Best Drones for GoPro 2024

History of GoPro Drones

The GoPro series revolutionized the action photography sector, providing a resilient, small, and HD camera that is simple to mount to virtually anything. Drone fanatics immediately realized the advantages of these excellent small cameras and started attaching them through various systems to their drones.

Not soon after, drone manufacturers noticed the demand, and then quickly started creating drones with both GoPro cameras and GoPro mounts themselves fitted. The combo of a high-end drone pre-loaded with a GOPRO camera can create some impressive aerial photography.

How Do Drones Work?

Drones are technically known as Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) or Remotely Piloted Aerial Systems (RPAS). The drone is similar to that of a helicopter but the primary difference is the necessity of a helicopter to have a manned pilot.

A drone is unmanned, meaning there is no actual pilot in a drone. It is controlled by a pilot from the ground to fly around areas that can’t be reached easily by manned aircrafts.

Drones are used mostly for two things: first, for surveillance purposes as it can capture and transmit live images of what is happening on the ground; and second, for reconnaissance since it can be armed with small equipment or bombs and missiles.

It can stay in the sky hovering or flying over the target area for a prolonged period of time, which is why it is a great backup support to military troops when they are unable to manually fly over a hostile area.

A good point to know about a drone is it can also be used by citizens — not just by the military. In most sporting events that has a wide area for playing, like in football or soccer, cameras can be attached to a drone, thereby giving aerial views of the playing field and surrounding stadium during the game.

Of course, when additional weight is added to the drone, it can lessen its aerial capability; hence, having a good number of motors will help the elevation that the UAV can achieve.

Unlike helicopters that have one or two propellers, drones use several propellers, which is good especially if one malfunctions; the other propellers can still work in place. A drone uses removable batteries that make rotors and propellers work.

The battery can last at least 12 minutes in the air but some manufacturers offer extra batteries so its power extends to 25 minutes.

How Drones Fly

Although drones are unmanned, a pilot on the ground uses a wireless controller or remote control device to launch the drone from the ground up in the air, to navigate it while flying, and to land it safely. The remote control can be in the form of a gamepad, a smartphone, or something tablet-shaped.

The drones are normally operated through a radio wave that has a frequency of 2.4 GHz (the frequency on wireless mice and keyboards) , but can also be controlled via a WiFi connection that still relays the same 2.4 GHz spectrum.

Just like in smartphones, drones are implanted with a Global Positioning System (GPS) chip to dispatch its location to the controller and to keep a record of its activities from where it took off, in case it landed without the controller’s assistance.

While in the air, the GPS implanted in the drone will guide the drone in maintaining its axes even when countering strong winds.

The UAV also uses gyroscopes which help in maintaining its balance. It also has onboard sensors that keep it in the air; a device called altimeter indicates the height of the drone from the ground level or sea level at the present time.

Landing of Drones

Just like helicopters, drones are designed to land slowly, but because of its propellers and rotors, landing a drone can be quite tricky. The rotors form a vacuum that pulls down the UAV at a greater force than needed.

If the land it is hovering at has no GPS access, the drone can create a map of the land with its onboard ultrasonic sensors and determine a safe area to land on — even on its own.

Future of Go Pro Drones

The fact is, you will find more than some drones that may hold a GoPro camera, yet most companies have decided to make their cameras nowadays. Top makers such as DJI possess camera technology that surpasses that of the presently available GoPro versions, for a cost of course.

Toy class and lower end drone producers are including much lighter and smaller, if much less capable cameras, to save cash and still provide a controlled camera choice. GoPro produces an excellent camera, but it is simply not the best gadget for flight. Should you disagree, it is a great thing it takes some simple tools to connect your GoPro camera to your quadcopter.

14 Tips On How To Choose The Best Drone For GoPro

When researching for drone types with the GoPro, you will find many factors you should consider. It will support you very much when you are yet not confident what product to buy. Therefore, let us check out all these things separately.

Design

You should agree the well-designed products would draw in your interest without understanding their flying functions. Unlike the models in a few other categories, the majority of those drone types have a beautiful appearance. Moreover, it is a subject of taste.

Size and Weight

The weight and size are the next two essential criteria to consider. Regarding the size, many of today’s types of drones which support GoPros are around 5-10 inches tall and about 15-25 inches in diameter. On the flip side, the weight also is pretty low, as these drones GoPro weigh from 3-10 pounds.

This one relies a lot on what you ought to use your drone for sale. In fact, most drones have folding abilities or can include parts taken off to make these smaller.

For experts who might film using drones in quick to reach places, size is not nearly so crucial. You might want to consider the smallest quadcopter if you are hoping to ski, bike, or hike into remote spaces with your tiny aerial acrobats to record shots.

Ease of Setting Up

The majority of the models reviewed above are simple to assemble. Then again, a few of them which are modifiable might prove slightly demanding to some. The creators of the machines intended to make them quick to set up. So, all the drones above should be convenient to control.

Gimbal

Also, when getting such a GoPro camera drone, be aware of the gimbal to the camera – whether it is provided or not. Due to the gimbal, the camera is set, so the shakes and vibrations cannot destroy your footage. It has several benefits over the usual stabilizers to the camera.

Camera

It is a unique miniature camera which can be attached to a quadrotor and it enables users to record video while operating their drones. You will find a range of different GoPro devices out there, but should you be searching for a top-quality product, you have to get one that got the best functions and works with your GoPro drone mount.

The GoPro quads are best for commercial applications. It is the reason the quality of the image is significant to the choice when you are shopping. If cameras not welded, it offers you an opportunity to opt for the top cam to your drone.

Payload

Probably the main problems you will run into when looking to attach a GoPro in your drone quadcopter is the load supported. You see, most drones are not built for holding cameras. Their engines are not strong enough for carrying them. That is why nowadays we have a max takeoff weight mentioned on virtually every drone. Ensure that your selection is one such drones with GoPro.

Flight Time and Range

The flight range & flight time are also two crucial things you should consider. The flying time will depend on the batteries capacity, and it varies from 10-30 minutes generally. As far as flight range, this varies from 150-300m. The longer flight time and the greater control distance are two excellent advantages.

The sad fact is any drone merely consume more battery compared to any GoPro. With that in mind, you should always choose drones having a longer flying time. Some models can increase its flight time when you add extra batteries.

First Person View

FPV capabilities enable the drone user to see all the things that are getting captured via the GoPro in real-time straight on a controller display or smartphone. Some drones might have this facility while others might need you to buy additional hardware components.

GoPro Compatibility

So, what will it mean if a drone fully GoPro compatible? It says you could assure that it needs less complicated tinkering and setup.

Most drones only are compatible with Hero 4, Hero 5, and a few other select models. However, the ones you will never have luck are the mini drone because they just will not carry a payload of the GoPro.

Should you opt for a non-compatible quadcopter and re-fit it to go along with the GoPro? The answer is NO. Instead, you would go so much further in advance to just discover a model developed to carry the GoPro payload.

Control Modes

You should consider the mode of control, and is a drone controlled easily. The current advanced models get controlled with the smartphones rather than the regular remote controllers, and most models include GPS flight mode. Your drone should have upgraded remote controls and easy control layout.

Flight Capabilities

Also, the flight abilities must stay the best. Due to the fact, your drones meant for high-quality photos and footage. The diverse flight modes (with roll-off, 3D flips, etc.) and excellent flight stability also are essential things you should consider.

Accompanying Parts

Never hurry to place an order before agreeing with the accompanying components of any above drones. The majority of the drone companies sell the UAVs in parts. It may turn complicated if you order without confirming.

Price

Of course, you have to consider the prices too. These fantastic devices might sound costly for some. But, it is not feasible to create pro-quality videos and photos from the sky with cheap quadcopters. Is that correct?

Here you should check two cost types. First, you would look at the drone’s buying cost and lastly their maintenance cost.

Buy a drone at the high-end of the current price if you intend to get many years of usage out of this for a professional job. If you are buying drones just for entertainment or for a recreational hobby, consider inexpensive models.

The rule is finding yourself a good drone that can carry GoPro within your budget and one which grants you the flight experience expected.

Laws

Remember use of such drones follows varying state regulations since most of the drones compatible with gopro have extremely high-performance features and may be used to illegal activities, for example, spying. Being a newer drone pilot, make sure you familiarize yourself with standard rules of airspace regulations and safe flying in your area.

It is not a simple decision, yet you must understand what you want. Therefore, think about all the above factors to get the best drone for Go Pro on the market.

Pros and Cons of GoPro Drones

Below are some benefits and drawbacks involving these Go Pro drones.

PROS

• Most of the best drones for GoPro have a battery life of between 20-60 minutes once fully charged.
• They have excellent flight capabilities, with ultra-stable flight and different flight modes.
• Some models will do flips and rolls. These stunts can create a few excellent special effects.
• Both amateur videographers and professionals use the best GoPro drones, and you do not even need to spend that much.
• Most models contain safety features which prevent crashes, and a built-in GPS.
• Some models provide streaming through WiFi to iOS and Android devices. Hence, you get the first-person view while hovering your drone.
• When you get equipped along with a UAV and make use of it with a Go Pro, you can take high-quality action shots from the skies.

CONS

• For some versions, you will have to update the gimbal and the drone for the GoPro following installation.
• Some models have an integrated GoPro camera, yet most of them do not.
• The charging period is pretty high, so you will have to invest extra time to charge batteries after each flight.
• Besides the drone’s cost itself, you also will have an expense for the camera gear and GoPro alike.

GoPro Cameras vs Built in Cameras

We have made a quick comparison between these two if you are still not sure you should order a quad which can accommodate the GoPro camera or drone with a regular camera.

• You can use GoPro cameras in the extreme sports, like the rafting, racing, paragliding, snow skiing, mountain biking, and surfing. It is where the filming from other cams is tough.
• Quads which equipped already with cameras have inferior angles that grab the landing gear or the propellers in the video or do not support any update camera wise. Drone with an innovative GoPro feature unmatched when you are taking photos as many of them hold advanced cameras.
• With GoPro drones, you may shoot from the sky and then change the camera to your helmet mount effortlessly. Not various other cameras will offer that customization level.
• The standard cameras, such as, are nothing yet installed to supply you with a surrounding realization, no live-feed, no slow-motion, and no HD. That is why you may use the GoPro to capture amazing shots, and you spend nothing more on that.
• With in-built cameras, you cannot take your cam out and record hand video or mount it to some other mounts which are possible in a GoPro drone.
• The quads which only include the mounting bracket may have issues with specific GoPro cameras. On the other hand, drones with an integrated camera can hardly have compatibility problems because they feature stock cameras.
• Drones with the camera are quick to set up because they come welded already while drones for Go Pro will need you to fix the camera.

Pros and Cons of GoPro Cameras

GoPro camera is the best action cameras line introduced to date. It is the perfect way to take crystal-clear videos and photos when with a drone. GoPro is the ideal inclusion to a compatible quadcopter as they are often better compared to an integrated camera.

In the below section, you will see the advantages and disadvantages of a GoPro camera.

PROS

• GoPro is a well-known brand. Their items are tried and tested.
• It can be used on extreme action sports, like racing, mountain biking, rafting, surfing, paragliding, and snow skiing.
• GoPro is relatively small in stature; their weight is ranged but relatively low, as well.
• Also, these cameras are designed for durability.
• They are created to be attached, and in tow to devices like drones.
• GoPros have a shock resistant and protective waterproof casing.
• There are numerous GoPro lines and price ranges out there to every budget.

CONS

• Most of these perform pretty much the same work at ever increasing prices and specifications.
• What functions you get rely upon the camera you get and not every camera offer every feature.

Tips and Tricks on GoPro Drones

In this section, we are going to present you with essential tips for starting with the best Go Pro drone.

1. When it is windy, retaining a steady position in the sky can be incredibly difficult. It applies much for smaller GoPro drone camera, but it may still affect bigger drones. If possible, try and fly when there is minimal wind present.
2. If you are getting a drone just for fun or for a recreational hobby, consider cheap drones. You probably will soon outgrow the drone’s performance, but you will have a couple of years to decide when you think of upgrading or remain like a hobbyist.
3. For optimal aerial photography with GoPro drone, ensure your camera is placed on a narrow Field of View. The reason is simple: you will preserve object clarity while shooting far away.
4. Get a drone in the higher-end of today’s cost bracket if you intend to get many years of usage from it to professional work. High-end tech will yet be efficient in many years. Low-end tech might be already outdated.
5. Consider getting a gimbal to your drone. Gimbals should assist with stabilization problems when in the sky, ultimately resulting in better shots. Though they could be pricey, buying a quality gimbal will take your aerial photography abilities to a different level.

Frequently Asked Questions on Drones for GoPro

What is a GoPro Camera?

A GoPro is a sort of HD action cam which we use in making videos for aerial photography and extreme action sports. One key thing of a GoPro camera line is they got built to hold, and attached to devices including drones. Also, they are popular because of their being waterproof. These are easy to insert on the gimbal brackets on dedicated UAVs. Their offerings like the HERO7 Black are signs of why they stand out.

Why a GoPro Camera?

GoPro was up against the mission of stepping up their play after the call was taken to discard the drone plan and opt for action cameras again. The GoPro Fusion and the GoPro HERO7 Black are signs of the reason why they stick out and in which their top work is.

Which is the Latest GoPro Camera?

The latest action camera by GoPro is the Fusion. Nevertheless, if you are looking for among the newest products with plenty of features, you will want to settle with the HERO7 Black.

What is a GoPro Drone?

A GoPro drone is a UAV that is remotely operated and offers the ability to attach GoPro cameras with a gimbal or fixed mounting bracket to the bottom of its base. The adjustable gimbal on the GoPro compatible drones enables you to take spectacular video footage and aerial photographs.

How Do I Find if a Quad is GoPro Compatible?

Not shockingly, not all drone is compatible with GoPro, so it is critical to find out how to say which ones. Many online product descriptions place GoPro in the product title. If you cannot find it here, look at the actual information. If possible, inspect the product to details on compatibility for being sure it will do the job for you.

Can I Put a GoPro on a Drone?

You can, but the best course of action is to select a drone which works with GoPro tech. When a drone comes with additional mounts, you could be sure it will need less complicated tinkering and setup. The GoPro series can fit with almost any drone which is built with 3-axis gimbal.

Does Every GoPro Edition Fit on a Quadcopter?

Some drones like the GoPro’s Karma model are specifically created to hold the GoPro properly, but others aren’t. If you pick a drone which is already gopro-compatible, then you will have the peace of mind that installing it and taking aerial video will not be an extra difficulty.

Will I Have In-Flight Access for My GoPro?

The reply is yes; however, not every drone with Go Pro has this ability. Check to find if the model you are looking at facilitates in-flight access. The product information may also give you this information.

Did GoPro Stop Making Drones?

It was not too far back that GoPro company had started to concentrate on their drones line, the Karma, though we have seen them cut back that plan. They have decided to try and expand their action cameras series instead.

Who Should Get a GoPro Quad?

Here are ideas of people that will soon have to consider a drone with GoPro camera in their activities. If you got previous experience in controlling drones and you like the fun they create. In case you love capturing images, or your profession demands lots of pictures. The capability to be remotely controlled through GPS helps make them a perfect companion to study broad areas.

How Much Will These Drones Cost?

You will find a broad range of prices to GoPro drones. A few of the cost-effective options start in the $80 range to $1000. Even the economically priced models have great features that will please any consumer. These costs do not cover the camera because the retailers think the user already got one.

Is a GoPro Reliable Enough for Use with Drones?

When it comes to reliability, drones with GoPro mount are much more than reasonable. Once you got everything correctly set up, you do not have to bother about something going wrong. Provided that you properly use your quad, you will be alright.

Why is a GoPro on Your Quadcopter a Good Option?

GoPro brand has a prominent status in the sports cameras world. Do not mistake us, without gimbal you still will get okay footage resolution, but you also will experience lots of shakiness. Therefore, is a GoPro excellent option for a quadcopter? It most certainly is. However, ensure to incorporate it using a three-axis gimbal.

NOTE: There you go, our top picks for the best GoPro drones. You indeed cannot fail with all of these quadcopters. They all are very high-quality and offer stable GoPro support.

Conclusion- Drone GoPro

We know it was plenty to read throughout, but we are happy you stuck along with My Dear Drone till the conclusion!

We will call our listing quits at that people. Probably the best stuff about GoPro being a brand is that these are proven where the action cameras world is concerned.

So, when choosing such a valuable item, you should consider the above-described buyer guide and find out what are the key pros and cons of a specific model you wish to buy.

We will try and keep this article as up-to-date as possible. When/if latest GoPro drones enter the market, we will be likely to add these to this review (if they are good).

We aim to become your #1 source for drones reviews and best site for GoPro quadcopter reviews. Also, suppose you know of other quads which made your moment with the GoPro, please go ahead and let us hear in the below comments.

That is all my dear readers! We wish you found this best drones for GoPro buying guide useful.

Take a look at our thorough list of the best drones for beginners!