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

Photo Mish Mash - Food Photography | Big Canon Firmware Updates | Holiday Sales Wish List

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This week Tonya and I are joined by awesome food photographer (and mixologist) Nicole Leverett. You can find her work at https://www.instagram.com/staynfocusimages/ and https://www.staynfocus.com/ I look forward to learning about her journey and learning some tips for food and product photography.

We will also chat about big firmware updates coming from Canon for the R5 and R6 and how Canon has flipped the traditional firmware release. And, the Holidays are here, earlier than ever. What gear do we recommend waiting for and what sales are as good as they are going to get?

And finally, we review your photos. Photo Enthusiast Members get to submit photos for review and feedback. Not a member? Join today for just $24 - instantly access hundreds of hours of photography education and an awesome photo community! http://photorec.tv/pen

Early Holiday Deals - ONE Day B&H Photo Deal

Two pack for fast 64GB cards for just $24! - B&H Photo has the Lexar 64 and 128 2-packs on sale. These cards are fast enough for most of us and support 4k video. Just $24 for two 64GB cards.

Check out the early Holiday Deals on B&H Photo and note that the return period has been extended until Feb 1st! Tamron Lenses on Sale for Sony. I have reviewed all of these lenses and recommend them, with these price drops the value is excellent. And Sigma is offering discounts on many of their popular lenses.

What is on your holiday wishlist? Hit reply and let me know!

I shared this photo on instagram with some thoughts I struggled with when capturing -

Imperfect Sunrise

Our first sunrise on Lake Como in northern Italy was quite the scene - no heavy edit here - the sky and the color reflected in the water was just pink fire! I wanted a shutter speed that would give me some smoothness in the water but in the moment I stressed about the motion in the covered boat- I didn't think I wanted it blurred...I took a series of shots at various shutter speeds and figured I would do some photoshop compositing - using a short shutter speed shot for the boat and a longer shutter speed shot for the water - but today as I worked on these images a bit of blur in the boat felt real and acceptable and so here it is - one shot.

Captured with the Sony a1 in crop mode because I was testing the Tamron 18-300. Shutter speed is 0.8 seconds.

Sony a7iv - Great News and Not So Great News...

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The Sony a7iv has just been announced - This replaces the Sony a7iii that was announced in April 2018. My Review of the a7iii. It was an impressive camera and remains a great camera and good value today. But now let’s take a look at the new Sony a7iv. Here are the headline features of the Sony a7iv.

Sony a7iv - Announced October 21, 2021 - Body Only $2,498.00

  • Full Frame Backlit 33mp Sensor w/ 15 stops of Dynamic Range

  • Latest Gen Bionz XR Processor (same as sony a1)

  • 10-bit HEIF format

  • 5.5 stop 5 axis IBIS

  • 828 continuous RAW + JPEG shooting (Only if you shoot compressed RAW w/ CFExpress Card)

  • 759 Phase Detection points

  • Real-Time Eye AF for Humans, Animals and Birds

  • 4k at 60fps in super35, 4k at 30fps from 7k oversampling

  • S-Cinetone and Creative Looks

  • 10-bit S-Log3

  • Optical Active Mode Image Stabilization

  • Redesigned body with fully articulating touchscreen

  • Redesigned body with quick dial change from stills, movie and S&Q

  • 3.68m dot EVF with 120fps refresh rate

  • Easy online streaming with just USB cable and Sony software

  • Improved wifi/bluetooth connection for sharing photos/connecting to app

  • UHS-II SD-cards and CF Xpress cards

  • Full Size HDMI port

I received a sony briefing yesterday with loads of information and samples in both stills and video and it is clear that this will be an impressive camera. It borrows heavily from the much more expensive Sony a1 and Sony a7siii to give you an incredibly capable camera. The rear screen is fully touch now - you can use the screen to set your focus point, track a target in photo or video and navigate the menu system. The menu system is redesigned but still dense. Touch makes it a little easier to navigate but you really need to take the time to set up your favorites section of the menu or you will still be wading through lots of pages and tabs. The bottom line before I get to the bad news? This is going to be a great camera that provides Sony users with an extremely capable camera for photo or video and it’s hard to imagine many photographers needing much more.

The Bad News?

The price has increased AND while it is being announced today it won’t start shipping until the end of December and based on current suplly chain issues we are seeing across the world, I suspect many won’t get this in their hands until well into 2022. B&H Photo has a pre notice Link for Ordering.

The Best Entry Level Mirrorless?

No. I am going to give that prize to the Sony a7iii that remains an increaibly capable camera and as we see a price drop represents an excellent value. This new Sony a7iv represents a significant upgrade (see next question) but for many of us the a7iii remains enough camera for our needs.

I own the Sony a7iii - should I upgrade?

I rarely recommend you upgrade from one model to the next. Typically the differences are slight and your money is better spent on lenses. Sony waited over three years to release the successor to the a7iii and by doing so they incorporated a ton of tech and features from the higher-end cameras. That coupled with tech advances makes this a significant upgrade - mostly in AF capabilities and video functions. If you are a Sony a7iii owner and you feel like you are missing shots because of the AF or want to record higher quality video then you should upgrade. Otherwise, save your money or buy a lens.

Sony a7iv vs Canon R6

The Canon R6 is the most logical matchup against the new Sony a7iv. I will get a chart up soon but here is what I can tell you - the R6 offers less 20MP vs 33MP in the New Sony a7iv, that’s a significant advantage to Sony. However the Sony is limited to 10fps (electronic and mechanical) the Canon R6 can do 12fps mechanical and 20 fps electronically. In my testing of the Canon there was no drawback to that electronic shutter. The Canon R6 is probably going to feel better in most people’s hands - its ergonomics are excellent as is the menu system and customization of the camera and visual info on the screen. Canon has done a great job with all of that. And, if you own EF lenses buy the adapter and you are good to go BUT Sony has a huge advantage in native lenses - Sony, Tamron, Sigma all offer a wide range of lenses at different price points making the Sony system more attractive and affordable for someone starting from scratch.

What else would you like to know?

The Sony a7iv will retail for $2499 body only and start shipping in late December 2021

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

Topaz Denoise - Additional Examples

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Topaz Denoise is on Sale- Use code FRIEND15 to save 15% - Buy Here

The Utility Bundle is also a great value - Denoise, Sharpen and Gigapixel (Use FRIEND15 code)- Buy Here

Photography Answers - Lighter Gear Micro 4/3 vs APS-C || Best Beginner Mirrorless || Best Drone 2021

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Video info

This video brought to you by Squarespace - Build a beautiful website! SAVE 10% off your first purchase, go to http://www.squarespace.com/photorectv

0:00 Welcome
0:56 Question One - Future Proof Zoom for Canon Cameras
4:59 Replacing Full Frame with Lighter Gear
11:27 Building a Website - The Easy Way!
15:12 Best Beginner Mirrorless Package
22:19 Best Photography Drone for 2021
25:46 Smart Phone Camera vs Point & Shoot

All Questions and Answers Below - Including links to purchase.

Q1 I have an aging Canon 70D and love to take wildlife shots, but the longest lens I have is the Canon 75-300mm kit lens. It is rather slow, not terribly sharp, and even with 300mm (480mm equivalent), it lacks the reach I'd like. Especially with the rapid shift toward mirrorless, what would be the best investment in a budget wildlife lens that I could continue to use even after I can afford to upgrade to a mirrorless body? I'm on a tight budget and don't want to invest in something that won't work with a new body 2-3 years down the road.

Answer - Sigma 150-600 and later buy the RF Adapter Buy from B&H Photo - https://bhpho.to/3fjOrlc



Q2 Is there a mirrorless system with a 100-400 lens that would be equal in quality to a Canon full-frame but significantly lighter in weight? I’m getting older and it’s harder to carry all my gear, especially with getting it into the overhead on a plane.

Answer - While not exactly equal to full frame you have micro 4/3rds and APS-C options to explore. Consider the Olympus OMD EM1 3 - https://bhpho.to/2TbyGEc + Panasonic 100-300 https://bhpho.to/34j67Hd OR the Sony a6600 https://bhpho.to/34hGIhh with Sony 70-350 lens - https://bhpho.to/3uoU71q

Q3 - What specific gear would you recommend to a serious amateur that wants to invest in a mirrorless, full-frame camera? Include everything needed to be ready to go, including a neck strap, a day bag and filters, if recommended at all. Start with a medium range good quality zoom lens. What about a tripod? Assume that you don't have a budgetary limitation, but want to invest in quality gear for a fair price. What would be on the list and what kind of budget would you need to fund it?

Answer - Canon, Nikon and Sony all offer excellent mirrorless cameras now. The best value of the bunch is the Nikon Z5- combined with 24-200 lens it is just $1700!! https://bhpho.to/3vtQs3S . Backpack - Mindshift Gear Backlight 18L: https://bhpho.to/34hHvyL Tripod: MeFoto RoadTrip: https://bhpho.to/2QSkCyG Filters - B+W CPL Filter and Maybe a 6-stop ND also from B+W.

Q4 - What is/are your suggestion(s) for a beginner's drone? Want reasonable quality (not necessarily best), reasonable cost (not necessarily least expensive, but don't want to mortgage the house for it), fairly easy to learn to use, and travel friendly. I'm primarily a stills shooter and have not done much video, so video capability is not a primary concern.

Answer - DJI Air2S - https://bhpho.to/2QRGZ7k

Q5 - Hello Toby, Over the weekend my trusty RX100 screen died leaving dark gray lines on a light grey background. I was quite sad as it's traveled with me since 2012 usually confidently down my front pocket. Now I've found some second-hand ones for around £300 but have had my eye turned to a Sony Xperia 5 mark two, it's very impressive in the camera department. Now my question is as a moment catcher does it really matter what or how I take an image or am I missing my travel companion. The phone is awesome and it's a moment caught and sent to Google Photos before I can order my eggy coffee and a custard tart! B&H Sony Xperia 5II Review is jolly good. Kindest of Regards Ian

Answer - Yes. Unless zooming often or editing RAW photos often I think you will be just fine with the Xperia 5ii https://bhpho.to/3uuhCGI

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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

Screen Shot 2021-04-20 at 9.33.22 AM.png


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

Build a BEAUTIFUL website, gallery, portfolio on Squarespace. Save 10%

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!

M1 Macbook Air - Good Enough for Lightroom & Photoshop? Vs Dell XPS

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Are the new M1 Macbook Airs powerful enough to run Lightroom and Photoshop for a professional photographer? I ordered the Macbook Air M1 with 16GB Ram and 512 SSD and in this video, I share how well it works with Lightroom Classic, Photoshop, and Topaz Denoise. Watch the video. Below I have a few charts sharing the time to complete tasks below.

The Dell XPS is 9370 2018 with 2Ghz | 16GB RAM and 1TB SSD - Bought Used for $1200
The Macbook M1 Air - M1 7 core GPU | 16GB RAM and 512SSD - Buy from B&H Photo

Faster is better in below Charts - Time to complete the listed tasks with 56 Sony a7Riii files (42MP Raw)

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Best Mirrorless for Wildlife? F2/.8 vs f/4 Lenses! R6 vs 6DM2? ANSWERS HERE

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THIS VIDEO IS SPONSORED BY SQUARESPACE - SAVE 10% with a FREE 14 Day Trial

🌠 Build a beautiful website! SAVE 10% off your first purchase, go to http://www.squarespace.com/photorectv FULL QUESTION TEXT - Welcome Q1 What do you think is the best mirrorless for fast action wildlife photography? Why?

Q2 I currently shoot with a Canon rebel but have good EF lenses. I want to upgrade to full-frame but not mirrorless right now. Would a 6DMK2 be a good choice? I shoot mainly landscape and wildlife.

Q3 I'm torn between the Canon R5 and the Sony a7r IV. I currently shoot Canon D5 mkIV, looking to get into mirrorless mostly for the sake of IBIS

Q4 I’m planning to get the Nikon Z6ii this year and will start investing in the Z lenses. There are three Z lenses that cover 24-200mm. Do you recommend splurging on an f2.8 for one of these (and which one) or will the f4 lenses be ok? Thanks!

Q5 My Canon 18-135 kit lens on my 70D seems to miss focus more than it should. Do you recommend testing the focus on lenses to see if micro-adjustments are needed? If so, can you explain the best way to do that (on the cheap)? Helpful Video - https://youtu.be/E9fqWcgtHWA

Q6 I am a sunrise/sunset nut! Love the hues, the textures but not sure about settings (I always shoot manual), if a filter would help, etc. Mostly I am asking about when the sun is directly involved (that is, not before it comes up when colors are gorgeous also, or when it has dipped beyond horizon. It is typically handheld and with my Sony a7iii 24-240 lens (the only one I have). Maybe a tripod is necessary? Would love to learn how to get a CRISP sunburst... mine are always a little blurry! Even with a tripod! I know settings need to be high on the aperture...thanks for your input Toby!

Q7 If you had to choose a prime lens, what would be the best focal length for street photography for both still photos and video? Any combinations of specific cameras & lens you think would be really good at this?