What’s a cheap, easy way to make drone panorama photos? The new, PanoVolo software was tailored specifically for turning your drone photos into panoramas. It’s a simple tool for anyone looking to expand their drone photography skills. The software creates drone panoramas in seconds.
Here at The Drone Girl, we were given the chance to try out PanoVolo. The drone photography software launched in December 2023, with the newest version released this past January (1.5.0).
PanoVolo costs $29.99 a year. With it comes state-of-the-art image analysis that uses the position and orientation saved by the drone to create geometrically accurate panoramic images.
There are a lot of options when it comes to the best ways to make a panoramic photo with your drone. Of them, Panvolo is among the cheapest. That said, the software has its limitations (which we’ll describe more below). However, the low price tag and easy-to-use guide make it ideal for new drone photographers.
Once uploaded, you can view the RAW images in PanoVolo
Using the PanoVolo software
Before you can edit your photos, you’ll of course need to actually take panoramic images with your drone. When you are flying your drone, make sure you switch (typically on your controller) to save the RAW or JPEG originals of your panoramic photos.
If you are flying a DJI drone, you will have to wait until your drone is flying to switch on this feature. Don’t be like me, who spent a whole afternoon shooting on my DJI Mini 3 Pro, only to come home to try to upload the photos to PanoVolo and receive a continuous error message. (I had failed to save the original images).
However, when I went back out and shot new photos, uploading them to PanoVolo was really quite simple. You can upload the photos from your SD memory card or straight from your computer in under a minute. The software offers multiple customization options and accommodates both DNG (RAW) and JPEG images.
Once uploaded, the stitched drone panorama photos appear in the Pan Volo panorama viewer. PanoVolo uses optimized algorithms that combine the position and orientation information saved by the drone with image analysis to ensure that the stitched panoramas are visually stunning and geometrically accurate.
With a simple click, your DNG or JPEG images can seamlessly switch from spherical, cylindrical, and stereographic (or ‘small planet effect’) images. Additionally, PanoVolo allows users to pinpoint the exact locations where images were captured on a 3D map.
Depending on your original images, some orientations work better than others. I found the three vertical options (vertical spherical, vertical cylindrical, and vertical Mercator) to be great options for uploading your panorama on your Instagram story.
Personally, I hate when you go to post a panorama of your story and there is space on the top and the bottom. This orientation allows you to still have everything you captured in your panorama and fits the whole story.
Once you find the perfect orientation, saving the drone panorama photo to your computer or memory card is quite simple.
With the latest version, some of the recent highlights were the addition of the panorama central point selective feature. This feature allows you to select a new central point around which the panorama can be re-orientated.
It can be difficult to get your drone while in the air to be at the exact right angle. Given that, I found this feature beneficial.
PanoVolo fixed the orientation so I could easily share my panorama with Drone Girl followers
Who is the PanoVolo software for?
You may be wondering: If my drone already has panorama shooting options, then why do I need PanoVolo?
First, not all drones are compatible with this feature, like the Autel Evo Lite, for example. If your drone fits into this category, then it’s hard to pass up the PanoVolo software.
If you are a skilled photographer who already uses the Adobe Suite, then this option is probably not for you. That software is far more robust.
PanoVolo allows novice drone photographer to adapt their photos quickly and seamlessly. Plus, the software makes sharing on social media incredibly simple.
Additionally, PanoVolo gives you the freedom to change the orientation of your panorama, no matter how you take it on your drone. Taking all those different panoramas straight from your drone would surely drain most of your battery and the spares.
But if you are new to drone photography and eager to show off your photos on social media? Then spending $29.99 a year certainly seems worth it.
A panorama photo I made!
It’s available on macOS 12 (Monterey) or newer, as well as Windows 10 or 11, 64-bit. Download PanoVolo here.
Next up in our “Ask Drone Girl” series is about the DJI Mini 3 Pro vs Mini 4 Pro pricing, as well as possibly exchanging the Mini 3 in favor of a better drone. If you have a question for Drone Girl, contact her here.
I was generously gifted a DJI Mini 3. It was just the base kit with the regular controller, the drone, and one battery,etc, and it cost less than $400.
My concern: without obstacle sensors, am I setting myself up to fail?
I can exchange it (and pay the difference) for a DJI Pro 3 Bundle, which comes with 3 batteries, the standard controller, and DJI’s charging hub, and MicroSD card for $700 on sale. Is it worth it? Is it too much for an entry drone?
Also confounding me further is that the Mini 4 Pro has been out now for three months yet is priced similarly to the Mini 3 Pro.
I would greatly appreciate any insight and recommendations, as I am at my wits end after reading so many reviews and watching test videos.
Ah ha! The Christmas and Black Friday 2023 drone sales were good this year, and it sounds like Santa got you a Mini 3 at a great price. After all, the DJI Mini 3 is usually $469 with the RC-N1 remote controller without screen. Since you got it for less than $400, that’s great!
But it sounds like you’re second-guessing this deal — and for good reason.
Now you’ve laid out tons of good questions here, and I’ll tackle them in order. But before I do, I’ll point you to two great guides:
My guide to the Mini 3 vs. Mini 3 Pro helps you understand if it’s worth the upgrade (which essentially answers your first set of questions).
DJI Mini 3 vs. Mini 4 Pro vs. Mini 3 Pro: how to choose
It really seems like you’re debating between the following three drones, the DJI Mini 4 Pro, Mini 3 Pro and Mini 3. So let me lay out a quick comparison table here:
The questions you call out specifically are super interesting though, so let’s dive in individually.
How important are obstacle sensors?
The Mini doesn’t have any sort of obstacle avoidance sensor. It merely has a downward vision sensing system, which really only aids with landing. For a $469 drone (or sub-$400 in your case), that’s to be expected.
The two “Pro” versions, the Mini 3 Pro and Mini 4 Pro, are superior in this department.
The Mini 3 Pro’s tri-Directional Obstacle Sensing provides forward, backward, and downward vision. Should you fly straight toward a tree, it’ll simply stop and hover in place.
The Mini 4 Pro does one better with Omnidirectional Obstacle Sensing. Now it can see even beyond those points without any blindspots, making it truly crash proof.
The biggest decision you’re facing here is the importance of obstacle sensing. Is obstacle sensing worth the extra $300? Alas, this is really a personal question based on how impactful $300 is to you — and how risk-averse you are.
Now to be clear, the Mini 4 Pro’s obstacle sensing is far superior to the Mini 3 Pro’s. Given that, let’s just rule out the Mini 3 Pro as an option. Your real consideration here is between the Mini 3 vs. Mini 4 Pro.
If $300 won’t make a dent in your budget, then go for the Mini 4 Pro. Consider it the ultimate insurance policy in protecting your drone from ending up in your neighbor’s tree.
But just as people opt out of insurance for financial reasons, you might opt out of the Mini 4 Pro and stick with the Mini 3. How likely is it that you would crash into a tree? If you’re frequently flying in forests, then it feels more likely than if you’re primarily flying over open fields or water.
Consider it this way: you could buy a second Mini 3 for not much more than the price of one Mini 4 Pro. Alas, I recommend you start your drone journey on a cheap, toy drone just to understand what kind of pilot you are.
Is the DJI Mini 3 Pro a good entry-level drone?
Aside from my recommendation that you always just start on a toy drone to get the hang of flying before you put many hundreds of dollars in the air, the DJI Mini 3 Pro is a great entry-level drone.
The image quality is excellent. You’ll want to use it again and again to take photos that you can then show off to your pals via social media or physical prints. It’s simple to set up, and it’s safe and stress-free to fly. (It’s truly one of the easiest possible drones to fly).
It’s also incredibly small and light, which is great for portability. And that’s not the only good reason. Because it weighs just 249 grams, it doesn’t fall under the purview of the Federal Aviation Administration when you fly it for hobby purposes. Yep, that means no need to register, nor do you need to comply with complicated Remote ID rules. It’s true. Drones under 250 grams are a big deal.
Unlike cars, where you’d never put a first-time driver in a BMW (start them off with the old, beat-up Toyota Corolla), the more expensive drones tend to be far easier and safer to fly versus the cheap ones. (The car analogy doesn’t kick in until you start to handle the $1,000+ drones with enterprise functions. We’re not talking about those here.) Don’t be afraid to be a new pilot with a Mini 3 Pro in your hands.
Why does the Mini 3 Pro cost the same as the Mini 4 Pro?
You mentioned being confused how the Mini 4 Pro has been out now for three months yet is priced similarly to the Mini 3 Pro. I am confused too.
The Mini 4 Pro is better than the Mini 3 Pro by every metric. When the Mini 4 Pro launched in March 2023, we wrongly predicted that the Mini 3 Pro would quickly drop in price. Yet months later, it hasn’t (on DJI’s website, both go for $759 with the base model controller).
The 4 has upgraded camera capabilities and intelligent features. It’s easier to use and more stable. Both the battery and range are more powerful.
In short, my whole spiel above about the DJI Mini 3 Pro being a good entry-level drone is true. But, it’s even more applicable to the Mini 4 Pro.
If you’re already thinking about upgrading your Mini 3 to the Mini 3 Pro, go all the way and just upgrade your Mini 3 to the Mini 4 Pro.
The only reason you might go for the Mini 3 Pro is if you can find it on sale (which it sounds like you have) through third-party sellers. If you can find it for, say, $100 less, then the Mini 3 Pro suddenly does become more appealing than the Mini 4 Pro.
It’s no secret that the remote identification rollout has been rocky. Whether intentional or not, compliance has been far from 100%.
Some drone pilots aren’t jumping on flying in a remote ID-compliant manner out of principle, centered around they don’t like the sentiment of Remote ID. Others want to be compliant, but sold out Remote ID modules have truly made the process difficult to impossible. And then there’s a class of drone pilots who very much would like to be Remote ID compliant, but struggle to considering the financial barrier.
In 2023, I put out a guide to the best remote ID modules, but even then the cheapest one of my picks was $99. That module isn’t even necessarily something I would recommend for everyone, given it’s fairly bare bones option.
But this week, Zing (which is the same company behind my top-recommended Remote ID module) put out a new option that’s far more affordable. Zing’s newest product is the Z-RID Lite. Zing calls it a game changer in drone remote identification given its affordability. It costs just $84.99.
In fact, affordability was the key component in designing this new module.
“The Z-RID Lite directly responds to market demand for cost-effective compliance solutions,” according to a prepared statement from Zing Drone Solutions. “(We) identified a significant barrier for drone operators: the high cost of Remote ID Broadcast modules. The Z-RID Lite addresses this challenge by providing a stripped-down, purely functional module dedicated to Remote ID compliance, eliminating extra features in the original Z-RID.”
So what is the Z-RID Lite module, and is it something you should buy?
About the Z-RID Lite module from Zing
The Z-RID Lite module from Zing is actually quite similar to Zing’s previous flagship product, the Zing Z-RID broadcast module. Both are designed to fit on any drone. In fact, Zing says both of the modules have been tested on drones as small as the DJI Mavic Mini. That drone is practically pocket-sized and weighs less than 250 grams.
They’re also totally plug-and-play solutions. Unlike some of the other recommendations for cheap Remote ID modules that typically require a lot of effort on your end to connect them to the drone, these ones are designed to be simple to setup. You basically just take it out of the box, get it charged up, turn it on, and you’re broadcasting. Mount it on your drone and you’re broadcasting from, well, your drone.
A size comparison of the Z-RID Lite
Z-RID Lite versus Z-RID: which is better?
So what’s the key difference between the new $85 Z-RID Lite module and the $229 Z-RID?
Battery life (winner: Z-RID):It’s mostly battery life. The original, pricier model offers up to 14 hours of battery life. The new Lite version just gets you a measly four hours.
That’ll likely last you basically a day of flying, as you’d turn it on and off during lunch breaks. But only four hours of battery life might be annoying, as you’ll constantly have to worry about charging it.
If you don’t want to worry about that headache of having to recharge, go with the pricier version.
Size (winner: tie): They are also slightly different dimensions. Both are small, but the Z-RID is more rectangular with dimensions of 25mm x 35mm x 50mm. The Lite’s dimensions are 40mm x 40mm x 30mm.
Weight (winner: Z-RID Lite): The Lite version is literally lighter at 30 grams, versus the standard model’s weight of 35 grams.
Price (winner: Z-RID Lite): It’s hard to argue with the cheapest Remote ID module on the market to-date, which is the $85 Z-RID Lite module. Hey, at least the $229 Z-RID qualifies for my coupon code, which is DRONEGIRL to get $20 off.
Zing says the margins are too low to offer my readers a coupon code on the Lite edition, alas!
Holy Stone’s $89 RID1 is easy to acquire through Amazon with fast shipping. Though, some pilots might not like that it’s made in China.
A remote ID module made in the USA
Zing’s modules, including the Z-RID and Z-RID Lite, are engineered at MIT and manufactured in California. That’s critical for people seeking American-made products on their drone.
For reference, most other broadcast modules are manufactured and assembled overseas. I do recommend Dronetag products in my guide to the best remote ID modules. Dronetag is based in the Czech Republic and is compliant with both EU and U.S. standards and regulations.
Products made in China, such as HolyStone’s $89 RID1, are concerning to some pilots.
A brief history of Remote ID compliance
Remote ID is a relatively new Federal Aviation Administration requirement. It states that drones flying in the United States must provide identification and location information that can be read by others, including law enforcement and other drone pilots. It’s kind of like an electronic licensing plate system for drones.
Drones with built-in Remote ID capability: Most newer, off-the-shelf or ready-to-fly drones fit into this bucket, including the DJI Mavic 3 series and the Autel Lite series. Generally speaking, it’s fairly obvious if it’s built in via details on the packaging or the user manual.
Drones flying in a FAA-Recognized Identification Area (FRIA): Fly in a designated FRIA area? These tend to be large blocks of land owned by model aviation groups or other educational institutions. If so, you don’t need to broadcast your drone’s location or
Drones that weigh less than 250 grams and that are flown recreationally: Similarly, there’s another group of drones that don’t need to broadcast location — those drones weighing under 250 grams and that are flown recreationally. Such drones include the the DJI Mini 3 Pro and the Autel Evo Nano drone.
Drones that do not have built-in Remote ID capability: Here lies the category of people who will need an add-on Remote ID module that you can attach to your drone. This module is required to broadcast the drone’s unique ID, location, altitude, velocity, takeoff location and elevation and time mark throughout takeoff to shutdown. Yep, all other drone flights that don’t fit into one of the above three buckets will end up in this bucket.
The FAA’s initial Remote ID compliance deadline was September 16, 2023. But given challenges including the limited availability of broadcast modules and approved FAA-Recognized Identification Areas (as well as price points too high for most pilots), the FAA said it would not enforce Remote ID rules until March 16, 2024.
The Z-RID Lite is a key component in helping pilots get compliant. There is still one drawback. Zing says its modules won’t ship until March 10, 2024. That’s cutting it close in terms of the enforcement date.
Worried about not being able to fly given that tight shipping date? You might just be better off with the Z-RID. That one is already available, and can ship within three days. And hey, you can get $20 off using coupon code DRONEGIRL.
As a drone enthusiast, I was intrigued to discover EXO Drones, a U.S.-based, consumer drone company. Though the company has had close ties to Chinese drone maker Hubsan it was recently acquired by American company OpenStore.
With its OpenStore tie, EXO is promoting itself as an alternative to Chinese drones like DJI (more on whether it’s fair to call it an American drone company later) OpenStore paid $2.9 million in an all-cash offer in August 2022.
The idea of a U.S.-based consumer drone company is certainly compelling given the long list of great reasons to purchase an American-made drone. But the reality is that the best camera drones are not made in the U.S., largely due to factors like weak manufacturing infrastructure and high cost of labor. Knowing all that, my interest was piqued when I recently had the chance to fly EXO drone’s latest release, the Blackhawk 3 Pro.
So, will the Blackhawk 3 Pro make the list of the best camera drones made in the USA? Well, not yet. While EXO drones (owned by Miami-based OpenStore) designs and handles the fulfillment of the drones, they are still manufactured outside the U.S.
An EXO spokesperson said the company is actively exploring avenues to do even more production in the U.S., likely capitalizing on the heavy interest in American-made drones. Nonetheless, I decided to try out the Blackhawk 3 Pro from EXO Drones.
The Blackhawk 3 Pro starts at $1,249 but is currently on sale for $949 on their website and only $849 on Amazon. Given the lower price tag, plus other potential benefits of shopping on Amazon like ultra-fast shipping, an additional 5% back with the Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Card, and easy returns, shopping on Amazon is a no-brainer.
The No. 1 reason why the Blackhawk 3 Pro stands out is its impressive 53 minutes of flight time. This is one of the longest flight times you can achieve on any consumer drone. Among other highlights of the Blackhawk 3 Pro:
200 Mbps HDR 4K video quality
9+ mile range
1/1.3 inch CMOS Sensor
Learn more about the newest drone from the American-based drone company, EXO drones, and more of these features in my review of the Blackhawk 3 Pro here:
Am impressive 53-minute flight time (almost)
When I initially opened up the Blackhawk Pro 3, I was surprised to see only one battery included in the kit. However, after reading through the specs, I realized, you don’t need spare batteries.
The Blackhawk 3 Pro has a 53-minute battery life, something you don’t see every day in the drone market. For instance, DJI’s latest consumer drone release, the DJI Mini 4 Pro has 34 minutes (or 45 minutes when you purchase an additional intelligent battery).
When I took the Blackhawk 3 Pro out to fly, I was out flying, the drone got very close to reaching that 53 minutes of flight time. I was notified of a low battery after around 47 minutes, and personally, I never risk flying once I get that notification.
However, it is worth noting, that the controller still had plenty of battery left when the drone was low battery. By purchasing an extra battery (for an additional $150), you could fly the Blackhawk 3 Pro for hours.
The lengthy flight time is quite impressive, but there are some definite trade-offs, in particular the battery size and weight.
It’s almost double the size and weight of the DJI Mini 4 Pro’s battery. With the battery, the drone itself weighs 600g at take-off, compared to the Mini 4 Pro at 249 g.
To fly the Blackhawk 3 Pro, you’ll need to download the EXO app and connect your phone to the controller. The app and controller are both user-friendly. The drone also has an extended exploration feature allowing you to fly with a 9+ mile range on a single charge.
The first few flights were smooth with a sharp 4K video quality. The 1/1.3-inch CMOS sensor allows for rich coloring and natural lighting transitions. The video quality on the Blackhawk 3 Pro holds up to the best consumer camera drones in the market. The Blackhawk 3 Pro also has a allowing for low-light captures. But while the camera quality is great, the flying quality? Not so much.
The Blackhawk 3 Pro promotes a range of Intelligent Flight Modes, like ‘Follow Me’, “Return to Home’ and GPS Routing. But while some features like return to home, worked fine, others didn’t work at all. When I put the drone into Follow Me mode the drone seemed to malfunction and crashed into the grass.
I tried this mode a few more times, but I was unable to get Follow Me mode to work. I continued flying without using the intelligent features, however, I quickly faced another obstacle when I received an error alert regarding my gimbal.
The error notification repeated over and over again with a loud beeping noise. Fixing and recalibrating the gimbal was simple. However, it takes some time and the beeping and error message repeats loudly until the error is fixed.
I tried to find a setting to turn off voice notifications or the volume, but I could not. Overall, the footage captured was clear and high quality, but the overall flying experience was rocky.
The Blackhawk 3 Pro battery (left) vs. DJI Mini 3 battery (right)
Blackhawk 3 Pro vs. DJI Mini 4 Pro
In terms of price, the Blackhawk 3 Pro’s closest DJI drone competitor is the DJI Mini 4 Pro. The DJI Mini 4 Pro starts at $759. The DJI Mini 4 Pro is $90 cheaper than the Blackhawk 3 Pro.
Below is a side-by-side comparison of the specs of the two drones:
The Blackhawk 3 Pro’s most impressive feature remains the battery life, along with the maximum wind speed. Both drones have similar camera features. The Mini 4 Pro has slightly better video resolution.
The DJI Mini 4 Pro also has omnidirectional obstacle avoidance, while the Blackhawk 3 Pro has downward avoidance. This makes the DJI Mini 4 Pro a considerably more safe drone than the Blackhawk 3 Pro. The Blackhawk 3 Pro has obstacle sensors located on the bottom of the drone. On the flip side, the Mini 4 has them in every direction.
With the Mini 4 Pro, you’ll save money and have a safer drone. So, this begs the question, who is the Blackhawk 3 Pro for?
If American companies are a priority for you, then certainly consider purchasing this drone. Without outright naming DJI, EXO’s marketing tactics have leaned into the crowd of anti-DJI pilots.
“For more than a decade, there has been little technical competition in camera drones,” according to a statement on EXO’s page. “One brand with no competition means they can do whatever they want- and they do. High prices, non-existent support, and selling your private data to China.”
That’s all a clear jab at DJI, which has been met with concerns (particularly from government agencies) about data privacy. It’s gotten so brutal for DJI, that the company is on a government blacklist.
But EXO isn’t exactly made in America, given that manufacturing occurs overseas. Still, with EXO you’ll experience many of the perks of buying American, like supporting the local economy and having more reliable customer service.
And while the flying experience may not be as smooth as DJI and other China-made competitors like Autel, you’ll hardly notice the difference in post-production in terms of video and photo quality.
It’s never too early to enter into the wonderful world of drones. And sure, it may be too early to enter the world of piloting drones. But a series of three books by Dr. La’Quata Sumter allows kids to engage with drones — no Part 107 drone pilot’s license necessary.
The books are titled “Flying Drones with Jaxon”, “Noelin’s Drone Safety Adventure” and “Dronology: The Complete Guide” and are written by Dr. La’Quata Sumter. Sumter is the founder and CEO of Focusing on Me Inc.
Sure, there are many excellent drone children’s books, but what sets these books apart is their focus on safety. And while anyone — kid or adult — likely might not be naturally interested in safety, the book’s strong visuals and captivating narratives make the topic of drone safety engaging.
We were sent the three books, “Flying Drones with Jaxon”, “Noelin’s Drone Safety Adventure” and “Dronology: The Complete Guide” to review. As a former educator and current drone enthusiast, I was excited to get my hands on these books.
Here is a breakdown of what’s inside each of the drone books, plus what sort of audience each book might be best suited for:
A page from “Flying Drones with Jaxon”
Flying Drones with Jaxon
“Flying Drones with Jaxon” offers potential drone pilots a quick guide to drone technology with kid-friendly language. This book covers drone terms, along with some drone laws and regulations.
Clear visuals and simple wording make new concepts easy to understand. The book dedicates whole pages to teaching science terms like drag, thrust, weight, and lift. The words help readers understand how drones work but are also helpful terminology for any reader interested in STEAM technology.
The book is marketed for grades 3rd through 6th grade, however, I would say even drone enthusiasts as young as 5 years old would be able to learn something about drones.
This is also a great book for any STEAM elementary school educators. Additionally, the book highlights careers in the drone industry. Plus, inserts test the learner’s knowledge of drone technology, with mini writing prompts and quizzes about the book. And as a former educator, I was also grateful for pre-made activities!
“Noelin’s Drone Safety Adventure” is about the story of Noelin who receives his first drone and his drone adventures that follow.
Noelin receives his drone from his auntie, a drone pilot, who teaches him about drone safety. Noelin then teaches all his friends about drone safety as they fly his new drone together.
Unlike the other two books from Dr. La’Quata Sumter, this book uses traditional storytelling to ignite curiosity, while still keeping safety knowledge front and center.
It is not easy to write a captivating children’s book that also teaches children. However, by keeping the story short and focusing on one important topic (safety) the author, Dr. La’Quata Sumter does just that.
This book is marketed for children grades 3rd through 6th, but “Noelin’s Drone Safety Adventure” is an excellent companion gift to children of any age, who might receive their first drone.
“Droneology” is the most detailed and in-depth drone book of the three. The book covers everything from the anatomy of a drone to drone laws and regulations.
The book is geared for children in grades 6th and up. However, if your child has a deep interest in drones, this is an excellent resource for anyone as young as 7 years old.
“Droneology” is broken into mini-chapters and following each chapter there is a mini-quiz. Again, this is a handy resource for any STEAM educators who may be looking for books for their classrooms.
The book highlights important FAA rules, like registering drones that weigh over 250 grams. Dr. La’Quata Sumter breaks the FAA rules down into simple-to-understand bullet points. I can’t imagine many 6th graders are reading FAA regulations, so this helpful breakdown is incredibly available to younger pilots.
“Droneology: The Complete Guide” is a great book for STEAM educators or any beginner pilot who is serious about learning more about the world of drones.
You can find all three of Dr. La’Quata Sumter’s drone books on Amazon or Steamthrudrones.com. Are you a STEAM educator who plans to use these books from Dr. La’Quata Sumter in your classroom? Let us know! And while you are at it, check out how to book a drone expert speaker for your classroom.
Looking for a way to turn pretty much any drone you already own into an FPV drone? One of the easiest and most affordable ways to do that might be with the DroneMask 2. Made by a Norwegian company called Immerse Optics, the second edition of its flagship product, the DroneMask 2, allows you to take your camera drone and turn it into an immersive flying experience.
Immerse Optics started having nothing to do with drones at all, but instead by making masks to create an immersive movie-watching experience from your phone. After receiving customer feedback and inspiration — including getting wind that drone pilots were ‘hacking’ their product into an FPV tool — the company pivoted to the drone sector. In 2021, they introduced the DroneMask and have recently evolved by adding the DroneMask 2 into their lineup of products.
And for folks like me who have always been curious about the world of FPV (first-person viewing) drones but weren’t ready to commit to the price tag that comes with purchasing an FPV drone, then the DroneMask 2 is a great alternative and a much cheaper option. The product starts at $179.
I had the chance to use the DroneMask 2 when flying with my DJI Mini 3. Here’s a review of what happened:
The DroneMask 2 is compatible with any type of drone from any drone company — as long as that drone includes a controller that interfaces with a phone that displays the drone footage.
In my case, I used the RC-N1 with a DJI Mini 3 drone. That said, if you have a controller that has the screen already built in, like DJI RC, then unfortunately the DroneMask 2 will not work.
And here lies what’s likely the biggest downfall of the DroneMask 2. I would not recommend purchasing a controller that connects to your phone simply using the DroneMask 2, as it generally makes more financial sense to consider other options. For DJI users, that includes researching how to turn your DJI drone into an FPV drone using DJI’s products by purchasing DJI FPV goggles.
Lastly, you’ll need a smartphone — and that’s it. Everything else you’ll need is included in your DroneMask 2 kit. The DroneMask 2 comes with:
1 mask
1 linen bag
1 cloth (to clean the lens or your phone with)
1 USB-C to USB-C cable
1 USB-C to lighting cable
1 micro USB to USB-C adapter
Photo courtesy of DroneMask
Getting ready to fly with the DroneMask 2
I live my life with 15% battery life on my iPhone and have a few times planned to head out with my drone for the day then remembered I had forgotten to charge the batteries. So, I was happy to learn that DroneMask 2 is not electronic, so no charging is required.
I headed out with my DJI Mini 3, my RC-N1 controller, and my DroneMask 2. The DroneMask 2 itself is quite bulky, so I had to change out my normal ‘drone backpack’ for a larger one.
Setting up the mask was quite simple. You connect your phone to the controller as normal, however, instead of mounting the phone on the top of the controller, you place it inside the DroneMask 2 (using the longer cord provided). Then just zip it right up.
The DroneMask 2 fits most phones, including, but not limited to, all models of iPhone, Samsung S6-8 edge, and the Samsung Galaxy S21.
The goggles are quite comfortable and spacious. I don’t wear glasses, but I tried the goggles on while wearing sunglasses and they fit just fine. No need to get prescription lenses or wear contacts.
The DroneMask 2 also has an adjustable side strap and one that goes over your head. These straps are quite thick and again, very comfortable.
Another thoughtful feature was the two holes at the bottom of the mask. These allow you to have access to your phone without bringing in any light. The holes are covered with a light-proof neoprene cover. This is an upgrade from the DroneMask to DroneMask 2.
Flying your drone with the DroneMask 2
Similar to your first few times flying a drone, I would highly recommend flying with the DroneMask 2 in an area with limited to no obstacles and people, especially if you have never flown an FPV drone. And since you’ll have the goggles on your face, bring a friend or co-pilot to serve as your visual observer.
For me, flying with the DroneMask took a little getting used to.
When flying, you can use gimbal mode or FPV mode (if your drone has these modes). I felt I was more comfortable in FPV mode. An adjustable focus length allows you to further perfect the viewing experience.
Visuals from the phone through the mask were incredibly high quality. A special lens on DroneMask 2 allows you to see the whole screen. That’s a sharp contrast from stereotypical VR goggles where the screen on the smartphone has to split down the middle when showing the drone footage – one screen on each eye.
The DroneMask 2 uses a different optical solution, which means that the screen doesn’t need to be split, provided you have a strong screen resolution and will work with any mobile app. This means that you can also use the DroneMask 2 for an immersive movie-watching experience through apps like YouTube and Netflix.
I flew my drone with the DroneMask 2 on a very sunny day in New Orleans and virtually no light came through the mask as I flew the drone. This was a huge improvement from the glare on the phone when using an RC-N1 controller. Although, the lens did fog up in the heat. Luckily, I did have the linen cloth with me.
Eventually, I became more comfortable flying with the DroneMask 2 and was amazed by the immersive experience it offered.
Who is the DroneMask 2 for?
If you are curious at all about the world of FPV flying, but an FPV drone or goggles are not in your budget, then consider the DroneMask 2.
Starting at $179, it’s a much cheaper alternative to its competitors. For example, the DJI FPV Goggles V2 starts at $342, making the DroneMask 47% cheaper. A true FPV drone is likely even more expensive (for example, the DJI Avata starts at $629).
There are much cheaper alternatives in the world of VR headsets. For example, the Google Daydream View is $27. But the lenses on the DroneMask 2 offer a far superior viewing experience. Plus most VR headsets, including the Google ones, are not compatible with flying drones.
The DroneMask 2 is the most reasonably priced option for FPV drone flying on the market, making it ideal for someone who loves to fly their drone for fun and is looking for a new adventure when flying without having to buy an entirely new drone or expensive piece of equipment.
If you only fly drones on the go, the DroneMask 2 might not be the best option for you as it is quite bulky (but still fairly light-weight). Or if you are more serious about FPV drones or racing you may want to look into purchasing an FPV drone.
The DroneMask 2 allows you to have an immersive flying experience, without the hefty price tag of other competitors.
The Federal Aviation Administration is set to enforce Remote ID rules for drone pilots come March 16, 2024. And when that time comes — you’ll more than likely have to fly drones that are Remote ID compliant. For drone pilots whose drones don’t already have built-in Remote ID, you might consider the Z-RID broadcast module from Zing.
Zing is one of the newer players on the market of drone remote ID modules — filling a much-needed void in the drone industry of simply not enough Remote ID modules for sale. Its flagship product is the Z-RID broadcast module, which in October 2023 received its Declaration of Compliance (DOC) approval from the Federal Aviation Administration.
That means — when the Z-RID broadcast module is properly installed on your drone — your drone flight is compliant under FAA regulation 14 CFR Part 89, which requires that drones broadcast a few pieces of information, including:
Identity of the drone (serial number and session ID)
Coordinates of the control station, as well as geometric altitude
Coordinates of the drone, as well as geometric altitude
Among the most critical differentiators with Zing is that it is an American drone company. Based in Miami, Florida, Zing actually makes the modules themselves from a factory in San Jose, California. And those modules which were designed by engineers from MIT, are a proprietary piece of technology that you’d mount on top of your drone to ensure FAA compliance in a made-in-USA product, no less.
About Zing’s Z-RID Broadcast Module
The Z-RID Broadcast Module is a small, lightweight device that attaches to your drone and broadcasts its identification and location information to nearby ground stations and aircraft. That’s to fulfill a requirement under the FAA’s Remote ID rule, which took effect in September 2023 and will be enforced come March 2024.
The module can easily mount anywhere on your drone (but you’d likely put it on top of the body) using a 3M dual-lock dual fastener, which is considered 3x stronger than Velcro hook and loop strips. Since it weighs just 35 grams, it has minimal impact on the drone’s flight time.
Since it’s just an external device that you mount somewhere on your drone, it means that the Z-RID is compatible with a wide range of drones, including both fixed-wing and quadcopter drones.
It costs $199, though you can enter discount code DRONEGIRL for $20 off your purchase and bring down the price to $179.
Some other key specs f Zing’s Z-RID Broadcast Module
Here are a few other important specs:
Positioning: GPS and GNSS
Protocols: Bluetooth 4 Legacy and Bluetooth 5 Longe Range
There are plenty of reasons to love Zing’s Z-RID Broadcast Module. They include:
Ease of use
A big reason to love the Z-RID Broadcast Module is simply given how easy it is to use.
To charge it, you simply plug the included USB-C cable into any 5V power source (which is pretty much any computer, or adapter you’d use for a smartphone). When the LED turns gree, charging is complete.
To mount it to your drone, you simply use the 3M Dual Lock velcro, which can be easily removed and reattached, should you want to take it off for reasons including easier recharging or to use it on multiple drones.
(Note that if you’re flying drones commercially under Part 107, you’ll need to buy a separate Remote ID module for each drone. But if you’re just a hobby pilot, you only need one module that can be swapped between drones.)
Once you’re ready to fly, you’ll turn on the module separately from the drone itself, given that the two aren’t actually integrated — other than the velcro lock connecting them. There’s a button you’ll turn on, which illuminates with a status indicator.
Ease to install (and compatible with almost all drones)
Beyond being easy to use, it’s practically zero headache to connect the module to your drone. If you can use a sticker and turn on a button, you can use this remote ID module. There’s no fancy tools like a soldering iron required.
A 3M velcro lock is all you need to securely mount this to your drone.
In a similar vein, it’s fair to say that Zing’s Z-RID broadcast module is compatible with just about any drone (the only requirement is that the drone can carry an additional 35 grams, which is hardly anything).
This is far from a comprehensive list, but here are some drones Zing’s module is compatible with:
Zing’s module is also among the most affordable out there. At $199 (or $179 with my coupon code), it’s more than $100 cheaper than the $329 Dronetag Mini, which is one of the most advanced type of modules on the market and has advanced Remote ID as well as full-featured, unlimited range (for what it’s worth, the Dronetag Mini has more advanced features than the Zing module). Perhaps a more fair comparison, then, is that it’s roughly the same price as (albeit still cheaper than) Dronetag’s cheaper alternative, the $219 Dronetag Beacon Broadcast Remote ID Module.
Another reason to love the Zing module is that made in America component. For example, Dronetag is a European company based in the Czech Republic.
Zing’s Z-RID Broadcast Module: flaws but not dealbreakers
The only real flaw with Zing’s Z-RID Broadcast Module is that it won’t offer the advanced version of Remote ID that you’d get with the $329 Dronetag Mini. For what it’s worth, the Zing module is more than $100 cheaper, so perhaps it’s not a fair comparison.
If you want more integrations, such as the ability to deconflict with other drones flying in close proximity or to see historical flight logs, you’ll have to purchase a subscription. That does put Zing more on par with what Dronetag offers, and more.
Zing has a partnership with California-based software company Skyway, which offers a subscription service for you to track your data in the cloud via their online portal. That effectively unlocks a UTM-like component, where you can detect other nearby drones. Skyway will also be able to provide information from other SDSP (Supplemental Data Service Providers) that could be valuable to the pilot, such as micro-weather data.
Yet there’s still another problem if you seek those things. The subscription isn’t even available yet. Skyway said this functionality is still in development and will likely be available as a firmware update to the pilots who purchase a Z-RID broadcast module in the near term.
How to get your hands on Zing’s Z-RID Broadcast Module
The biggest challenge in the Remote ID rollout to date has been supply chain shortages leading to lack of availability for Remote ID modules. Given Zing’s location in the U.S. (including manufacturing in California), that’s far less of a problem.
While Zing CEO Ian Annase told the Drone Girl that units are made to order, he said that because the manufacturer is in the U.S., it only takes a couple weeks from the order date to get to your doorstep — as opposed to tech products made overseas that can take months to ship.
Even still, it would be wise to order soon. The FAA is set to start enforcing Remote ID rules early next year after extending the enforcement deadline. You don’t want to be left at the last minute scrambling to order modules that were sold out because everyone else did the same.
Today marks the highly anticipated launch of the DJI Osmo Pocket 3, a compact and versatile handheld action camera–just in time for the holidays.
DJI hasn’t launched a new addition to the Pocket line since October 2020, so to say this launch is highly anticipated — particularly in the world of vloggers and other social media stars — is an understatement. And perhaps you’ve even seen it yourself in the days leading up to the launch, but the internet has been flooded with guesses and leaks wondering what new improvements the Osmo Pocket 3 would hold.
The Osmo Pocket 3 likely will not disappoint. With major upgraded camera sensors, enhanced color modes, robust stabilization, and audio capabilities, it’s a versatile tool that caters to the demands of both amateur and professional content creators.
The Osmo Pocket 3 is a vlogging camera that starts at $519. We were lucky enough to get our hands on the DJI Osmo Pocket 3 a tad early. So with that, here is our full review of DJI’s latest pocket camera.
The most notable upgrade between the Pocket 2 and the new Osmo Pocket 3 is the size of the camera sensor. The DJI Osmo Pocket 3 has a remarkable 1-inch CMOS sensor, while the Pocket 2 had an image sensor of 1/1.7.
A larger sensor captures more light and detail, resulting in higher image resolution and better image quality. This enhancement is a win for videographers, especially those who want to film in difficult lighting situations or who otherwise have little control over the lighting where you are filming. This sensor upgrade allows you to worry less and film more.
You’ll find a 1-inch CMOS sensor on photography drones like the DJI Air 2s, so it’s impressive to find this size sensor on such a small machine. DJI continues to use its drone tech in its action camera lines (like the gimbal technology and camera sensors), which is a smart move since DJI continues to dominate the consumer drone market.
The Osmo Pocket 3 with wrist strap and handle with 1/4 thread
Other notable Osmo Pocket 3 camera features
In addition to the 1-inch CMOS sensor, DJI has made some notable upgrades to the camera.
While the Pocket 2 can record videos at a maximum video resolution of 4K/60fps, the Osmo Pocket 3 camera can now shoot video in 4K/120fps.
The change from 60fps to 120fps affects the overall look, smoothness, and potential for slow motion in your video. The Osmo Pocket 3 supports 4x and 8x slow-motion video shooting as well.
If you are a creator focused on talking heads rather than scenic aerial shots, then you’ll be interested in the glowing complexion and glamor effects feature. This feature automatically fine-tunes the exposure for different skin tones.
Keep in mind the Osmo Pocket 3 has no internal storage. But when shooting at 120 fps, know that you will generate larger video file sizes and higher storage requirements. If you need to shoot at that frame rate, realize that you’ll need to purchase a microSD card. A UHS-I speed grade 3 rating microSD card is required due to the fast read and write speeds necessary for high-resolution video data.
DJI continues to improve on the audio system of the pocket cameras. The Osmo Pocket 3 comes with a built-in, 3-microphone array for omnidirectional stereo recording.
The camera wirelessly connects to the two transmitters of DJI Mic 2 without connecting the receiver, making it capable of clearly capturing audio for travel footage, live streams, and single or double-person recording.
If you purchase the Osmo Pocket 3 Creator Combo, the DJI Mic 2 comes in the combo and the two are linked together. The Creator Combo starts at $669.
The DJI Mic 2 follows its predecessor, the DJI Mic. It’s an easy-to-use, wireless digital microphone. The Mic 2 can connect to a subject via a clip or a magnet. Both the clips and magnets kept the mic in place well.
DJI Osmo Pocket 3 with smaller handle and tripod
DJI Osmo Pocket 3 design
Like its predecessor, the Pocket 2, the design remains a stand-out feature. The Osmo Pocket 3 is under 8 inches long, roughly the size of an average butter knife. The gimbal camera can easily be put into any carry-on bag.
But there’s another design feature that deserves just as much praise: the modular aspect. Thanks to its modular design, there’s a detachable base plate allowing you to attach various accessories.
You can easily add a small handle with a ¼” thread to Osmo Pocket 3 via the USB-C port. The handle’s main feature is to simply make the pocket camera more comfortable to hold. Without the addition of this piece, it was difficult to get a firm comfortable grip on the pocket camera. Especially for action shots, you’dwant this extra piece attached.
With the Creator Combo, there’s an additional longer piece called the battery handle. Think of it as a Mophie for your Osmo. When connected to the camera, it can extend the battery life.
You can also purchase the battery handle separately for $69.
Without the battery handle, the Osmo Pocket 3 can record up to 116 minutes of 4k/60fps footage. While I am always grateful for extra battery life, I prefer holding the Osmo Pocket 3 with the smaller handle over the battery handle.
Both handles connect to the Osmo Mini Tripod. The range of detachable add-ons gives users versatility, an important feature of a pocket camera.
The Osmo Pocket 3 not only increased the camera sensor but also the size of the touchscreen. The screen rotates vertically and horizontally and is over 2 inches large. The larger screen not only makes viewing what you are filming easier, but navigating through the settings and modes much more seamlessly.
This feature, along with the three-axis gimbal, was made with social media content in mind.
You can also use the touchscreen to rotate on and off. I found this feature rather annoying as I kept accidentally turning the camera off. Luckily, though, you can disable this feature in the system settings.
The Osmo Pocket 3 with a rotating touchscreen
DJI Osmo Pocket 3 smart features
The Osmo Pocket 3 offers three-axis mechanical stabilization. Reducing camera shake and having smoother, more stabilized footage is most likely a priority for you if you are looking to purchase a pocket camera. And it’s a major difference between the pocket camera you probably already have in your pocket (your phone).
The Osmo Pocket 3 also has ActiveTrack 6.0, which enables the camera to follow a chosen subject throughout the shot, and Smart Gimbal Mode. Smart Gimbal Mode includes face auto-detect where the camera will automatically track the face that is the closest to the center of the live view when recording.
DJI Osmo Pocket 3 with a protective case
Is the Osmo Pocket 3 worth it?
The increase in the camera sensor alone is probably enough reason to make the upgrade from Pocket 2 to 3. And given the time frame between releases (three years), it might be time to upgrade.
Starting at $519, you will find cheaper alternatives in the action camera market. For example, the GoPro HERO 11 begins at $349.
The GoPro HERO 11 is a solid on-the-go camera, for a much cheaper price.
Plus, while the Osmo Pocket 3 starts at $519, the Creator Combo is $669. The Creator Combo includes two of the stand-out features (the battery handle and the DJI Mic 2).
However, the Osmo Pocket 3 has more advanced features like a larger camera sensor, better audio capabilities, and smart features.
If you plan to shoot at night, plan on recording a lot of on-the-go audio, or want to prioritize the faces of the subjects you are shooting, then the Osmo Pocket 3 is certainly worth it.
Drone photography offers unique perspectives and breathtaking aerial shots that can transform any wedding album. If you are looking to spice up your wedding photography by adding a drone, we’ve got some tips and recommendations for you.
We’ll break down the best wedding photography drones in greater detail later on but of the drones out there today, here are the handful that I’d at least recommend in some capacity:
-4/3 CMOS Hasselblad Camera -1/1.3″ CMOS Medium Tele Camera -1/2″ CMOS Tele Camera
-1/1.3″ CMOS Wide-Angle Camera -1/1.3″ CMOS 3x Medium Tele Camera
-4/3 CMOS Hasselblad Camera -1/1.3″ CMOS Medium Tele Camera -1/2″ CMOS Tele Camera
-Full-frame 8K/75fps ProRes RAW -Full-frame 8K/25fps CinemaDNG
1” CMOS
1” CMOS
Approximate flight time
46 mins
46 mins
46 mins
28 mins
31 mins
30 mins
Dimensions (folded, without propellers, and presented as Length x Width x Height)
231.1 × 98 × 95.4 mm
207 × 100.5 × 91.1 mm
231.1 × 98 × 95.4 mm
500.5 x 709.8 x 176 mm
180 × 97 × 77 mm
210 x 123 x 95mm
Weight
958 g
720 g
958 g
3,995 g
595 g
820g
There are tons of excellent camera drones on the market, and it can be difficult to know which one is best specifically for wedding photography. But there are a few key features that every wedding drone photographer should prioritize in their equipment.
Here are the critical specs that photographers should look for in a wedding drone:
Key features of wedding photography drones
Photo courtesy of Matthew Robert Creative
Zoom capabilities
Ever been to a wedding where the photographer runs right up to the bride and groom after you hear “You may now kiss the bride?” blocking them completely from friends and family? Buzzkill. You’ll want to capture the shot, without being in the shot. Zoom capabilities allow you to capture candid quest reactions and intimate moments from afar. A long lens is recommended as it allows for variety in shots and shooting at a distance. A lens with an 80-200mm f/2:8 zoom is a good option.
Low-Noise
Similarly to the drone blocking the shot, the noise can interfere with the vibe. No one wants to hear the low humming of your drone during the vows.
Opting for a drone with advanced noise reduction technology will help you while capturing breathtaking visuals. As a rule of thumb, smaller motors produce less sound than larger ones. Of course, that zoom capability can also cut back on noise by nature of the sound having to travel farther.
Support for RAW Format
The ability to shoot in RAW format provides greater flexibility during editing which is especially critical for wedding photography. While landscape photographers might have the flexibility to sit around and wait for the perfect light, wedding photographers don’t have that luxury. Should lighting conditions be tricky during the ceremony, you’re stuck with the photos you got. But shooting in RAW can at least fix poor lighting conditions in post-processing.
That’s because RAW images contain more data and allow for finer adjustments to color, exposure, and other settings.
Just know that RAW files are huge in comparison to compressed file formats like PNG or JPEG, so make sure you have enough space and buy a spare MicroSD card or bring a wireless SSD.
Flight Time
Since you can’t afford to miss any memorable moments, look for drones with extended flight times so you can spend more time shooting and less time recharging. Of course, purchasing an extra battery or two is also a solid option.
Internal Storage
Ideally, you’ll bring plenty of MicroSD cards, and never run out of memory. But accidents happen and things get left behind. And since you can never be too prepared, I’d recommend finding a drone with a good amount of internal storage to serve as a backup.
The DJI Mavic 3
The overall best drone for wedding photography: DJI Mavic 3 Pro
The DJI Mavic 3 Pro has it all and is generally the best in the market for wedding photography. It’s tough to narrow down the best features on the Mavic 3 Pro, but probably the top two most important to photographers are the three cameras and 46-minute battery life.
The Mavic 3 Pro has a three-axis gimbal with three cameras built-in, which are:
A custom Hasselblad wide-angle camera (24 mm)
Medium tele camera (70mm)
Tele camera (166mm)
The three different camera lenses allow you to stay far away but still get that perfect shot without disturbing guests.
The DJI Mavic 3 is also set up with MasterShots, a suite of professional-quality drone and camera movement settings to create cinematic wedding content quickly and easily. The DJI Fly app can take your footage and automatically edit it for share-worthy content in a few taps. Making your job as a wedding photographer a little bit easier.
With a price tag of $2,950, it’s more expensive than some other picks — but it provides excellent overall value.
Sally French, The Drone Girl, reviews the DJI Air 3 in July 2023.
The best if you prioritize dual-cameras (budget pick): DJI Air 3
The DJI Air 3 is the best option for wedding photographers who are on a budget yet are looking for something portable and versatile. The photo quality is certainly not as good as the DJI Mavic 3, but at $1,099, it’s far cheaper.
The DJI Air 3 takes on a dual-primary camera system, meaning one drone has two cameras integrated with it. Like the Mavic 3, the Air 3 comes with MasterShots and four other intelligent features, as DJI calls them (FocusTrack, Night mode, hyper-lapse, and Slow motion).
The Air 3 also has 46 minutes of flight time, certainly making it a suitable alternative to the Mavic 3.
The best drone for wedding photography (upgrade pick): DJI Mavic 3 Pro Cine
If you’re intrigued by the DJI Mavic 3 but really want the most top-of-the-line product, then consider our upgrade pick, the DJI Mavic 3 Pro Cine.
The ‘Cinema’ version of the Mavic 3 Pro, the Mavic 3 Pro Cine has everything the Mavic 3 Pro has and then some. Visually, the two drones look virtually similar. The major differences are what happens under the hood (and the price point, of course). The Mavic 3 Pro Cine starts at $4,799.
The major upgrade of the DJI Mavic 3 Pro is its support of the Apple ProRes 422 recording codec. Apple ProRest can be used to capture rich wedding footage that’s easier to edit when it comes time for post-production.
The Mavic 3 Pro Cine comes with a built-in 1TB SSD, eliminating the need for external recording devices. No more lost or corrupted SD cards! However, it still does support MicroSD cards.
If you are a wedding photographer who needs as much video data as possible and the highest quality footage, then the DJI Mavic Pro Cine is for you.
Most wedding photographers should be able to get away with simply the DJI Mavic 3 Pro. However, if you’re a serious wedding photographer seeking to run the absolute, most professional operation, you’ll want to upgrade to the Mavic 3 Pro Cine.
The DJI Inspire 3 camera drone. Photo courtesy of DJI.
The best drone for wedding photography (serious upgrade pick): DJI Inspire 3
If the Mavic 3 Pro Cine isn’t professional grade enough, and you are looking to shoot an Oscar-worthy wedding ceremony and have a massive budget then the DJI Inspire 3 is the right pick for you. The Inspire 3 is DJI’s only cinema-grade drone with a price tag of $16,499.
The DJI Inspire 3 most impressive features include a full-frame 8k imagine system, Tilt Boost and 360° Pan dual configurations, and dual-control for operators.
Keep in mind, that the Inspire 3 is much bulkier than other drones on the list, something photographers may want to keep in mind when traveling from venue to venue with your equipment.
The DJI Air 2s is best for photographers on a budget
The best drone for wedding photography (ultra-budget pick): DJI Air 2S
DJI Air 2s is small but mighty, and with a folding design, it is a solid choice for wedding photographers who are always on the move and don’t mind losing a little quality. With a price tag starting at $799 (that’s the lowest-priced of any done in this guide to best wedding drone), it is the ideal choice for anyone on a budget.
The DJI Air 2S has advanced features such as MasterShots and FocusTrack modes and 31 minutes of flight time.
Unlike many of the other drones that made this list, the DJI Air 2S only has 1 camera, which has a 1” sensor offering 20-megapixel photos and 5.4k video. While the camera images are still stunning, you’re zoom capabilities will be significantly hindered. Keep this in mind when planning your key shots.
Sally French, The Drone Girl, reviews the Autel Evo Lite+ in May 2022.
The best DJI alternative: EVO Lite+
What if you want to patronize a company that is not DJI? The Autel Evo Lite+ is an affordable and respectable alternative for any wedding photographer looking for a higher-end DJI alternative drone. ‘
While the EVO Lite+ provides a 6k camera and 40 minutes of flight time, your video quality won’t be as crisp or colorful as its DJI competitors. If you are looking to veer away from DJI, due to concerns of huge market share or some politicians seeking to blacklist it over its Chinese ties, then EVO Lite+ is a solid and reliable alternative.
Prices for this easy-to-fly drone start at $1,399.
All of the above drones are easy and safe to fly, but there are still a few additional things you need to know before flying drones at weddings.
Insurance: While drone insurance is not required by the Federal Aviation Administration, some venues might require that photographers have it. Check out this quick guide to drone insurance.
You need a pilot’s license: Under the FAA’s Part 107, anyone wanting to operate a drone commercially (that includes wedding photographers) needs to obtain a drone pilot license, formerly referred to as a “remote pilot certificate with a small UAS rating.” In order to get that, you will need to pass an in-person written exam., which many people refer to as the “Part 107 test.” The best way to pass that test is usually by enrolling in a Part 107 online test prep course.
What’s the best indoor drone for fire investigations? That’s the latest in our “Ask Drone Girl” series. If you have a question for Drone Girl, contact her here.
I am a member of a fire investigations task force. We were working through a problem involving best practices for collecting photo evidence inside of unstable fire buildings, and we thought a small drone for indoor use would be a good solution. There are concerns about signal loss, destruction of evidence, and battery life. Could you provide some guidance?
-Mike
The Elios 3 from Flyability might be the best indoor drone for fire inspections. Photo courtesy of Flyability.
Hey Mike,
This is a great question, and it is rather timely, as indoor drones just this year have become far more reliable and accessible. Depending on how advanced of equipment you’re seeking out, the best indoor drone for fire investigations might cost you less than $1,500.
As you noted, there are a few criteria that stand out when selecting an indoor drone. Among the biggest factors to consider are:
Small size (must be agile to fit through doorways or other tight spaces)
First person view (FPV) camera
Sensors to meet your needs (this could be a basic camera that collects imagery, or might be more advanced with something like a thermal camera or other sensor.
Long flight time (most indoor drones offer less than 10 minutes, which might not cut it)
We’ll break down the best indoor drones for fire investigations in greater detail later on, but of those on the market today, you really have two options. The good news is, they couldn’t be more different from each other. So once you define the parameters of what you need, the answer is clear. So with that, here are my two recommendations for the best indoor drone for fire investigations:
Flyability Elios 3: best if you want robust, enterprise applications
Both of these drones were specifically designed to fly indoors. On the physical side, they have some level of propeller guards (the Elios 3 has a full cage on all sides) which protect the drone should it hit a wall. Both offer more than 10 minutes of flight time, so you can get in and out of the building, while still leaving time to actually see what you intended to see inside. And both have cameras to not just capture data, but to allow for FPV flying to navigate even in areas you can’t physically see yourself — a situation you’d likely commonly encounter to avoid otherwise sending your own personnel through an unstable building.
The DJI Avata drone. Image courtesy of DJI.
With a starting price at less than $1,500, DJI Avata is ultra-accessible. You could likely walk into your local electronics retailer and buy one off the shelf today. Upon buying it off the shelf, you’ll have a drone that’s ready to fly once you’ve charged it up — and you don’t really need to be a pro to operate it either as it’s relatively easy to fly. It comes with FPV goggles (which are the VR-like goggles) that enable you to see what the drone is seeing, it can capture videos, and it can fly up to 18 minutes.
For the drone that is an ultra powerhouse, you’ll want the Flyability Elios 3 drone. Launched in May 2022, the Elios 3 is the world’s first collision-tolerant drone equipped with a LiDAR sensor for indoor 3D mapping. You’ll want this drone if you don’t need to simply see what’s inside those unstable buildings, but to truly understand it by way of mapping it and generating data that can reproduce 3D models. While the drone itself is pretty high-end, it’s not actually that difficult to fly. You’ll likely need just a day of training (and the training is critical almost entirely due to the fact that flying it incorrectly could be costly).
And what exactly does costly mean? Flyability doesn’t publicly share the prices of its drones, but you should expect it to be in the many, many thousands of dollars realm. Considering its predecessor, the Elios 2 Premium Package, was going for 39,000 Swiss Francs (more than $40,000), don’t expect the newer Elios 3 to be cheap.
Both drones are super different. One is low cost and accessible, while the other one unlocks opportunities for serious, enterprise use cases. Here’s a deeper dive into not just those two drones, but some key points you should know about flying drones indoors:
What you need to know about indoor drones
Particularly when flying drones indoors there are a few additional risks you need to be aware of that you wouldn’t necessarily encounter when flying drones outdoors?
Large drones can be challenging to fly indoors
It’s not just about the drone being too large to fit through doorways. Sometimes when large drones are confined to a small area, they can create their own ‘weather patterns’ that cause the drone to fly differently than expected.
Prop guards are important
When flying indoors, you’ll likely want some sort of indoor hull, like rotor or propeller guards. These are generally placed around the rotor spinning blades, and not only protect objects that the drone might hit (like walls or people) but also protects the propellers from breaking off (and thus causing the drone to crash) in the event they strike something.
The Parrot AR drone is an old-school model now, but its prop guard design is still relevant today. (Photo by FRANK PERRY/AFP via Getty Images)
Obstacle avoidance can be helpful, but it may not always work
Having an indoor positioning system or obstacle avoidance feature on your drone can be helpful to ensure the drone doesn’t crash. However, obstacle avoidance can sometimes prove to be completely useless in very tight spaces.
That’s because many drones with obstacle avoidance also have a minimum object detection range that can be something like 6 feet, meaning the drone absolutely will not fly closer than that distance. If you’re trying to fly into, say, a closet, that might not be possible. In fact, let’s say your drone offers 6 feet of detection on all sides, but the room is 12 feet across or smaller. It might not be able to operate in that room.
Most drones with obstacle avoidance enable you to turn it off so you can get into those tight spaces, but then realize that you’re flying sans the obstacle avoidance feature which can increase crash risk.
Know your flight control settings for indoor flying
When flying indoors, you’ll likely need to disable GPS and other visual positioning systems. Sometimes, drones have preset configurations for flying indoors (you may often see this listed as ATTI mode). But if not, you can adjust the settings yourself. Check the user manual of your own setup so you can adjust your drone and flight controller accordingly.
Why do I recommend disabling GPS for indoor drone flights? While GPS is a useful technology in allowing drones to navigate and hover in place, realize that GPS just often does not perform well indoors as signa can easily get lost.
Instead, be prepared to be able to fly your drone without GPS-aided stabilization, which means you need to be a confident pilot.
Do you need any sort of certification or license to fly drones indoors?
The short answer: no.
The long answer: drones operated solely indoors are not regulated by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The FAA defines ‘indoors’ as a “covered structure that prevents access to the national airspace system.”
That said, if your drone flight starts outdoors and then heads indoors (e.g. a drone starting on the lawn outside and then flying into a house), then technically you do need a drone pilots license — assuming your drone flight is for a commercial purpose as opposed to a hobby purpose.
Getting your drone pilot’s license is a requirement under the FAA’s Part 107, which states that anyone operating a drone commercially must hold a “remote pilot certificate with a small UAS rating.” In order to get that, you will need to pass an in-person written exam, which many people refer to as the “Part 107 test. Learn more about getting your Part 107 drone pilot’s license here.
The best indoor drones for fire inspections
So with that, let’s dive into the best picks of indoor drones you might consider using with your fire team.
Price:Starts at $629 (though that’s for just the standalone drone, so expect to pay $1,000+ for the controller and goggles)
Flight time: 18 minutes per battery
Camera? Yes; 1/1.7” CMOS sensor with 48 million effective pixels. Films at 4K/60fps and slow-motion footage at 2.7K/50/60/100/120fps.
The DJI Avata drone has high appeal as a cinematic drone that creates beautifully dizzying first person view footage. But while plenty of artists use it for photography and videography (after all, it’s considered the overall best indoor drone), this Cinewhoop-style FPV drone could have real enterprise use cases as well.
Released in summer 2022, the Avata was designed specifically with indoor drone flights in mind, able to navigate tight spaces thanks to its compact size at just 180×180 mm in width and length. Plus, built-in propeller guards eliminate the risk of scratching walls or other items inside, should you crash.
The Avata has built-in propeller guards.
While wind likely is a non-issue for you if you’re flying indoors, it does hold up in high winds given its Level 5 max wind resistance, which means it can fly in wind speeds ranging from 19 to 24 miles per hour (which is about the equivalent of winds that generate moderate waves at the beach).
Note that the DJI Avata does not have obstacle avoidance sensors (the only sensors it has are downward vision and precise hovering sensors). If obstacle avoidance is critical (though see my notes above on why it may not be), you’ll need another drone — perhaps even my upgrade pick below.
The Avata is an FPV drone, meaning it is designed to be flown with FPV goggles as well as the DJI RC Motion 2. It is also compatible with the DJI FPV Remote Controller 2, which you can buy for less than $200.
If a high-quality camera is important to you (which it may well be if you need more pixels to zoom in on specific areas, or the camera needs to perform well in low-light), then the Avata delivers. Here are some key specs:
1/1.7” CMOS sensor
48 million effective pixels
Films at 4K/60fps and slow-motion footage at 2.7K/50/60/100/120fps.
f/2.8 aperture
Ultra-wide-angle lens with a viewing angle of up to 155°
D-Cinelike color mode for a broader color palette that enables detailed chromatic adjustments
The Elios 3 from Flyability. Photo courtesy of Flyability.
The best indoor inspection drone for advanced use cases: Flyability Elios 3
Price: Contact Flyability Sales (but expect to spend tens of thousands of dollars
Flight time: Up to 12 minutes (without a payload), 9.1 minutes (with a LiDAR payload), or 8.2 minutes (with a maximum payload)
Camera? Yes; 1/2.3” CMOS sensor with a fully unobstructed 180° field of view to a 4K camera, plus a thermal camera, and a distance sensor.
The real reason you’d want this upgrade pick is not simply to see what’s inside the building, but to be able to make a full 3D map of it. The Elios 3’s key feature is a SLAM engine (that’s short for Simultaneous Localization and Mapping) that can generate 3D models through a new software called Inspector 4.0. The Elio 3 drone has proven valuable for mapping areas that are out of reach or too dangerous for humans to enter, like sewers or caves. Exploring buildings damaged by fire might be a use case too.
The FlyAware SLAM Engine in action.
There’s also no safer drone to fly indoors. The Elios 3 relies on a combination of computer vision, LiDAR technology, and a powerful NVidia graphic engine to maintain centimeter accuracy when flying indoors, even if there is no GPS signal available. And it’s surrounded by a signature cage and is equipped with unique reversing motors, which can help it recover from flipping upside-down without crashing. It also has a P-44 compliant design, which is a rating to show it can fly in rugged, harsh environments without concerns of water splashes or dust — again something that might be critical if flying amidst ash.
While the Elios 3 is all-around a far more powerful drone than the Avata (and comes with a heftier price tag), there is one huge reason why the Avata is superior, beyond accessibility and affordability. That’s battery life. The Avata offers 18 minutes of flight time, while this one offers up to 12 minutes and that’s without a payload. 6 minutes might not seem like much, but when you consider the Avata entails 50% more flight time, that can be critical.
Picking the best indoor drone
Indoor drones have seen substantial improvements in their stabilization and control systems in recent years, now boasting sophisticated algorithms and onboard processors that enable them to maintain steady flight even in tight or cluttered spaces. As a result, the risk of unexpected crashes or unintended landings has been dramatically minimized, granting users greater confidence in operating these aerial machines indoors.
The Drone Girl, Sally French, flying the DJI Avata.
Furthermore, the integration of intelligent software has revolutionized indoor drone autonomy. These drones can now perform pre-programmed tasks with exceptional accuracy, eliminating the need for constant manual control. This increased autonomy significantly reduces the chances of human error during flights, making using indoor drone for fire inspections more reliable and less prone to accidents.
Of course, while battery technology is good, it’s still not great. Many indoor drones are capable of only a few minutes of flight time. My two picks offer at least 8 minutes (assuming the maximum payload).
The bottom line is: you have two real choices to make when it comes to the best indoor drone for fire inspections, and they are so different that it should be an easy choice. For a drone that simply shows you what’s inside the building, the DJI Avata is your best bet. But for a more advanced use case that has ultra safe flight and can even map what’s inside, you’ll want the Flyability Elios 3.
