Camera and FPV (First-Person View) drones are popular types of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), but they significantly differ in design, functionality, and use cases. The market for UAVs is rapidly expanding, and the term “drone” has become what describes nearly anything flying remotely. The truth is, that many different types of drones exist and vary in size, purpose, and complexity of usage. To help you understand drones better, this is part one of a series where I will try to help break things down. We will start with the basics and below are some key differences between camera and FPV drones.
The Purpose
One big difference between camera and FPV drones is their intended purpose. While it is true that you can use an FPV drone in place of a camera drone, the opposite is usually not true. This is mainly due to the differences in technology used to build these drones.
Camera Drones
As the #1 global consumer drone manufacturer, DJI is the top brand and producer of camera drones. Their drones come equipped with arguably some of the best quality cameras available today. The image quality from a DJI drone even works quite well for commercial applications just on its own. A big selling point of camera drones is that they are easy enough for anybody to fly, regardless of experience, right out of the box.
DJI drones utilize technology that gives them advanced abilities such as stabilized flight modes, position hold, return to home, and obstacle avoidance, to name a few. DJI drones are known for their ability to produce high-quality photos and video images. They are often used for photography, videography, and other creative applications. In addition to DJI, other popular consumer camera drone brands include: Autel Robotics, Parrot, Skydio, Yuneec, and Hubsan.
The combination of high image quality and ease of use has led to a huge increase in the popularity and sales of camera drones. From hobbyists to professionals, camera drones are being used in an increasing number of ways. Today, for people involved with real estate, Search and Rescue, and many other industries, the benefits of using camera drones have been abundantly clear.
FPV (First-Person-View) Drones
FPV drones can also capture high-quality imagery, however, their purpose focuses on the user, or rather, the pilot experience. Designed for immersive flying experiences, FPV drones are more often than not used for racing or acrobatic flying. FPV drones emphasize pilot control and speed rather than high-quality image capture.
Unlike DJI with camera drones, there’s no single dominating manufacturer for FPV drones. Rather, many companies sell FPV frames and parts, including already-built drones called bind and flys. FPV drones usually lack advanced features and rely on the pilot to manually stabilize and control the drone. Having manual control over stability and how the drone flies allows pilots to have a higher level of control over the drone that you can not achieve with a self-stabilizing camera drone. In addition, manual control is an important quality that enhances the experience of flying a drone.
Much like camera drones, many industries use FPV drones for different purposes. Although there may be some overlap between camera and FPV drone use, the purpose of an FPV drone is to provide the pilot with the most immersive flying experience possible.
The Equipment
Another big difference between camera and FPV drones is the equipment that each uses. The most basic equipment that you will need for either drone type is the drone and a remote controller. Also, be aware that the remote controller can differ greatly between the two types of drones.
Equipment For Camera Drones
When it comes to the equipment for camera drones that you receive when you buy one, there isn’t much. Usually, camera drones have loads of features and sensors installed on the drone, often including a remote controller or radio as it is otherwise called. However, with some drones, you download an app to control the drone instead of using a separate controller. Most often users install the app on a cell phone, however, it usually runs on tablets as well. The mobile app allows a way to control the drone and visually see where the drone is flying.
If the drone comes with a remote, usually the remote has a screen that you use to help navigate. The drone also usually costs more if it comes with a remote instead of relying on an app for control. However, the link between the dedicated remote and the drone is usually more reliable than a mobile app connection.
When looking for drone accessories like, extra batteries, carrying cases, ND filters for cameras, and more, DJI offers a wide range of accessories for their drones. Some other high-end brands also sell limited amounts of accessories, but you can also find a wide range by just checking on Amazon. Keep in mind, that you might not be able to find any accessories for your specific camera drone because not all drones have accessories.
Equipment For FPV Drones
Due to how FPV drones operate, they require very different equipment than camera drones. First, FPV drones inherently do not come with a remote controller. You can sometimes buy an FPV drone with a remote as a kit but otherwise, they assume you already own a controller. In addition to the radio, you’ll need to figure out what radio communication protocol the drone will use like FrSky, ExpressLRS, Crossfire, etc.
Batteries are something else that you must have plenty of when flying an FPV drone. Typically the battery flight times of FPV drones vary from 2 – 3 minutes to up to around 6 minutes. In contrast, camera drones can have flight times of up to 40 minutes, depending on the drone and setup. Then you’ll need a way to recharge the batteries, so you will also need a battery charger.
Let’s not forget that you still need a way to see where the drone is going so you need a pair of FPV goggles. There are many different brands of goggles and they are available as either analog or digital. Some goggles can work with both systems, regardless, the goggles will have to work with whatever FPV camera system you choose or the drone comes with.
These are just the tip of the iceberg of the many things that you need to consider when opting for an FPV over a camera drone. The amount of build options and accessories available for FPV drones is endless.
Conclusion
When comparing the differences between camera and FPV drones, we have barely scratched the surface. There are many more significant differences between the two that have not yet been discussed such as the camera systems, control of the drone, skills required, associated costs, etc. Hopefully, you’ve gained some understanding that not all drones are the same and you should know how you intend to use the drone before getting one.
As we touch more on the differences between drones, we will go a bit deeper into some of the topics covered earlier. The goal is that by the end of this series, you will have a much better understanding of drones and how they work. Stick around for part 2!