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A surveillance drone, also known as an Unmanned Aircraft System/Vehicle or a UAV drone, appeals to people for varying reasons. Not only are drones tools for long-distance observation, they are completely operational without the need for a human to be onboard the aircraft.
Because of the 2012 Federal Aviation Administration’s Modernization and Reform Act, civilians may now purchase and use drones for their own purposes. In addition to legally registering your drone in the U.S. with the FAA, you must be careful not to invade the privacy of others as this could bring about legal consequences.
There are tons of perks that come along with owning a surveillance drone. You can observe your surroundings like never before through aerial photos and videos from your drone’s camera, and you can even improve your skills for a career in filmmaking. Whatever your case for owning a drone may be, here are seven great surveillance drones for sale as well as what to look for before buying a drone.
Important Surveillance Drone Features
There are some essential things you need to know when browsing surveillance drones for sale. The camera, flight time, flight range, stability, and overall complexity are all essential components you need to think about. Most surveillance drones are designed in a quadcopter style. This design gives the surveillance drone increased stability as well as the ability to carry heavier loads.
You can use your surveillance drone for a variety of purposes. These purposes include personal practices, photography, wildlife observation, emergency search procedures, and even hunting. The camera ends up being one of the most important features of a surveillance drone for these purposes. Even the film industry is beginning to use surveillance drones with high-end cameras to produce stunning photos and videos that were once impractical things to obtain.
A gas-powered drone is more difficult to find compared to a common battery powered surveillance drone. Gas-powered drones are usually sold in parts, leaving it to the consumer to build the drone themselves. These drones tend to be much bigger and heavier than their fellow battery powered drones. They might offer less maneuverability and slower flight speeds due to their weight.
Now that you know a little bit about how surveillance drones are designed and used, let’s get into these great options of surveillance drones for sale.
DJI Mavic Pro
This drone is one of the most portable drones ever invented. Its folding arms allow it to fold down as small as a water bottle, making it super compact. This drone has a fantastic range, with up to 27 minutes of flight time.
Features:
- 4K video quality with 60 frames per second (FPS)
- 20-megapixel stills
- 1080p Live Video
- 4.3 miles of flight range
- 27 minutes maximum flight time
- Flight speed up to 40 mph
- Technology, including obstacle avoidance, vision/GPS positioning, Active Track, and Tap Fly
DJI Phantom 4 Pro
This surveillance drone is one of the best options for hobbyists and beginners alike. Smart drone technology like the Beginner Mode make it an attractive option if you’re looking for something easy to use.
Features:
- 4K video quality with 60 FPS
- 20-megapixel stills
- 1080p Live Video
- 4.3 miles of flight range
- Up to 30 minutes of flight time
- Flight speed up to 45 mph
- Technology including four-direction obstacle avoidance, Visual Tracking/Vision Positioning System, beginner mode, sport mode, and gesture mode
This option is for you if you are passionate about cinematography. While this drone has been updated through newer models, it is still an attractive choice to purchase because of its easy-to-use design which requires no prior drone flight experience.
Features:
- 2K video quality with 30 FPS
- 12-megapixel stills
- 720p Live Video
- 3.2 miles of flight range
- 23 minutes of flight time
- Flight speed of 35 mph
- Follow Me mode that enables the drone to follow the pilot at a specified height and distance
- Course Lock mode that allows the pilot to lock in the drone’s course according to its current path
- Technology including a DJI Pilot app that controls flight settings, ultrasonic sensors, and Lightbridge digital technology
Parrot Bebop 2
This surveillance drone is light in weight at just over one pound. It has a fisheye camera, meaning it can capture HD images in RAW, JPEG, and DNG formats.
Features:
- 1080p video quality with 60 FPS
- 14-megapixel stills
- 720p Live Video
- 1.2 miles of flight range
- 25 minutes of flight time
- Flight speed of 30 mph
- Normal mode designed for beginners
- Joypad mode allows pilot to lock in current flight speed
- Expert mode designed for experienced drone pilots
- Technology including a video stabilization system, GPS system, and an automatic Return Home function
This drone is suited for those who wish to shoot professional photos and videos. It has a 360-degree panning gimbal that allows the camera to be independently controlled.
Features:
- 4K video quality
- 12-megapixel stills
- 720p Live Video
- 1.2 miles of flight range
- 25 minutes of flight time
- Technology including Lightbridge digital technology, Vision Positioning System, thrust-boosted motors, and retractable carbon fiber arms
3DR Solo Drone
This drone will satisfy all of your surveillance needs. It has a removable camera, which allows you to choose the GoPro Hero camera that meets your specific needs.
Features:
- Wireless HD streaming from your GoPro camera directly to your mobile device
- 0.5 mile of flight range
- 25 minutes of flight time
- Flight speed up to 33 mph
- Easy-to-use design, including a video game-style controller
- Single push-button commands
- HDMI port for display connectivity
- Fully-functional app for both iOS and Android
DJI Spreading Wings S1000
This surveillance drone is fully collapsible, with retractable landing gear and a low gimbal mounting with dampening. You can make this drone as high-grade as you’d like, with several components of the drone being customizable.
Features:
- Changeable camera
- Changeable controller
- Variable battery options
- Can hold up to 24 pounds of take-off weight
- 15 minutes of flight time with a 1500mAh battery
- Compatible with A2 and WooKong-M flight controller systems
