Drones capture scenes and events in high-quality photos and videos during the day, but if you want to capture videos of the same caliber at night, you’ll need to find specialized drones with those capabilities.

Only professional drones could, until recently, capture quality nighttime images and videos. Fortunately, that has changed. Today, many consumer drones are capable of taking nighttime photos and videos in high quality.

The performance of the camera lens is also crucial when taking nighttime photos. Here, we’ll show you how to set up your drone for night photography and go over some important things to remember. In this article, we’ve ranked the top 10 drones for night photography out of a wide selection available for all price ranges. So let’s begin.

Best Drones For Night Photography

DJI Inspire 2: Top-Speed Drone For Night Photography

DRONE SPECS:

• Dimensions: 427 x 425 x 317 mm
• Battery Life: 27 min
• Max Speed: Up to 94 kph
• Max Range: 7 km
• Camera Resolution: Zenmuse X5S or X5R
• Video Resolution: 5.2K/4K; Full HD 1080p
• Weight: 3440 g
• Lens: 24mm F2.8 LS ASPH

The Inspire was the first drone manufacturer in the world to incorporate an HD transmission system, a 4K camera, and a 360-degree rotating gimbal. All with the ease of an app. 

Both the Zenmuse X5 and X5R cameras work with DJI Inspire and offer excellent video quality in low light, making them ideal for nighttime videography. The DJI Inspire 2’s high-quality cameras have further established it as a vital tool in the photography and videography fields.

Excellent micro 4/3 sensor on the X5S allows for H.265-compressed capture of 5.2k videos at 30 frames per second. Due to the eight lenses from 9mm to 45mm mounted on it, it can also take 20MP images in RAW format.

New image processing features on the DJI Inspire can record up to 5.2k in cinema DNG raw and Apple pores. It also has strong acceleration, reaching 50 mph (or almost 80 kph) from zero in just five seconds. This makes it simple for you to record videos of moving objects. Additionally, it can go 58 mph (roughly 94 kph) at its top speed.

The DJI Inspire has a dual battery system that allows it to fly for up to 27 minutes while using the X4S, giving you more time to take pictures and videos without having to constantly recharge it or change the battery. 

It has improved flight autonomy created especially for the DJI 2 inspire, as well as self-heating technology that enables it to fly even in low temperatures. For redundant sensor use and obstacle avoidance, it offers two directions. 

Additionally, the enhanced intelligence of this drone adds a variety of intelligent flight modes to its camera, including spotlight pro. This enables even lone pilots to produce complex dramatic shots.

For improved camera and pilot operator collaboration at night, it also has an upgraded video transmission system that can stream video from both the primary camera and an onboard FPV camera simultaneously over two channels and two signal frequencies. 

Powervision Powereye: 4K UHD Camera

DRONE SPECS:

• Dimensions: 513 x 513 x 310 mm
• Battery Life: 30 min
• Max Speed: Up to 70 kph
• Max Range: 5 km
• Camera Resolution: 16 MP
• Video Resolution: 4K 30fps, HD 4640 x 3480
• Weight: 3950g
• Lens: f/3.5 14-42mm

The stabilized 3-axis gimbal camera on the PowerVision PowerEye is capable of taking 4k and HD videos and photos and is compatible with interchangeable microlenses. You can quickly switch between them thanks to having multiple lenses. Additionally, the front of it has three built-in cameras. In order to give the drone pilot a better view while navigating, one of the cameras is primarily used to stream from the drone.

An obstacle avoidance sensor on the PowerVision PowerEye will alert you when the drone is within ten meters of an obstruction. This is helpful when flying it at night and will prevent you from crashing the drone.

The PowerVision PowerEye’s 30-minute flight time gives you plenty of time to record videos and take pictures without having to end your flight early. It will work for you when recording moving objects because of its impressive top speed of about 70 kph.

The drone’s thermal camera is one of its distinguishing characteristics. This is useful for nighttime rescue missions and building inspections. The three gimbal cameras can spin freely in any direction thanks to the landing gear retracting after takeoff.

Yuneec Typhoon H Plus: Capture Images At Wide Angles

DRONE SPECS:

• Dimensions: unknown
• Battery Life: 28 min
• Max Speed: Up to 30 mph
• Max Range: 1 mile (1.6km)
• Camera Resolution: 20 MP
• Video Resolution:  4K 60fps
• Weight: 1995 g
• Lens: F2.8

The Yuneec Typhoon H Plus is a hexacopter drone that can fly up to 31 minutes on one charge. It is the first professional hexacopter in the world with Intel RealSenseTM Technology, and it comes with a 360-degree camera mount. An advanced gimbal system is built into the airframe, which is made of durable, lightweight carbon fiber.

The most sophisticated hexacopter in its class is the Typhoon H Plus. It has a powerful electric motor with built-in propellers, a 3-axis gimbal camera, 6 rotors for added stability and safety, retractable landing gear, and other features. Using its remote controller or an iOS or Android app on your phone, the Typhoon H Plus can be controlled from up to one mile away.

A high-performance hexacopter, the Yuneec Typhoon H Plus features a 360° rotating gimbal camera that records stunning, fluid 4K video and 12MP still images. With the included CGO3+ 6-axis stabilized camera, you can record every second of your flight without ever experiencing a jello effect or rolling shutter.

DJI Phantom 4 Pro: Capture Images Under Low Light

 DRONE SPECS:

• Dimensions: 350 x 350 x 191 mm
• Battery Life: 30 min
• Max Speed: Up to 72 kph
• Max Range: 7 km
• Camera Resolution: 20 MP
• Video Resolution: UHD 4k 
• Weight: 1368 g
• Lens: 24mm f/2.8 – f/11

This drone is for you if you want the highest quality images possible. The DJI Phantom 4 Pro has a sizable 1-inch and a 20-megapixel CMOS sensor. The 24mm lens on the sensor has a variable aperture that ranges from f/2.8 to f/11. Other than using ISO sensitivity, the variable aperture enables you to control the amount of light captured. By doing this, you’ll be able to capture high-quality images and videos at night while avoiding overexposed scenes.

The DJI Phantom 4 Pro offers flawless 4k recording for excellent videography. By doing this, you can be sure that your drone will take high-quality pictures even when it moves quickly, encounters light bursts, or changes course frequently. 

The DJI Phantom 4 Pro has a FOV camera with a 94-degree field of view, which is its final feature. This enables it to capture wide-angle images and also enables you to configure the type and quality that interests you from the broad selection of formatting available in classic HD (1280x 720 24) up to UHD (4096x 2160), which is the 4K format.

DJI Mavic 2 Pro: Best Color Accuracy

DRONE SPECS:

• Dimensions: 322 x 242 x 84 mm
• Battery Life: 31 min
• Max Speed: Up to 44 mph
• Max Range: 4.9mi (8km)
• Camera Resolution: 20 MP         
• Video Resolution: 4K @ 30fps
• Weight: 2 pounds / 907 g
• Lens: f/2.8

A drone called the DJI Mavic 2 Pro has a fold-down size of a water bottle. With its 3-axis gimbal, the camera stabilizes shots taken from any angle and records video in 4K and 12MP stills. High-end flying capabilities of this quadcopter include a battery life of 28 minutes and top speeds of 72 km/h (45 mph).

A portable, foldable drone that produces professional-level pictures and video is the DJI Mavic 2 Pro. The camera captures footage in smooth, steady shots even when flying at speeds of up to 72 km/h (45 mph) and takes 20MP photos in DNG RAW or JPEG formats. On a single charge, the DJI Mavic 2 Pro can fly for 27 minutes.

Foldable drone with stunning 4K and 12MP photo and video capabilities is the DJI Mavic 2 Pro. It captures stunning video of landscapes, cities, nature, sports scenes, and more while flying up to 40 mph in sports mode.

DJI Mavic 2 Zoom: 4X Zoom Lens

DRONE SPECS:

• Dimensions: 322 x 242 x 84 mm
• Battery Life: 31 min
• Max Speed: Up to 44.7 mph
• Max Range: 4.9mi (8km)
• Camera Resolution: 12 MP
• Video Resolution:  4K; Full HD 1080p
• Weight: 2 pounds / 905 g
• Lens: f/2.8 (24 mm

The DJI Mavic 2 Zoom is the direct descendant of the first with a 4x zoom lens attached to the Mavic Pro. The ability to take detailed pictures of objects without getting too close to them makes this version ideal for both regular consumers and professionals who need greater focal length flexibility. The Mavic 2 Zoom has the same intelligent features as the Mavic 2 Pro, such as Hyperlapse, and directional sensors for avoiding obstacles. It can stay in the air for up to 31 minutes. The model has a two-times (or four-times) optical zoom lens with a field of view of 83 degrees (24 millimeters) to 48 degrees (48 millimeters) on a three-axis stub.

One of the photo modes is the SuperResolution mode, which automatically takes nine photos using optical zoom and merges them into a single, finely detailed 48-megapixel image. This mode is perfect for taking landscape photos. With the D-Cinelike color profile and bitrates up to 100 Mbps with support for the H.265 codec, the Mavic 2 Zoom’s video capabilities include 4K/30p, 2.7K/60p, and 1080/120p for slow motion. The Mavic 2 Zoom was the first and only drone up to this point to have an optical zoom lens. 

Read More:

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Parrot Anafi: A Folding Portable Drone

DRONE SPECS:

• Dimensions: 175 x 239 x 63.5 mm
• Battery Life: 25 min
• Max Speed: Up to 33 mph
• Max Range: 2.5mi
• Camera Resolution: 21 MP
• Video Resolution:  4K FHD 60fps
• Weight: 320g
• Lens: f/2.4 (23 mm)

The Parrot Anafi is a foldable drone that captures incredible aerial photos and videos. It has a six-axis gyroscope to ensure stable flight, three sensors for improved stability, and high-definition video recording in 1080p/30fps or 720p/60fps.

The Anafi can be folded up into a small package that is portable, allowing you to capture life as it happens from fresh angles.

A stylish, foldable drone with professional-grade 4K video and 12MP photos is the Parrot Anafi. Advanced safety features like obstacle avoidance and Return Home are included, and it can fly for up to 25 minutes on a single charge. Even shooting vertical videos with this tiny drone is possible with the DJI GO app.

DJI Mavic Air: Affordable Drone for Night Photography

DRONE SPECS:

• Dimensions: 168 × 184 × 64 mm
• Battery Life: 21 min
• Max Speed: Up to 42.5 mph
• Max Range: 2.4mi (3.8 km)
• Camera Resolution: 12 MP
• Video Resolution:  4K 60fps
• Weight: 430g 
• Lens: 24mm f/2.8

The DJI Mavic Air is the second smallest drone of the following the DJI Spark, DJI brand. It can be carried in a pocket because its wings are foldable, which reduces the chance of breakage during transportation. Do not be fooled by the Mavic Air’s diminutive size; this machine performs at a level befitting a much larger drone. It is even the first foldable drone to be able to record 4k videos at 60 frames per second. Mavic Air uses a 1/2.3-inch 12-megapixel CMOS sensor, or 135 frames at a 24-mm focal length. This drone has a lot of intelligent features.

Mavic Air’s impressive 32 MP sphere panoramas allow it to detect obstacles in three directions (front, bottom, and back) and follow moving objects with ease. Any photographer or videographer looking for a great drone without needing the best in terms of autonomy and flight range will find this model to be ideal. Mavic Air can fly for up to 21 minutes at a top speed of 68.4 kilometers per hour. It is forced to fly at a high altitude of 5000 meters by the official claim that it has five levels of wind resistance. This drone is cost-effective and suitable for night photography.

GoPro Karma (With Hero7 Black): 4k Image Quality

DRONE SPECS:

• Dimensions: 304 x 411 x 116 mm
• Battery Life: 20 min
• Max Speed: Up to 56 kph
• Max Range: 3km
• Camera Resolution: 12 MP
• Video Resolution: 4K 60 fps; 1080p
• Weight: 907 g
• Lens: 8.25mm

The GoPro Karma is distinguished by its very design that is nevertheless interesting: very flat, it is ultimately relatively compact once its arms folded. The GoPro Hero 7 Black is a good fit for nighttime shooting on this model of drone because it has a camera swappable feature. A brief review of the technical specs serves as a gentle reminder that the Karma is not a racer but rather a quadcopter designed for exploration, cruising flight, and aerial exploration. It has four brushless motors that give it a flight speed of almost 56 kph and enable it to contend with winds of up to 10 m/s.

A GPS/Glonass module provides stabilization, and the 14.8 V, 5100 mAh LiPo battery guarantees a flight time of 20 minutes, which we have been able to confirm in practice. The takeoff process is very straightforward: once the tiny landing gears are unfolded, arms are open and the propellers screwed on, the remote control is first turned on, then the drone. Of course, the Karma and the GoPro Hero7 Black produce identical images. The video is 4K/UHD at 60 frames per second.

Holy Stone Hs700: Quiet During Night Flight

DRONE SPECS:

• Dimensions: 220 x 220 x 155 mm
• Battery Life: 20 min
• Max Speed: Up to 15.5 mph
• Max Range: 300 m
• Camera Resolution: 12 MP
• Video Resolution:  1080p FHD
• Weight: 370 g
• Lens: 110°FOV

The Holy Stone HS700 is a good camera drone to get started with. It is not equally worthwhile for everyone, but for some people thanks to an affordable price and a good camera gimbal setup. A 1920x1080p Full HD camera with a 120° viewing angle is included with the HS700. Wide-angle settings like this are well-known from earlier times, when high-quality camera drones served more as flight platforms. Wide-angle photographs have the benefit of capturing a lot of scenery. In post-processing, using video programs, the image curvature can be fixed, but beginners shouldn’t count on this.

The gimbal, not the action camera that comes with the HS700, is its best feature! This model’s camera holder works with GoPro cameras. By doing this, you can drastically improve the camera technology on your drone and constantly add new action cameras. Follow Me and Return to Home are additional features of this model. Even though it is the least expensive drone on this list, you can take nighttime photos with this drone as well. Check out YouTube reviews if you’re curious about what a GoPro camera can capture at night.

How Do I Choose The Right Drone For Night Photography?

You must decide what you will use a drone for and how frequently before you purchase one. People frequently buy a drone without considering its features. Here are the top five factors to think about when selecting a drone.

Camera

The drone’s camera is its most crucial component, but there are a few other attributes and features to take into account. Do you plan to use it in the day or at night? Without a flash, taking nighttime photos can be difficult. You should choose a more powerful LED flashlight or a better lens option depending on how you intend to use your drone.

If you prefer to pilot your drone by seeing exactly what it sees in real-time rather than through the screen of your smartphone, FPV drones can provide a live view of what the camera sees right on your phone!

Range

A wireless controller (remote) may be included with some drones that are available for purchase, enabling you to operate your drone up to one mile away to take nighttime photos. When buying a drone with remote control, you should think about whether that kind of range is appropriate for your needs.

For example, drones made by DJI and Parrot have a range of up to 8 km which is more than sufficient to carry out various activities such as aerial videography or simply just taking some time off and relaxing while having fun with your friends by controlling the drone at a far distance.

Flight Time

It’s a good idea to think about the type of drone you want for night photography when comparing the prices and features of various drones. Some drones are more expensive because they have fashionable designs or other high-tech features. For instance, many drones come in two-piece sets that include the drone and an accessory, like a camera or an extra battery.

As a consumer, it’s crucial to make sure the products you select fit your lifestyle. Always think about how long your drone should go between charges, or check with the manufacturer to see if a replacement battery is offered. Visit their website to find any information quickly.

Budget

It’s safe to say that $3,000 is significantly more expensive than the average price if you’re on a budget, but drones have been seen as low as $700. Advanced aerial photography models typically fall in the middle, which in terms of price range, is somewhere between $1,500 and $2,200. However, much of it depends on what you plan to use your drone for.

Five Tips For Night Photography With Your Drone

The most seasoned pilots will tell you that aerial photography is an art that calls for a solid understanding of a few fundamental principles of photography as well as sound piloting principles. Starting at the beginning is the best strategy for learning night photography. So, remember these 5 pointers to get the best nighttime drone photos:

Prepare The Flight Plan

It is better to create a flight plan and save some time because the majority of drones have a limited amount of flight time. If you don’t have enough extra batteries, you should instead. Some drones have GPS and let you program circuits for automatic flight. For those who would rather concentrate on framing and shooting than on steering and stabilization, this mode is ideal. For your night photography, look for some interesting locations such as roads, bridges, and highways. Find some open areas like parks and rivers instead of flying over people, which is not recommended and is prohibited.

Make A Test Flight During The Day

Before nightly shooting, it is highly advantageous and desirable to conduct a test flight. To get a better sense of your location beforehand, conduct a test flight during the day. It is easier to do that during the day than at night, so you must specify a launch and landing location. To improve your sense of direction, look for nearby trees, pillars, and buildings. It would be a good idea to bring a friend along so you have an extra set of eyes. It’s crucial to choose a calm night because windy conditions will make it difficult to stabilize the image and may even cause your drone to lose altitude.

Set Your Camera For Night Shots

The key is to correctly configure camera features. By choosing manual mode and setting ISO to 100, you must first make the appropriate setting selections. The shutter speed should be set between 1.5 and 4 seconds. There are many factors that affect shutter speed, for instance: for moving cars, it is best to have about 2.5 sec shutter speed, but this factor also depends on the speed of the car. The Mavic, Inspire, and Phantom drones all have extremely impressive camera systems, including: the Zenmuse X3, X5, X5R, and XT. These cameras all provide a wide range of resolutions as well as a wide sensitivity range (to varying degrees): around 100 to 25600 ISO on the most sophisticated drones.

Always Take Multiple Shots

It is advised to take as many pictures as you can if you choose to take nighttime aerial photos. If your camera is capable of it, these pictures should be taken in DNG (RAW) format. When you take a picture, the sensor records all the image data, which is saved in the RAW file format. So, when using your drone at night, don’t forget to take multiple pictures.

Learn How To Post Processing

Once you’ve used your drone to capture nighttime images, you’ll need to know how to edit them in order to produce the best results. You can get much better long-exposure shots with a little bit of editing. To give your nighttime images a distinctive appearance, it is advisable to play around with the white balance settings, add lighting where necessary, and choose color saturation. You can learn how to edit exposure drone photos yourself by watching one of the many educational videos available on YouTube. Being a professional photographer is also a possibility here.

Related Post: Can You Fly a Drone at Night?

FAQs

Conclusion

You can see that drones can capture stunning nighttime images. Aerial photography is a skill that requires a lot of knowledge, and shooting at night is no different, if anything it is more difficult. We made an effort to cover everything that is related to night photography in this article because of this. We covered topics like advice for taking nighttime photos, selecting the best drone for the job and its camera, adjusting your camera settings, and, most importantly, a thorough analysis of the top 10 drones with all of their advantages and disadvantages. We also provided a detailed tutorial on how to operate a drone at night. Please feel free to leave a comment below if this article was helpful to you or if you have any additional thoughts.