8.1 What Drone should I get?

We get this question enough that we’ve developed a dedicated page for it here: Need to Pick a Drone. Check out this page for recommendations on everything from cheap drones to research drones.

In addition to purchasing drones directly from the manufacturer, we recommend checking B&H Photo since it’s widely available as a vendor within the UC System and you can often get an educational discount there.

8.1.1 Drones to Avoid

We like drones, but not all drones are equal. If you’re looking for a drone, check out the Need to Pick a Drone page, but if you’re looking for advice before you start looking, heed these words of wisdom: It’s always worth getting the right tool for the job; get a reputable drone from a reputable manufacturer.

Off-Brand Drones - DJI has the largest marketshare for drones, but its not unwarranted. Any drone you can find on Amazon or at Costco, BestBuy or Target that isn’t a DJI, is likely to under-perform. Drone companies to avoid - Holy Stone, DEERC, ORKNELY, etc

Tello - The Ryze Tellos have a partnership with DJI, but are not DJI drones and it shows. With poor flight handling and a very limited range, these $100 drones should only be used indoors and only for specific STEM curriculum activities - they’re not useful as a tool or for flight training.