Recent Drone Articles

Flying Drones Over Sensitive Sites

The use of drones over sensitive areas is certainly a point of contention here on Fstoppers. I think we can all agree that airports are a no go. Even if the risk is small, the damage could be catastrophic. What about irreparable heritage sites?

Is the DJI Mavic Air 2 the Drone for You?

The DJI Mavic Air 2 is the latest drone from the company, and it brings with it a range of improvements along with new features. This excellent video review takes a look at the new drone and the sort of performance you can expect from it.

Which DJI Drone Is Right for You?

DJI makes a range of consumer drones at varying price points, sizes, and capabilities, and you can generally find one that fits your needs within their lineup. If you are wondering which one is right for you, this great comparison video takes a look at the Mavic Air 2, the Mavic Mini, and the Mavic 2 Pro to help you decide which one is right for you.

DJI Mavic Air 2 Versus Every Other DJI Drones

DJI has recently introduced Mavic Air 2 and it looks like the best small-sized drone option at the moment. But how does it compete against the other DJI drones?

Six Months With the DJI Mavic Mini: The Best Drone for Beginners?

DJI makes a variety of great drones at various price points and with different feature sets, with the Mavic Mini being one of the most inexpensive, making it an intriguing option for lots of new drone users. This great video review takes a look at the Mavic Mini and how well it performs, particularly how it has improved with new firmware updates.

How to Shoot Cinematic Drone Footage

Drones are a great way to add some variety to your video footage and reinvigorate your work. This excellent video will give you six helpful tips for shooting cinematic, eye-catching drone video.

I Destroyed a Drone on My First Flight and Here's What I'd Do Differently

The first time you do anything, you’re bound to do it poorly. The first time I shot football, I thought a 1/200 s shutter speed would be perfectly fine to stop action. The first time I shot portraits, I thought my f/1.6 photos were perfectly sharp (they were not even close). And the first time I flew a drone was a catastrophe worse than both of those experiences.

Photographer Uses His Drone as a Safe Way to Take Portraits of Locals in Quarantine

Strict laws around social distancing has meant an abrupt halt to most photographers’ shooting schedules. One creative wedding photographer, however, is finding a resourceful way to continue taking portraits while documenting lockdown: he’s using his drone to take pictures of his neighbors and their families.

8 Fun and Creative Ways to Use Your Drone Indoors

Drones are usually reserved for outdoor work only, but with a smaller device, the right environment, and some careful piloting (or just handholding), you can create some really unique photos and works. This great video will show you eight different ideas for working with a drone indoors.

New Anti-Drone Technology Can Fry Drones With a Laser Beam From Miles Away

With the commercialization of drones and their accessibility to the public, there has become an increased issue of the public piloting their (gear) into places uninvited. Who recalls the Gatwick Airport Christmas chaos? Now, an Israeli defense tech company has unveiled an “anti-drone solution” that uses laser beams to shoot down flying drones from miles in the distance.

How to Easily Make Epic Panoramas

Panorama photos are huge, sharp, and fascinating. In this article, I will show an easy way to automatically stitch a panorama in CameraRaw and finish them off in Photoshop.

Inspiring Light Painting Ideas for Photographers With Drones

Light painting is something many of us photographers will have done at some point in our lives. Question is, have you ever tried doing it with a drone? Take your light painting to the next level quite literally with these inspiring ideas.

Mind-Blowing Dystopian Aerial Video of Hong Kong

After months of public protest that gathered millions of people in the streets, the situation in Hong Kong is still tense. But despite the ongoing troubles, the former British colony in one of the coolest places on Earth and a talented crew captured the unique vibe of the city in a mind-blowing aerial video.

DJI Will Make RC Cars with Cameras

For those of you that are afraid of heights, but enjoy high speeds, DJI has a new treat: a car with a camera on a gimbal. There is a catch, though. You won't sit in that car, but you will be able to drive it.

In Depth Comparison of the DJI Mavic Mini, Air, Zoom, and Pro Drones

With the latest Mavic Mini release, DJI now offers four drones in the Mavic line-up, ranging from entry level aircraft to professional grade quadcopter. But picking the right model might be confusing. Here is clear and comprehensive comparison based on direct, hands-on experience.

Fstoppers Reviews the DJI Mavic Mini Drone

The Mavic Mini is one of the smallest HD drones on the market right now, and it actually performs well. If you are looking to get into drones, but don't want to break the bank, this could be what you are looking for.

Tony Northrup Admits He Was Completely Wrong About Drones

Tony Northrup uploaded a video in July 2018 which discussed his thoughts on drones and why he thought you probably shouldn't buy one. This video was met with a lot of criticism from many people especially from those who had already bought a drone. In a recent video however, Northrup seems to be changing his tune.

Fstoppers Reviews DJI's Digital FPV System

When DJI's digital FPV system was first announced, it was big news for a lot of people in the drone industry. How does this new system stack up against what already exists in FPV and how will DJI's Digital HD FPV system play a role in its new ecosystem?

Cribs Tour via FPV Drone With Mr. Steele

With drones becoming more and more mainstream, people are doing some new and interesting things that require a lot of skill and control. In this video, Mr. Steele, an FPV freestyle pilot and the owner of Ethix, takes us on a ride through his house on one of his 5" custom builds.

Video is Changing: Creative Edits Reach New Heights

Video is an amazing way to showcase things when people are watching something of interest. For years, people have been glued to TV shows and movies but now there seems to be a shift to fast paced, fun edits that people can watch and be inspired by.

The Best Way to Get Into FPV Drones

Drones are great tools for photography and video, but with technology changing at such a rapid pace, racing drones (FPV) are becoming much more popular and in demand for commercial work. It can be a little overwhelming to learn this technology all at once, so I am here to help you with your first setup.

Fstoppers Reviews the DJI Smart Controller

The smart controller merges a CrystalSky monitor with a regular controller to offer an all-in-one package. This solution is effective and comes with interesting features.

New Drone Prototype Compresses Itself to Squeeze Through Small Spaces Mid-Flight

With the popularity and accessibility of drones in recent years for everything from music videos, to photography, and even parcel delivery, designers are continuing to come up with creative ways in which to use them. Now, researchers have created a drone that shrinks mid-flight so it can squeeze through small spaces.

Using Drones as an Addition to My Landscape Photography

During my latest trip to the Faroe Islands I noticed how many tourists were flying drones. Drones are very popular, and rules for flying become more strict by the hour. I wonder why people like to fly a drone; is it just to fly, or to make films? I use it for landscape photography.

Are Drones Revolutionizing Photography?

Drones have enhanced viewer experiences in a wide range of media, from documentaries to sports coverage. That they have had a massive impact on the film and photography world is undeniable, but have they revolutionized photography?

Process for Planning an Aerial Portrait Shoot

I have been shooting aerial photography for years now, but have never really shared much of my process when it comes to creating images. Here is a quick look at what sometimes goes into a simple photo of mine.

DJI Launch Complaint Against the BBC for Their Portrayal of Drones in Recent Programs, Call It 'Sensationalist'

DJI, one of the world’s leading drone manufacturers, has formally lodged a complaint against the BBC for a pair of "biased" programs they aired on drone safety. DJI claim the broadcaster included little of the information they provided for the programs, and that the shows were sensationalist by focusing on high-risk incidents like the Gatwick Airport drone crisis.

Moment is Making an Anamorphic Lens for Drones

Most feature films are shot with anamorphic lenses. That's why, when we see this type of shot on YouTube, we call it "cinematic". It's going to be available for your drone soon. Get ready, it's going to be incredible.