Ah yes, the much talked about quadcopter. That piece of gear that every videographer and filmmaker craves to have in their bag of tricks. But what is the best quadcopter for GoPro?
GoPro is a brand par excellence when it comes to buying high-quality ActionCams. Since one can rely on high-quality footage and longevity when buying a camera from the manufacturer, you might want to buy a quadcopter to go with your GoPro.
They can be attached to a myriad of surfaces and objects, from helmets to bikes to backpacks to drones, and users can feel confident going in that they will get quality results from whatever action-packed activities ensue once the camera starts rolling.
One of the most exciting, versatile forms of GoPro filmmaking to emerge in recent years is unmanned aerial videography. A drone-mounted GoPro can capture events from heights and angles that no bike could ever dream of achieving (and please, for the love of all that is good and holy, do NOT try this!).
Quadcopters – What You Need To Know
One of the technologies making the greatest strides in the outdoor filming arena is the oft-heralded quadcopter.
Quadcopters offer the latest and greatest in lighter-than-air leisure activities and filmography. These lightweight, four-rotored machines provide greater, more targeted handling, a more stable flight, and a reduced potential for damage to both surroundings and themselves in the unlikely event of a crash.
Quadcopters are used in all manner of visual media, from newscasts to large-studio filmmaking, to bring depth and perspective to a vast array of events.
The breakthrough of quadcopters in the model- and leisure-flight industry in the last two decades, then, is no surprise to anyone.
Neither is the advent of dozens of sizes, shapes, and models of quadcopter for amateur and professional aerialists, stuntmen, and filmmakers alike!
Let’s quickly take a look at the current bestsellers on the market today:
However, as with anything worth giving a damn about, not all quadcopters are created equal, and muddling through so many options offering so many promises can be an exhausting, daunting task.
That’s why we have put together a list of our favorite quadcopters to fit specifically with GoPro, so you know even if the quadcopter itself is the first purchase in a series of step-up copters, you will always be able to mount your best camera for the best performance.
First! Before we get started on the good stuff, there are two things to note about using a GoPro with a drone.
Certainly, mounting a GoPro onto a drone is far different from granting an ordinary camera the power of (temporary) flight, and quite often offers much better performance overall.
- The GoPro is lighter than most conventional cameras, so the drone won’t be bogged down by a bunch of added weight.
- The GoPro is designed to handle the rugged elements; its unique engineering allows it to take poundings that would forever ruin many other similar cameras on the market.
We’ll tackle this list with those points in mind, and they’ll be mentioned throughout the discussion of the various quadcopters.
Best Quadcopter for GoPro
Let’s take a detailed look at 7 of our favorite quadcopters for GoPro. There’s no special order here, but we’ll cover the pros and cons of each as we go through the list.
1. GoPro Karma drone
There are a large number of drones on the market that are compatible with the GoPro. Among them is a quadcopter developed by GoPro, the GoPro Karma.
First on the list in terms of pure compatibility and convenience, as well as the highest potential for perfect quality, we have the GoPro Karma Drone.
There are several equipment variants of this model in a decent range of prices, giving you a lot of leeway in which version of the GoPro camera you prefer.
In the world of flying technology, every gram counts. Camera, quadcopter, and all, this package rounds out to almost 1900 grams, but this includes a powerful battery and brushless motors to compensate.
The manufacturer states that a fully-equipped GoPro Karma drone has roughly 20 minutes of flight time, but this can vary based on flight behavior, speed, and outside factors such as weather.
A fully drained battery takes about two hours (120 minutes) to charge.
Because both the Karma and GoPro are designed by the same manufacturer, they are built to function off of each other.
The Karma comes with a stabilizer (that can also be removed and attached to the grip itself) to ensure absolutely shake-free video with any GoPro camera; and the Karma grip is built to work with almost any GoPro mount for aerial, handheld, or body-mounted, shake-free footage.
- Karma Captures amazingly smooth GoPro footage in the Air, handheld or body mounted
- The Karma Drone folds to fit into the included lightweight case. Take it anywhere. When you’re...
- The Karma stabilizer Captures breathtaking shake-free video both in the Air and on the ground
- Remove the Karma stabilizer and attach it to Karma grip for ultra steady, professional-looking...
- Karma grip works with GoPro mounts, including the built-in shoulder mount on the Karma case, to...
Here’s another top drone for GoPro.
2. Walkera QR-X350
If you want to look at a lower-priced option, we highly recommend the Walkera QR-350 quadcopter.
For a lower-priced option that doesn’t compromise too much on quality, we recommend the Walkera QR-350 quadcopter.
This model is compatible with GoPro 3, 3+, and 4, and is built to fly safely without compromising too much on video quality, making it the perfect starter system for aerial videography novices.
The Walkera QR-X350 comes with the G-2D Brushless Gimbal System to mount the GoPro camera and has multiple user-assistance systems to ensure a quiet flight and clean recordings.
It even has the capability to pull a few stunts with the camera mounted and is built for speed and agility in midair.
For an additional cost, this model offers a GPS, homing function, and an Intelligent Orientation Control (IOC) mode specifically engineered to produce shake-free video while in the air.
This mode – also known as “headless flight” mode in other quadcopters – allows the user to control the quadcopter with the joystick regardless of how it is positioned in the air or the position of the camera and front of the drone.
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BEST QUADCOPTER FOR GOPRO
What Are Quadcopters For GoPro?
Quadcopters are a type of drone, which is usually used for aerial photography and videography.
Quadcopter drones can be equipped with cameras that shoot video in HD quality, depending on the model and brand.
The quadcopter’s propellers provide thrust to lift the device off of the ground and power it through the air.
Most quadcopters are controlled by remote control or a smartphone app, but newer models being made have autonomous features such as GPS-enabled flight modes that allow them to fly without manual input from their operators.
3. 3DR Solo drone
The 3DR Solo Drone is perfect for you if you are looking for a drone that works well with GoPro cameras of all sizes and weights.
The quadcopter has been specially designed to work exclusively with GoPro cameras. For the development, the company GoPro and 3D Robotics have cooperated with each other to design and manufacture this great piece of kit.
This cooperative relationship on the project brings many benefits. For example, the Gimbal head is designed so precisely for GoPro devices that the installation of the cameras is possible quickly and without much tinkering.
A shake-free and error-free image is also guaranteed if you use the 3DR Solo Drone in combination with GoPro cameras.
- Solo’s video game-style controller will feel familiar the second you pick it up, even if you’ve...
- In case you missed it in the picture…that’s a high-quality HDMI port directly from the...
- Full-featured app for iOS and Android puts total craft control at your fingertips.
Gimbal head – 3DR solo drone extra for GoPro
The GoPro ActionCams HERO3, 3+, 4 Silver and Black fit perfectly in the 3-axis stabilization gimbal.
A contact on the gimbal head records the signal from the camera, forwards it to the drone, and sends the live image directly to your remote control and your smartphone or tablet.
The live image has an HD resolution of 1280 x 720 pixels, but on the memory card, the full picture quality is recorded, which you have previously set.
Since the maximum load of the gimbal head is only 420 grams, it is not possible to use cameras other than ActionCams for this drone. This can be a disadvantage. If you’re looking for a drone for GoPro cameras anyway, then the 3DR Solo is perfect.
However, as we mentioned earlier, you might be looking to purchase a quadcopter for use with other types of cameras and not just a GoPro. Who knows what kit you might have down the road?
Unfortunately, the GoPro Hero 5 series does not work with this gimbal head because the ports are not compatible.
On the other, anyone who owns a GoPro of the 3rd or 4th generation will easily be able to take great videos, because thanks to the precise cooperation between the GoPro and the drone system, access to all settings and functions of the camera is possible without breaking down the GoPro itself.
Video recording can be triggered during the flight via smartphone or tablet. This makes the 3DR Solo Drone one of the best drones for GoPro cameras.
- 3-axis gimbal ensures solid GoPro performance. NOTE , the gimbal is only good for 3dr drone, not...
- Capture smooth and fluid HD footage every flight
- Stabilized to within 0.1 degrees of pointing accuracy.
- Please refer the User Guide before use.
- Please refer the "How to use Video" from the image section before use which is very essential and...
4. Yuneec Q500 Typhoon
A drone for GoPro cameras with excellent price/performance ratio is the Yuneec Q500 Typhoon, which we can highly recommend. It is perfect for all GoPro models.
The Typhoon is very stable in the air and produces clean, high-quality images.
The fact that this drone produces such high-quality video recordings, is mainly due to the high-quality gimbal and the camera positioning.
What we find particularly cool is the handheld Gimbal Steadygrip G, which is included in the delivery. So you can also do normal selfie video if that’s your thing.
This is a really safe drone for your GoPro and it comes with a couple of thumbs up from us.
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BEST QUADCOPTER FOR GOPRO
Advantages of Using Quadcopters For GoPro
• Consistent capture of footage with aerial shots for a unique perspective.
• Get the same shot from multiple angles by flying the quadcopter in various directions.
• Quickly switch shooting perspectives to get amazing new cinematic effects, both indoors and outdoors.
• Capture editing-friendly video from the sky/air.
• Relatively low cost for quality footage.
5. DJI Phantom 2
Considered a bit of an oldtimer at this point, the Phantom 2 still packs a punch.
Though an older model at this point, the DJI Phantom 2 still packs a mean punch. Despite its age, the gimbal has been specifically designed to fit the GoPro Series 3 and 4 cameras.
It offers a 20-25 minute flight time and self-tightening propellers per manufacturer specs.
The three-axis gimbal included in many of the new special packages ensures your camera will have a stable ride from takeoff to landing in almost any weather conditions (or at the hands of any experience level of user).
This model is also an excellent choice for users who haven’t bought or are moving away from GoPro cameras, as it fits with the Phantom 3 Pro and Phantom 4 cameras (which have better camera quality anyway, so…).
The DJI Phantom 2 is an excellent quadcopter for those looking for a solid price-performance ratio, as the cost has dropped steeply after the release of the DJI Phantom 3.
- Fun flying by itself or even better with a GoPro to record the action
- The latest Phantom 2 comes with the new remote controller, new propulsion system and new compass
- The Zen muse H4-3D gimbal is included in this bundle and requires installation and calibration using...
- A GoPro camera is not included; please purchase a GoPro Hero4 Black Edition to utilize the camera...
6. DJI Phantom 3
The Phantom 3 is also perfect for ActionCams, as the gimbal is designed to work perfectly with such cameras.
The DJI Phantom 3 is the perfect choice for those users who prefer high-quality designs geared toward ActionCam compatibility.
The Phantom 3 is a step up from the Phantom 2 in both price and quality; while it may cost more, it comes optimized with new features and an extended run time.
Manufacturer specifications dictate a top speed of 60 kilometers per hour and a flight time of ~25 minutes, depending on flight behavior and weather factors. The total weight of the Phantom 3 is 1200 grams (1.2 kilograms).
It offers 4K ultra-high def video and a fully-stabilized 3-axis gimbal included. Live viewing of up to 720p is possible, while the internal microSD card records and retains full resolution.
An important consideration with any DJI product is your maximum budget. The Phantom 3 is included here due to its mid-range price point between the Phantom 2 and Phantom 4 Advanced.
While it is a more advanced drone for more experienced users than the Phantom 2, it is a less capable and quality-optimized drone (though with a longer proven track record) than the Phantom 4 Advanced.
- 4k UHD video recording with fully stabilized 3-axis gimbal; Vision Positioning system allows stable...
- Lightbridge digital streaming allows live viewing of 720p video (full resolution video is...
- Included flight battery and rechargable remote controller means this system is ready to fly out of...
- DJI Pilot app for iOS and Android allows live viewing and complete camera control (phone/tablet sold...
- Kindly refer all the Tutorial Videos given in the Image Section on the Catalog before use for the...
Cheap Quadcopters for Your GoPro Camera
For a smaller budget, you can also find quadcopters that are great for use with ActionCams.
For some models, however, you have to compromise on the performance as soon as a GoPro is installed. The performance of the following drones is sometimes a bit too low to fly with the kind of fast and agile performance that some of the previous models let you do.
As always, your mileage may vary (pardon the pun!)
Ensure that you do plenty of research on your needs and requirements.
The trick with cheaper copters is to judge the price point against any advantages and disadvantages.
With any cheap quadcopter, you compromise performance as soon as any high-quality camera is installed, let alone a GoPro. It is important to do thorough research as to your camera/drone needs, depending on which you have, especially if you are starting with a camera and currently on the prowl for a good, compatible drone.
Know the specs of your camera (including weight!) and its software, which drones are and are not compatible with that camera/software, and, if possible, what you will compromise as far as video quality with each potential combination.
For this next drone, keep these considerations in mind if you are actively searching for a compatible drone for a currently-owned camera.
7. Syma X8C
The Syma X8C is delivered “ready to fly” and is perfect for flight novices. So if you have never flown with a drone and are looking for a very cheap model for your GoPro, then the Syma X8C should be included in the shortlist.
For the price point, you should not expect too much compared with the professional options discussed in this article.
The Syma X8C is the perfect model quadcopter for day-one novices or those with a history of crashing their copters out the gate.
It’s even delivered fully functional and ready to fly, for those of you (…us…) who are less mechanically inclined than we ought to be for such a technologically-based hobby.
If you are looking for a very cheap model to fit your GoPro, the Syma X8C should be shortlisted for your consideration.
However, as stated above, the price of a quadcopter directly correlates to the performance you can expect.
The flight time of the Syma X8C is only 7 minutes, and the 2s LiPo battery requires a full two hours (120 minutes) to charge.
It is highly recommended that any interested users purchase multiple spare batteries (at least 2, for a total of 20 minutes run time). These are quite cheap and can be found in several online or brick-and-mortar stores.
- Brand Name: Syma Item Name: 2.4G 4CH RC Quadcopter with 2MP 5MP Wide Angle Camera Item NO.: Syma X8C...
- Playing Time: 7mins Charging time: About 200mins Battery: 7.4V 2000mAh Li-on Battery for...
- Features: With camera, can take video and picture. With headless mode function. The 6-axis system...
- 2.4 technology adopted for anti-interference.even more than one quadcopter is flying at the same...
- Package Included: 1 x Quadcopter 1 x Transmitter 1 x Camera 4 x Blade 4 x Protection Frame 4 x Skid...
Why Are GoPro Cameras Suitable For Flying?
In drone flying, every single gram counts, as your flight time is limited by the size of your battery, and your mobility is limited by how much shorter you want to cut your flight time. Simply put, more aerial acrobatics equals faster battery depletion.
For these reasons, any interested drone aerialist should take into account weight vs quality ratios with every component of the drone, from rotors to blades to gimbal to the camera itself.
Aside from using a smaller drone with a pre-mounted, fixed camera, ActionCams are the best choice to capture high-quality drone flight video.
GoPro, then, is an ideal choice for users who want the flexibility to install their camera on a wide range of brands and styles of drone, especially for extreme sports videographers and hobbyists.
Due to the above-average price point of GoPro models, users can expect every model to deliver on the promise of a good video when combined with almost any mount-compatible drone.
Their durability and waterproof shell offer protection against weather and most human error (how many times have you crashed your quad this month?) while maintaining their high-quality video standards.
Due to technical and software developments in the past decade, GoPro consistently tops the charts in terms of image quality.
Even so, many manufacturers have turned away from offering GoPro-compatible drones in favor of pre-mounted cameras built in-house.
Models such as the DJI Mavic Air and the DJI Mavic Pro especially have standardized the portable, easily-flyable camera.
Still, the quadcopters in this list represent what we consider the best of the bunch on the market right now!
Best Quadcopter for GoPro – In Conclusion
So we’ve come to the end of our list of the best quadcopters for GoPro. In this list, we have only covered a few we considered to be top-of-the-line (or at least cheap and flyable).
When considering any quadcopter purchase, it is important to know your stuff going in. If you don’t know exactly what “your stuff” is, or even where to begin to learn, here are a few considerations to jumpstart your next shopping spree:
- Any specific project requirements, especially if the final product is anything other than a hobby video.
- Minimum quality budget and maximum performance budget.
- Weight of the quadcopter, as well as the weight it will be able to carry (I.e. weight of your camera and any gimbals or attachments).
- Portability of the quadcopter.
- Any fancy features you need/want, such as…
- Crash sensors.
- Mission control options such as tablet compatibility and live-stream requirements.
- GPS.
- Homing functions.
- Programmability.
By “bell and whistles” we mean the fancy features and design aspects that some quadcopters come with. For example, sensors on the quadcopter that alert you if you’re going too close to a solid object that might cause a crash.
All in all, you need to consider all questions and really think deeply about what you need the quadcopter for. It’s not a chap purchase, so getting this right from the start is very important.
It is important to consider all of your needs and purchase a model that will serve all of those functions, even if it means jumping a price point. Otherwise, your video quality will suffer.
We hope this article has at least given you a head start on your next quadventure (get it? Get it? Shutting up…).
Did we miss your favorite quadcopter? Are there other options you believe would better fit this list? Let us know in the comments.
We hope this article on the best quadcopter for GoPro has been useful. And we wish you luck in choosing the right quadcopter for your GoPro!
Did we miss out your favorite quadcopter? Let us know in the comments just below here.
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awesome, have an idea of what quadcopter to buy now!!
That’s brilliant!
Cheers for the comment.