GoPro is the brand that is most popular nowadays and is mainly used in the shooting of professional and amateur videos. The brand is well known and there is no better solution than using a drone with your GoPro to shoot videos and pictures. In this case, the most important thing is the connection between your device and the camera. If you want to enjoy the fun and pleasure that a drones for gopro 4 provides you with and have the best pictures and videos, you need to buy a compatible drone. In this article, we have chosen five of the best drones for gopro 4 that you can buy on the market right now and we will also tell you what are the best accessories for the best drones for gopro 4.
If you already have a top-quality action camera and are looking for a top-class GoPro compatible drone to pair it with, then you have come to the right place. Perhaps you are a professional photographer and are looking to widen your expertise? Perhaps you are aiming to become a professional aerial photographer and you want to know what is the best drones for gopro 4? Well, let’s just be honest, a drone for GoPro will be the best thing that you ever own. The next time you go to the cinematographic shooting of a Hollywood blockbuster or a concert, your drone will be there with you and the cameras on your GoPro compatible drone will provide you with the ideal pictures and videos to share with everyone. In addition, there is something even more pleasant than using a professional drone with GoPro: using a drone for GoPro will give you the chance to have fun with your kids, flying your drone at the beach, for example. In any case, there are many drones for gopro 4 on the market and for that reason, you must choose the best one for GoPro, the best thing that you can buy for your money.
We have selected the best drones for gopro 4 that you can buy today. In addition, we have reviewed each drone and analyzed its functionalities. If you want to know which is the best drones for gopro 4, you have come to the right place. So, you can use this article to choose the best drones for gopro 4. Just pick one and enjoy!
4) POTENSIC D85 – GOPRO DRONE
Potensic is another fine example of what good GoPro drones need to look like. It’s massive, sturdy, feels high quality, and doesn’t have notable drawbacks in terms of its performance. Generally speaking, we’re looking at an awesome all-around model that works great with any GoPro camera you throw at it.
ALREADY HAS A CAMERA
The thing with Potensic D85 is that it already features a camera. And it’s not just any camera, not just another one of those irrelevant 720p sensors contained in a massive, jitter-packed housing. Instead, Potensic D85 features a solid 2K camera that even sports a dedicated FPV module. Unfortunately, there’s no onboard software nor hardware stabilization, which is going to be a real problem in the long run.
And that’s exactly where GoPro action cameras come into play. If you want a much better aerial photography experience from your Potensic D85, then the best thing you can do is mount a proper action camera to it. One that has software image stabilization works best, mind you. Mounting a GoPro does take a bit of work, especially if you’re aiming to mount one of the newest models. The bracket will require a bit of DIY, or you can straight up 3D print one that’ll fit perfectly!
PRICE/PERFORMANCE RATIO IS BRILLIANT
Probably the best thing about this drone is its price/performance ratio. For way below $300, you’re getting a massive drone featuring brushless motors, a sturdy body, and the ability to carry GoPro cameras. It’s a good drones for gopro 4, does it? In addition to that, Potensic D85 also possesses an extra layer of safety in the form of automatic return to home, either when the drone loses signal, the battery is low, or when you press that shiny return to home button. Plus, you’re getting your Potensic D85 with a bunch of extra equipment, most important of which are the extra batteries and the sturdy briefcase.
Numbers-wise, Potensic D85 can handle roughly 20 minutes of flying per battery charge. The battery we’re referring to is a solid 2800mAh 2S LiPo that can, fortunately, be purchased separately. Range-wise, Potensic D85 can handle cca 1.2 to 1.5 kilometers of operating range. Of course, that’s just a theoretical number. In practice, it’s safe to say Potensic D85 will never go out of range… as long as you’re sticking with the FAA regulations, that is!
There are five different propellers to choose from, including a nice, bright orange one. It’s not a perfect drone (more on that in a minute), but it does a great job. The camera quality is also respectable, and we can’t really complain about that. We’ve come to expect very good video capture from the Potensic D55 series, but that’s not all the video camera comes with. To keep a steady headshot, a nice little 3.5mm adapter is included in the box. We didn’t try this out, but it sounds like it could work like a charm. A nice, solid, included GPS receiver, a manual controller, and a set of flight controllers will allow you to build your own RC controller. We’re not sure if we would ever do that, but it’s nice to know that the package includes the basics you’ll need.
For our test trip, we used a GoPro HERO3 Session on the S&S with a camera mount, which included the D85 as the standard camera mount. The GoPro Hero3 is the most common camera mount on new drones. But with the D85, Potensic D85 was able to handle most of our tests on a standard 16MP Hero3 mount with a 16 megapixel sensor and a f/1.8 lens, which means the average frame size of photos on Hero3 was around 3536 x 2400 pixels. With the D85, the average resolution was ~1652×2632 pixels, resulting in a frame rate of about 35 frames per second.
In our test, we had a pretty large field of view at the GoPro Session with the D85. But as we say in our reviews, it’s a one of a kind drone only when you look at the bigger cameras. We also ran the same field of view at a relatively similar height and distance from the drones when the D85 was mounted on a larger Hero3 camera. At the 16MP high-megapixel camera, the frame rate was about 25 frames per second, compared to about 16. This equates to a total frame rate of roughly 21.5 frames per second. We’ve heard that cameras with higher resolution can give better stabilization when flying, and that’s something we’ll be testing in more detail when we take a closer look at the D85 in July.
3) MJX BUGS 3
MJX might not be the most known drone manufacturer out there, but that is only because they (still) don’t make high-end models. When it comes to entry-level ones, their GoPro compatible drone “MJX Bugs 3” is more than capable of providing you with an excellent time! Even more so if you already own a GoPro and you’re just looking for a solid aerial platform to mount it onto. That’s because MJX Bugs 3 is one of the cheapest drones compatible with GoPro cameras (best drone for GoPro under $200 !). But, there’s more to this marvelous little bugger… so let’s take a closer look at it and see what else does it have to offer!
THE PERFORMANCE IS SUPERB
In terms of specifications, it is pretty clear that MJX Bugs 3 does not fail to deliver. It has roughly 300 meters of range and more than 15 minutes of active flight time. The latter heavily depends on the type of camera you mount on it. For that matter, you’ll be happy to know that it supports not only GoPro’s but Xiaoyi’s and Xiaomi’s as well.
The stabilization isn’t going to blow you away, but it is still decent and won’t give you that usual jelly effect that most other, similarly priced, models, tend to output. That’s due to a bulky frame and tight camera mount which doesn’t suffice to wind. Furthermore, you should also know that MJX Bugs 3 features brushless motors. More precisely, 1805 1800KV brushless motors which work exceptionally well on a 310mm drone.
ALL-AROUND AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY PLATFORM
With that being said, it’s quite clear that MJX Bugs 3 does wonder in terms of aerial photography which is why it’s not only being bought by beginners but more advanced users alike. So, all things considered, if you already own an action camera and you’re looking for a solid platform for aerial photography, it’s quite obvious that MJX Bugs 3 is a greatly affordable drones for gopro 4.
CONCLUSION
Although the MJX Bugs 3 is not the ultimate model in the market, it does perform quite well considering its price tag. Therefore, even if you’re considering other models which are considerably more expensive, you’ll still get a great drone which also does aerial photography well. However, in terms of performance, budget friendly drones should be your top priority.
This is an entry-level drone with a great camera which does aerial photography extremely well. If that’s something that you’re after, then the MJX Bugs 3 is an excellent drone that will meet all of your requirements.
2) HOLY STONE HS700
Next up, we’re going to take a closer look at Holy Stone HS700. It’s a relatively unknown model, shadowed by its more popular brother, HS700D. Basically, the only real difference between the two drones are their cameras. The HS700 (without the D) features a different 1080p camera mounted on one of those conventional brackets with little to no vibration dampening. That’s basically the reason why it’s listed as one of the best drones for gopro 4 out there – because the bracket can be easily modified/changed for one that fits GoPro action cameras.
SUPERB DESIGN AND FEATURES OF THIS DRONE FOR GOPRO
If you love sleek-looking drones for gopro 4, then HS700 is going to be right up your alley. Not only is it sturdy and robust, but it also features sleek, rounded edges and massive brushless motors that can achieve quite the top speed. On top of that, they also run more efficiently and last for an eternity, which can’t be said about their brushed counterparts.
As mentioned above, this little bugger features a camera just like the aforementioned Potensic model, but you can mount a GoPro quite easily, too. Additionally, Holy Stone HS700 proves to be no pushover in the features department, courtesy of GPS as well as safety features such as failsafe and return to home. Overall, Holy Stone HS700 flies smooth, doesn’t have any hiccups, and is a breeze to operate even for total beginners.
PRAISEWORTHY PERFORMANCE
All in all, if you’re looking for a great all-around performer for your new GoPro camera, Holy Stone HS700 won’t disappoint you one bit! Its brushless 1500KV motors pack quite the punch, the provided 2800mAh LiPo battery can handle up to 20 minutes of flight time, and you can expect around 700 meters of range. Perhaps the flight time is going to drop a bit with a GoPro on, but you can always buy extra ones on Amazon. Plus, while the flight times and distances are less than what you’ll find on other drones, the price is reasonable.
THE BOTTOM LINE
Holy Stone HS700 is a decent drone with all the right tools and all the right components to satisfy the needs of both a beginner and a seasoned drone pilot alike. Overall, Holy Stone HS700 features a decent build quality, decent flight time, good range, a camera of good quality, and an equally good price tag. Add to that the fact that this drone is ready for operation right out of the box, and you can rest assured that it’s worth a closer look if you’re looking to buy a budget drone for yourself or your kids.
Holy Stone HS700 is a no-nonsense drone with a lot of power, great performance, and great looks. Not to mention that it’s relatively inexpensive. Whether you’re an experienced pilot or a beginner looking for the perfect budget-friendly drone for their first real outing, Holy Stone HS700 will fit the bill nicely. If you’re into learning to fly drones, check out the review of the Holy Stone HS80 as well. It’s a good varinat drones for gopro 4.
1) GOPRO KARMA
GoPro Karma is one of the newest foldable drones for GoPro available on the market. This GoPro Hero 5 drone is made by the worldwide popular GoPro, an action photography giant that’s a household name across the globe. With that being said, I was extremely happy when their Karma drones for gopro 4 got released but was extremely disappointed when they had to pull it off the market due to technical issues. Needless to say, this was a huge hit to GoPro’s ambitions in the drones market.
CAN GOPRO KARMA GO UP AGAINST DJI MAVIC PRO?
Nowadays, even though the technical issues have all been resolved, GoPro Karma still cannot go up against, what looked like it would be, its main competitor – DJI Mavic Pro. In terms of specifications, things are pretty obvious – GoPro Karma falls short with lesser operating range (3km compared to 7km) and battery duration (17 minutes compared to roughly 25).
By the looks of things, it is quite obvious that Karma simply cannot compete with the likes of DJI Mavic Pro. In terms of portability, Karma falls short too with DJI wonderkid being the ultimate foldable drone out there. Still, things aren’t that bad for GoPro’s first drone. You see, even though Karma lacks in specifications and size, it makes up for it with versatility revolving around handheld photography.
IS IT THE BEST DRONE FOR GOPRO?
As far as the camera support goes, you will be happy to know that GoPro Karma supports not only Hero 5 Black but Hero 6 Black as well. Add to that a separately purchasable harness for Hero 4 Black and Silver and you’ll get yourself a solid array of viable action cameras with this little birdie. Moving forward, within the GoPro Karma package, you don’t only get the drones for gopro 4 but a handheld stabilizer as well – Karma Grip. At the moment, that’s the only characteristic that Karma uses to attract the audience… And judging by their sales, it seems to go pretty well for them!
Lastly, it’s no surprise Karma is often used as a drone for real estate agents for creating aerial footage of property they are trading. That’s because it comes from an established brand and is purchasable bundled together with a state of the art action camera solution. And as far as I can tell, those 2 things are keeping GoPro Karma in the race despite several other downsides. To me, some of the GoPro Karma issues might not be as major as others and I think Karma has the opportunity to become more of a high-end competitor when it comes to a variety of categories. And that’s exactly what this is.
In a nutshell, what does this little birdie want you to buy?
To me, the first major issue that I think the GoPro Karma will face is as it relates to camera compatibility with GoPro Hero4 and 5 Black cameras. It doesn’t matter what kind of camera you’re using – you need GoPro’s drone accessories to allow you to capture amazing drone footage. For this reason, there’s no GoPro Karma compatible camera. When it comes to how to get the Karma with Hero 6 Black, it will be hard to beat a GoPro Karma which supports all the Hero 3 Black cameras in one package. Of course, they also do have the camera with the Hero 6 Black so that the Karma will work great for Hero 4 and Hero 4 Silver. That said, you won’t find it in this GoPro Karma bundle, so if you want it without Hero 2 Black, you‰ll have to wait till July 29th.
The other thing that GoPro is doing is, without question, working to improve their drone connectivity. What Iove mentioned earlier is that they are working on a WiFi platform that will let you use your drone accessories to control your drone for full 360º, as well as the possibility of 3D tracking, even when the drone is attached to the camera and not on the GoPro. I personally hope that they develop something similar with their Karma for 3D flying so that their new devices will actually work with the 3D capabilities offered by GoPro.
As you can see, I can just sit here and tell you the GoPro Karma is very very good. GoPro does a pretty good job making their drones more capable of being compatible with their GoPro cameras, and that is especially true when you use the Karma in a drone. Yes, you can’t just use the Karma in your own drone without a GoPro. But most people simply don‰t have the resources to just buy a camera, mount it and run with it, let alone spend time and money on a drone controller. The Karma does that right. On the other hand, you can definitely buy an Karma in the past and try it out, but I think now is the time to take a leap, if only because we‰re seeing new options that will allow you to try it out and be on the leading edge of VR technology.
It has to be said that using your GoPro in a drone is a good idea, for a few reasons:
You can do it without being tethered to the GoPro using the included adapter.
You can do it with your phone as a remote for other functions like taking photos and videos, as well as controlling other aspects of your drone if you attach your phone to the back of the drone.
You can control things like controlling the camera using your phone and just using your phone as a controller for controlling the drone.
With all these features, including 360º video streaming, the GoPro Karma is a powerful solution. However, I’m not sure I want to spend that much money on my Karma because I do not intend to use it in that way any more. I plan on upgrading to a bigger battery, longer range, 3D tracking capability as well as the ability to mount my phone directly on the frame, as well as being able to easily control the camera with just my phone. It will be interesting to see how long that kind of experience will last.
I have to mention that having to buy the Karma with a GoPro mount attached is a bit of a pain in the arse. It was designed for use in the water and most likely would not be capable of handling an all wind situation. When I say it’s difficult to use a mount like the Karma, I actually mean it. There is an adapter, but it works like a charm. It’s not worth the hassle to purchase the GoPro app and take pictures with a GoPro, since you can take many more pictures using the app on your phone.
The GoPro Karma is a beautiful camera with great images and great features. However, I am still hesitant to buy a GoPro, as there are other options out there. In my opinion this is great drones for gopro 4.