video cameral lets you take crystal clear, mind-blowing videos and stunning still photos. The phantom will take off and then hover wherever you leave it allowing you to control the direction of flight or camera easily.
The new generation Lightbridge technology allows you to directly see what the drone sees. You can see the live video feed from the drone as you fly. This full resolution video is simultaneously recorded on the internal micro SD card.
The awesome DJI lightbridge technology and a better camera makes this a great deal . You will be hard pressed to find anything comparable at this price.
Check out what customers who recently bought the phantom 3 have to say by reading the reviews here.
Note on FCC Regulations
Due to safety regulations, DJI has factory-locks in place preventing you to even start the motor if you live within a 15 mile radius of the White House. This includes D.C., most of Prince Georges County, Arlington, Fairfax, Silver Spring, Falls Church and Montgomery County. DJI does not provide this warning before you purchase. Just be aware that if you bought it and live within 15 miles of the White House, you will not be able to fly your Phantom.
Check out DJI Phantom 3 Online.
A Great Alternative: DJI Phantom 3 Advanced Quadcopter
The Phantom 3 Advanced is a great alternative to our top pick, The Phantom 3 Professional.
Everything is practically the same, except for the camera. You still get 1080 HD video camera that takes a very high-quality video and still photos.
If you find that The Phantom 3 Professional is out of stock, or want something a bit cheaper, you cannot go wrong with The Phantom 3 Advanced.
Read customer reviews & check price here.
Flying Camera Drone Reviews
UDI U818A 2.4GHz 4 CH 6 Axis Gyro RC Quadcopter
UDI U818A 6 Axis Gyro RC Quadcopter
Now, if you do not want to spend too much and simply want to get the quadcopter experience with a camera, UDI U818A 2.4GHz 4 CH 6 Axis Gyro RC Quadcopter is a great choice.
The video camera is good but don’t expect high resolution photos. Start in mode 1 to get used to it and then move on to mode 2 for fast and fun flights. Does not perform very well in windy conditions.
It’s on sale now on Online. This is a quick plug-an-play drone that is good both indoors and outdoors.
Our Previous Pick: DJI Phantom FC40
Last Year’s Pick
DJI Phantom FC40 was our top pick last year. However, DJI has now discontinued this model. We have updated this guide with our new top pick DJI Phantom 3 Professional.
The DJI Phantom FC40 is a complete quadcopter, pretuned by the factory. Attach the propellers, charge the included battery and you should be good to go. You do need 4 AA batteries to the remote (not included).
Some have complained about the setup and firmware upgrade – so be sure to religiously follow the instructions and you should have no problems.
Unlike the other models, it comes with an integrated video camera that records a pretty good 720p HD video on a micro SD card.
You will also get a live first-person view (FPV) Wi-Fi streaming of video to the free app for iOS or Android devices. The app for FPV is easy to use and connects to the camera easily.
It features a new 5.8GHz remote control which will not interfere with the 2.4G Wi-Fi when flying.
After some hiccups in the past, they have really made their GPS return-to-home feature reliable – so that you always have that peace of mind. You do need to activate this feature by downloading software from DJI.
Quick tip: Print out the manual – it makes using the Phantom a lot easier.
DJI Phantom Aerial UAV Drone Quadcopter
Update June, 2015: DJI has discontinued this product.
DJI Phantom Aerial UAV Drone Quadcopter is a beautiful drone with new propeller design , two receiver antennas, and the gimbal tilt control on the back of the transmitter.
We were very close to picking this as the best flying camera drone. Because it does not come with an integrated camera, we went with the FC40 – we want our recommendation to be as hassle-free as possible while getting the desired outcome.
The main (dis)advantage you have is that while you will be able to get stunning aerial Go Pro footage, you will have to buy the Go Pro Camera separately (Available on for $278).
Updates
Upate 1:
Our pick for the best flying camera drone for wedding photos and video is also DJI Phantom 3. Read more here: The Best Flying Camera Drone for Weddings
Update 2:
DJI has reduced the price of The Phantom 3.
Our Previous Pick for The Best Flying Camera Drone
DJI Phantom 3 Professional Professional Quadcopter
- 4k uhd video recording with fully stabilized 3-axis gimbal; vision positioning system allows stable flight indoors
- lightbridge digital streaming allows live viewing of 720p video (full resolution video is simultaneously recorded on the internal microsd card)
- included flight battery and rechargable remote controller means this system is ready to fly out of the box. flying this product is restricted within 15 miles radius of the white house.
- dji pilot app for ios and android allows live viewing and complete camera control (phone/tablet sold separately; see dji's website for compatible models)
- kindly refer all the tutorial videos given in the image section on the catalog before use for the proper training.
Neil Trevor
Neil loves to travel. Whenever he finds some time to take a break in a cafe, he loves to sit down, sip a cup of cappuccino and write. Chief travel editor at WhatRocksAndWhatSucks.com, right now Neil probably is somewhere in Europe (or in South America, who knows!). Reach him at neil@wraws.com or on WhatRocksandWhatSucks.com.