We’re a high school rugby team looking to get better footage than just filming from the sideline. Any suggestions? Thanks!
Depends on how long your practices are. Most budget drones can fly for 30-40 minutes max, and even less if they’re hovering or fighting the wind. No matter what you get, you’ll need extra batteries.
For budget options, the Mini 4K is the cheapest decent one. Then you’ve got the Mini 3, the Flip, the Mini 4 Pro, and the Air 3.
@Kiran
You don’t actually need that many batteries. If you have 2 chargers and 4 batteries, you can keep a Mini 4 Pro flying pretty much all practice (though you’ll have to swap batteries).
If you need completely non-stop flight, you’d need at least 2 drones.
What kind of shots are you trying to get? Do you just need a stationary view, or do you want something that follows the action? How long do you need each clip to be? And how high-quality are you looking for? Give us some details!
Without more info on what you need, pretty much any DJI drone will do the job for filming rugby practice.
Honestly, a drone might not be the best choice. You’d probably get better footage with a 20-foot tripod and a good video camera. Some budget-friendly setups even come with tracking features.
The Mini 4 Pro is a beast for its size. It’s got vertical shooting mode and full obstacle avoidance, which could be useful.
Before buying anything, check your local drone laws.
In Canada, anything 250g or heavier requires a license, and you can’t fly closer than 30 meters to people who aren’t involved. That makes filming a practice pretty much impossible unless you use one of the Mini series. There are also restrictions near airports and other areas.
Europe has similar rules, but I’m not sure about the US or other countries.