If you are thinking about getting into the world of drones, this is a great question to ask: will this purchase be worthwhile, or will it be a waste of money? To answer this question, you should spend some time considering the reasons for your desire to purchase a drone. How you answer those questions will be the best indicator of whether purchasing a drone is likely to be worthwhile.
If you are thinking about getting into the world of drones, this is a great question to ask: will this purchase be worthwhile, or will it be a waste of money? To answer this question, you should spend some time considering the reasons for your desire to purchase a drone. How you answer those questions will be the best indicator of whether purchasing a drone is likely to be worthwhile. If you are looking for a new hobby, purchasing a drone is an excellent investment. If you just want to experience the thrill of flying, a low-cost starter drone is the best option. Buying a drone is also worthwhile for experienced photographers and videographers looking for a new edge, even if it means spending more money on a camera drone.
Is it worthwhile to purchase a drone? (Reasons to purchase a drone)
Drones continue to gain popularity, but I don’t believe it’s a passing fad. Drones are great for hobbyists, but they are also more than just toys. When it comes to drones, there are several compelling reasons to get on board. Here are some of the reasons why purchasing a drone may be worthwhile.
1. You are fascinated by gadgets and technology
If you ever enjoyed controlling RC cars, boats, or even planes, you’ll love the experience of controlling a remote-control aircraft. Flying a drone is a lot of fun! It’s a thrill for all kinds of tech nerds to see it whizz through the air following your commands and performing stunts and flips. For those interested in both the fun of flying and the technology side of things, a good starter drone that is also programmable is something like the Tello. It flies well, does tricks, and has enough space for those who like to tinker.
2. You have a strong desire for speed
For some, the appeal of drones is found in FPV racing. The thrill of zooming your quad around, narrowly missing obstacles, and trying to outpace the competition is undeniably addictive. If you enjoy this type of adrenaline rush, purchasing a racing drone could be a wise investment. However, before you spend your money, you can get a good idea of what FPV racing is all about by using a flight simulator. It can give you a feel for the controls and the experience without requiring you to purchase a drone first, and, more importantly, without the risk of crashing a brand-new drone. It’s not quite as thrilling as the real thing, but if you enjoy the simulator experience, it can help you decide whether FPV racing is the right hobby for you.
3. You are interested in photography or videography
A drone makes a lot of sense as an investment for photography or videography enthusiasts, whether as a hobby or as a profession. Most consumer drones worth their salt these days come with high-quality cameras, and the ability to capture aerial imagery is undoubtedly the most appealing feature of drones. However, in order to get the most out of a camera drone, you must be familiar with cameras. Even if you can take some decent photos with your drone as a beginner, there is still the issue of editing and post-production. To get the most out of your photos and videos, you must be familiar with the editing software. If you’re not into that sort of thing, you’re missing out on a lot of opportunities to make the most of your expensive camera drone.
4. You enjoy travelling
Another compelling reason to purchase a drone is for travel photography. The exotic and stunning places you visit can be fully appreciated by bringing home a unique set of photos and videos documenting your travels. You wouldn’t leave the house without your camera, and many tourists feel the same way about their drone. The caveat here is that travelling with your drone is a little more complicated than travelling with your camera, and some places won’t even let you bring one into the country, let alone fly one. Before you buy an expensive drone for a trip to Dubai or Mexico, research whether drones are permitted (spoiler alert: they are not permitted in either of those locations!).
5. You want to give your company a competitive advantage
There is no doubt that drones are much more than a hobby, and they are finding their way into a variety of industries. A drone can be a valuable asset to any business, limited only by your imagination. Drones have proven useful in a variety of industries, including real estate, inspections, agriculture, and surveying. If you work in one of these industries, a drone is well worth the investment and will quickly pay for itself.
Where To Buy a Drone
Check out our new Drones for Sale page if you’re looking for the best camera drones, toy drones, or even hobby-grade racing drones. Don’t worry if you don’t know where to buy a drone. There are numerous online drone stores that will ship to almost any major country. If you want to buy toy drones, Amazon is the best place to go.
If you want to buy a DJI drone, you should do so directly from DJI. This is why
When you purchase a DJI drone from Best Buy, Amazon, or another retailer, you are not guaranteed to receive the most recent version of that drone. Every few weeks, DJI makes minor changes to their drones. It is sometimes hardware and sometimes software. These changes usually improve safety and reliability, and if it’s a hardware change, the DJI Store is the first place to get the new hardware. You can also get DJI Care (DJI’s accidental damage protection program) at the checkout if you crash your drone on the first day (that learning period). DJI also provides free shipping. If you want to buy a camera drone that isn’t made by DJI, your best bet is probably going to be Amazon’s drone section. The best part about purchasing drones from Amazon is that they have an excellent return policy and offer free shipping to Prime members.
Hobby King is one of the largest (if not the largest) stores for hobby-grade drones
Hobby King is the radio control equivalent of Walmart. They sell tens of thousands of products. Some of their products are things they designed themselves, others they have permission to manufacture, and still others they sell like any other retailer. Some of the drone parts available at Hobby King are excellent, while others are subpar, so read the reviews of whatever part you’re considering. That way, you can see all of the issues that other people are having and determine whether or not the product is good. The classifieds section of RCGroups.com is another place to look for DIY parts and even complete drone setups. RCGroups’ classifieds section is similar to Craigslist for radio control items. You can find fantastic deals, but you can also be duped and taken advantage of. So be cautious about who you buy from on there. I’d say 95% of the people on there are safe to buy from; just avoid the other 5% and you will be fine.
Below you will find all of the main websites for buying drones.
dji.com: The most popular and well-known domain.
Amazon.com has a bit of everything.
getfpv.com sells high-quality FPV frames, components, and accessories.
HobbyKing.com is the Radio Control equivalent of Walmart.
HeliPal.com is a Hong Kong-based company that sells DJI, Walkera, and Tarot products.
Follow The Rules to Stay Out of Trouble
Don’t be the guy who makes the news for crashing into a plane or the White House! As a new drone pilot, you should educate yourself on your country’s airspace regulations and general rules of safe flying, but for now, if you want to avoid trouble, here are the best practices that will apply to most countries, including the United States.
Here are some things you should and should not do as a drone owner:
You must register your drone with the FAA
All airports should be at least 5 miles away
Fly no higher than 400 feet above the ground
Do not fly over people unless you have their permission
Do not fly over government buildings
Flying is not permitted in national parks
Flying over private property is not permitted
Never fly over a fire or a crime scene
Be courteous if you are approached by police
Not Every Drone Is Ready to Fly
When looking for drones to buy, you’ll notice a few common acronyms: RTF, BNF, and ARF. When it comes to camera drones, almost all of them are ready to fly. Most toy drones are also ready to fly, but racing drones usually necessitate some additional setup.
Drones are simple to fly, but they are also simple to crash
Many people believe that drones are difficult to fly, but this is not the case. Anyone who can operate an iPhone or an Android device can operate a drone. This is not to say that drones are without flaws. Even the most advanced DJI drones necessitate some general knowledge to avoid crashing or, worse, losing your drone forever. Don’t be concerned, though. As long as you understand these fundamental concepts, you should be fine.
Participate in a Drone Community
Drone forums can be very useful, but you must know what you’re trying to ask, where to ask it, and how to ask it. Otherwise, your questions will go unanswered. People may even look down on you simply because you asked a stupid question. If you’ve never participated in an online forum before, simply join one and observe how other people ask questions.
Here’s a list of the top drone forums out there
Drone Beginners Group: Anything drone related
RCGroups.com: Anything radio control related
DIYDrones.com: Geared more towards robotics
PhantomPilots.com: Anything Phantom related
Forum.FliteTest.com: Mostly foam airplanes with some drone stuff too
