Best Drone For Cinematic Footage

Finding the best drone for cinematic footage can be a real drag sometimes because you have to look for one that matches your preference as well as many other factors. However, with a really good drone you can capture sweeping views of places where you make wonderful memories and landscapes.

Out of all the drones we will be reviewing the best one of them has to be the DJI Mavic 3 Cine Premium Combo. This is a really durable drone model equipped with a number of features that allows you to capture cinematic footage the way you want to. It uses a 4K camera which can shoot in 01-bit HDR. Also, it comes on a 3-axis gimbal which is perfect for getting smooth and stable shots.

In our reviews of the best cinematic footage capturing drones we will be telling you about their technical details and explain them to you as well. The reviews of these drones are written only after we have tested them thoroughly so you know it will be genuine. Rather than linger any longer, let’s get down to evaluating these aerial vehicles.

Top 5 Best Drone For Cinematic Footage

First of all the 4K camera on this model has Advanced Obstacle Sensing built in. This enables you to fly anywhere in safety and confidence. Moreover, the 4/3 CMOS Hasselblad camera sensor has a 12.8-stop dynamic range, preserving more information in the highlights and shadows. 

As we have seen this feature allows the photographer to really make their image or video pop and give it life. You can stay in the air for longer and snap more photos with a maximum flight time of 46 minutes. The longer flight time helped us out when we took some long exposure shots and timelapse videos.

With a maximum transmission range of 15 kilometers, the DJI Mavic 3 drone allows you to fly further and capture more images and movies. And the O3 Plus Transmission system produces stable and lissome live broadcasts. 

The DJI Mavic 3 has a RTH system which allows the pilots to take some quick turns while still flying smoothly, safely and effectively. It’s simpler than ever to get the quadcopter drone to return to you while it’s in the air. 

While the obstacle sensing of the DJI Air 2S is limited to four basic directions it can still manuvoure quite well. We pushed this drone hard while testing it sensing capabilities and we can say that its capable. Even with high speeds and quick turns it performed rather well. While its obstacle sensing might be limited its image transfer technology is anything but limited. In fact, the Air 2S has the most most advanced image transfer technology available to DJI, the OcuSync 3.0.

Every time you fly, you get a steady, crisp, consistent image feed, thanks to this. The 10-bit Dlog-M color profile can capture up to a billion colors and preserve all the minute nuances that give footage its distinctive look.

Thanks to the combination of three unique features, FocusTrack’s Spotlight 2.0, ActiveTrack 4.0, and Point of Interest 3.0, we could track and follow most common targets with this drone quite easily. In our test we used a off-road biker, a dog chasing a toy, and even a car.

The level after QuickShots is MasterShots. Thanks to this sophisticated, clever feature, users can take the best photos in any situation with a single press. Thanks to its 1-inch image sensor and enormous 2.4-megapixel pixels, the DJI Air 2S can shoot 5.4K video at 30 frames per second and 4K video at 60 frames per second.

The rolling shutter distortion of the Phantom 4 Pro V2.0 is firstly eliminated by its 1-inch, 20MP CMOS sensor and 3-axis motorized gimbal. This ensures that your pictures and videos will come out looking great. Also, the standard controller has a smartphone holder that grips your phone securely.

However, remember to download the DJI GO 4 app because you will need to run the drone. Our tests should us this drone is not to be underestimated. It has a top speed of 72 kmh with a transmission range of 8 km with 1080p live streaming capability as well as auto frequency switching.

We aren’t done yet! On top of all that the Phantom 4 Pro V2.0 has multiple intelligent fligh modes if you are feeling lazy. The modes we tested and loved were the TapFly, ActiveTrack, Draw mode, Gesture mode and there were more.

In the end your complete package will include:

• A DJI Phantom 4 Pro V2.0
• A remote controller
• A battery
• A charger
• A power cable
• 4 propellers
• A gimbal clamp
• A 32GB microSD card
• A Micro USB cable
• and a carrying case

Let us just that is a lot of stuff!

Due to its little weight (under 249 g), the Mini 3 Pro rarely necessitates registration. It is also convenient for traveling because of its collapsible and small design. In fact we had one of our colleague actually try to fit it in their pocket on a dare. Shocking, he was able to!

This drone can record at 4K and 60 FPS while taking photos at 48 megapixles. Thanks to it high image recording and capturing capabilities you can effortlessly shot or record in all its natural glory. If you are thinking that night photography might be a bust with this small drone then think again.

Using its state of the art camera technology like the dual native ISO and an f/1.7 aperture night and day photography are simply the same. We found absolutely zero issues when we took this drone out during the night.

Finally, this drone has an excellent feature called the True Vertical Shooting. This new feature makes taking selfies and videos for the social media a complete breeze.

Our last choice for the best drone for cinematic footage is the Mavic Air 2 which has a really robust but portable camera. This camera has a 1/2” CMOS and can take images in 48MP meaning you will be able to capture many stunnign images. 

The DJI Mavic Air 2 can also record in 4K/60fps which will be distortion free since the camera in mounted on a 3-axis gimbal. A high-performance Quad Bayer image sensor is required for generating high-quality HDR videos.

Thanks to the OcuSync 2.0 you can livestream in 1080p Full HD within a transmission distance of about 10km. Since this drone has a fly time of 34 minutes you will be able to stay up in the air long enough to get some amazing timelapse just like we did.

The Mavic Air 2 is less complicated and safer for new pilots to fly because to its all-around obstacle sensing capabilities. With its simple shutter button arrangement, the Mavic Air 2 has made aerial photography easier.

Spotlight 2.0 allows you to do so while the camera remains fixed on a subject, allowing you greater freedom of movement. ActiveTrack 3.0 assists in keeping the focus on the subject. POI 3.0 is able to follow moving objects like people and autos.

What we looked for in the best drone for cinematic footage

Material used

Since you are flying a device, you must ensure it is made from durable and lightweight materials. So we looked at the material’s quality to ensure that the drone is made from something that can take a hit but still work.

Most videographers will have little experience flying a drone meaning the drone might get damaged quite often. The best drones for cinematic footage in the market use carbon fiber since its both durable and lightweight.

Camera quality

You need the best camera for the best drone footage; it’s that simple. After much research and testing, you believe that the best camera for cinematic footage capturing drone is one that has 12 megapixels and 4k video features.

Battery life

You won’t ever be able to get the right shot or video you want on your first take. And that’s true for cinematic footage on a drone. So on our list of the best cinematic footage drones, we only included drones with a minimum flight time of 30 mins. 

But even that might not be enough, so include extra drone batteries when packing your bag just in case.

Portability

Many of the drones on our best list are smaller than average, and that’s by design. If you are using drones for a hobby or personal reasons, you don’t want one that is heavy and cumbersome. Instead, you want one you can take anywhere without any issues.

Sensors

Even the most experienced drone pilot makes a mistake once or twice, which is why the recent models come with sensors. These sensors allow for more than obstacle avoidance. In fact, we have looked for ones that include features such as tracking and auto stabilizations or hovering.

Controller quality

When flying the best drones for cinematic footage, you also want the best controllers because that’s how you will pilot them. The better the controller, the better your video or image will be since you will have greater control over it.

Conclusion

As we mentioned initially, the best drone for cinematic footage is the DJI Mavic 3 Cine Premium Combo. However, all the other ones mentioned on our list have advantages in certain situations. For example, when you fly a drone, you can capture images and videos that are nearly impossible with a camera or your phone.

Therefore we hope you find one that captures your attention and helps you make amazing memories.