What is the best drone camera for the money? With the relatively recent explosion in popularity of drone photography and videography, the market has been flooded with different brands and models of drones. Drone technology continues to develop and improve at a rapid rate. This can make it hard to keep track of which drone has the best camera. Read on to see our up-to-date rankings of the best drone cameras available in 2021.

Best beginner drone with camera and gps

7. DJI Mini II

Best mini drone with camera  •  A guide to the Mini II

DJI has cemented their brand as the leading name in modern aerial photography. They are constantly at the forefront of drone technology, pushing it further with each of their many iterations. The DJI Mini II is not their highest-quality drone but it is their best option for beginner drone pilots.

If you are looking to get your first drone, the DJI Mini II should be a strong contender for your pick with it’s low price point, small size, ease of use, and overall level of quality.

60%
quality
90%
value
75%
OVERALL SCORE
  • Low cost
  • Small size
  • Easy to use
  • Lower quality camera
  • Lower quality sensor
  • N/A

Best beginner drone with camera and gps

Conclusion

Price — $449

The DJI Mini is a fantastic budget-friendly drone for beginners and a serious contender for the title of best mini drone with camera capabilities. For more seasoned drone pilots or those with a large budget, take a look at our other options.

Best cheap drone with camera

6. Parrot Anafi

A hands-on review of the Parrot Anafi

The Parrot Anafi is a step up in price from the Mavic Mini II but still a fair amount cheaper than many of the higher-end drones on the market. The Anafi shoots in full 4k video with a photo mode capable of capturing 21-megapixel HDR images. The biggest selling point for the Anafi is actually the 180-degree tilt gimbal attached to the camera. 

This gimbal allows you to pivot the direction of the drone’s camera mid-flight and enables you to shoot straight up as well as forward or down, which many other drones are incapable of doing. If this particular feature sounds useful in your creative pursuits, then the Parrot Anafi is a good budget-friendly choice. But be aware that some consumers have reported firmware issues and faulty models being sent to them and requiring replacements.

70%
quality
80%
value
75%
OVERALL SCORE
  • Tilt gimbal
  • Fast setup time
  • 21 MP HDR photos
  • Software glitches
  • Corrupted images
  • Some faulty models

Best camera drone under 500

Conclusion

Price $699

If you don’t mind a little troubleshooting or the potential delay of waiting for a replacement drone, then the Parrot Anafi is a safe bet.

Best drone camera

5. PowerEgg X Wizard

Testing the PowerEgg X Wizard in the ocean

The PowerEgg X Wizard isn’t the flashiest drone nor does it have the highest-quality camera BUT it does have a couple of features that make it stand out from the pack. The first is its powerful waterproofing and overall weatherproofing. Be sure to check out our guide to filming in the rain for helpful tips.

If you plan to fly your drone near any body of water or out in the rain, many drones run the risk of being completely destroyed in the process, but the PowerEgg X Wizard will come out unscathed. The body of the camera is built to be waterproof by default and the drone even has a waterproof mode that further increases its resilience to water damage.

The other feature that makes the PowerEgg X Wizard stand out from other drones is the AI flight capabilities. The drone can be piloted by remote or allowed to fly autonomously with its built-in artificial intelligence programming. The AI is even equipped with facial recognition which can be used to lock onto a subject and track them while piloting autonomously, perfect for when the pilot and subject are one and the same.

How to setup and update the PowerEgg X Wizard

Unfortunately, the AI mode and the waterproof mode can not be active simultaneously, you must choose one or the other. This is somewhat limiting, although the physical body of the camera is constructed to be water resistant even without the waterproof camera mode being activated.

As a little bonus, this drone can also be converted into a hand-held camcorder mode if you want your drone to double as a standard, non-flying video camera. This camcorder isn’t great but it is a nice feature to have. For a rundown of digital cameras that are worth your time and money, refer to our guide.

75%
quality
75%
value
75%
OVERALL SCORE
  • Waterproof
  • AI flight
  • Water landing mode
  • Individual mode setting
  • Battery issues
  • Not the best camera

Best cheap drone with camera

Conclusion

Price $1,183.69

If waterproofing is important to you in your drone selection and/or if AI flight is of interest to you, then the PowerEgg X Wizard is a great drone choice.

Best cheap drone with camera - PowerEgg X Explorer

Conclusion

Price $799

A cheaper model of the PowerEgg X Wizard is also available that retains the AI functionality but loses the waterproofing. This cheaper model is called the PowerEgg X Explorer.

Top drone camera

4. Autel EVO II

Extremely detailed review and testing of the Autel EVO II

The Autel EVO II is one of the most powerful drones on the market. Though slightly larger than the Mavic camera line, the Autel EVO II is still able to fold and achieve an easily-transportable size. The big draw to the EVO II is the camera quality which is capable of shooting in 8k resolution!

Though the 8k footage is capped at 25-fps, the Autel EVO II can also shoot 6k at 50-fps and 4k at 60-fps, so you have plenty of options. Even though 8k may be the way of the future, currently, the difference between 4k and 8k footage can be pretty difficult for the average viewer to discern. This is especially true when viewed at home on a standard television or computer monitor.

The majority of consumers do not have 8k monitors in their homes yet, so the enhanced quality will be lost on many viewers outside of theatrical settings. 4k footage is likely to be high enough quality for most video purposes. And there are plenty of great 4k cameras on the market.

95%
quality
75%
value
83%
OVERALL SCORE
  • 8k video
  • 48-mp stills
  • Long flight time
  • Pricey
  • 25-fps max at 8k
  • N/A

Best quality drone camera

Conclusion

Price $2,095

If you want the highest picture-quality possible, then the Autel EVO II is your best bet.

Which drone camera is best?

3. DJI Mavic II Zoom

A test and review of the Mavic II Zoom

The DJI Mavic II Zoom is a part of the expansive Mavic II line of drones. This is not quite the best overall drone in this camera series but it gets close. With both a slightly-reduced price point and a key outshining feature, the Mavic II Zoom remains a worthy contender when it comes time to select your drone.

The key feature of the Mavic II Zoom is right there in the name, the “Zoom” functionality. Plenty of quality drones on the market do not feature any kind of camera zoom capabilities. And those that do mostly feature digital zoom, which frequently leads to quality loss. The Mavic II Zoom is equipped with a zoom lens capable of 2X optical zoom plus another 2X digital zoom at lossless quality. This can be a powerful tool to have in your arsenal as a drone videographer or photographer.

The Mavic II Zoom even has a nifty feature that mimics the effect of a dolly-zoom. If you are looking for creative ways to make your ads or videos stand out, the drone dolly-zoom feature is a sure way to set yourself apart from the pack and leave a lasting impression.

80%
quality
85%
value
83%
OVERALL SCORE
  • Zoom functionality
  • 4k 30fps
  • Dolly-zoom feature
  • Poor collision detection
  • Weaker camera
  • N/A

What is the best camera drone?

Conclusion

Price $1,349

If high-quality zooming capability is of utmost importance to you, then the Mavic II Zoom is the drone camera for you.

Which drone camera is best?

2. DJI Mavic Pro II

In-depth review of the Mavic Pro II  •  top drone camera

The top three entries on this list of the best drone cameras are all in the DJI family, and the top two are practically interchangeable. The Mavic Pro II is a fantastic all-around drone camera. The lightweight, foldable design makes transporting this drone a breeze. And the 4k camera enables you to capture top-of-the-line video.

The Mavic Pro II comes equipped with the best collision avoidance sensors in the game, helping to ensure a long lifespan for your drone. The Mavic Pro II is also one of the best camera drones when it comes to in-air stability.

One particularly nifty feature is the drone’s ability to autonomously return to it’s launch-point.

95%
quality
80%
value
90%
OVERALL SCORE
  • 4k quality
  • Autonomous return
  • Lightweight
  • 30-fps max
  • Non-mechanical shutter
  • N/A

Best quality drone camera

Conclusion

Price $1,599

The Mavic Pro II and the next entry on our list are about equal in terms of overall quality. They also happen to be the same price, so it comes down to personal preference between the two.

What is the best camera drone?

1. DJI Phantom 4 Pro

What is the best camera drone? Introducing the Phantom 4 Pro

Once again proving that DJI dominates the camera drone space, the DJI Phantom 4 Pro is the best drone on the market. It is a closer call between the Phantom 4 Pro and the Mavic Pro II than one might expect. Each has benefits and drawbacks, so one may be better suited to your individual needs.

The Mavic Pro II has the leg up when it comes to weight, portability, and ease of use. The Phantom 4 Pro is not foldable and weighs quite a bit more, making transporting it more of a hassle.

The Phantom 4 Pro also only features 5-point obstacle sensing as opposed to the omnidirectional obstacle sensing of the Mavic Pro II.

Mavic Pro II vs. Phantom 4 Pro

In other regards, however, the Phantom 4 Pro is the clear higher-quality choice of drone camera. The Phantom 4 Pro is capable of shooting 4k footage at 60-frames-per-second, while the Mavic Pro II is only able to shoot 30-frames-per-second. For a deeper explanation of why this difference matters, refer to our filmmaker’s guide to frame rates.

The Phantom 4 Pro is also the only drone on this list to feature a mechanical shutter, which can make a staggering difference when it comes to the quality of individual frames and corrects the rolling-shutter issues that plague other drones. The mechanical shutter is a strong selling point for the Phantom 4 Pro.

95%
quality
80%
value
90%
OVERALL SCORE
  • Mechanical shutter
  • 4k 60fps
  • Professional quality
  • Heavier
  • Not collapsable
  • 5-point obstacle sensing

Top drone camera

Conclusion

Price $1,599

Whether you choose the Mavic Pro II or the Phantom 4 Pro, you really can’t go wrong. The mechanical shutter and higher frame rate give the Phantom 4 Pro the edge for us, but if portable is high priority, you may prefer the Mavic Pro II. 

Up Next

The Best Drone Footage

Hopefully, this list helped you get a better idea which drone camera is the best fit for your needs and budget. If you are in need of inspiration for what to shoot with your new drone camera, our rundown of the best drone footage will give you plenty of ideas. See creative uses of drone cameras across the video-making spectrum, up next.

Up Next: Amazing Drone Footage →
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