Hexacopter or octocopter with decent camera… suggestions?

Seeking Help
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I’m looking to build a hexacopter or octocopter for aerial photography and to get a feel for building something myself. My budget is around $1000-$2000, and I’d love to have it ready within a month. I don’t need an ultra-high-quality camera, just something around the level of a Phantom 4. I’m in the USA, so no shipping issues, and I have a commercial pilot’s license but zero experience building drones. Any advice on where to start?

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For carrying a decent camera, a hexacopter should be plenty! Start with the camera and gimbal you want to use (likely a GoPro or something similar if it’s your first build) and check the weight to find the right frame.

To break it down, here are the basics:

  1. Flight Control Board (FCB) – This is the brain of the drone.

  2. Speed Controllers (ESCs) – These connect to the motors and FCB.

  3. Motors – Motor choice will depend on your battery and frame size.

  4. Battery – The voltage you choose impacts motor and prop size.

  5. Frame – Pick based on the prop size you need.

I’d suggest looking up hexacopter/octocopter frames on sites like HobbyKing or Banggood. Tarot has good frames in carbon fiber (probably overkill for GoPro but good for future upgrades). When you have a frame, you can often find suggested specs for motors, batteries, and props. If not, look up builds others have done with that frame.

Flight Control Boards like DJI’s Naza or Pixhawk work well for larger setups.

For extras, consider a radio receiver/transmitter (for controlling the drone) and maybe an FPV setup if you want a “pilot’s view” on a screen or goggles. Let me know if you have any questions—it’s a rewarding hobby, but crashes can be costly!

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@Zeek
Thanks! Any thoughts on the DJI kits? They have some hexacopter frames and nice cameras with gimbals.

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Cedar said:
@Zeek
Thanks! Any thoughts on the DJI kits? They have some hexacopter frames and nice cameras with gimbals.

DJI’s Flamewheel kits are solid for GoPro setups and their gimbals are hard to beat. But keep in mind, they aren’t exactly DIY builds, so it’s less of a hands-on process.