I am aware of the differences in rc cars but in drones… I really don’t see the difference. I guess the camera quality is one thing…
Around here there’s an official definition of a toy drone; a small drone of less than 250g that has no sensors (for example camera/FLIR/lidar).
Toy drones can be flown without registering and without insurance, so that’s why there’s an official definition.
The DJI Mini series of drones really blurs the line between toy and hobby grade.
The big difference, as with ordinary cameras, is the size of the sensor it uses for capturing images. The smaller drones use something akin to the sensor in a middle of the road mobile phone. Phones can take pretty good images these days, coupled with the unique aerial view means those drones can take nice looking images, certainly good enough for social media.
The bigger drones have bigger sensors and shoot in RAW modes that allow for a lot of post processing to get really good looking images suitable for printing. But there’s extra work involved in getting the best out of those images/video.
If you’re not already shooting RAW and LOG with a dedicated camera, you probably won’t be able to appreciate the difference those features bring.
@Micah
I’d argue the mini series are too capable to be considered toys. It’s a 4k camera that can fly 30 miles per hour miles away. If anything it blurs the line between hobby grade and professional grade.
Materials and the amount of spent on software development. Basically a Mazda Miata vs a BM4 Z4 vs a Porsche 911. Or as the industry says consumer vs prosumer vs enterprise. Fun with limited range and functionality vs range and a lot of functionality vs all that plus specifically designed features for commercial work.
Durability, features, ease of use.
Are you buying ready made RC cars or do you build your own? That’s the same type of difference in the multirotor rc space.
Wesly said:
Are you buying ready made RC cars or do you build your own? That’s the same type of difference in the multirotor rc space.
Ready to run doesn’t make an rc non hobby grade
@Darby
Really depends on what your definition of a hobby is.
I build, tune, and fly my own aircraft for acrobatics and long range (6-12km). A lot of cash, knowledge acquisition, and time thrown into this obsession - but personally I’d still consider someone who buys like a ready made DJI drone and enjoys spending time flying it casually a hobby for this person.
Nothing official.
If you can hurt yourself or others with it, I’d take it out of the ‘toy’ category.
Or if it can fly in more than 10 mph of wind.