Why Drone Camera Quality Matters 

We’ve all seen photos that are blurry, pixilated, or have poor light quality and one thing is for sure – these photos are rarely considered “good”. 

Low-quality photos can be the result of an inexperienced photographer or bad equipment. We take photos to be able to see relive the scene again in the future, as well as show others what we experienced. When the photo quality is low, other people will be turned away. 

Drones give photographers the ability to capture a scene from unimaginable angles that in some cases, allow them to relive the experience better than the original experience itself. 

The art of flight opens up a world of possibilities to capture scenes from alternative perspectives and because of this, it’s critical to have a high-quality drone camera that captures the best attributes of the scene. The last thing you want to do is to spend an abundance of time photographing a scene with a poor-quality drone camera, only to realize that after the fact. and then realize that after the fact. 

Drone Camera Quality – Top Factors 

While there are numerous factors that determine a drone camera’s image quality, we’ve boiled down the list to 10 top factors you should be aware of in order to select a drone with a high-quality camera. 

1. Camera Resolution: The higher the resolution, the better for image production. 
2. Frame Rate: Higher frame rates will result in smoother video.
3. Lens Quality: A high-quality lens will result in clearer, more detailed images.
4. Image Sensor: A larger image sensor will be able to capture more light and detail, which is better for low-light conditions.
5. Image Stabilization: This will help to reduce camera shake and produce smoother video.
6. Low Light Performance: Cameras that can perform better in low light conditions have low light performance settings. 
7. Dynamic Range: Being able to capture details in both highlights and shadows is referred to as the camera’s dynamic range. 
8. Raw Image Capture: The ability to capture raw images allows for more flexibility in post-processing.
9. Color Accuracy: the accuracy of which the camera captures colors in the scene being photographed. 
10. Aperture: The size of the aperture, or the opening in the lens that allows light to pass through. 

More information for each factor has been provided below so you can be certain to better understand drone camera quality. 

Drone Camera Resolution 

When you see photographs that look very detailed and hold a lot of clarity, that’s because the camera used to take those photographs had high-resolution capabilities. High resolution essentially means more pixels for the image, which results in a clearer and more detailed image. This is especially important for photographers who are capturing images for commercial purposes, as higher-resolution images are often required for printing or display on high-resolution screens.

For example, consider a real estate drone photographer who is capturing aerial photos of a property for sale. If the photos are captured at a low resolution, the images may appear pixelated or blurry when viewed on a high-resolution screen or printed at a large size. This will adversely affect how the property looks and could discourage potential buyers. On the other hand, if the photos are captured at a high resolution, they will be much clearer and more detailed, which can help showcase the property in its best light.

Drones can be equipped with cameras that have various resolutions and frame rates, and the quality of the images and videos captured by the drone’s camera will depend on these factors.

When choosing a drone, it’s important to consider the camera resolution and frame rate in order to get the best quality images and videos. 

Frame Rate

Frame rate refers to the number of images captured per second by a camera, with a higher frame rate resulting in smoother motion in the resulting video and a lower frame rate resulting in choppier motion. Frame rate is typically expressed in frames per second (fps).

Some examples of the most common frame rates are as follows: 

• 24 fps: Used for cinema to give video a film-like look.
• 30 fps: Commonly used for television broadcasts 
• 60 fps: Commonly used for sports footage. 
• 120 fps: Slow motion footage is typically captured in 120 fps or 240 fps. 
• 240 fps: This extremely high frame rate is used to capture very slow-motion footage and can produce ultra-smooth, detailed video.

Lens Quality

A good lens will result in much more clarity and sharpness of photos taken by the drone camera. A high-quality lens is able to accurately focus light onto the camera’s sensor, resulting in crisp, clear images with minimal distortion.

A low-quality lens, on the other hand, may produce images that are blurry or distorted, which can be especially noticeable in aerial photographs. In addition, a high-quality lens may be able to capture a wider range of tones and colors, resulting in more vibrant, lifelike images.

Overall, investing in a high-quality lens for your drone camera can help to ensure that you are able to capture the best possible images from the air.

Some common examples of lenses used by drone cameras are as follows:

• Wide-angle Lenses: These lenses have a wide field of view and are great for capturing landscape and architectural shots.
• Telephoto Lenses: These lenses have a narrow field of view and are great for capturing close-up shots of distant subjects, such as wildlife.
• Zoom Lenses: These lenses allow you to adjust the focal length, allowing you to switch between wide-angle and telephoto shots without having to change lenses.
• Prime Lenses: These lenses have a fixed focal length and are often used for more specialized applications, such as low-light photography or portrait photography.
• Fish-eye Lenses: These lenses have a very wide field of view and are often used to capture dramatic, distorted perspectives.

It is worth noting that not all of these types of lenses are suitable for use with drone cameras, as the weight and size of the lens may impact the stability and performance of the drone. Make sure you choose a lens that is compatible with your drone and that meets your specific photography needs.

Image Sensor

A larger image sensor can capture more light and detail, which is better for low-light conditions.

Image sensors capture and convert light into digital data that are processed by the camera. In a drone camera, the image sensor is responsible for capturing the light that enters the lens and creating an image based on that light. The size and quality of the image sensor can have a significant impact on the overall image quality of the camera.

A larger image sensor can capture more light, which can improve image quality in low-light conditions. A higher-quality image sensor can also capture more detail and produce more accurate colors. 

Some examples of common image sensor sizes include: 

• 1/2.3 inch: This is a relatively small image sensor size that is commonly used in consumer-grade drone cameras.
• 1 inch: This is a larger image sensor size that is commonly used in high-end drone cameras.
• Micro Four Thirds (MFT): This is a medium-sized image sensor that is commonly used in mid-range drone cameras.
• APS-C: This is a larger image sensor size that is commonly used in DSLR cameras and some high-end drone cameras.
• Full-frame: This is the largest image sensor size and is commonly used in professional-grade cameras.

Image Stabilization

Image stabilization is the technology that helps to reduce the impact of camera shake and other forms of movement on the quality of the images and video captured by a camera.

A drone camera with good image stabilization technology can produce smooth, stable footage even when the drone is in motion. Image stabilization helps alleviates any concerns about jittery and shaky footage, which is essential for professional-graded drone photography and videography. 

Low Light Performance

Low light performance refers to how well a camera is able to capture images and video in low-light conditions, such as at dusk or in shadowy areas.

Drones are often used to capture aerial footage at various times of day and in a wide range of lighting conditions, which makes low-light performance critical for professional imagery.

A camera with good low-light performance is able to capture clear, detailed images and video in lower light levels, while a camera with poor low-light performance may produce grainy, noisy images. Low light performance is often determined by the size of the image sensor, as well as the quality of the lens and the camera’s aperture. 

Dynamic Range

Dynamic range in photography refers to the range of tones that a camera is able to capture, from the darkest shadows to the brightest highlights.

The overall contrast and detail in an image is often determined by the drone camera’s dynamic range capabilities. Aerial shots often include a wide range of lighting conditions, from bright skies to darker shadows on the ground. Cameras with high dynamic range can capture a wider range of tones and details. This results in more realistic and lifelike images.

A camera with a low dynamic range may struggle to capture both the bright and dark areas of a scene, resulting in flat, poorly-defined images. 

Raw Image Capture

Raw image capture makes all the difference when editing drone photography. The ability to capture raw images allows for more flexibility in post-processing, editing, and marking up images.

RAW image capture essentially refers to the process of capturing unprocessed image data that can be edited to adjust exposure and other settings. It allows for greater flexibility in post-processing and can be especially useful in drone photography due to the wide range of lighting conditions encountered in aerial shots.

Color Accuracy

Color accuracy refers to how accurately a camera is able to capture the colors of the scene being photographed. Accurate colors can help to create more lifelike and realistic images.

Color accuracy can be especially important because aerial shots often include a wide range of colors and tones, from bright blue skies to green forests and brown deserts.

A camera with good color accuracy is able to accurately capture the full range of colors in a scene, resulting in more vibrant and detailed images. A camera with poor color accuracy may produce images with distorted or oversaturated colors, which can detract from the overall quality and realism of the image. 

Aperture

The size of the aperture, or the opening in the lens that allows light to pass through. 

Aperture in drone photography refers to the size of the lens opening that controls the amount of light entering the camera and the depth of field in the image. It is measured in f-stops and affects the exposure and focus of the image.

A wider aperture allows more light to enter the camera and can create a shallower depth of field, which can be useful for isolating the subject of the photograph and creating a sense of depth. A narrower aperture allows less light to enter the camera and can create a deeper depth of field, which can be useful for capturing landscape shots with a large depth of field.

Drones with the Best Cameras 

The following drones are a few of the top drones on the market for photography and videography: 

1. DJI Phantom 4 Pro: This drone has a 20 megapixel camera with a 1-inch CMOS sensor and can shoot 4K video at 60 frames per second. It also has a long battery life and is capable of flying up to 45 mph.
2. DJI Mavic 2 Pro: This drone has a Hasselblad camera with a 1-inch CMOS sensor and can shoot 4K video at 60 frames per second. It is also very portable, with a foldable design that makes it easy to carry.
3. DJI Inspire 2: This drone has a dual-camera setup and can shoot 5.2K video at 60 frames per second. It is also very fast, with a top speed of 58 mph, and has a long battery life.
4. Parrot Anafi: This drone has a 21-megapixel camera with a Sony IMX230 sensor and can shoot 4K video at 60 frames per second. It is also very portable, with a foldable design and a weight of just 0.7 lbs.
5. Yuneec Typhoon H Pro: This drone has a 12-megapixel camera with a 1-inch CMOS sensor and can shoot 4K video at 60 frames per second. It also has a long battery life and is capable of flying up to 43 mph.

Overall, DJI is a well-respected brand in the drone industry and many of its models are highly rated by photographers and videographers. However, there are also other options available from brands such as Parrot and Yuneec that are worth considering.

How to Make Money as A Drone Photographer

If you’re a drone photographer looking to earn an income with your photos and videos, here are 3 ways you can start monetizing your drone photography: 

1. Selling stock photos: Photographers can sell their drone photos on stock photo websites such as Pexels, Shutterstock, iStock, or Adobe Stock. These websites allow photographers to upload their photos and have several methods of helping photographers create more brand awareness and earnings. 
2. Real Estate Photography: Drone photography can be a great way to showcase real estate properties, particularly for properties with large outdoor spaces or unique architectural features. Photographers can work with real estate agents to take aerial photos of properties for sale.
3. Offering Aerial Photography Services: Photographers can offer their services to businesses or individuals in need of aerial photos for various purposes, such as construction projects, events, or advertising campaigns. They can also offer their services for video production, such as shooting video for music videos, commercials, or films.

Overall, drone photography can be a lucrative and rewarding field for photographers who are able to showcase their skills and find clients in need of aerial photography services.

Final Thoughts 

There’s a lot that goes into determining drone camera quality and it’s for the better to understand all the different factors that impact photo and video quality. The drone photography industry is becoming more competitive every day, and if you’re wanting to stay at the forefront of the industry, it’s critical to be aware of your drone’s image-capturing capabilities.

If you’re flying a drone that doesn’t meet the mark with some of these factors, it could be time to start considering what the next drone you will buy should be. Best of luck with your drone photography and we look forward to seeing more amazing footage!