A good drone – how much do you have to spend on it? 1000 PLN, 5000 PLN or maybe more? We check what sensible can be bought for little money. Is a cheap drone enough? Or maybe it’s better to invest in something more expensive?
How much do you have to spend on a good drone?
What does “good drone” mean? For some it can be a cheap model for learning to fly, for others a machine capable of recording great quality movies. Or maybe you are looking for something for racing or a functional work tool? In this article, we will look at different budgets and check what you can realistically count on spending a specific sum.
What does a good drone have to have?
A good drone is one that simply fulfills your expectations, but there are some functions that are useful to everyone.
- Image stabilization – mechanical gimbal or digital stabilization (for good quality recordings necessary gimbal).
- Good camera – minimum 1080p, but 4K and a larger sensor for better image quality will work better.
- Long flight time – A minimum of 20 minutes, and the ideal is 30+ minutes.
- Range and connectivity – Drones with a better transmission system (e.g. DJI Ocusync) give a more stable signal and a larger range.
- Safety functions – Obstacle sensors, return home (RTH), geofencing.
- Intelligent modes – object tracking, automatic flight routes, panorama.
Now let’s check in what price shelves you can find these functions.
Drones up to PLN 1,000 – toys or something more?
For less than a thousand zlotys you will get a drone, which will be more than just a toy, but don’t expect miracles. These are mainly light models for learning to fly, without advanced functions and with an average camera. A popular choice is, for example, Ryze Tello – great for beginners, but not for someone who wants to take professional photos. If you just want to fly for fun, that’s enough. If you count on the quality of movies – you need to look for a different price shelf.
Drones up to PLN 2,000 – a sensible price -quality ratio
This is where “real” fun begins. At this price you will find drones with good stabilization, sensible camera and basic Smart functions. DJI Mini 4K or DJI Flip offer recording in 4K and decent image quality. These are options for those who want to take nice shots, but do not want to invest a lot of money yet. Mechanical gimbals already appear in this price shelf, which significantly improves the quality of recordings.
3000 – 6000 PLN – commercial drones for more demanding
If you want something more than recreational flying, get ready for an expense above PLN 3,000. Here there are models like DJI Mini 4 Pro or Autel Evo Lite+, which offer larger sensors, better image quality and longer flight time. This is a level that allows you to record materials at a semi -professional level. In this price class, advanced objects tracking modes and obstacles sensors are also standard.
Drones over PLN 6,000 – something for professionals
When the perfect image quality counts, there is no compromise. DJI Mavic 3, Autel Evo II Pro or more advanced drones like DJI Inspire 3 (this is a huge expense of over PLN 70,000) are equipment for filmmakers, photographers and professionals. We have larger sensors, great recording modes, longer flight time and intelligent tracking systems. Price? From PLN 6,000 and up, and professional machines can cost up to tens of thousands. In this class we will find cameras with large sensors (e.g. 1-inch), 10-bit color recording and professional recording profiles.
Is it worth buying an expensive drone?
It depends. If you want to learn to fly or are looking for something to play, there is no point in spending a fortune. Drones up to PLN 3,000 already offer quite good opportunities. But if you intend to earn on it, image quality is crucial for you or you want to work in difficult conditions – then it is difficult to compromise and you have to invest.
There is no one answer to the question how much you need to spend on a good drone. For some, “good” means cheap and easy to use, for others – equipment that provides film image quality. The most important thing is to determine your needs and choose equipment for your own expectations, not for trends or marketing slogans. Because what about the best drone if you don’t even use half of its capabilities?
