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Drone Advice: What You Need to Know About Buying A Drone
Written by EatGoSee
Drone advice is the single most popular request I get in my direct messages whenever I post a photo on my Instagram account. Every time I post a drone photo. Without fail.
Owning, flying and operating a drone has been a learning experience comprising of unmitigated joy, panic and frustration. Yes, all those things can be true at the same time! But never has there been any regret at any time.
This post was first published in November 2019 after buying a drone in May 2018. I bought a Mavic Air 2, my second drone, in July 2020. Buying a second drone made me want to update this article as technology moved on in the two years I started flying drones. Moreover, spending more time flying drones made me realize some of the key performance and travel considerations.
The Highs
The Lows
The Highs
The Lows
But first, I need to thank someone special
Firstly, shout out to Mrs EatGoSee who lovingly (but with quiet disbelief) stares at her husband operating this expensive flying camera almost everywhere he goes. For each time I pulled the rental car over on the side of the road because, you know, these sugarcane fields do not take a photo of themselves. The countless weekend mornings I jump out of bed to go drone shooting in the desert on my own or with friends. Running through the door like a child with a glowing school reporting desperate to show her what I saw.
So what are the things I wish I knew that I know now?
These are the tips or provocations that I wish I considered when buying my drone. Some of these points were already considered before I bought my first drone. There are other points that quickly became clear as I used my first Mavic Air more and more.
This is a consolidation of the advice I regularly give people over Instagram and in person about whether to buy a drone and which model to purchase.
This is a consolidation of the advice I regularly give people over Instagram and in person about whether to buy a drone and which model to purchase.
My strong recommendation is that you should buy a complete package (Fly Combo Pack) for your drone and do not compromise on this investment.
Key Considerations For Buying A Drone
People have their own reasons but different drones do different things. I wanted stunning, good quality photos and videos. But on a budget. I bought a Mavic Air because the photo quality is pretty good (see my feed) and had the option of good quality videos. If you want to race, this is not your drone. You can click here for a selection of strong camera drone options.
I wanted stunning, good quality photos and videos. But on a budget. I bought the first Mavic Air because the photo quality is pretty good (see my feed) and had the option of good quality videos. If you want to race, this is not your drone. Many people buy a drone because they like the idea of it and they do not think through how they are going to use it. I highly recommend that you think through when you will use a drone. Will you fly on weekends? Will you fly two to four times a month? Will you only fly when you travel?
If you want a drone for commercial or professional use then you will want to buy a larger drone aimed towards professional such as the Mavic Pro 2 or the DJI Phantom Four. You are unlikely to be a first-time drone owner if you are looking for a commercial-purpose drone.
Drones are a serious investment but you should definitely keep to a budget. My strong recommendation is that you should buy a complete package for your drone and do not compromise on this investment. The accessories that come with the drone really enhance the flying and exploring experience with the drone. I expand on this more in the Extra Equipment section below. Net, buy the drone you can afford but leave headroom for the extra equipment.
I bought my Mavic Air in airport in duty-free after a lot of research. This same model is even cheaper now because new models have come in. Buying online or in duty-free is probably your cheapest option but, independent stores will often price match. It is always good to #SupportLocal and find your local independent camera shop.
Readers in Dubai can check out National Store LLC in Al Ghazal Mall towards Al Hudaiba roughly opposite Ethiad Museum. This is where I bought my second drone, the Mavic Air 2. Supporting your local independent camera shop is important and, also, they will give you a deal to reward you for your purchase.
You should consider buying an older generation model if you are unsure whether you want to really invest in a drone and you are just exploring this as an option. Drones are still fun to use so if you want to fly just to explore an area then a previous model (like a Mavic Air One or Mavic Spark) are adequate to tick that box. I personally would avoid buying a second-hand drone unless you know the previous owner well.
I am still a lawyer. If I go to a new country, I always go to forums and good old-fashioned Google to see the limitations. There are some places where it is simply just not worth it because laws and enforcement is strong. Also, magnetic fields are real and you may not be able to actually fly much. In Dubai, I have a drone pilot license. It’s mandatory and the authorities make is very easy to obtain.
I am deeply envious of DJI Phantom Four drone photographers. The DJI Phantom Four flies for miles. I am not using that hyperbolically. My brother in law has a DJI Phantom Four and we flew the drone close to three miles away over the Greek Islands from the top of a hill before we lost our nerve. The DJI Phantom Four takes exquisite photos and it just looks badass. It resembles a spacecraft and something out of Star Wars.
However, it is massive, cumbersome to carry around and the batteries take a lifetime to recharge. This is why I will not ever buy one.
Portability is really key especially if you will use your drone for travel. Drones can get heavy and they can take up a lot of space especially when the wings are expanded (not that you would travel with the wings expanded). If you buy the extra equipment, you will also carry it around with you. If you like city breaks or the ability to travel with hand luggage, you will want to opt for one of the smaller model drones like the Mavic Mini, Mavic Spark or Mavic Air 2 (maximum).
My Mavic Air and Mavic Air 2 fits comfortably in the palm of my hand. It fits in every bag I own including backpacks. The Mavic Airs easily go on a plane in hand luggage and the batteries take half an hour to charge; however, batteries often cannot go into hand luggage and YOU MUST check with your airline in advance. Sometimes I must separate the drone from the batteries putting one in hand luggage and the other in the storage.
Mid-sized drones like a Mavic Pro are broad or wide drones but not heavy or large when folded. You should look at a Mavic Pro before buying one and, honestly, the Mavic Air 2 is so good that, unless you are a professional photographer and more than an enthusiast, you very likely do not need one.
Battery life will vary with a lot of conditions. Wind strength and weather is a really important variable as the drone needs to battle against wind. Sensors will also such the life out of your drone flying time. Sensors are important to ensure you do not crash into obstacles but it will compromise your battery life. A drone remote control (again, get the Fly More Combo complete pack) will allow you at least a Normal and Sport mode. The Mavic Air 2 also comes with a Tripod mode (as do other DJI drone models). I usually fly in Sport mode when I am confident the drone will not crash into anything (open desert, open beaches, mountain tops) as this conserves battery.
The third most battery thirsty factor is video mode. If you are flying a drone to take a lot of gorgeous b roll or drone shot videos then you must get more than one battery.
Both the Mavic Air and the Mavic Air 2 come with three batteries (in the Fly More Combo complete pack). The Mavic Air drone batteries last about 10 – 20 minutes each during the flying time (wind strength and sport mode makes the difference). The Mavic Air 2 batteries last between 20 – 30 minutes each. My opinion is that you want more than one battery when you go out flying. You will burn up the first battery just exploring and learning where to film / take photos. Your second and third battery will really allow you to explore seamlessly without waiting for your battery to recharge.
Owning a drone is like owning a DSLR camera: you are going to get more than just the body. You want the remote control, you want extra batteries, you want extra blades, you want a bag to carry it around, you definitely want ND filters especially in bright conditions (including snowy or beachy conditions).
These extra features really open up the joy of flying with the drone and afford you the opportunity to explore and push the boundaries. There are few things more infuriating than finding an excellent place to explore, photograph or video and then you run out of battery or you are unable to fly an extra 100 metres because you are out of range. Poor equipment often cause these issues.
Top tip: I also have a battery car charger so I can charge batteries in the car while I am driving between locations or while I am flying on a second or third battery.
I recently discovered a range extender by 4Hawks which was recommended to me by @zoomfromthesky. This is a total game-changer. You should seriously consider whether you want to optimise your costs by getting a cheaper drone but maxing out the flying distance with buying a range extender.
Are you going to fly this once a week? Are you only going to fly when you’re on holiday? Do you live in a place where you can even fly a drone?
I like summarizing on this point because it puts all the previous considerations into perspective. It will focus your budget, the specifications you really need (not the ones that impress you), whether you want the latest tech or an earlier model to just explore.
If you do not have a drone and you want one, ask a question. I will do my best to answer your questions and I know some of my drone pilot followers will do the same. You can email me on eatgosee@gmail.com.
So Why Do You Want A Drone?
I wanted stunning, good quality photos and videos. But on a budget. I bought the first Mavic Air because the photo quality is pretty good (see my feed) and had the option of good quality videos. If you want to race, this is not your drone. Many people buy a drone because they like the idea of it and they do not think through how they are going to use it. I highly recommend that you think through when you will use a drone. Will you fly on weekends? Will you fly two to four times a month? Will you only fly when you travel?
If you want a drone for commercial or professional use then you will want to buy a larger drone aimed towards professional such as the Mavic Pro 2 or the DJI Phantom Four. You are unlikely to be a first-time drone owner if you are looking for a commercial-purpose drone.
Know your budget
Drones are a serious investment but you should definitely keep to a budget. My strong recommendation is that you should buy a complete package for your drone and do not compromise on this investment. The accessories that come with the drone really enhance the flying and exploring experience with the drone. I expand on this more in the Extra Equipment section below. Net, buy the drone you can afford but leave headroom for the extra equipment.
I bought my Mavic Air in airport in duty-free after a lot of research. This same model is even cheaper now because new models have come in. Buying online or in duty-free is probably your cheapest option but, independent stores will often price match. It is always good to #SupportLocal and find your local independent camera shop.
Readers in Dubai can check out National Store LLC in Al Ghazal Mall towards Al Hudaiba roughly opposite Ethiad Museum. This is where I bought my second drone, the Mavic Air 2. Supporting your local independent camera shop is important and, also, they will give you a deal to reward you for your purchase.
You should consider buying an older generation model if you are unsure whether you want to really invest in a drone and you are just exploring this as an option. Drones are still fun to use so if you want to fly just to explore an area then a previous model (like a Mavic Air One or Mavic Spark) are adequate to tick that box. I personally would avoid buying a second-hand drone unless you know the previous owner well.
Know The Laws
I am still a lawyer. If I go to a new country, I always go to forums and good old-fashioned Google to see the limitations. There are some places where it is simply just not worth it because laws and enforcement is strong. Also, magnetic fields are real and you may not be able to actually fly much. In Dubai, I have a drone pilot license. It’s mandatory and the authorities make is very easy to obtain.
Portability
I am deeply envious of DJI Phantom Four drone photographers. The DJI Phantom Four flies for miles. I am not using that hyperbolically. My brother in law has a DJI Phantom Four and we flew the drone close to three miles away over the Greek Islands from the top of a hill before we lost our nerve. The DJI Phantom Four takes exquisite photos and it just looks badass. It resembles a spacecraft and something out of Star Wars.
However, it is massive, cumbersome to carry around and the batteries take a lifetime to recharge. This is why I will not ever buy one.
Portability is really key especially if you will use your drone for travel. Drones can get heavy and they can take up a lot of space especially when the wings are expanded (not that you would travel with the wings expanded). If you buy the extra equipment, you will also carry it around with you. If you like city breaks or the ability to travel with hand luggage, you will want to opt for one of the smaller model drones like the Mavic Mini, Mavic Spark or Mavic Air 2 (maximum).
My Mavic Air and Mavic Air 2 fits comfortably in the palm of my hand. It fits in every bag I own including backpacks. The Mavic Airs easily go on a plane in hand luggage and the batteries take half an hour to charge; however, batteries often cannot go into hand luggage and YOU MUST check with your airline in advance. Sometimes I must separate the drone from the batteries putting one in hand luggage and the other in the storage.
Mid-sized drones like a Mavic Pro are broad or wide drones but not heavy or large when folded. You should look at a Mavic Pro before buying one and, honestly, the Mavic Air 2 is so good that, unless you are a professional photographer and more than an enthusiast, you very likely do not need one.
Battery life
Battery life will vary with a lot of conditions. Wind strength and weather is a really important variable as the drone needs to battle against wind. Sensors will also such the life out of your drone flying time. Sensors are important to ensure you do not crash into obstacles but it will compromise your battery life. A drone remote control (again, get the Fly More Combo complete pack) will allow you at least a Normal and Sport mode. The Mavic Air 2 also comes with a Tripod mode (as do other DJI drone models). I usually fly in Sport mode when I am confident the drone will not crash into anything (open desert, open beaches, mountain tops) as this conserves battery.
The third most battery thirsty factor is video mode. If you are flying a drone to take a lot of gorgeous b roll or drone shot videos then you must get more than one battery.
Both the Mavic Air and the Mavic Air 2 come with three batteries (in the Fly More Combo complete pack). The Mavic Air drone batteries last about 10 – 20 minutes each during the flying time (wind strength and sport mode makes the difference). The Mavic Air 2 batteries last between 20 – 30 minutes each. My opinion is that you want more than one battery when you go out flying. You will burn up the first battery just exploring and learning where to film / take photos. Your second and third battery will really allow you to explore seamlessly without waiting for your battery to recharge.
Extra equipment
Owning a drone is like owning a DSLR camera: you are going to get more than just the body. You want the remote control, you want extra batteries, you want extra blades, you want a bag to carry it around, you definitely want ND filters especially in bright conditions (including snowy or beachy conditions).
These extra features really open up the joy of flying with the drone and afford you the opportunity to explore and push the boundaries. There are few things more infuriating than finding an excellent place to explore, photograph or video and then you run out of battery or you are unable to fly an extra 100 metres because you are out of range. Poor equipment often cause these issues.
Top tip: I also have a battery car charger so I can charge batteries in the car while I am driving between locations or while I am flying on a second or third battery.
I recently discovered a range extender by 4Hawks which was recommended to me by @zoomfromthesky. This is a total game-changer. You should seriously consider whether you want to optimise your costs by getting a cheaper drone but maxing out the flying distance with buying a range extender.
Know your limits
Are you going to fly this once a week? Are you only going to fly when you’re on holiday? Do you live in a place where you can even fly a drone?
I like summarizing on this point because it puts all the previous considerations into perspective. It will focus your budget, the specifications you really need (not the ones that impress you), whether you want the latest tech or an earlier model to just explore.
If you do not have a drone and you want one, ask a question. I will do my best to answer your questions and I know some of my drone pilot followers will do the same. You can email me on eatgosee@gmail.com.
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