Am looking for a drone for a stationary, hovering filming project lasting 2+ hours at 40-50m altitude, with the capability to discern people-sized objects. Camera stabilization is desired. Many existing options typically have shorter battery life. Budget is flexible but cost-efficient solutions are preferred.
For a stationary, hovering filming project lasting over 2 hours at 40-50m altitude, with the capability to discern people-sized objects and camera stabilization, consider professional-grade drones like the DJI Matrice 300 RTK or Freefly Alta X. These drones offer extended flight times and advanced features but may exceed your budget. Customizing a drone for longer flight times is also an option but requires technical expertise.
Try DJI Air 2S: This feature-packed drone offers a great balance of price, performance, and portability. It boasts a maximum flight time of 34 minutes, a 1-inch CMOS sensor for stunning 5.4K video, and 10-bit Dlog-M color profile for advanced color grading.
One good option is the DJI Matrice 300 RTK. It has a long battery life, strong stabilization, and can be fitted with high-resolution cameras to clearly see people-sized objects. You can also use hot-swappable batteries to keep it running for longer periods.
Another more cost-efficient option is the DJI Phantom 4 Pro V2.0. While its battery life is shorter (around 30 minutes per battery), you can use multiple batteries to achieve your 2-hour filming goal.
Both drones offer excellent camera stabilization and can meet your requirements with some planning around battery management.