In recent years, real estate photography has reached new heights—quite literally in this case!
Yes, the classic sweeping landscape photos can still impress some potential buyers. However, to make a huge and lasting impact these days, you need to elevate your digital listings through real estate drones.
Did you know that real estate listings with aerial photos or videos of the property tend to be sold twice as fast as the listings with only the standard images? Though many professionals use real estate drones for large properties, innovative ones apply this technology to showcase different types of properties in creative and exciting ways.
Given the myriad of choices available in the drone market now, which one should you choose? How can you tell which drone with a camera for real estate is the ideal pick for you?
In general, the best drone for real estate photos has the following qualities:
- Able to capture and produce professional-looking images and videos with little to no distortion
- Has intuitive controls and settings that can be easily grasped even by first-time drone users
- Offers great value for money
Here is my top recommendations for the best real estate drones in 2022.
Drone Comparison Table
| DJI Mavic Mini | DJI Mini 2 | DJI Mavic Air 2 | |
| Drone Weight | 0.5 pounds (226.8 grams) | 0.5 pounds (226.8 grams) | 1.3 pounds (589.7 grams) |
| Folded Dimensions | 5.5 x 3.2 x 2.4 inches (13.9 x 8.1 x 6.1 cm) |
5.4 x 2.3 x 2.0 inches (13.7 x 5.8 x 5.1 cm) |
7.1 x 3.8 x 3.3 inches (18.0 x 9.6 x 8.4 cm) |
| Camera | 12 Megapixels 60 FPS at 1080p resolution or 30 FPS at 2.7K resolution |
12 Megapixels 60 FPS at 1080p resolution or 30 FPS at 4K resolution |
48 Megapixels 240 FPS at 1080p resolution or 60 FPS at 4K resolution |
| Gimbal | 3-Axis | 3-Axis | 3-Axis |
| Flight Time | Up to 30 minutes | Up to 31 minutes | Up to 34 minutes |
| Range | Up to 2.48 miles (4,000 meters) | Up to 6.21 miles (10,000 meters) | Up to 6.21 miles (10,000 meters) |
| Speed | Maximum of 29 MPH (46.67 KPH) | Maximum of 35 MPH (56.33 KPH) | Maximum of 42.5 MPH (68.39 KPH) |
| Storage | SD Card Slot | SD Card Slot | 8 GB Internal Storage and SD Card Slot |
We’ll go through their respective technical specifications, as well as the pros and cons of each model. By the end of this article, you will have a better idea of what to look for in a drone for real estate photography.
1. DJI Mavic Mini – The Best Budget Drone for Real Estate Photography
If you need a more affordable drone with camera for real estate consider the DJI Mavic Mini or the DJI Mini 2.
Though the price of this model is bordering on the mid-range, choosing the DJI Mavic Mini over the cheaper options would give you more bang for the buck.
Because of its relatively small size, experts recommend using the DJI Mavic Mini for real estate indoor shots. It’s easy to manoeuvre so you won’t likely end up with blurred photos or shaky videos.
The battery capacity makes this drone also a good choice for the outdoors. Even if you fly it beyond its control range, the recording won’t be lost because it can be equipped with a micro SD card of up to 256 GB.
Take note the DJI Mavic Mini does not support smart controllers. Despite this, many users say that learning how to use this drone was a breeze for them.
2. DJI Mini 2 – The Best Real Estate Drone for Beginners
If you have a little more room in your budget, I suggest going for the DJI Mavic Mini’s successor: the DJI Mini 2.
As you can see in the specs in the drone comparison table, the camera features and control range of this model far exceed what most people expect out of entry-level real estate drones.
Moreover, using DJI Mini 2 for real estate photography is highly recommended for beginners because of its improved controllers. Even if you have not used a drone before, you can capture professional-looking 4K videos with just a few taps of your fingers.
The DJI Mini packs powerful features in a compact form. That’s another plus factor because users don’t have to get it registered beforehand. Despite being lightweight, it can also withstand strong winds so you can still expect it to produce clear and stable outdoor shots.
One of the main drawbacks of this model is its price. Compared to the other beginner-level drones, many consider it as a premium option.
If price is not an issue for you though, then the DJI Mini 2 is the best choice if you don’t have prior experience at flying drones or real estate photography.
3. DJI Mavic Air 2 – The Best Drone for Real Estate Photography 2022
The Mavic Air 2 for real estate photography has a lot to offer to professionals and amateurs alike.
You can get professional-level specs and features without breaking into the $1000+ price range. It has advanced controls as well, thus allowing users to capture a wide range of real estate photos and videos.
The 48 MP camera captures the attractive details—and even from a great distance because it comes equipped with a 2-level zoom function.
Users, especially beginners, would also appreciate the built-in obstacle sensor of this drone. Because of this feature, you don’t have to be incredibly precise while controlling it. The drone automatically avoids potential obstacles to the shots that you want to take.
Choosing the Mavic Air 2 for real estate photography would allow you to get professional-looking aerial shots without breaking a sweat. All of these benefits come with a relatively expensive price tag, however.
Still, a portable yet powerful real estate drone is a worthy and necessary investment to present your listing in the best light possible.
Hundreds of options exist in the market nowadays, but the best real estate drones are easy to use, reliable even during bad weather days, and consistent in producing high-quality results. Be sure to compare various models against your requirements and budget before deciding on your final pick.
Did any of the real estate drones recommended in this article match your expectations? Or do you have other suggested models for real estate professionals? Feel free to get in touch via the contact page.
