Planning to buy a drone for the first time to use on my motorcycle trackdays. It’s mainly for me but mostly my wife will use it for footage. We’re both new to drones and would love any recommendations or tips on what to buy. DJI is well known here, so I’m interested in their products that fit my use. Thanks in advance!
Make sure you check the rules for flying where you’ll be. The drone can’t save you from bad spots but it helps to know what’s allowed. For your use, a small drone under 250 grams would be good. Everyone says DJI is the best and I agree, but if price is a concern, look into the Potensic Atom drone — it looks like a DJI and is a decent option. You might also find some good deals on used DJI drones on Facebook Marketplace. Think about whether you want obstacle detection. It can fail sometimes but it has saved me a lot too. Hope that helps!
@Dara
The motorcycle track doesn’t have many obstacles, just a few marshal towers and banners about 20 feet high. I want mostly top-down shots to see my racing lines, and maybe in the future, to follow me above once we get better at flying.
@Sasha_Crystal
That sounds good! 20 feet is low enough. I started with the Mini 2 Flymore Combo, which didn’t have obstacle avoidance. It was the only drone I ever crashed. I then upgraded to the Mini 4 Pro, not just for obstacle avoidance but also for 4K video. It’s great to have obstacle avoidance; I highly recommend it if you can afford it. You could check Facebook Marketplace for used Mavic 3 Pro or Air 2 or Air 3 — they have those features and are a few years old. Also, keep in mind sub-250g drones top out around 25 mph max in active tracking, which might be slow for your track. DJI is reliable overall. Also, consider tariffs and parts availability for the drone you pick.
Do you need active track or will someone fly it? Also, what’s your budget?
Justice said:
Do you need active track or will someone fly it? Also, what’s your budget?
If it has active track, can I set it so the drone stays high and doesn’t have to follow me too close? I’m worried it won’t keep up with my speed if it’s following me closely. Also, it would be good if me and my wife can pilot it ourselves for other occasions.
@Sasha_Crystal
Sounds like you’re new to this. The Mini 4 Pro is great for speeds around 25 mph if you fly manually at about 35 mph. But if you need active track at speeds over 35 mph without manual piloting, you’ll likely need the more expensive Air 3 or Mavic Air 2.
@Justice
If it’s high enough, I don’t think speed is a big problem because at the right height it will cover a quarter or more of the track before moving to the next part.
Sasha_Crystal said:
@Justice
If it’s high enough, I don’t think speed is a big problem because at the right height it will cover a quarter or more of the track before moving to the next part.
That makes sense! For a track that’s not a long straight, the Mini 4 Pro should do great. It has obstacle avoidance and weighs 249g, so it needs less licensing. Just so you know, the Mini 2 or normal Mini 3 don’t have active track because that feature needs obstacle avoidance to avoid crashes when flying lower.
Are you in a place with different rules for drones by weight? Sometimes flying under 250g is easier license-wise. For example, in Canada, drones 250g or heavier need a pilot license. Also, if your trackdays are public events, you might need special permissions to fly there.
@Frankie
No rules where I am, just can’t fly near airports. It’s a personal trackday, only a few riders like me are there.
Sasha_Crystal said:
@Frankie
No rules where I am, just can’t fly near airports. It’s a personal trackday, only a few riders like me are there.
Looks like Qatar has a lot of rules for drones here https://caa.gov.qa/ar/RPAS
@Andrew
I’m not in Qatar anymore. I worked there for 2 years but I’m somewhere else now.
The Avata with the motion controller makes it really easy to get cool follow shots even if you’re a beginner. Like, 5 minutes to learn and you’re good. For just flying over the track, the Mini 4 Pro is also a solid choice.
@EvansBrown11
Those two are the ones I’m looking at. Is the Avata 2 good for flying just over the track? Which one has the better camera?
Personally, I’d go with a Mini if you want top-down track coverage.