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