Ultimate Drone Buying Guide for Total Beginners 2024
Best Camera Drones for Beginners that still shoot pro quality video and photos compared:
DJI Mini 3 vs. DJI Mini 4 Pro vs. Air 3 vs. Autel Evo Lite+ vs. Mavic 3 Pro vs. Mavic 3 Classic vs. DJI Mini 2 vs. DJI Inspire 2 with X5S
Link for the Cinematography & Editing drone course, includes the drone business/marketing course now too so they are just one thing.
$100 Off because I love you I guess:
https://courses.dronelaunchacademy.com/p/aerial-video-a-to-z/?product_id=872022&coupon_code=GROOVYLITTLEDISCOUNT&affcode=58782_fajjfmbu
If you cannot get the best thing do not stress about it, all of the drones I go over are still incredible to be able to get as “entry level.”
Even the Mini 2 is STILL an awesome drone. Mini 4K is the updated model and you have to get it on Amazon strangely.
It has a 1/2.3″ sensor and shoots 12 megapixel photos but it is PLENTY to grow with. Just find it used on Craigslist, Ebay, Facebook Marketplace, Offerup for like $250 or lower.
Mini 4K (2020) – $300
(newest version of the Mini 2)
4K Video, RAW photos, no collision sensors but can live in your pocket
Mini 3 (2022) – $400
4K, RAW photos, Great connection, Vertical Filming, .76 inch sensor, really impressive for the convenience and ease. No anti-bonk
Mini 4 Pro (2023) – $750/$900
Get the $900 one, it is a billion times worth having a dedicated smart remote especially for so little extra.
.76 inch sensor, 4K footage, vertical filming, 12 megapixel RAW photos, quietest body type, looks like a bug when its flying. I could write an essay about this thing. By far the most fun to use, incredible connection. Footage often looks like it came from a bigger drone. Activetrack to follow you around if you care about that.
I’ve got a video on the Mini 4 Pro vs Mini 3 Pro as well, LOVE it.
Air 3 (2023) – $1000
MASSIVE improvement on its predecessor, 2 camera on it which I actually use equally and didn’t expect that. Sensor has improved low-light and exposure balancing is really great in this generation, even if the sensor is same size as mini 3 pro.
4K footage, .76” sensor, 12 megapixel photos.
60fps if you care (I don’t). It is cooler than the Mini 4 Pro because of camera 2 and the sick looking body, but Mini 4 Pro is just so convenient so its a tossup. Get mavic 3 classic if pro quality is priority.
Autel Evo Lite Plus (2022) – $1100
6K 1 inch sensor, 20 megapixel photos. Flies pretty rigid so stick to front/back and left/right. Really nice picture, lovely reds like in all Autels. Oversharpened image but I can live with that, just adjust some in editor. Fun colors to pick from give it extra points, could use it for work and still get the job done if DJI gets hit by a car one day. Doesn’t beat DJI but this isn’t bad.
Autel Evo Nano Plus (2022) – $700
NO
Mavic 3 Pro (2022) – $2200
4/3 inch Sensor, 5.1K footage, 20mp photos. Long flight time. Get the normal version not the $4000 Cine version if you don’t know what Prores format is.
This is the Business Class plane ticket drone, there is no going back after having this. Unbelievable dynamic range. UNREAL stability, default color, flight control, flexible rich data for color grading.
A 3x and 7x telephoto lens comes on it. Never use the 7x aside from fun, but the 3x is a great length and useful… just hard to give up the quality of the wide camera that is 5.1k.
Still great for cool angles and cinematography nerds. In general most of what I film on this drone looks better in the end than what I thought I was getting while shooting. They knocked it out of the park with this drone, no limits honestly.
Mavic 3 Classic – $1300
Not typing all that again, you get the point. Minus the Zoom lenses, everything else is the same. Crapping myself at the price being so cheap now. What a deal.
DJI Mini 5 – No, don’t even start asking.
Inspire 2 + X5S camera – $5000+ Used
Shoots 6K RAW Video (literally filming in RAW photos)
5.2K 422 Prores and 4K Proress 4444 incase you know what that all means. Cinema formats but such a pain to lug around, and the noise is a lot. It’s more like a once in a while, Ace in the hole to blow something out the water or shoot Stock Footage and practice cinematography. Interchangeable lenses are really nice too.
I have other videos on making money, go watch those if you need.
If you want the fastest way to get better footage, watch the Cinematography one, trust me it is very necessary.
Updating the Ultimate Drone Buying Guide for Total Beginners 2024 because its time and new drones have come out, the Mini 4 Pro and Air 3 being the biggest additions
00:00 .
00:14 Drones vs. Cocaine
00:50 Beginner Drones
01:55 Photo/Video Drones
03:00 Drone Quality comparison
04:05 DJI Drones
04:58 Drones Tech Update
06:40 Used Drones
08:25 Minis
09:00 Noise Test
09:38 Cinematography
10:12 Mavic 3 Best Drone
12:20 Sensor Chart comparison
13:28 Photography
14:10 Specs Need vs Don’t
15:40 Follow Me
16:25 SMART REMOTE!!!
17:28 Make a Decision
18:12 Pro Drones
20:50 How to Improve
I’m not sure what your astronomer/ astronaut point was since those a wildly different things…but thanks for the video anyway.
3:05 just what my ears wanted to hear because my eyes cant tell any difference between 720p and 8k.
😂
wow, your totally living the dream, nice
Erudition. Good video. Clear and concise.
Evo nano, that what I want.
I have drones that are hard to fly, I bought them 13 years ago.. I own a cheap one that was literally $15 and it has incredible power to weight ratio, it’s super tiny and it literally can hop in the air it’s so strong with its tiny 150 mah battery lol.. i just made an adapter for it today to fit my bigger batteries. My older ones have no sensors for holding position or any kind of silly automatic stuff, you actually fly it yourself unlike the modern drones. The modern ones are fun too but I usually buy ones that are around $30, I did buy one for $50 which has communist quality fpv lol. i was flying it in some pretty crazy wind today. I can’t imagine buying an expensive one but i guess a really good quality one with fpv and rotor guards would be interesting
Thank you. Very, very good and honest advice. I have never owned a drone so this is very helpful. Thanks again.
What a great no BS review from someone who knows what they’re talking about! Now to ruminate between mini 4 pro and mavic 3…..
Thank you!!!
What remote is that?
Vaguely listening to video while working in kitchen….’…since I was fat and now I use it to promote my onlyfans….’
WHAT?
Hunting associations have a use for range and long flight times , when counting the amount of certain type of animal, to be more accurate with assessing the amount of game that can be hunted and for how long I can definitely see the need for a long flight time
Great video, love the humor and the content
Just purchased the DJI Mini 3 fly more package because of your videos, thank you and I cant wait to get into this!
Yup, I’m that guy who watched over 100 videos last night who couldn’t figure out which one to buy… thanks to this guy here, I pulled the trigger on the DJI Mini Pro… dude spoke my language. Felt like I was talking to a fellow Veteran! You definitely got a subscriber for life, and I’m not even into all that picture crap! Just wanted a drone to maybe get a job with and scare some cats… probably just scare some cats.
I know there is a Mini 2 SE on DJIs site, but that is only 2.7K, they have updated the line with the Mini 4K that came out like a week ago (May 2024 for anybody in the future) You have to buy the Mini 4K on Amazon though, strangely
UPDATE: DJI Air 3S has a 1-inch sensor on main camera, so slightly bigger than the Air 3 (.76" sensor) So a bit better low-light images and shadow details, better obstacle avoidance.
Terrific video – exactly what I need, and like to watch. Took me forever to accidentally find you (thanks for nothing, YouTube) but now that I have, I’m sticking around. Fantastic, much appreciated!
Where is DJI mini 1 ?
Best drone comparison video I’ve ever seen and I’ve seen 3 of them.
Great video… Thank you! 🙌🏾💯
Great video with lots of detail. Thanks
The only funny tech guy XD
I really enjoyed and appreciate this video! Really makes me think of a different perspective on buying a drone soon!! 👏
I hate people that say that as well , stop being a cheap a&$ and buy one you don’t know if you will make it to next year enjoy life day by day , I have a friend I grew up with and he will not buy a anything that will make him happy , like absolutely nothing , don’t be that guy, i understand don’t blow your money, but buying something you love once in a while will improve your quality of life , and keep you happy
Homie fired up a Inspire inside his house. LOL
Just opened my first one and glad I opened your video first
Outstanding video.
Really appreciate the candid advice and humor. Obviously a professional. Gotta go buy a drone now…
Bad news Donald trump is banning it when he comes back
Opinion on Air 3S?
Great video I learned alot and trust your judgement
Joni sis
A stepchild that really don’t like 👍🏽 😂
i found a mentor , now you have a fan from Africa and your humour is offf the rooof
which one is suitable for my 11 year old son? thanks
Hey would you recommend the DJI Neo or Mini 4k primarily going for vlogging / documenting surroundings. From what I’ve seen mini 4k has better quality but wanted to hear your thoughts
The "inspire" was like **TARGET ACQUIRED**
thanks for making this simple
I like ur videos, especially this one, but one thing is the price is very high, and some new YouTubers and beginners can’t afford to buy this costly drone to make a videos. Make a video on the drones whoes cost is like 50$ to 80$. I am also one of those who can’t afford to buy a drone because it’s costly. Thanks for making a video on this drone. Keep doing it.
I have a 2019 Mavic 2 Pro with smart controller and it will fly at my home, but no longer will fly at my previous home, nor at work, where I used to use it all the time. I get the Code 180 excuse instead of take off. Any ideas? Is 2019 just that far out of date? My drone claims to have the latest software at startup.
So blunt😂😂 love it!!
Scar face .
That is true why waste money on beer and stuff like nose candy vs buying a drone
Question: I want a drone for a very different purpose: To hoover above my backyard when our little dog is outside – to help scare away the rare large bird predator. Fake owls don’t seem that great but I believe a drone 20 feet in the air … would be very noticed by any problem bird – and a deterrent. Also, a drone that can lock on our dog ("follow focus" ??) would be great as well. Camera stuff is completely unneeded. Any suggestions??
I want to buy a drone that I can use in 35 to 40 knots of wind over water (to record my buddies wing foiling). Can someone point me in the right direction?
This video is information packed, yet super easy to watch. Humor and useful info, quality work sir. I’ll be buying a drone soon thanks to this video.
WOW! Great video and very informative. I’m a hog hunter in Texas and I’ve been in the market for a drone to use at night and I think I will take your advice. Suck it up and buy a good brand of drone with thermal camera already ready to go versus buying a regular drone and trying to find true night vision cameras or thermal cameras to attach. If you have anymore advice on thermal or night vision please let me know. Thanks 🤠
"you can kill a bird, you can kill a small child, covering up for both of those is exhausting" LMAOOO WHAAT
🇵🇬🇵🇬,,,
If you casually listen to this video while you’re doing something else, you’ll miss out on one of the funniest dude’s on YouTube. He’s real slick and low-key with that humor.