Top 10 filming quadcopters with long flight range

All drones from the list of top 10 filming quadcopters are equipped with professional cameras, a GPS system and intelligent flight modes. At first glance, they seem difficult to fly, but in fact this complexity makes them very safe to fly and easy to fly.

They are created for those who want to fly far and still shoot high-quality video and photos, since they all have very powerful and expensive cameras.

Let's start the list with quadcopters that fly the farthest.

DJI Mavic Air 2 – 10 km

Camera 4k/60 FPS;
Sensor 1/2″ CMOS;
12 and 48 megapixel photography in RAW and JPEG formats;
Hyperlapse 8K video shooting;
Cinematic shooting modes;
Live video broadcast from a distance of up to 10 km;
Advanced obstacle avoidance system ASPAS 3.0;
Maximum speed 64 km/h;
34 minutes flight;
Price: from 70,000 rubles or $915.

Everyone knows DJI is a sophisticated and well designed quadcopter. And dear ones, of course. The Mavic Air 2 is a beautifully crafted drone that looks like a piece of art, its small and light weight and foldable design make it a very compact drone.

The quadcopter has an excellent camera that can record video in 4K format at 60 frames per second, while the video recording speed is 100 Mbit/sec. Combined with a high-quality 3-axis stabilizer, you will get an amazing picture.

The flight range is as much as 10 kilometers, and this is together with real-time video broadcast, but, however, in 1080P resolution. Of course, you shouldn’t expect such results in an urban area among concrete buildings; the result will be much shorter in range, physics is at work here.

With the help of such a quadcopter you can take topographic maps, objects, and natural beauty. The drone is ideal for business and professional use.

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Xiro XPLORER V

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Xiro Xplorer V is a drone that combines the best modern technologies and innovations, leaving all its competitors behind. This model is equipped with an impressive camera with high quality 1080P Full HD shooting. It also has the ability to broadcast video to a smartphone and has very broad piloting functionality. Of course, in the arsenal of this model you can find satellite navigation for accurately holding your position and returning to your starting location. The drone has a video camera for travel.

Xiro XPLORER V

Advantages:

convenient control
stable
high quality camera

Flaws:

expensive spare parts
loss of control

Autel Evo 2 – 9 km

Camera 8K / 25 FPS or 6K / 60 FPS;
Sensor 1″ CMOS;
20-megapixel photos with HDR support;
4x lossless zoom;
Advanced 3-axis mechanical gimbal;
Omnidirectional obstacle avoidance system;
Video transmission range 9 km;
40 minutes flight;
Price: from 123,900 rubles or $1621.

A very cool and stylish quadcopter because it has an 8K camera, albeit with only 25 frames per second. But there is a 4K mode with 60 frames per second and a huge 1-inch camera sensor. The drone is primarily intended for professional needs as it has many features. Particularly interesting is the choice of quadcopter version: with an 8K camera, with a 6K camera and infrared + 8K.

Autel Evo 2 can detect obstacles from a distance of up to 30 meters and fly around them using artificial intelligence.

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The quadcopter flies for up to 40 minutes and this is the best result on this list. By the way, the remote control has an OLED screen, so you don’t need to use your phone.

TOP 6. 3DR Solo - up to 1,000 meters

This quadcopter without a camera with a range of a kilometer is very fast and has many flight modes. But we will look at its main characteristics.

Design.
The quad is made of hydrocarbon plastic. Has a modular design. In other words, if the beams fail, replacements are easy to find. Outwardly it looks like a huge battery. Well, or for a bar of black gold.
The radius of the quadcopter
is up to a kilometer. Stays calm in the sky for up to 25 minutes. At the same time, the speed qualities are at the level - it can accelerate to 90 kilometers per hour. But you need to be careful, since the copter is not equipped with an obstacle avoidance system, like its competitors, which we will talk about below.
The camera
is not included in the package. But there is a unique gimbal designed for third and fourth generation GoPros. It complements Hero and expands its capabilities. However, those pilots who do not like GoPro (there are some) will have to make a choice in favor of another drone. But if you have a GoPro, then the possibilities for smooth video shooting are great. It is enough to set the autopilot by setting an approximate flight route.
Peculiarities
. The feature of the quadcopter is open source. That is, each pilot, due to his mental abilities, has the right to “finish” the software - to add a program for controlling the device. In addition, it runs on two OS Linux processors (one in the controller, the other in the drone). The control panel is painfully reminiscent of a video game joystick, so it is intuitive.

pros

Speed.
Open source.

Minuses

You can't hang anything other than a GoPro.

Reviews

Of course, the quadcopter's radius and GPS could be better. But what attracted me to this drone was its ease of control and autonomy, thanks to its amazing modes. Overall very strong and reliable. Take, for example, the indestructible propellers made of fiberglass nylon.
Petr Darovskikh, musician

DJI Mavic 2 (Pro & Zoom) – 8 km

Camera 4K / 30 FPS;
The 1/2.3-inch sensor allows you to shoot images with ultra-high resolution of 12 and 48 megapixels (Zoom);
4x lossless zoom and 2x optical zoom;
Mavic Pro 2 with Hasselblad camera (1-inch sensor);
Image resolution 20 MP;
Adjustable aperture;
Obstacle avoidance system;
Video transmission in 1080p format from a distance of 8 km;
31 minute flight;
Price: from 100,000 rubles or $1308.

The versions are almost the same, except for the cameras. Both drones are equally compact and not too heavy. The Mavic Pro comes with a Hasselblad camera from the Swiss manufacturer. It has a huge 1-inch sensor, adjustable aperture and high dynamic color range. Allows you to take 20 megapixel photos.

Mavic 2 Zoom is equipped with a camera with a 1/2.3-inch sensor with optical zoom. Allows you to take 12 megapixel photos. With a long lens, you can capture a subject in a photo much closer than it actually is. The camera can also take panoramic pictures, stitching together 9 photos into one single one.

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The quadcopter flies 8 kilometers, including real-time video transmission.

Parting words

If you decide to raise the quadcopter to the maximum peak height available to it, keep in mind that this requires maximum battery charge. Many models, especially inexpensive ones, do not have a self-saving function. When the battery is critically charged, they can simply collapse to the ground, regardless of the height under the quadcopter. Therefore, the higher it is in the peak position, the more damage its structure may receive after a fall.

Only 2 things save you from such cases - this is the incredible reaction and dexterity of the operator, or a backup rescue parachute that is triggered in case the quadcopter falls. You should take care of its availability in advance and purchase it for an additional fee if it is included in the set of accessories combined with your drone model.

You can buy excellent quadcopters in our store - free delivery throughout Russia and the CIS, good prices!

Hubsan Zino 2 – 8 km

Camera 4K / 60 FPS;
1/2.3-inch CMOS sensor from Sony;
12 megapixel photos;
Ambarella video processor;
3-axis stabilizer (gimbal);
Intelligent flight modes;
Video transmission range 8 km;
33 minutes flight;
Price: from 42,240 rubles or $552.

Hubsan used to produce budget models, but some time ago they decided to enter the mid-range and introduced the Hubsan Zino 2 drone. Essentially, it has the same functions as the DJI Mavic, but without the huge price tag. A 4K camera that can shoot at 60 frames per second and record it all at a bitrate of 100 Mbps. As a result, you will get a professional, high-quality picture.

Real-time video is not transmitted in such good quality - in 720P, but also from a distance of 8 kilometers. Sensor from Sony.

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PowerVision PowerEYE

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PowerVision PowerEYE PV-PEY10 is a professional large quadcopter for outdoor use with high-quality optics, high load capacity and ample functionality expansion. The drone can stay in the air for up to half an hour and move 5 km away from the controller, while maintaining the ability to transmit HD video online. The maximum acceleration speed is 18 m/s. This model is capable of carrying objects with a load of up to 2 kg and rising above sea level up to 4 km. Powerful screws provide high lifting capacity. The drone has a folding design, and the included suitcase with a handle allows you to transport it comfortably.

PowerVision PowerEYE

Advantages:

build quality
flight time
flight altitude
camera quality
battery
many modes
high load capacity

Flaws:

price

This concludes our professional review of the best quadcopters for travel. We hope that the information provided, collected by our experts, was enough to enable you to choose the right model for yourself. If you are in doubt about whether to buy a quadcopter, then carefully study all the pros and cons.

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DJI Phantom 4 Pro V2 – 8 km

Camera 4K / 60 FPS;
1-inch CMOS sensor;
20-megapixel photos with HDR support;
Streaming video with a resolution of 1080P / 30 frames per second;
Mechanical shutter;
Intelligent flight modes;
Automatic return home function;
Transmission range 8 km;
30 minutes flight;
Price: from 153,000 rubles or $2001.

The DJI Phantom 4 is the best in the Phantom line of quadcopters and a truly classic drone. It is the heaviest in the middle segment, weighing just under 1.5 kg, so it performs well in windy weather.

The camera is on a 3-axis gimbal, shoots in 4K at 60 frames per second and takes 20-megapixel photos. Video is transmitted using OcuSync 2.0 technology in 1080P resolution.

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The quadcopter is equipped with a 5-position obstacle detection system, which makes its flight very safe.

A starting point

First of all, you need to decide on the purpose of the purchase. It’s one thing to give your child a radio-controlled flying toy, but quite another to buy an aerial camera or racing drone . If in the first case it is necessary to focus on safety indicators, then the main criterion for choosing a racing model is its dynamic characteristics, and the consumer qualities of a quadcopter for aerial filming largely depend on the parameters of its flight camera and on-board controller. An important role is played by the size of the model, its technical equipment, initial flight readiness and price/quality ratio.

DJI Mavic Pro – 7 km

Camera 4K / 24 FPS and 30 FPS at 3840x2160;
12 megapixel photos;
Real-time video in 1080P;
3-axis gimbal;
GPS/GLONASS;
Automatic return home;
30 minutes flight;
Price: from 81,990 rubles or $1072.

The drone is certainly old and is no longer produced, but it still remains very popular and productive. Yes, it only has 24 frames per second in 4K, but there is a lower resolution, for example 3840x2160 records at 30 frames per second, and 1920x1080 can record 96 frames. Bitrate 60 Mbit per second.

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It was this series that set the style and design of folding quadcopters for the entire drone industry. The flight range is up to 7 kilometers.

Let's summarize

If you want to fly a drone high and far, then you should choose the ]DJI[/anchor] models. This is not surprising, since they are one of the first manufacturers of copters.

When choosing a drone, you should pay attention not only to the maximum flight altitude of the quadcopter, but also what it is made of. It is best to buy a copter yourself in a store, and not just based on photographs. Feel the case material, read reviews. In a word, it’s like choosing a car - you need to know what you’re buying, and not be fooled by the beautiful shell.

Autel Evo – 7 km

Camera 4K / 60 FPS;
Recording speed 100 Mbit/s;
12-megapixel photos with HDR support;
Ambarella H2 image processor;
3-axis gimbal;
Intelligent flight modes;
Transmission range 7 km;
30 minutes flight;
Price: 67,380 rubles or $881.

This quadcopter was a serious competitor to the DJI Mavic Pro, but for some reason (partly due to poor marketing) few people know about the drone. But that doesn't mean it's bad, because it features a 4K camera with 60 FPS and a bitrate of 100 Mbps, all on a 3-axis gimbal. This is a serious camera. Photos are taken in 12 megapixel resolution.

A distinctive feature of the drone from products from DJI and other brands is the presence of an OLED screen on the control panel; you do not need to use a phone.

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The flight and video reception range is 7 kilometers.

Long Range Drone Frames

The optimal frame for a drone flying over long distances is size 230-250; all equipment for long-distance flight can be conveniently placed on two floors. These frames are often called "buses" for their long central section.

Fans of Drone Racing are slowly switching to more compact frames, but for long-distance flyers, choosing a “bus” is the optimal solution!

If you do not have a ready-made set of remote control and receiver, then the optimal solution would be to purchase a complete drone kit and then modify it - installing GPS and a larger battery.

Ready-made drone frame kits

Eachine Wizard X220 FPV Buy: BangGood Eachine Wizard X220S FPV Buy: BangGood

But a much better solution would be to completely independently assemble a quadcopter for long-distance flights on an empty frame.

Drone Frames for Long Range Flights

Martian II 220 220mm Buy: BangGood Anniversary Special Edition Martian Buy: BangGood Realacc X4R X5R X6R Buy: BangGood Dragon HX5 X5 220mm Buy: BangGood

Electronics for long-range aircraft are given in the article above, successful assembly and long-distance flights!

Also see the article: Increasing the drone control range.

Konstantin, Review of quadcopters

Xiaomi FiMi X8 SE – 5 km

Camera 4K / 30 FPS, 12MP and Sony IMX378 1/2.3” sensor;
Video recording in UHD 3840x [email protected] 30fps;
3-axis mechanical camera gimbal;
Satellite positioning systems: GPS + GLONASS;
Flight range: up to 5 km;
Flight time up to 33 minutes;
Price: from 34,899 rubles or $456.

Drone from Xiaomi. As usual with this brand, cheap doesn’t mean bad. Compared to older DJI models, the price is certainly low, but not so low as to consider the drone a budget one. His camera is excellent, on a Sony sensor, it shoots in 4K and 30 frames per second. When reducing the resolution, you can set a higher frame rate in the settings and the video will be very smooth. The camera is stabilized on a 3-axis gimbal. The maximum photo resolution is 12 megapixels

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The drone flies for up to 33 minutes and at a distance of up to 5 kilometers.

Quadcopters with a range of 1500 meters

The best results are from Bebop Drone 2, DJI Spark and Xiaomi mi 4k Drone. Under ideal conditions, they are able to maintain controllability at a distance of up to 2 kilometers from the remote control. However, in real operation you should rather count on 1.5 kilometers.

Autel Robotics X-Star
Parrot Bebop Drone 2
Walkera Aibao
Drone Xiaomi mi 4k
DJI Spark

DJI Mavic Mini - 4 km

Camera 2.7K / 30 FPS;
1/2.3-inch sensor;
12 megapixel photos;
GPS/GLONASS;
3-axis gimbal;
Video transmission range 4 km;
Compatible with VR headsets;
30 minutes flight;
Price: from 33,489 rubles or $438.

The cheapest and lightest drone from DJI. It has a lot of features and a great camera, but there is no obstacle avoidance system, as it all comes down to the 249 gram weight threshold, which makes the drone not need to be registered.

The camera shoots a maximum of 2.7K at 30 FPS with a video recording bitrate of 40 Mbps and operates on a 3-axis gimbal.

Suitable for those who do not need numerous functions of older models, that is, for simple lovers of photographing beautiful views without professional activity.

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What are RTF, BNF and ARF

Descriptions of quadcopters often contain mysterious English abbreviations RTF, BNF and ARF, which can cause confusion and bewilderment in a potential buyer. In fact, everything is very simple here.

The term RTF stands for Ready to fly. RTF devices do not require assembly or configuration. Preparing for flight involves charging and connecting the battery, sometimes requiring the installation of propellers and landing gear. These operations are quite simple, described in detail in the attached instructions and do not require special knowledge and skills. All aircraft for beginners belong to this class.
BNF stands for Bind and fly. BNF quadcopters also do not require assembly, but are supplied without control equipment. The BNF kit assumes that the consumer already has a remote control compatible with this model. BNF class devices are purchased by more experienced pilots who want to update their own fleet of machines from their favorite manufacturer.
The abbreviation ARF (Almost ready to fly or Almost ready for summer) indicates that you are buying a kit for assembly. The ARF definition is broad and may be missing critical components (motors, flight controller, battery, etc.). Before purchasing, you must carefully read the description of the specific kit. However, this delivery is unlikely to interest novice pilots.

Most definitions can be found in the section: Terminology

Parrot Anafi – 4 km

Camera 4K / 30 FPS;
1/2.4-inch CMOS sensor;
21 megapixel photos;
3-axis hybrid stabilizer;
HDR support;
25 minutes flight;
720p real-time video at a distance of 4 km;
Price: from 74,518 rubles or $975.

A foldable drone with great potential that has remained unrecognized. I included it in the selection out of respect, since its characteristics are quite good. It flies up to 4 kilometers and transmits video in 720P and records in 4K at 30 frames per second. The gimbal is unique, hybrid, and allows you to tilt the camera 180°.

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Quadcopters with a range of 1000 meters

We have compiled a small selection of copters depending on the communication range. All devices are equipped with cameras, gimbals and sufficiently capacious batteries. Most drones support FPV mode, providing full HD broadcast to a remote control or smartphone.

The type of motors used is brushless. For drones capable of flying a distance of 500 meters or more, there is no point in using brushed motors due to their low overall reliability. We did not provide detailed technical characteristics for each copter, paying attention only to the communication range.

Yuneec Typhoon Q500 4K
3DR Solo
Ehang Ghostdrone 2.0

At what altitude can you fly a quadcopter?

Drone flying can be a serious problem if you don't know the law. For example, in some states, such as Azerbaijan, Cuba, Egypt, Venezuela, any unmanned aerial vehicles are prohibited. If you arrive there with a quadcopter, it will be confiscated at customs.

In a number of countries, including Russia, there are restrictions on flights regarding the maximum weight of the quadcopter (on average, 15-25 kg) and the permitted height (100-120 meters). Such restrictions are quite enough for entertainment or professional shooting. But in our country there are some nuances of using drones:

Source

Anatomy of antennas

Regardless of design and appearance, all antennas consist of several parts.

Active element
- a conductor that transmits a signal to the air or receives it
Coaxial cable
is a special braided cable for transmitting a signal between the connector and the active elements without radiating the signal into the air. Used to extend the length of the antenna, often made of strong and rigid materials so that it can be bent to the desired angle. It is not necessary to use a coaxial cable; the active element can be directly connected to the connector
Connector
- used to connect the antenna to the receiver or transmitter

FPV antennas are made from flexible copper strands or other conductive materials, so they are usually protected by a plastic housing. Such housings are made of radio-transparent materials and therefore they do not weaken the signal, but only help protect the antenna in the event of an accident.

What determines the maximum height of a quadcopter?

In order to lift a quadcopter as high as possible into the air, one desire is not enough. From a control point of view, it also requires patience, with which you will have to press the joystick for a long time in one single direction until it reaches its peak position in the air. The upper limit of this peak position will correspond to the maximum height of the quadcopter.

Each model of flying drones has this characteristic individually and depends on a whole set of factors. The main ones are engine power, battery capacity, equipment signal range and software settings.

Photo from the maximum height of the Syma X8C quadcopter

If the user can change the latter at his own discretion in a number of cases, such as, for example, a quadcopter completely assembled with his own hands, then other parameters are usually not adjustable and completely depend on the hardware components of the model. It is impossible to adjust the capacity of the batteries upward, however, they can be replaced with more capacious ones, provided that other components allow this, since a discrepancy between the input and output voltages can lead to the fact that the quadcopter will have to be thrown away due to breakdown.

If the operating range of the equipment can be increased through the use of repeaters and signal repeaters, purchased additionally as an auxiliary accessory, then the power of the motors cannot be increased without harm to the quadcopter. Replacing motors may result in refusal to service the device, if intended by the manufacturer.

Combined use of linearly and circularly polarized antennas

Despite all the advantages of circularly polarized antennas, are they always the best choice? Even the smallest circularly polarized antenna will be larger than a dipole and will generally be less robust.

Nowadays, it is quite common to use a dipole on the copter, and a circularly polarized antenna (no difference, right or left) on the receiver.

In this case, we get some advantages of each type of antenna. Of course, we lose approximately 30% of the signal (3dB) due to different polarizations, but the quality will always be better than with the worst mutual arrangement of two antennas with linear polarization, where approximately 97% of the power is lost (30dB).

How to overcome the height limit

Typically, professional drones have a software limit of up to 500 meters. And European manufacturers limit flight altitude to 150 meters so that the drone can fly within the operator’s line of sight and not accidentally fall into the No Fly Zone.

It is important to understand that this can cause the quadcopter to malfunction and lead to breakdown.

In March 2022, our craftsmen sent a copter into the sky, on which they installed 12 lithium-ion batteries with a total cell volume of about 9-9.5 A. The battery was insulated. The temperature overboard was recorded by a thermometer. The drone rose 10 km (9,700 meters according to GPS), photographed the earth from the troposphere and returned safely to the pilot. No one has yet managed to break the record.

History of changes

May 2022 - first version of the article
September 2022 - the recommendations section has been updated and information about operating frequencies has been added

Read which quadcopters with long range and flight time are worth choosing in 2022. The rating includes models of different price categories.

Nowadays there are a huge number of drones that can stay in the air for only 7-8 minutes. Of course, they use removable batteries, so flight time can in theory be extended. But in practice, every time you replace the battery, you realize that it would be better if the quadcopter could fly longer. And further away. Fortunately, there are a fairly large number of drones that can fly for more than ten minutes. These are the ones that will be discussed in this collection. At the same time, we will talk about those models that are able to move away from the remote control at a very decent distance.