The BEST Drone for YOU in 2022! $99 to $5000

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Text UPDATED with Mavic Mini 3 Pro (May 10, 2022) - Scroll below video for more info.

There are a couple of common questions I get here at Photorec.tv. What drone should I buy? Is certainly near the top of this list. As we move into 2022 here are my recommendations for the drones you should buy along with us some accessories that are worth adding to your cart.

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The new Mavic mini 3 pro

My Pick for most of you - the NEW Mavic Mini 3 Pro!

Most of your are looking for a reasonably priced drone with features that you won’t outgrow soon. The new Mavic Mini 3 Pro offers 4k 60p video, 48mp stills, obstacle avoidance and active tracking (the drone will follow you), and a 34-minute flight time. $759 for Drone, 1 battery and standard remote. This is more expensive than previous mini drones but it is a much more capable drone and replaces the Air 2S as my recommendation for the best drone for you.

Love it or hate it the new mini 3 pro can shoot vertical video for all your reel and tiktok needs….

Pros of the Mini 3 Pro - Small(easily packable) and Lightweight(doesn’t require registration), Obstacle avoidance can be helpful, active track makes the drone more versatile especially if you are alone and need to be filmed in action. Occusync 3.0 for 7-mile+ connectivity range! High enough video and photo quality that most users will be happy.

Cons of the Mini 3 Pro - More expensive than previous versions of the Mini drone, Limited obstacle avoidance - no side protection, larger battery available for purchase does put drone over 250g limit requiring registration.

The Mini 3 pro is currently sold in 3 packages
Drone only $669.00 [Buy at B&H Photo]
DJI Mini 3 Pro with RC-N1 Remote $759 [Buy at B&H Photo]
Drone with new DJI RC Remote $909 [Buy at B&H Photo]

The standard Battery (2453 mAh) Provides 34 minute flight time
The Intelligent Flight Battery Plus (3850 mAh) Provides 47-minute flight time! It will only be sold in select countries and no pricing is available at this time. Both batteries will charge via USB-C.

The Mini 3 Pro will work with existing remotes you may own from the Mini 2, Air 2, or Air2s making the Drone-only bundle a smart way to upgrade for existing owners of one of the recently mentioned drones.

The new DJI RC remote is a more affordable version of their pro remote - My original review video of the pro remote.

Comparison of DJI Mini 3 Pro Remotes

Standard Mini 3 Pro remote on the left (you supply your phone) NEW DJI RC Remote on the right with 700 nits of brightness

Looking for a more budget-friendly drone -

DJI Mini 2 Fly More Combo - The best budget drone with 4k and Raw photo capture. No obstacle avoidance or active tracking. Currently $449 at B&H Photo.

DJI Mavic Mini Fly More Combo - The original Mini only shoots at 2.7k mac resolution, doesn’t have obstacle avoidance or active tracking, and is missing Occusync which makes a real difference in the range(distance from you to drone) that you can get a clear video feed and have control over the drone. Most noticeable in denser areas but is still a decent value and a good beginner drone $399 at B&H Photo

Looking for a more professional level drone for work -

Mavic 3 Fly More - POWERFUL - more than most of us need but starting at $2,000 it’s the cheapest way to get such a large sensor for excellent quality photos and video. Correction to video - the firmware update is already out to provide the active track and additional modes.

Just looking for Fun -

DJI FPV - Pretend to be a jet fighter pilot! So much fun flying.

EZ MAX FPV Drone - a VERY affordable way to try FPV flying

DJI Tello - a VERY affordable way to experience the easy flying of DJI drones.

Accessories -

Landing Pad for Drones (29.5") Keeps your drone cleaner when take off and landing

Freewell Circular Polarizer CPL Filter for DJI Air 2S

Multi Charger - Charge multiple batteries simultaneous. DJI multi charger only charges 1 at a time.

USB Charger for Air2s - Charge more easily on the go

MavMount iPad holder - Upgrade your photo/video capture experience

Apps - B4UFly & AirData UAV

https://airdata.com/ SAVE 20% with code PHOTOREC20

Tamron 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 Di III-A VC VXD Lens for Fuji and Sony

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Buy Link for Tamron 18-300 - https://bhpho.to/3kICNmk

Primes to add for a complete kit -

For Stars

Sigma 16mm f/1.4 https://bhpho.to/3lgTaqy

Fuji 18mm f/1.4 https://bhpho.to/3D2wzDV

For Portraits -

Sony 35mm f/1.8 https://bhpho.to/3E68GNk

Several excellent Fuji Options https://bhpho.to/3FWb0a1

The Tamron 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 Di III-A VC VXD Lens Sample Photos

I Went Print Crazy! These DNP Printers can make you money!

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I spend lots of time talking about capturing and editing and and the importance of printing your work to hang on your walls.. But what about printing in the field and being able to provide clients with near instant prints.

I review the DNP QW410 and DS820A - two Dye Sublimation Printers capable of producing beautiful prints FAST. Great for event printing including photo booth setup. I share the pros and cons of using a Dye-sub printer in your business.

DNP DP-QW410 at B&H Photo

DNP Paper

DNP DS820A - Capable of 8x10 to 8 x 32 panoramas (needs a windows computer for Panos)

Hands on with the Tamron 150-500mm f/5-6.7 Di III for Sony E

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I just finished using the Tamron 150-500mm f/5-6.7 Di III for Sony E in Katmai National Park - Photographing wild coastal brown bears. Watch my full review below. Scroll down for the information video where I share how this lens clearly out features the much more expensive Sony 100-400 and the 200-600 and you can find the sample photos to compare.

Support my channel - Your use of these links providing funding and gear loans so that I can create these unbiased reviews. Thank you.

Buy the Tamron 150-500 FE from B&H Photo

Wild Alaska Photos. Most Captured with Tamron 150-500 FE

Sony FE 14mm f/1.8! Amazingly Compact Wide-Angle Lens

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Sigma has offered a 14mm f/1.8 lens for several camera mounts since February 2017. Loved by many astrophotography and landscape photographers this autofocus lens performs well. The only real downside to the Sigma is the large size and weight and some noticeable coma when shot wide open. Coma is exhibited as wings or smears on brighter stars, especially near the edges of the lens. One additional issue I always had with the Sony version of the Sigma is the extended rear collar, making a large lens just that much longer and a bit more awkward in the bag and on the camera. The 14mm f/1.8 that sony just announced is noticeably smaller and from earlier reviews seems to have very little coma.

Sony 14mm f/1.8 Specs and comparison to Sigma 14mm f/1.8

Weight: 1.01 lbs (460g) Vs Sigma 14mm f/1.8 2.7 lbs (1225 g)
Size: 3 3/8” x 4” (83mm x 99.8mm) Vs Sigma 14mm 3.7” x 4.9” (95mm x 126mm)
Minimum Focus: 9.8”
Aperture Blades: 9 (clean sunstars starting at f/6.3)
Focus: TWO XD Linear Motors for fast and reliable autofocus even at f/1.8
Filter Size: Rear gel (template included)
Dust & Moisture Resistant: Yes
Price: $1598 vs Sigma 14mm f/1.8 $1599

Additional features include aperture control ring with Auto mode, Click/De-click switch for aperture, AF/MF switch, and Customizable focus hold button.

Why so much comparison vs the Sigma? Easy, no other manufacturer offers a 14mm f/1.8 lens. Canon has a 14mm f/2.8 lens that costs $2100 and weighs more than this lens! Sony really has done impressive work with this lens! I am looking forward to reviewing on upcoming astrophotography workshops.

Preorder Wed, Apr 21 - Shipping in mid-May- B&H Photo Link

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I love astrophotography and have lots of reviews of wide-angle lenses. I love the performance of the Sigma but I never wanted to commit to carrying around such a large heavy lens. This Sony release is quite amazing - significantly smaller and lighter, about a 1/3rd of the weight!! And the performance looks excellent. The sample shots I was provided show very little if any, coma and sharpness is excellent from edge to edge. If you are a sony photographer looking for the best performing wide, wide-angle lens - here it is.

Preorder Wed, Apr 21 - Shipping in mid-May- B&H Photo Link


DJI Mini 2 Review

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Mini 2 Full Resolution Photos

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Recommended Fly More Combo $648

Drone, 1 battery, and remote $586

Buy with DJI Refresh, Protects against crashes $648 - Replacement drone provided in case of a crash

DJI Mini 2 Review -

PRO -

  • Small and Ridiculously Lightweight

  • Great Flight Time - Nearly 30 minutes even in COLD weather

  • Does Not need to be registered with FAA (you do still need to follow all drone laws)

  • Great quality 4k and RAW photos with manual control and Manual White Balance

  • USB-C Charging drone and Battery Charger (with purchase of Fly More) - This makes this drone even more travel-friendly.

  • New controller makes it much easier to mount your phone

  • Tough - After a crash, it’s likely you just need to replace props.

CONS -

  • No Obstacle Avoidance

  • No Object Tracking

  • No Hyperlapse Mode

  • New Controller is Chunky and Makes an ultra-portable drone less portable.

  • Screw on props - slow to change after a crash

I make a living helping you decide what gear is right for you. If you plan to purchase any gear, your use of my affiliate links greatly helps. Shop B&H Photo or Amazon. Thank you!

Sony a6300 Review

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wEkuc8X39kQ For the last few months I have been shooting with the a6300 and I am now ready to share my thoughts on this camera. How does it compare vs a traditional DSLR like the Canon T6s/T6i, What does low light image quality look like and is it worth it to upgrade from the a6000?Support our work- use these links for purchasea6300 from B&H PhotoRecommended LensesSony 16 -70 (fantastic all around lens)Sony 50mm f/1.8 OSS (great headshots)Sigma 30mm f/1.4 (perfect portraits)Sony 35mm Macro (affordable macro)Recommended AccessoriesFast SD Card 64GBSample images
  

D5300 Review

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D5300 Review in bullets.

Some points are vs D5200 some are just important points. Sample images and video below.

D5300 Pros

  • The body is redesigned - smaller than the D5200 and feels better in the hand
  • Large vibrant 3.2" articulated screen is lovely
  • Excellent sensor and processor- best image quality at this price point- images are sharp(with a good lens) and high ISO files are clean and usable up to ISO 4000, maybe even 6400 if you are careful and or apply a little post processing
  • On auto this camera take some of the best photos - consistently turns out nicely exposed images even when popup flash is used.  Downside - Nikon tends to have a slight greenish cast to many indoor(under artificial light) images - can be corrected in post easily or adjust WB but default setting is a little greener than I like
  • No AA filter or Optical Low Pass Filter means the images are sharp. Image are sharper than the D5200 but not a huge difference.
  • Speedy! I found the D5200 to hesitate at times and occasionally be slow to operate - none of that is present in the D5300 - focus is fast, general camera operations are snappy and it has a buffer that lets you fire off a stack of JPEGS and RAW - in some cases it can even shoot more images in a 10 second period than the D7100!
  • 14 Bit RAW files as an option gives you increased post processing latitude - they are big and slow the camera down but if you want to have the greatest latitude in post processing it is nice to be able to shoot in 14-bit.
  • Packed full of fun/amateur features including selective color, miniature effect (makes neat movies too)
  • Better battery life vs D5200 unless you turn on the GPS and select settings that make the GPS useful

D5300 Cons

  • Weak GPS - needs A-GPS file from Nikon to work better, annoying hassle and if you turn off GPS sleep timer so that ALL photos will be tagged your battery life is going to be significantly shorter and you run the risk of forgetting it is on there and a few hours later picking up a camera with a dead battery.
  • Wifi is limited - you can stream live view, take a photo and download photos - no control over the camera other than pressing the shutter button.  Not able to start or stop video with the WiFi.
  • Live view aperture block/exposure simulation hassle - Being able to control aperture is tied to manual movie settings and then that blocks shutter speed changes - watch my review to see this illustrated.
  • Live view focus is about the same as earlier models - still has that in and out as it grabs focus- lenses make noise on board mic can pickup. Nothing like the 70D video focus and even T5i is still smoother and silent with STM lenses.

Final Thoughts on the Nikon D5300

Overall- at this price point no other sensor matches this camera for pure sharpness and low light capabilities.Pair it with something like the Sigma 18-35 or just the Nikon 35mm f/1.8 prime and you will have an amazing photo machine that excels in lower light, I mean like dark alley photos at midnight.  It is being sold with 18-140 lens which I have found to be decent and convenient but not an amazing difference from the Nikon 18-105. Please don’t but this camera with the Nikon 18-55. I didn't’t think it was being sold with the 18-55 but heard from someone that picked up a bundle from a big box store - the 18-55 cannot resolve at the level of the sensor - You will have better results shooting through coke bottle glasses.

D5300 vs D5200:

Is the D5300 worth the extra cost over the D5200?

Yes. There is enough of a performance and quality increase over the D5200 to warrant paying the difference about $150. And you get the Wifi which limited is a nice feature for on the go sharing, you get a better battery and slightly smaller and lighter camera.

Is it worth it to upgrade?

It is very rarely a good investment to move up one body.  Despite all the PROs and the noticeable improvement in sharpness and high ISO quality you will have better results spending upgrade money on a new lens or two. These lenses will likely move with you to future bodies and be a better overall investment.  This is often where I encourage people who feel they have outgrown their camera to consider the next model line, like the D7100 but honestly in this case the D7100 doesn't offer much over the D5300.

D5300 vs Canon T5i(700d)

I found the T5i easy to recommend over the D5200, the D5200 offered slightly better image quality versus the T5i(700d) but was sluggish and quirky.  That image quality gap has widened noticeably with the D5300 and now that it offers responsive performance it becomes harder to recommend the T5i.  The D5300 still has that aperture live view annoyance and doesn't offer silent lenses for video but depending on your needs you may not care and on Auto mode for photos Nikon images look better to me 8/10 times. In video it is much closer - I like the look of the Canon files but this is more a personal opinion.

D5300 vs Canon 70D

A little unfair as we are matching what is basically an entry level model from Nikon against a prosumer model from Canon.  But prices are similar and image quality is very similar.  I give the Canon an edge in most use cases - the live view focus and video system of the Canon is amazing, after 3 months of use I absolutely love the 70D and for sports, video it just does an amazing job at the price point.  But it is bigger and it does cost more. The D5300 image quality is similar until you get up above ISO 4000 and then the D5300 files look a little better to me.Additional Videos -GPS & WiFi with Nikon D5300D5300 with 18-140 vs 18-105 ReviewD5300 with 18-140 and 18-150 Sample ImagesD5300 High ISO sample VideoMore Sample D5300 ImagesWhich camera is best for you?  Leave me a message on my Facebook page - tell me what is important to you and I can suggest which camera I think would be a best fit.If you want easy to use and excellent image quality the D5300 paired with the 18-140 is an excellent choice.If you want the absolute best performance out of this camera add something like the Sigma 18-35 f/1.8Additional Nikon Lens recommended for the Nikon D5300 and Best Budget Macro for Nikon DX cameras - Nikon 40mm F/2.8Buy the Nikon D5300 with 18-140 from Amazon  Buy from B&H(Includes freebies) Your purchase support this website and my work.