Rick, I got hooked a short time ago myself. Welcome. I think you'll find many of us started with a Syma X5 and most still have one. It's the most commonly recommended beginners quad for a reason - it's great. It's easy to learn on but in high mode it's actually pretty "sporty" and it gets you ready for the next level.
But unless you really have to have that Upair One any time soon, there's a LOT more fun to be had before you spring for a high-dollar camera platform. There's such a thing as just simple "sport flying" where you take the camera off your Syma X5 and just fly for fun. A big open field helps.
Like I said, I just got hooked a while ago and I do plan to move up to a faster, brushless quad. But in the meantime here's how a recent evening at the local park started out the other night. There are a lot of fun quads to fly and they're all different. None of the ones you see cost more than $60. Right now the Tarantula X6 (large white one) is the fastest and most agile in the air, and I'm still practicing with that one. Notice the Syma X5 - I always just throw it in with all the others and fly at least once. It's always fun, especially in a big open area like a football field.
I'm going to buy (probably) an MJX Bugs 3 but I'm not in a hurry. I'm still having fun with the toys and might for most of the summer. I go out and fly almost every nice evening after work.
