When the government has to step in to regulate an industry, that's when there's money to be made. Certainly, this holiday season, a lot of money is being made by drone manufacturers as their products can literally fly off shelves.
Fortunately, the only thing the government can't control about drones is what drones we can buy and how much to spend on them. Drone prices range from under $100 to well into the thousands of dollars. Of course, the more money we spend, the more we get back. But do we all really need a tricked-out drone to fly in our living rooms or at the local park?
Unfortunately, there aren't too many choices in the midrange drone market. Unlike the smartphone marketplace where there are plenty of mid-priced phones that offer just enough high-end features at bang-for-your-buck prices, there's a bit of gap for drones. At best, last year's models ended up being midrange while newer models take over flagship prices.
Nonetheless, we'll set our sights on the best UAV's we can get in this breakout year for drones without spending much more than $500.
Parrot Bebop
Launching our list at about $450 is the next brand name drone in the market after DJI, the Parrot Bebop drone. It's easily one of the better designed drones that looks like it came straight out of a Hollywood sci-fi flick where the government keeps close track of its citizens. Moreover, since the FAA is requiring drone operators to register their units into a government database, the Bebop updates easily to meet FAA requirements.
Along with a well-designed body, the accompanying Free Flight 3 app used to control the drone is easy to use. Connected to a smartphone, the Bebop offers a 180-degree field of view through its 14-megapixel onboard camera. Photos and videos shouldn't be too blurry or shaky since the Bebop has 3-axis image stabilization. If things don't work out in the beginning (for newbie drone operators, expect the worse), the Bebop will return home automatically.
WLtoys V383
For just a little more than the Parrot Bebop, the WLtoys V383 does more than the average drone. For about $440, the V383 won't just hover about taking panoramic shots of its surroundings. The V383 will fly, and flying is what this drone is all about.
With its 3D flight mode on, the V383 becomes an acrobatic drone. Because its blades can perform quick negative thrusts, this drone can actually fly upside down. Other tricks up its sleeves include loops, rolls, tic-tocs, pirouetting aerobatics, hurricanes, funnels, and a handful of others. All those tricks do take a toll on the drones batteries though. Its flight time maxes out at eight minutes, but those eight minutes will be a heck of a lot more fun than floating about on a Bebop.
Building our own drones can also be an enjoyable experience. Knowing which parts go where, and what each part does should help drone operators be better fliers in the sky, especially when things go wrong and a drone falls apart into multiple pieces on impact.
Lumenier QAV250-G10-RTF Mini FPV Quadcopter
The Lumenier QAV250-G10-RTF Mini FPV Quadcopter is more than just a handful to say, it'll require a handful of assembly, too. Like the WLtoys V383, this drone is specifically made for first-person view flying. Though it takes some time to build, it's well worth it watching this thing fly and seeing what the drone sees in real time. For the truly hands-on and the budget conscious, the blueprint for the QAV250 can be downloaded for printing on a 3D printer. Printing out the frame and putting it all together for DIY clone of this drone brings down the price to just $200.
DJI Phantom 1
Now for the drone that took drones to greater heights, the DJI Phantom 1 was so popular it even made a cameo appearance in South Park. The Phantom 1 was DJI's first quadcopter and, even though the company is no longer producing this unit, they can still be found brand new online for a little over $500. For what it is, that's quite a steal if you can find one as the Phantom 1 is the complete package.
The Phantom 1 packs in great features in a now iconic design. Once it's in the air, and people see it, it'll be recognized as a DJI. If it falls, it's probably not the drone's fault either. Equipped with Intelligent Orientation Control, the Phantom 1 can memorize its position and even go on autopiloted flights using Naza-M software and finally come back home on its own with its return home function.
DJI Phantom 2
But what's better than the original? The follow-up, of course. The DJI Phantom 2 can still be had for about $500 and the upgrades include increased control range of 1,000 meters, self-tightening propellers, longer flight time, and a better fit for a camera gimbal (sold separately) for more stable shots and smoother video. Integrated GPS supports its auto pilot function, altitude lock, position holding and steady hovering, and a host of other goodies.
