TOP 10 DRONES FOR NIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY IN 2021
Drones are a far cry from what they used to be just a few years ago. Until recently, camera drones were only widely used by professional photographers, but now due to the widened availability and affordable pricing, many amateurs are also diving into the world of drone photography.
The camera quality on drones has come a long way, allowing users to take more stunning, sharper, and high-quality images than possible before. Even consumer drones these days can take professional-level photos in the dark. Impressive right?.
Using drones to take photos is fun and easy, but choosing which one to buy can be quite difficult and confusing, with many options to choose from.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
WHAT ARE THE BEST DRONES FOR NIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY IN 2021?
To make the job a lot easier for you, we’ve done all the research and compiled a list of the best 10 drones for night photography. So let’s dive right into it!
1. DJI MAVIC 2 PRO
The DJI Mavic 2 Pro is one of the highest-rated drones available on amazon, with many positive reviews. Probably the best drone to buy in 2021 and for a good reason! The drone features a 20 megapixel Hasselblad camera and a big one-inch sensor perfect for low-light photography.
It was one of the first folding drones that came fitted with a top-quality 1-inch camera sensor, which made this drone an instant favorite for photographers who desire portability and performance.
The drone also features an Advanced Pilot Assistance System (APAS) that detects obstacles around the drone and helps it fly around them. Using the drone is much easier to fly and allows users to take photos and videos without having to worry about colliding into the nearest wall or tree.
Pros
- Large 1” 20-megapixel camera sensor
- Collision sensors in all directions
- Practical and foldable design
- Aperture is adjustable
Cons
- 60fps is restricted to 2.7k resolution
- 8Gb internal storage is quite small
- A bit expensive compared to other options available
Specs:
- Dimensions: 8.4×3.6×3.3 in. (Folded)
- Flight Time: 31min Max
- Speed: 44mph Max
- Camera: 1″ CMOS
- Video: 4K, 2.7K, FHD
- Weight: 31.99 oz
2. DJI MAVIC AIR 2
The DJI Mavic Air 2 is the little brother to the DJI Mavic Pro and one of the best drones for photography that doesn’t break the bank. It features a long-lasting battery and 48MP camera that can take crisp and sharp photos and videos at 4k. All this under $1000 makes it a perfect bang for your buck drone.
It also boasts a plethora of helpful features for photographers, such as collision sensors and smart flight modes such as ActiveTrack, which allows the drone to fixate and follow an object autonomously.
The large battery life ensures you won’t need to land as often as other drones, and the small dimensions of this foldable drone makes it easy to travel with.
Pros
- Long battery life
- Collision sensors to avoid obstacles
- Budget and beginner-friendly
- Portable and lightweight
Cons
- No collision sensor available on top
Specs:
- Dimensions: 7.4×3.8×3.3 in. (Folded)
- Weight: 20.1 oz
- Camera: 1/2″ CMOS, 48MP
- Video: 4K, 2.7K, FHD
- Speed: 42.5 mph Max
- Flight Time: 34 min Max
3. DJI PHANTOM 4 PRO
Many enthusiasts have considered the DJI Phantom 4 Pro as a drone with superior camera quality. And exactly why the best drones for photography. It features a large 1 inch, 20MP CMOS camera sensor, and its 24mm lens allows the aperture to be changed from f/2.8 to f/11.
The variable aperture allows the user to control the amount of light entering the lens and helps immensely during nighttime shots. The equipped camera also boasts a 94-degrees FOV, allowing wide-angle images to be taken.
In summary, the Phantom 4 Pro is one of the best camera drones in this price range, and the powerful camera is well suited for nighttime photography.
Pros
- Powerful 1-inch sensor
- Large operating range
- 24mm lens
- Collision sensors on front and back
Cons
- A bit expensive
- Not foldable and bulky
Specs:
- Dimensions: 350 x 350 x 191 mm
- Weight: 1368g
- Flight Time: 30 min Max
- Speed: 45 mph Max
- Range: 11 miles Max
- Camera: 1 inch, 20MP CMOS
- Video: 4k,2.7K, FHD
4. PARROT ANAFI
Parrot Anafi is on this list because it is really one of best drones with camera and it has decent performance and build quality. Rather than choosing to add to the price and weight by adopting collision sensors (a nice feature to have but not necessary), this drone takes the more back-to-basics route.
Parrot Anafi is a night photography drone, that was designed with two things in mind, a wallet-friendly price tag and portability. This doesn’t mean corners were cut with the build quality, though, and the carbon frame is strong and durable and even better in terms of quality than some more pricer drones.
The camera it comes equipped with is a 21 MP CMOS Sony sensor with strong enough performance to shine even in low-lit night shots. This may be one of the cheaper drones, but it still does a decent job and can be used for night photography.
Pros
- Extremely portable
- Budget-friendly
- Unique 180 Degree vertical tilt gimbal
- 4k with HDR
Cons
- No collision sensors
- A few features are in-app purchases
- Not stable in strong winds
Specs:
- Dimensions: 244×67×65mm (folded)
- Weight: 320g
- Camera: 21 Megapixels
- Video: 4K HDR at 30fps
- Battery time: 25min Max
- Range: 4km Max
- Speed: 55kph Max
5. DJI MAVIC 2 ZOOM
The DJI Mavic 2 Zoom was the first camera drone featuring an optical zoom lens and one of the few that still use it to date. This makes the drone occupy a special place for drone photographers who need to take long-distance shots and extra flexibility in focal lengths.
The equipped camera comes with a 2x optical (4x digital) zoom lens that helps you take photos from a distance without sacrificing quality.
There are also a variety of modes available on the Mavic 2 Zoom, including a SuperResolution mode that shoots and merges multiple photos to produce a super detailed image.
Pros
- 2x optical zoom lens
- Foldable and portable
- Collision sensors in all directions
- Stable in strong winds
Cons
- A bit expensive
- 60fps limited to 2.7k
- Video quality lower than in Pro model
Specs:
- Dimensions: 322 x 242 x 84mm
- Weight: 905g
- Battery timing: 31 min Max
- Speed: 44.7 mph Max
- Range: 4.9 miles Max
- Camera: 12 MP
- Video: 4k, FHD
- Lens: f/2.8 (24mm)
6. YUNEEC TYPHOON H PLUS
The Typhoon H Plus is a professional-level photography drone with an ultra-wide FOV. It also features something that isn’t seen, a landing gear that can be retracted mid-flight. This means that the camera can record a free 360-degree view without the landing gear sticking out like a sore thumb!
The biggest selling point of the Typhoon H Plus has to be its more than capable camera. It allows videos to record at 60fps even in 4k and can also record slow-motion 1920x1080p footage at 120fps. The ultra-wide-angle lens also boasts a 91-degree FOV to ensure everything is always in frame.
The powerful camera allows this drone to be a monster at capturing photos and videos at night, but the size and weight of the drone make it clear that this drone is not for first-time flyers.
Pros
- 360-degree rotating camera
- Retractable landing gear
- Sonar object detection
- 4k video capture at 60fps
Cons
- Expensive
- Not for beginners
- Large and bulky body
Specs:
- Dimensions: 19.6 x 16.3 x 13.1 inches
- Weight: 1995g
- Battery life: 28 min
- Speed: 30 mph Max
- Range: 1mile Max
- Camera: 20 MP
- Video: 4k at 60fps
7. DJI INSPIRE 2
The launch of DJI INSPIRE 1 was an instant hit, so now the company has released a new and improved version of the DJI INSPIRE 2. This photography drone is worth checking out due to its excellent camera quality and great battery life.
What sets this apart from other drones is that this drone has basically two of everything, it has two batteries, two cameras, two IMU(Inertial Motion Unit) sensors, multiple processors, and two barometers. This means that this drone has all the features professional drone photographers will ever need.
The benefit of having two batteries is that it gives you more time to fly and create amazing content, but it can also power more processors and sensors, making this an overall smarter drone.
The INSPIRE 2 has built-in other intelligent flying modes that allow you to focus less on actually flying the drone and more on getting great footage. It also features a new obstacle avoidance system that can detect objects up to 30 meters. It can also have a phenomenal speed of about 58 mph, which other drones can’t keep up with.
Pros
- Good battery life
- 360-degree rotating camera
- Retractable landing gear
- Fast max speed
- Changeable lenses
- More than capable camera
Cons
- SSID cards required
- Interchangeable lenses are very expensive to buy
- Special paid software needed to utilize the drones true potential
- Not beginner-friendly and very expensive
Specs:
- Dimensions: 18 x 12 x 21 inches
- Weight: 344g
- Battery life: 27 min
- Speed: 58 mph Max
- Range: 4.3 miles Max
- Camera: 20 MP
- Video: 4K/5.2K at 30fps
8. POWERVISION PowerEYE
PowerEYE is the best drone to buy in 2021 due to outstanding features it provides. The power eye drone made by Powervision features three front-facing cameras and a camera at the drone’s bottom. The camera mounted on the gimbal can spin in any direction, which keeps you aware of where the drone is flying while also capturing the shot you want. A thermal version of the power eye is also available. It comes with a thermal camera that can be used to detect fires.
What makes it different from most drones is the dual view, which allows first-person view (FPV) using split-screen with the power eye app and subject matter view (SMV), which is for the main camera that rests on top of the 3 axis gimbal. The SMV camera is equipped with a 4/3″ CMOS sensor to produce still images at 4,640 x 3,480 pixels.
It has obstacle detection capabilities that can warn you if you are within 10 meters of an object. The power eye can shoot a video in 4K at 24fps and UHD at 30fps. The distance the drone can be controlled is up to 3.1 miles.
Pros
- Long flight time
- Changeable lenses
- Thermal camera
- 4K camera
Cons
- High price
- An old model drone
Specs:
- Dimensions:16.5 x 11.5 x 17 inches
- Weight: 3950g
- Battery life: 29.5 min
- Speed: 43 mph Max
- Range: 3.1 miles Max
- Camera: 16 MP
- Video: 4K at 24fps
9. GOPRO KARMA
The GOPRO KARMA, although not widely popular, has some significant features. It features a folding design and landing gear tucked inside the body of the drone. The drone has the ability to change cameras for different light settings. For example, the GoPro Hero Black 7 is a good fit for nighttime shootings.
The karma drone’s camera is mounted on its nose, which is a novel design that allows for a better upward view. Another unique feature it has is that the camera and stabilizing gimbal are detachable. It can be detached by simply a quick twist and it can be attached to the karma grip for stabilized handheld video. The standard GoPro hero 5 camera can also be removed.
The karma has wind resistance of 22 MPH, which is perfect if you’re ever shooting in a very windy location (such as on top of a mountain). It has a lot of resistance, but the image stabilization is amazing on the karma drone.
Pros
- Easy to use
- portable
- 4K quality images
- Handheld grip for gimbal available
Cons
- Short battery life
- Short flight time
- No collision detector
- Not ideal for aerial photography
Specs:
- Dimensions: 89 x 17.32 x 5.91 inches
- Weight: 907 g
- Battery life: 15 min
- Speed: 35 Mph Max
- Range: 1.8 miles Max
- Camera: 12 MP
- Video: 4K at 30fps
10. HOLY STONE HS700D
The Holy Stone HS700D drone is very beginner-friendly. Not only is it easy to fly, but it also doesn’t put a hole in your bank account. It is portable and lightweight, making it ideal for travel.
The feature that really stands out is the impressive 1080p FHD camera. The camera is capable of capturing high-quality photos and videos. Another great quality the camera has is the lens, which comes with a 110-degree panoramic view. The first-person view (FPV) feature lets the pilot see what the drone sees with absolute clarity.
The HS700D has a 2800mAh battery that allows 20 minutes of flight time. Even though that duration doesn’t seem impressive compared to other drones, it’s definitely a steal for the price range. The quadcopter has a low-battery feature that alerts you to land your drone before it runs out of battery, and the led lights ensure visibility in low-light scenarios.
Pros
- Affordable
- Easy-to-use controller
- Durable
- GPS assisted
Cons
- No protection guards
- The battery takes a very long time to charge
- Short flight duration
Specs:
- Dimensions: 2 x 15.2 x 6.1 inches
- Weight: 370 g
- Battery life: 20 min
- Speed: 15.5 mph Max
- Range: 300 meters Max
- Camera: 12 MP
- Video: 1080p FHD
CONCLUSION
The possibilities of creating new and improved drones are endless. The innovative designs and specs allow pilots to get access to a different world of drones and photography.
Many different kinds of drones are now available in the market, catering to the specific needs of consumers. Above, we have listed the top 10 drones for night photography, ranging from cheaper to expensive ones.
So, whether you want to fly a drone for personal use or you want to fly a drone for commercial use, one thing you need to keep in mind is that you might need a license to fly a drone, and you might also need to register your drone. It all has to do with the type of drone you want to fly.
Find out more about all kind of drones in here: “What are the Different Types of Drones?”
If you want to know how to make a profit flying a drone, read this “How to Make Money Flying a Drone?”
If you are not sure whether you need a drone license and whether you need to register your drone, check it out here “Do you need to register your drone? Do you need a license to fly it?”
If you are interested in becoming a professional drone pilot, then find out “How to become a drone pilot?”
You don’t always have to spend a hefty amount of money to get a good and reliable drone. Our list above gives detailed information about the newest drones available in the market and has hopefully helped decide which one is best for you!
Check out these useful links for the best drone deals and for drone parts and accessories you might find something you like.
