Probably the worst thing you can do as a person who is new in the world of drones is buying the most expensive one. One of the worst mistake you can do as a rookie is saying something like: “hey, this drone is $500, so it must be cool.” Well, you say “yay,” and we say “nay.” In this article, we will show that you don’t need to spend a fortune on your first drone. Yes, it is possible, and we’re going to show you how.
What’s the Deal with Drones?
You probably know by now that having\flying a drone can be a costly hobby. And the more you’ll want that the drone to do, the deeper you’ll need to dig into your pockets. That’s the harsh reality of being a UAV enthusiast. But, as we’ve said before, it doesn’t have to be that way if you’re smart about your choices.
The first thing you’ll need to think about before actually buying the drone is your piloting skill levels. If you’re the kind of person who only likes to read or watch other people fly their drones, then you should seriously consider buying the most basic drone you can find.
Why? Because you really wouldn’t like seeing that brand new $1,000 getting totaled by a tree just because you don’t know how to handle that remote control.
So, what’s there to be done? Well, the first step is figuring out which type of drone suits your needs best. You have indoor drones – small enough to be piloted inside your house, but not that study. However, indoor drones are cheap and quite entertaining, especially if you have a cat or a dog.
The second category of UAVs is outdoor drones. They tend to a tad pricier compared to indoor drones, but they do offer other types of features. For instance, the x5sw from Cheerwing Syma allows the user to mount an additional camera, sturdier blade guards, and even an extra battery for more fun.
What Does a Beginner’s Drone Look Like?
There’s still the matter of how big is big when it comes to outdoor drones? To answer that question, we will need to look at what the Federal Aviation Department has to say. The rulebook distinguishes between two types of drones – recreational and non-recreational drones. There’s no need to go through the documentation. The only thing you’ll need to keep in mind is the weight of the drone – if your UAV has over 0.55 lbs., you’ll need to register it with the FAA.
Now, on to the matter at hand. The reason why you don’t need to spend a fortune on your first drone is that every new pup needs a chew toy to grow teeth. In layman terms, you would want a drone that comes with a learning curve. And yes, you don’t need to spend a lot of money to get a beginner’s drone.
Cheerwing Syma’s x5sw is just one of many examples that beginner drones can be neat and price-friendly. Another one of our favorites is the Holy Stone Hs170. Also called the Predator, this drone can be piloted both indoors and outdoors. Basically, this means that you will be able to hone both skills without paying a silly amount of cash (it’s around $40).
On the topic of crashing, the drone’s design really makes a difference. However, this translates into more money. If you really want to keep everything nice and friendly, do yourself a favor and buy a drone that you won’t cry after.
So, how do you choose the right drone? Here are a couple of tips.
- Price range. Anything below $30 is a waste of time. You should stop at around $100. So, a good drone for beginners should be between $30 and $100.
- Versatility – for a really good deal, you should look for one that can be piloted both indoors and outdoors.
- Replacement parts – even though you’re gunning for something in the junior league, even the most basic drone has replacement parts. Look for them because, sooner or later, you’re going to need them.
- Start small – during your test drive, try to get the hang of your quadcopter. Don’t try to reproduce all the stuff you saw in YouTube videos. Instead, you should focus more on keeping the drone steady during flight, landing, and taking off.
Conclusion
A beginner’s drone doesn’t have to drill a hole in your budget. Aim smaller because the purpose is to learn everything about that quadcopter. After that, you’re more than free to explore other possibilities. Who knows? Maybe aerial photography is your sort of gig, but you don’t know it yet.