Buying a drone isn’t a decision you should take lightly. Much like buying a new phone or even a new car, this is an important purchase that you need to explore fully before you commit. Owning a drone may not be for everybody, but it could be a great purchase for you providing you answer the following 7 questions properly before making up your mind. Take a look and you should get a much better idea of whether a new drone is for you:
Do I Understand The Rules of Owning A Drone?
Depending on where you plan on flying your drone, there will be different rules and regulations you need to pay attention to. Certain cities, states, and towns have different rules you’ll need to adhere to. Make sure you know the rules in the area you plan on flying your drone. For instance, you may only be able to fly your drone to a certain height!
Can I Afford The Right Kind Of Drone For My Needs?
There are drones for various budgets, so you need to know what your needs are and then assess whether you can afford the right kind of drone for your needs. Sites like DrDrone have a variety of drones with various features to suit a number of budgets, so it might be worth starting your search somewhere like that. Knowing your budget will help you to narrow down your options.
What Kind Of Photo Quality Do I Want?
Drones are great for taking pictures and videos, but some are better than others. What sort of photo quality do you want? The video and photo quality will usually correspond quite well with the price. You’ll need to have a much larger budget for higher quality cameras, especially if you want to upload footage to YouTube or take high quality pictures.
How Do I Want To Control My Drone?
The majority of drones you see out there will work with a twin joystick remote control – a lot like a video game controller. You need something that’s going to fit in your hands nicely and allow ease of use. Some models are now even equipped with smartphone controllers that you can use with an app.
Do I Need Any Accessories?
Your drone probably will crash at some point. This means you need a well built drone that can take these sorts of hits without sustaining major damage that will cost you a fortune to fix. A drone with rotor shields and extra protection for electronic parts is a good idea. You also want to be able to place drone parts should they break.
How Much Flight Time Would I Like?
This is one of the biggest considerations you should make when buying a drone. Flight time is how long your drone can stay in the air on a single charge. Cheaper models may only stay in the air for 7 minutes, but as you spend more money you can get up to 15 minutes. 25 minutes is often the maximum for the most expensive models. Extra batteries are a must for those who can’t afford an expensive drone but want to enjoy as much fly time as possible. You can swap these out and make the most of your new drone despite the 7-8 minutes beginner fly time.
Do I Want The Drone To Automatically Return Home?
Some drones are equipped with a really handy feature called the ‘return to home’ feature. This means that in just a push of a button, the drone will make its way back to its starting location. If you lose your drone, you can just press the return home button and the drone will fly back. However, it’s worth noting that you may only find this in the more expensive models. You may be able to find it in cheaper models, although it isn’t common. If you’re a beginner, this is a really handy feature to have, so definitely worth looking into. If it’s your first time flying, then it’s worth having this in the back of your mind as you make your mind up on which drone to buy.
Now you’ve answered the above 7 questions, you should have a much better idea of your budget, the features you need, and the types of drones you should be looking to buy. Make sure you consider your individual needs and skill level and read reviews to make the best decision. Don’t forget to learn the rules of flying in your area before you start, too!