Drones are not just for the military anymore—today everyone from engineers and ecologists to students and hobbyists seem to be finding new and exciting ways to make use of these sophisticated flying machines. The global drone industry is on the rise and with the large variety models available on the market; it can seem intimidating for someone shopping for their first drone. Fortunately, we can help arm you with the knowledge you need to find the right drone for your needs. Here’s what you need to know to enter the exciting world of drones.
Why Buy a Drone?
Obviously, if you’re reading this chances are you already know you want to buy a drone, but asking yourself this simple introspective question can help you narrow down your choices and find the right drone for your needs. Are you aiming to enter the competitive world of drone racing? Is your goal to take stunning aerial photography? Do you require an extra eye in the sky for a new home construction project? Or do you simply want to enjoy the thrill of flying your own remote controlled camera around the neighborhood? Drones can get expensive, but depending on your individual needs you may be able to get away with something a lot cheaper than you expected.
Not Your Typical Remote Controlled Plane
Quadcopters would be virtually impossible for a human to fly were it not for the flight controller—the processor at the heart of any drone that stabilizes it in flight. With model planes, difficulty to fly tends to increase with the price of the model plane, but the reverse is true for quadcopters. Better flight controllers may be more expensive, but they make it easier to precisely control your drone’s movements.
DIY vs RTF vs BNF vs ARF
If there’s one thing in common between the drones found in commercial market and their military ancestors, it seems to be the number of acronyms surrounding them—DIY, RTF, BNF, and ARF, it’s understandable why a newcomer may seem intimidated by the drone marketplace. Here’s a quick rundown of these acronyms and their meanings so that you’ll know what you’re reading in the product description.
- RTF (Ready to Fly) – No assembly or setup required, but you might have to snap on the propellers, charge the battery and bind the controller to the quadcopter.
- BNF (Bind and Fly) – Some assembly required, BNF models are sold without the controller, which the manufacturer presumes you already own. Just match the transmitter with the receiver.
- ARF (Almost Ready to Fly) – Takes a BNF a step further, these quadcopters usually don’t come with a transmitter or receiver and require some additional assembly. The kit may also need motors, ESCs, flight controller or battery, but there is no official definition for an ARF.
- DIY (Do it Yourself) – If you don’t want to buy a drone, there are plenty of tutorials and guides online that will help you build one from scratch. Steep learning curve, this is for people who enjoy a little robotics in their spare time and won’t mind the relatively large time commitment that comes with such a project.
Drones for Beginners
First-timers who want to learn how to pilot a drone, may not want to make too much of an investment upfront. The Parrot AR Drone 2.0 is a great entry level quadcopter that features an excellent autopilot feature that allows you to take-off and land like a pro. With the ability to perform barrel rolls with the press of a button, this RTF drone is by far the fastest way to start having fun in the sky. If you want the bare minimum hardware of what constitutes a drone, the QR-12 Shadow is a tiny quadcopter complete with a 2 megapixel camera that’s great for kids 14 and up.
Aerial Photography and Cinematography
Those who are serious about aerial photography require durable drones must pay attention to two things when shopping for the right drone model, the gimbal and its FPV (first person view) capability. The gimbal is the piece that mounts the camera to the drone; it provides stability and degree of motion while the drone is in the air. FPV capability determines how well you are able to see the world through the eyes of your drone—it makes the drone easier to pilot giving you an edge in lining up the perfect shot. The DJI Phantom 3 and its predecessor (Phantom 2) are great in both areas, making them the standard choice among aerial photography enthusiasts. Look for models that feature 4K video for the highest of resolution, or purchase a GoPro mount and mount your GoPro Hero 4 Black for high quality aerial action photography and video.
Need for Speed
If you’ve got the cash to burn and a real need for speed, you’ll want to check out the competitive FPV scene. Be forewarned—this sport is not for amateur pilots—you’ll likely need to be able to build and modify your own drones. People in the FPV racing community usually purchase frames like the Coptergeist or the Minion. In depth knowledge of controllers, frames, battery chargers and FPV systems is a must, but the reward is blazing through the trees for cash rewards.
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