Thinking of getting one for a gift, and one for myself. Not major investment, but needs to be able to take pics.

I know virtually nothing, so any and all information is appreciated.

Don't want cheap, but not most expensive either - a good "starter" drone.

price range is a big factor these days, as the difference in a 200 drone vs 600 vs 1200 is remarkable.

I don't have any experience with any of them, but the features, built in stuff vs stuff you have to buy and mount to them, battery life, range, etc all add in to the price.

If you are looking for a good picture taker, there are several in the 1000 price range that seem to have great features but not top of the line price. Big one for me would be fly home ability, when batt runs low it automatically goes back to where it started from...

I have a dj phantom 3. It cost around 1000.00 but they are awesome. Has high def camera that takes live video or still pics. You can also watch your flight on live video feed. Has about a mile radius and I have got it up to 1600 ft. In altitude. Very easy to fly and has gps

Also a vote for the DJI phantom 3. I love the quality of the pictures and video. Get a couple of extra batteries.

There are many sub 1000 dollar ones that are really nice. Anything under about 500 won't take real good pics, the biggest difference is not the camera, it is the gyro camera mount.

This is about the best one I know of for the price. You want brushless motors.

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXFEPT&P=0

What is brushless motors? And why is this important?

Another vote for DJI phantom 3 pro.

Brushless motors don't have brushes, and last a very long time, they are also more efficient. They don't get hot like a brushed motor also. A much better design.

I've had a DJI Phantom 2 Plus for a year and 1/2 and love it. You control it via your cell phone with the DJI ap installed. It will auto takeoff...fly a programmed route and return to the takeoff location automatically. I use mine to run fence patrol...check game trail patterns and tank levels. If you fly it manually it takes a bit of practice...primarily because you lose track of the quads orientation when viewing it on a small iphone screen. You can take your hands off the controls and it will hover over a fixed location. The camera is hi def and gimball mounted. I got mine from BH camera and they thru in a couple batteries. Here's a short video
[video:youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=lcGnEoULslg[/video]

I'd stay away from DJI, they tend to have fly-away problems and minds of their own.

I'd look at

http://www.horizonhobby.com/media/chroma/

or

http://www.bladehelis.com/350QX3/

I have flown two DJI Phantoms and received a Galileo by Protocol for Christmas. The Galileo is fun, but camera is lacking.



^^^^sums it up^^^^^
The DJIs are way better than the Gallileo. I have not experienced any fly aways on the DJIs, but understand it can happen.

Guy brought a drone on a quail hunt the other day. I had forgotten about it, and during the afternoon, we were a ways from the truck and I heard this buzzing getting nearer and nearer....I thought we had stirred up the mother of all killer beehives!