Back then when drones were a new thing in the consumer market professional drones like DJI were extremely costly.
They were well out of the budget of a normal consumer until other brands arrived in the market as competition.
As a result now almost a decade ago you can find professional drones with high-end gimbal-mounted cameras at a very budget price.
Nowadays cinematic drones are considered to be an integral piece of equipment for any professional photographer.
Apart from covering big events like concerts people even hire drone photographers to cover their private functions like marriage occasions, birthday parties, etc. On top of that drones are also being used for filmmaking purposes in recent times.
Before the drones shooting scenes from above requires a helicopter or an aircraft. But after drones equipped with high-resolution cameras were introduced in the market they became the much cheaper alternative to helicopters and aircraft for filmmaking purposes.
Also Read: BEST UNDERWATER FISH FINDER DRONES
10 Best Cinematic Videography Drones Under $800 in 2023
As you all know that a lot of social media influencers use cinematic videography drones for content creation. Because of the fact that currently there are a lot of brands with different models available in the market.
Which one you should choose is a very difficult task especially when you are searching for a drone with a price tag of $800. That is why to help you out we have already made a list of 10 Best Cinematic Videography Drones Under $800 in 2023 with there are detailed reviews and test results.
So without any further delay let’s jump into the article to find you the best Drone for your cinematic video purposes.
Also, you can explore DroneChest.com to find out plenty of more drones that come with all the essential features.
1. DJI Mavic Air
“The Most Compact DJI Ever”
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- Portable & Compact
- Lightweight Easy To Carry
- High-Resolution Camera
- Excellent Range
- Comes With single Battery
- Gimble Should’ve Been More Stable
In the lineup of DJI Mavic Drones lineup, this Mavic Air is the most smallest and compact. But still, the manufacturer has equipped it with the traditional foldable propeller Wings design to make it even more portable.
Because of that, you can easily fit it in the pocket of the jacket if you want. The weight of this DJI Mavic Air is even less than an iPad. Just like the majority of professional drones, this DJI Mavic Air comes with a controller however you can also fly it with your smartphone and the gesture controls.
We have also noticed that in all design and appearance the DJI Mavic is pretty identical to another model of DJI known as Spark.
However, these rooms are only aesthetically identical since both of them house different features and are intended for different purposes.
Since it is a very compact Drone as we have mentioned earlier that is why it comes in a smaller case which by the way looks high quality.
Because it is manufactured by DJI the build quality is top notch and it feels robust. The DJI Mavic Drone is available in a few different color schemes but we have found white and black the best since on bright colors it catches fingerprints and smudges pretty easily.
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2. DJI Mini 2
“Compact, Lightweight & Portable”
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- Great Camera
- Easy To Carry
- Excellent Range
- Amazing Battery
- No, Follow Mode
- Lacks Obstacle Avoidance Sensors on The Sides
The DJI Mini 2 drone when folded can be fit in your palm easily and it also offers the DJI traditional foldable propeller wing design. On top of that because of its lightweight aesthetics to fly it, you don’t have to register it with FAA.
For professionals who have to take their Drone with them all the time, this DJI Mini 2 is the best option under the price tag of $800.
The Mini 2’s three-axis gimbal camera is located up front. You also get a protective cover on the camera lens that can be taken off before the flight.
There is a USB-C port and an accessible microSD card socket on the rear. You can utilize it for on-the-go recharging. The battery flap is located above them, and replacing the battery and storage is simple.
We really appreciate this type of convenient swapping and other manufacturers should offer the same. The DJI Mini 2 lacks object avoidance scanners on its sides, front, and rear, unlike the Mavic Air and larger quadcopters.
Nevertheless, it has a few sensors at the bottom, so when it detects a material or object beneath, it immediately leaps up to dodge it.
A battery indicator and illuminations are also housed in the underside, allowing you to maintain the quadcopter in your line of vision, particularly at night time.
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3. Parrot Anafi
“Can Take Shots From Upward & Downward”
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- Easy To Fly
- Compact & Thin
- Camera is Excellent
- Fly Almost Silent
- Rough Weather Could Be Problematic
- Lacks Collision Detection
We have to admire the small and compact design of this Parrot Anafi drone, although it is comparatively bigger in length man folded it is almost the size of a small tripod.
It also comes with a provided case when you store the Drone in that case it almost looks like you are carrying a water bottle. On the other hand, you can not fit the controller in the case but owing to the fact that the controller can also be folded it is not a problem to carry it.
The weight of this Parrot Anafi is very light as compared to other similar drones including some of the DJI. With the compact size and lightweight aesthetics under the price tag of $800, it is one of the best drones you can buy for the purpose of your cinematic video.
At the front side of this Drone, you will find the gimbal-mounted camera and there is a special feature only this Drone can do. As you know that normally DJI drones cannot rotate their camera in an upward or downward direction.
But this Parrot Anafi is for this problem since it can rotate the camera in both upward and downward directions. Which enables you to capture shorts from right below the drone.
And this is not all sense the gimbal which holds the camera can also tilt, twist, and turn.
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4. DJI Spark
“Snap Pictures With Gestures”
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- Excellent Camera
- Small & Compact
- Many Camera Modes
- Stable Flight
- Only Singe Battery Included
- The Range is Very Limited
The DJI Spark has after all those years finally taken the crown from Mavic 2 for being the compact and small DJI drone. Apart from wings, this drone can easily fit in your palm, and on top of that, it is also pretty lightweight as well.
Because of that, your DJI Spark can easily take off from you and which makes flying it easier anywhere. Traveling with your DJI Spark is not even an issue because of its lightweight aesthetics you hardly feel any weight when you travel with it in your backpack.
Do remember that unlike other DJI drones it does not offer a foldable propeller Wings design which is fine since it is already very compact and portable.
We also like the idea of DJI Spark being available in many different color schemes apart from the Boring light grey color. On the other hand, we were very disappointed to find out that DJI Spark doesn’t offer a GPS Navigation system.
This is a big setback since it is equipped with all other cameras in safety features which even the majority of more expensive drones don’t have.
However, if you can ignore the fact that it doesn’t have GPS under the price tag of $800 because of its amazing camera it is definitely a great option for making cinematic videos.
This small drone also offers camera features like quick shots and gesture shots which makes photography more easy and more fun for you.
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5. Bwine F7GB2
“Meant For Professionals”
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- Easy To Set Up
- Dual Batteries
- Camera is Superb
- Integrated Night Vision
- No Obstacle Avoidance
- Minor Connection Issues
Bwine is not a new name in the Drone industry, the brand is well known in the market and they are even more famous for manufacturing remote-controlled RC cars for kids and their parts.
At the first glance, Bwine F7GB2 looks like a Drone which is meant for professional photographers and videographers. Undoubtedly it is but at a way cheaper price as compared to other similar drones.
Although with the landing gear and camera attached this Drone may look comparatively big but when you dismantle the landing and camera with folded Wings it becomes very compact.
Another good thing is that it comes with dual battery packs which enables it to fly for longer periods of time. The camera mount is below the drone at the front and it is holed by a 3-axis gimbal.
It is also equipped with stabilization Technology so regardless of the movement of the gimble you will be able to record smooth and stable footage.
On top of that, the 4K camera also offers a built night vision mod that allows you to take stunning night footage. With integrated 5 X zoom you can also take a better shot of your ideal location.
The Bwin F7GB2 has equipped with all the essential features and necessary flight modes you would ever need for your cinematic photography purposes.
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6. Ruko F11GIM2
“Excellent Camera Quality”
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- Gimbal Mounted Camera
- The Camera Quality is Amazing
- Excellent Range
- Flying is Easy
- Charging The Battery Takes Time
- The Body of The Camera Seems Fragile
The Ruko F11 GIM2 Drone offers a very familiar overall design as compared to other similar drones. The angular styling, foldable propeller wings, and blocky kind of body are what you get in the majority of professional drones.
We talked about the overall build quality everything seems well put together and it has a sturdy and strong feeling to it. Unlike other drones, the battery of this Ruko F11 GIM2 is fitted on the top part and can be replaced pretty easily.
The top of the battery also features power buttons and indication lights. These indication lights provide you with an idea about the charging status of the battery. If you want to take out the battery you can press a button on the side to release it.
At the front part of the drone, you can Mount the camera right under the nose. And yes a 3-axis gimbal holds the camera and place, we also like the color scheme Matte black of the entire drone but close to the black on the camera and gimble.
You can rotate the camera in any direction owing to the gimble which makes this Drone a perfect choice for cinematic video purposes under the price tag of $800.
While landing this Drone on uneven surfaces however you have to be careful since the body of the camera seems fragile.
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7. Tucok 193MAX2S
“Best in Class Obstacle Avoidance System”
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- Exceptional Flying Time
- Decent Range
- Excellent Obstacle Avoidance
- Full of Features
- Batteries Take Slightly Longer To Charge
- Comparatively Bulky Design
The best thing about this Tucok 193MAX2S Drone is it offers the best in class obstacle avoidance system. This is considered to be an integral safety feature for any Drone, especially for those which are meant for professional use like making cinematic videos.
The overall main design is pretty identical but you always get in other similar drones. It offers a very compact and slim main body and the foldable propeller wings enable you to carry this Drone anywhere you go easily.
The backpack you get with this Tucok 193MAX2S seems pretty high quality and you can easily fit your Drone and all office equipment in the bag.
That Dimple mounted camera can be found at the front of the Drone below the nose. Unlike other drones, Tucok 193MAX2S offers three battery packs included in the package which together provide it exceptional flying time.
Under the price tag of $800, the kind of specifications and features Tucok 193MAX2S drone offers are simply great, and not many drones offer this many features.
Having said that the controller on the other hand doesn’t feature any kind of display monitor however, there is an integrated small LCD screen that shows technical details about the Drone while you fly it.
All the Motors it features are brushless and battery efficient.
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8. Holy Stone HS360
“Features Rich & Portable”
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- Camera is Excellent
- Professional Level Features
- Decent Flying Time
- Image Stabilization
- Rather Limited Range
- Requires Some Experience
The Holy Stone HS360 it’s kind of a drone intended for people who wanted to jump from a mid-ranged quadcopter to a more professional quadcopter.
That is why do remember that it requires some flying experience and skills. The main design is pretty similar to what you get in other professional drones.
The foldable propeller wings make it more portable and easy to carry with you anywhere you go. The camera it features is high resolution as well as equipped with the feature of image stabilization.
It is mounted in a two-axis gimble which allows you to take stunning aerial shots. Under the price tag of $800, it is very uncommon to have an integrated display in the controller which is why the controller of the Holy Stone HS360 Drone requires a smartphone to be connected in order to provide you the live feed.
As we have mentioned earlier flying doesn’t require some skill and you have to collaborate on a lot of things before your First Flight. On the other hand, the controller looks more like a gaming pad with an LCD screen in the middle of the joysticks.
This screen is vertical instead of horizontal fashion like you get another similar drone. It can only show you important details like battery status, range, etc.
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9. Autel Robotics EVO Nano+ Premium Bundle
“Premium Bundle Included”
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- Exceptionally Lightweight
- Amazing Camera
- Premium Bundle Included
- Superb Flying Time
- Some What Limited Range
- The Controller Doesn’t Have a Display
As you know that for any drone wait matters a lot not only from you flying point of you but also because of the fact that larger and heavier drones are required to be registered especially in the USA.
It seems like Autel Robotics has thought of this and that is why they were very careful about the overall weight of the Autel Robotics EVO.
This is why this Drone is among many of those professional drones which you don’t have to register anywhere because of their lightweight aesthetics.
Apart from that the main design of the Autel Robotics EVO is the traditional one you get in many similar professional drones however we really liked the bright neon orange color scheme.
Enables you to Spot Your drone in the clear blue sky even in low light scenarios. On the other hand, you can also get Autel Robotics EVO in many different color schemes according to your choice and preferences Including the color Arctic white which in our opinion is the best.
To keep the weight under the limits the manufacturer had no choice but to use lightweight plastic for the build. However, at the same time, the Drone doesn’t feel flimsy instead it is decently strong and studied.
If you require a lightweight professional Drone for the purpose of making cinematic videos and the price tag of $800 then the Autel Robotics EVO is the best choice for you.
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10. EXO CINEMASTER 2
“Night Vision Mode”
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- Excellent Camera
- Advanced Features
- Night Vision
- 3 Batteries Offers Great Flying Time
- The Range is Rather Limited
- The Camera Body Feels Flimsy
It seems like the manufacturer has taken some inspiration from the DJI drones since the EXO CINEMASTER 2 Drone looks pretty identical.
However, the color scheme is entirely different with the branding on either side. Just like any other latest drone the EXO CINEMASTER 2 also features a foldable propeller Wings design which allows it to be more compact and easy to carry.
The backpack it comes with it is more like a Briefcase and the quality seems decently good. There are three additional batteries that come in the cloud in the package and together they allow this drone to provide you with exceptional flying time.
The build quality of EXO CINEMASTER 2 seems pretty good as you would expect from a professional drone under the price tag of $800.
At the front of the Drone, you will find the gimbal-mounted camera which offers crisp image quality. For your purpose of videography and photography r making cinematic shots, this camera is more than enough.
It is also equipped with intelligent flying modes and AI Technology which allows it to be aware of certain situations in case of an emergency.
The controller on the other hand is very compact and fits in your hands pretty well. At the same time, the controller doesn’t feature any foldable design which is fine since it is already very compact.
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Here you go with our list of Best Cinematic Videography Drones Under $800 in 2023 with their detailed reviews and test results.
Apart from the high-resolution gimble-mounted camera, there are a few other essential requirements that you should make sure the Desire Drone is equipped with before buying.
Portability, as you may know, almost all the latest drones for making cinematic videos and aerial photography come with foldable propeller wings design which makes their size compact.
So you can easily carry them with you in their provided backpack wherever you go. For any drone especially if you want one for photography purposes maximum flying range is very important.
Drones that offer long-range enable you to capture stunning aerial visuals of the places you cannot reach personally. And without offering excellent flying time a Drone with long-range capabilities is of no use.
To ensure the safety of Drone manufacturers these days equipped them with many safety features including obstacle avoidance sensors, GPS navigation, back-to-home features, auto hovering, and emergency stops.
If in the worst-case scenario you lost the signal from your Drone to your controller it will start hovering or comes back to the take-off point.
If the battery of a drone gets low and it crashes somewhere because of that the GPS Navigation system will allow you to detect the last location of your drone.
If you are still not sure which Drone from the above you should choose then you can read our detailed Beginner’s Drone Buying Guide. And also don’t forget to visit DroneChest.com for all kinds of drones and their accessories under every price range.
In my leisure time, I love to read books, fly my drones and have a cup of coffee.
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