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Click through to check out 18 of the best drones and accessories on the market. -
Walkera F210, $599
More sci-fi movie prop than drone, the F210 is a racing drone designed for speed and manoeuvrability. -
Walkera F210
Constructed with a carbon-fibre composite material, it’s durable as well as light, achieving speeds that would make a high-performance road vehicle proud.
http://www.hobbygo.com.au/quadcopters/278-f210-mode1.html -
DJI Inspire 1 Pro, $5299
The premium level of DJI products, the Inspire 1 Pro takes cinematography to a professional level, with a Zenmuse X5 4K camera and lens system designed specifically for Hollywood-calibre video capture. -
DJI Inspire 1 Pro
The Inspire 1 Pro is a premium drone for superior video.
http://www.dji.com/product/inspire-1-pro-and-raw -
Blade Chroma, $1999
A contender for best in show, the Chroma drone will see you in the air for a lengthy 30 minutes, shooting 4K video and 16-megapixel still photos like a true pro. -
Blade Chroma
Follow mode lets you put down the controls and show off for the camera.
http://www.modelflight.com.au/blade-chroma-drone-rtf-w-st-10-and-c-go3-4k-camera.html -
LowePro DroneGuard CS 400, $235
Protect your aerial investment with a functional backpack case from LowePro. -
LowePro DroneGuard CS 400
This soft case has space for most medium to large drones and accessories, disassembled and packed neatly to protect each component from physical damage and the elements.
http://store.lowepro.com/droneguard-cs-400 -
Kaiser Baas Delta Drone, $599
Compatible with both GoPro and Kaiser Baas action cams, the Delta drone is a formidable piece of quadcopter technology. -
Kaiser Baas Delta Drone
GPS functions enable automated flight and Return To Home capabilities, along with a hefty 17 minutes of flight time with each hot-swappable battery.
http://kaiserbaas.com/delta-drone -
Walkera Voyager 3 GoPro, $3200
Superior design and construction, superb optics and comprehensive controls make the Voyager 3 any budding filmmaker’s dream come true. -
Walkera Voyager 3 GoPro
Using a dual navigation system, this drone can fly automatically on pre-set instructions or simply hover and circle where needed.
https://www.hobbytech.com.au/products/rc-multi-rotors/kit-frame/walkera-voyager-3-drone-quadcopter-rtf -
Parrot Skycontroller, $799
When you want precision control of your Parrot drone, Skycontroller is the ultimate choice. Featuring two analog joysticks for RC handling and control, a tablet or smartphone caddy to enable live view of video and stills, and a Wi-Fi extender to improve range up to 2 kilometres, it’s the perfect addition to your Parrot kit.
http://www.parrot.com/au/products/skycontroller Photo: -
DJI Phantom 3 Professional, $2199
The Phantom 3 Professional is every bit its namesake. Video capture and live view is handled by a built-in 4K camera, which also shoots still photos at an impressive 12 megapixels. -
DJI Phantom 3 Professional
Its best-in-class range of up to five kilometres yields stunning aerial video and photography of hard-to-reach locations.
http://store.dji.com/product/phantom-3-professional -
Lehmann LA200, $2699
Makers of military grade drone systems, the Lehmann LA200 is GoPro compatible and can stay in the air for up to 45 minutes. An optional range extender increases your operating distance to five kilometres. For serious operators only.
http://www.lehmannaviation.com/l-a-series.html -
Xiro Xplorer Vision, $1498
A 14-megapixel HD camera and wide field of view makes aerial photography with the Xplorer a piece of cake. -
Xiro Xplorer Vision
Live view range extends up to 600 metres thanks to the transmitter’s Wi-Fi extender, with 25 minutes of flight time available on each battery charge.
http://www.harveynorman.com.au/xiro-xplorer-vision-drone-with-camera.html -
Parrot Bebop Drone, $799
The Parrot Bebop’s built-in 14-megapixel fisheye camera offers stunning aerial photography without needing expensive add-ons. -
Parrot Bebop Drone
A variety of cutting-edge sensors capture motion and sound data to ensure your flight is as stable and smooth as possible.
http://www.parrot.com/au/products/bebop-drone Photo: -
Flytrex Live 3G, $279
If worse comes to worst and your drone sails into the sunset, never to be seen again, this GPS locator will reunite you. -
Flytrex Live 3G
While not much to look at, once installed the Flytrex Live transmits GPS coordinates of your drone via any 3G mobile network, allowing you to pinpoint its location.
http://www.riseabove.com.au/products/flytrex-live-blackbox-for-multirotors.html -
Yuneec Typhoon Q500 4K, $2399
Looking a little more svelte and futuristic than its peers, the Typhoon Q500 shoots glorious HD video in 4K, as well as super-slow-motion video in 1080p HD at 120 frames-per-second. -
Yuneec Typhoon Q500 4K
Easy to fly straight from the box, it’s a great solution for those who want simplicity, premium features and long battery life.
http://www.modelflight.com.au/yuneec-typhoon-q500-4k-st-10-2x-batteries-alum-case.html -
Micro Drone 2, $210
The high-speed successor to the popular Micro Drone is perfect for short stints of aerial acrobatics. Small enough to throw into a backpack, charge it easily and swiftly via any USB port and you’re ready to hit the air in no time.
http://www.micro-drone.co.uk -
Fatshark Dominator V3, $549
These dedicated FPV goggles offer an experience that puts you right in the drone’s-eye-view. -
Fatshark Dominator V3
Strap on this wireless headset to enjoy immersive 720p widescreen video of your live feed and record straight to the built-in DVR.
http://www.fatshark.com/product/1719.html -
Xiro Xplorer Mini, price still to be announced
Small in size, but big on features, the Mini version in Xiro’s iconic Xplorer range will revolutionise the way you sightsee and holiday. -
Xiro Xplorer Mini
Weighing a mere 410 grams and measuring just 320 millimetres across, the Mini is small enough to take anywhere.
http://www.xirodrone.com/xplorermini -
3DR Solo, $1799
Snap your GoPro into the 3DR Solo’s gimbal and take advantage of the most advanced smart features on offer. -
3DR Solo
One-touch HD video recording, digital flight logging and smart automatic controls let you concentrate on getting the best shot possible.
http://www.harveynorman.com.au/3dr-solo-aerial-smart-drone.html -
Parrot AR.Drone 2.0 Elite Edition, $399
From one of the most well-know drone brands, the AR.Drone 2.0 Elite Edition is a reliable choice for your first drone. Pilot directly from your smartphone, with the option of automated or complete control of flight and camera operation. HD video can also be stored on board via USB drive.
http://ardrone2.parrot.com/#i-want-it
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Brace yourselves. Selfies, as the human race knows it, will soon be a thing of the past.
The Hover Camera is a zany new creation which automatically hovers in front of you when released by a user. Unlike conventional camera drones out there, all it takes is a push of the power button and the Hover Camera is off on its way, balancing perfectly in front of your face to take photos.
Once stabilised, the lightweight device can take on a host of functions like capturing 13-megapixel photos and 4K video. Even cooler is that the device has in-built auto-follow, which can track faces and bodies before rotating to capture the perfectly stabilised image or footage.
Introducing the self-flying Hover Camera
Using artificial intelligence and new robotic technologies, this flying camera out of China is one the first of its kind.
Operation is extremely easy through an iOS or Android app, with the only downfall being an eight-minute flight time. The team at Zero Zero Robotics who developed the drone will continue to work on this as battery technology improves.
For now, the Hover Camera is still a concept but those parties interested in building the next Skynet can join their beta program. That means they'll happily send you one if they approve of your cause – apocalypse-causing and gun-wielding are likely not among them.
This article first appeared on D'Marge.