Looking to buy a Drone and overwelmed by the choices

J

Jason M

New Member
I have thought about a drone for a long time. Recently started searching various sites on the internet and there are so many makes and models that it makes my head spin trying to decide what will be right for me.

The things I am looking for are real time camera, easy to assemble, and long flight time. I also like the idea of one button push return. The camera doesn't have to be HD or anything.

The flight time is the thing I am having the hardest time finding. Seems like every drone I look at shows 6 to 8 minute flight time. Would really like to get something abit higher than 8 minutes. I recall seeing one that claimed 17 minutes but it didn't have a camera. I would like to try and keep it at or under $200. I have flown a few cheaper helicopters with about average skill (enough to not tear them up lol) and what I have read drones are easier to fly than helicopters?
 
Jason M said:
I have thought about a drone for a long time. Recently started searching various sites on the internet and there are so many makes and models that it makes my head spin trying to decide what will be right for me.

The things I am looking for are real time camera, easy to assemble, and long flight time. I also like the idea of one button push return. The camera doesn't have to be HD or anything.

The flight time is the thing I am having the hardest time finding. Seems like every drone I look at shows 6 to 8 minute flight time. Would really like to get something abit higher than 8 minutes. I recall seeing one that claimed 17 minutes but it didn't have a camera. I would like to try and keep it at or under $200. I have flown a few cheaper helicopters with about average skill (enough to not tear them up lol) and what I have read drones are easier to fly than helicopters?
Click to expand...
Sounds like you are in the market for a brushed quad and rather than looking for a lot longer flight times you might just buy a couple extra battery packs. SYMA x5C is a great starter depending on what you are planning to do. Is this something you are getting to help you get into quads, or are you getting something for a bit of extra fun in your life?


@Mike H.
 
The SYMA X8C has the longest flight times of any brushed type quads i know..mainly due to the 2s lipo as opposed to a single cell lipo...most any 7.4v quad is going to be better flight time wise..A 350mah 1s lipo wont last as long as a 2s 350mah lipo...The syma x8 has something like a 2200mah 2s battery..flight times can be easily over 10 minutes...Price is around $100 or so for the x8c.

The camera is basic..nothing special.

You wont find a simple one button "return to home" quad that actually works without a much more expensive quad using a true GPS system...The RTH feature advertised on the low dollar quads are pretty much a joke...you may be inclined to actually call it a scam.

If this is your first quad, i recommend the same as mentioned with getting SYMA X5C-1 to start with then move up at a later time to something else...its the same camera on the x8c just in a different body case..flight times arent all that great though with all the gear attached..just under 5 minutes is average flight time.

Without the prop gaurds and camera and landing gear you might can see over 7 minutes.
 
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Welcome, by the way! I second(third?) the Syma X5C 1 recommendation. Because it doesn't come with lot's of whistles and bells, you have to fly it all the time. That is why I think it is such a great trainer. It has the same "feel", when flying, of a larger quad. It's one of the favorite practice quads of the members here. Be sure to buy extra props and batteries when you order the quad. Any quad for that matter. Here is an Amazon link for you to look at;

http://www.amazon.com/Syma-Explorer...TF8&qid=1447595906&sr=8-3&keywords=syma+x5c+1
http://www.amazon.com/Teenitor-Batt...bxgy_21_2?ie=UTF8&refRID=0JY85RE48YDEW2JAQZG7
http://www.amazon.com/Syma-Blades-P...bxgy_21_3?ie=UTF8&refRID=0JY85RE48YDEW2JAQZG7

The upgraded 680mah batteries fit perfectly and give you a few extra minutes of flight time. I recommend that you remove the camera and center landing gear until you stop crashing regularly. It will also extend your flight time.
You are, of course, welcome to buy from any vendor you choose. I strongly caution you about buying direct from China right now. They are in economic chaos and there are numerous threads on the forum about the problems this has caused. Truly buyer beware.
One more word of advice. Once you get your first quad you WILL become an addict. There is no cure. The only known relief is to OWN MORE QUADS!!!!:D
 
Recently got a Syma X5C-1 and would recommend it for a starter. Bought a couple extra batteries and a charger so I can charge all 3 at one time. I'm new to this but mine flies good (we're talking hovering here). Did loose it in the wind the other day but after landing upside down it was fine.

I bought mine from Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00WH0ITJK/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_KLlswbXD1VPPD
was Prime so I know it came from local warehouse and I didn't have to wait a month. Upon arrival the video didn't work so Amazon offered me a return/refund or 50% refund, I took the 50% refund. At this point I really didn't care about the camera that much, it will take stills.
 
Hello appreciate all the comments. I might go for the inexpensive one with some extra batteries. Give me an idea if I am going to actually enjoy it and if so I can always look to upgrade down the road.
 
Jason M said:
Hello appreciate all the comments. I might go for the inexpensive one with some extra batteries. Give me an idea if I am going to actually enjoy it and if so I can always look to upgrade down the road.
Click to expand...

You will enjoy the Syma x5c-1. It is a lot of fun and can do more than most quads in it's class. It is pretty cheap too so you can start here and save money to buy something nicer when you are ready and confident.

I started with the bigger Syma x8c and love it, but it is so big and heavy that it can be dangerous for a beginner. It has headless mode (there's a x5 version with headless I beleive it is the X5sc-1). Headless mode can be used sort of as a return to home feature. Headless means you can fly without keeping up with the orientation of the quad. If you start to loose orientation, switch to headless and when you pull the stick back it comes back, left it goes left, right it goes right etc. as long as you set the quad in the direction you will be flying when you first turn it on.

But for your first quad I recommend save the extra money, get a basic x5c-1 for cheap and have a lot of fun learning to fly. Because once you get one quad, you will want more. After you get used to the cheap one, you will not only feel much more confident about not crashing an expensive one, but you will have a much clearer idea of what you really want.
 
Hi there I'm new to the forums also. You've pretty much answered the question I was going to ask. I'm brand new to quadcopter flight but have owned and flown a few fixed wing rc planes over the years (different ballgame I know) and received what I believe is a syma x5 clone (top race q511) however that hasn't got off the ground as one motor seized before 1st flight and a 2nd burned out on take off attempt so is being returned to Amazon. I guess I'm best buying a x5 until I get familiar on the sticks. I'd like jump up to an x8 - possibly the x8g as it's got the 8MP cam, I'd ultimately want a phantom but that's a long way down the flight log!
 
The x8 is awesome. I started with an x8c. The only thing, it is big and really heavy so you have to be real careful until you get used to it because you can break something, or hurt someone seriously with this.

Personally I think the cams on the x8's are all bad, even on the G. I would say, save the extra money and get an x8c then upgrade the camera to a runcam, mobius, or SJ4000. It can lift any of those with ease. It can even lift a gopro with the whole waterproof case and everything, but it fly's awesome with the lighter cams I first mentioned.

Just so you know, I cannot say enough about how impressed I am with my x8c. It isn't real fast, but it is really powerful and an amazing camera platform, fly's an impressive 420 +/- meters distance completely stock, stays in the air for a solid 10min+ every time I fly even loaded with the SJ4000 cam and it has survived several hard crashes with no damage.

I now have a x6c-1 too. It is perfect for beginners, except it doesn't have headless mode. But honestly, headless mode can be a crutch for beginners that becomes a bad habit. It's better to learn to fly with orientation first I think.
 
Hi Glo. Thanks for the advice. Seems like they're 2 solid choices then. I'm off to my local hobby shop today that sells both, so I'll make my choice there. Agree with you on headless mode being a crutch. Glad the X8 takes a decent payload too. Are the motors easy to replace on both quads?
 
Ironforge said:
Hi Glo. Thanks for the advice. Seems like they're 2 solid choices then. I'm off to my local hobby shop today that sells both, so I'll make my choice there. Agree with you on headless mode being a crutch. Glad the X8 takes a decent payload too. Are the motors easy to replace on both quads?
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I have heard they are easy to replace on both. I have had my motors out on the x8 and it was very simple. They have plugs too so no soldering. I haven't had the motors out on the x5 yet, but there are lots of videos on YouTube showing you how.
 
FWIW, on my X5C the (video) camera being used cuts a good chunk of the flying time due to it's own power consumption. Great little starter quad, underpowered for outdoors unless it's practically dead calm and a little less maneuverable than I wanted.
 
Warning: JRC X6....(Tarantula) 2015-2016 Generation 2...."New Version"....feature different suppliers of electronics. The electronics, including accelerometer and gyro, both are greatly flawed. 50% of all "New Version" reported...RC groups...are flawed. GearBest and several others (they are aware of this issue) continue sales...many other suppliers have STOPPED.
 
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