Autonomous modes: Any video drone worth buying has a fail-safe return-home mode that automatically brings the aircraft back to the launch point when you press a button or the drone loses contact with the controller.We prefer drone batteries that last at least 30 minutes, and we recommend that pilots pick up a few extras so that they can spend more time flying. But a shorter flight time means fewer shots, shorter videos, and less flexibility. Long battery life: Longer-lasting batteries tend to be larger and weigh more, so manufacturers try to balance drone size with battery life.Three-axis gimbal: A good gimbal stabilizes a camera attached with accelerometers and gyroscopes even when you are flying in wind or a jerky pattern, and it’s essential if you want usable footage.We consider only those models that can shoot at least 12-megapixel photos and capture smooth 4K video. High-quality camera: Generally, the more you pay for a photography drone, the better camera you get.We prefer drones with this technology, as it removes a lot of stress for new flyers, but most budget options lack these features, so we make exceptions for drones under $500.

Crash-avoidance sensors: Many modern drones have sensors that detect obstacles approaching in any direction and can avoid them.Quadcopter design: Drones with a quadcopter shape (or alternatives, such as hexacopters, that add more arms) produce the most stable photo and video because they can steadily hold their position in the air.It also has a 43-minute battery life, which isn’t the longest we’ve ever seen (our top pick beats it by a bit) in our tests but comes pretty close. This model can capture vibrant, detailed still images with its three cameras, and its video-at up to 5.1K resolution-looks more color-accurate than that of the competition. As a result, it produces better images right out of the camera but also gives editing software more data to work with to improve the images even further. Thanks to the comparatively huge sensor on the main camera, the Mavic 3 Pro can capture more detail than our other picks and in a much wider band of lighting conditions. Not only do you get a Hasselblad-branded 24mm-equivalent wide-angle lens with a Four Thirds sensor, but there are also two telephoto lenses: a 70mm-equivalent with a 1/1.3-inch sensor and a 166mm-equivalent with a 1/2-inch sensor. The DJI Mavic 3 Pro takes many of the best features of the Air 3 and, for a little more than twice the price, ups the camera count to three. Measuring 8 by 3.5 by 3.25 inches folded and weighing roughly 1.5 pounds, it fits well in most standard size backpacks. And the Air 3 can go with you almost anywhere. It can hold its position steadily, even in moderate winds, so you can focus on your cinematography. These new sensing abilities make the ActiveTrack feature, which directs the drone to autonomously follow and film a subject while also avoiding obstacles, easier to use in more situations. The Air 3 can sense and avoid obstacles approaching from all directions, adding side sensing that our previous pick lacked. We recommend the Fly More combo option because it’s the only package that includes the DJI RC 2 controller, which features a built-in screen and is a marked improvement over the standard controller that relies on your phone’s screen for live view. The DJI Air 3 is easy to fly, has an ample 46-minute battery life, and is equipped with two cameras, giving you options for more varied and interesting shots than its predecessor.

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