Brand:
DJI Smart Controller
Congratulations to Javier Sotomayor, November 2023 PFRE Photographer of the Month! The theme this month was "Open." Javier Sotomayor - Entry #879 Dave Koch - Entry #877 Peter Wingfield - Entry #874 Here's what Javier has to say: Hello First of all I wa ...
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Drones are designed for capturing incredible aerial footage and to give you views your normal camera can’t. However, a drone requires additional accessories to make your device easier to use and safer. I’ve compiled this list of the best drone accessories to help you know what to bring along on your next real estate
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Drone accessories can enhance your flying experience whether you’re shooting pictures or video in ways you may have not thought of. I have covered a wide range of price points to ensure you find accessories that fit your budget.
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Brand:
DJI Smart Controller
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Brand:
Lowepro DroneGuard Backpack
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Brand:
Tile Sport GPS Tracker
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Includes:
Lithium Batteries
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Includes:
Removable Organization Panel with Elastic Straps
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Includes:
Lithium Batteries
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Special Features:
Customized System, Excellent Audio and Video Performance, Long-Lasting Battery Life
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Special Features:
Removable organization panel
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Special Features:
Rugged and waterproof
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4.3
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4.8
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4.3
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The DJI Smart Controller is designed to maximize your flying experience as it quickly connects to your drone after powering it on. With intuitive controls like the DJI GO 4 app and sky talk, you’ll fly longer and quicker. The app also allows you to share and transfer your photos to your smartphone.
Its 5.5-inch screen offers you ultra-bright 1080P HD resolution to ensure your feed is viewable easily no matter the sunlight and displays bright images at 1000 nits. This controller is also equipped with OcuSync technology that transfers full HD videos from your drone to your computer.
Additionally, it is compatible with Mavic 2 Pro, Mavic Air 2, Mavic Pro, and aircraft with OcuSync 2.0. It also supports switching between 2.4 and 5.8 gigahertz to minimize environmental interference on picture quality and drone operation. There’s also an integrated speaker and microphone to give you quality audio.
If you like bringing your drone everywhere you go, you might have concerns about scrapes or scratches while on transit. To ensure your drone’s safety, the Lowepro DroneGuard BP 250 Backpack is your perfect solution. It has cradle-fit compartments for protecting your other accessories like drone batteries and DJI goggles.
The backpack also has a customizable interior built for efficiency and can carry your device and its accessories securely. It’s also ideal for small-size drones like the DJI drones or Mavic series such as a DJI Mavic mini or Mavic Pro, Mavic 2 Zoom, or Mavic mini. The bag also has ergonomically shaped straps with a soft back cushion.
There’s also a removable waist belt for extra support. Plus, you can mold it to suit your setup. Lowepro bags are also equipped with flexible dividers that house your accessories securely. Additionally, this bag is built with Form Shell technology that protects your essentials from impact.
Drone lenses are usually susceptible to dirt and dust. Unfortunately, turning aerial shots and swooping in direct sunlight can turn dirt into flares. You probably know that just using your shirt to clean lenses can create streaks and even permanent scratches. That’s why you should be prepared with comprehensive cleaning tools included in the Professional Camera Cleaning Kit..
This full cleaning kit can protect your drone from scratches and marks. It comes with different cleaning tools to ensure your DSLR camera is spotless and functional. It includes an air blower that allows you to blow away dust particles from your camera sensor lenses.
There is also a reusable spray bottle that you can refill with your preferred cleaning solution. You can also use the included lens tissues and microfiber cleaning cloths to remove dust from your lens gently. Additionally, the kit comes with a double-sided cleaning pen that offers two cleaning options simultaneously.
Most drones are equipped with some internal storage you can work with when you’re flying in the air. However, 4K videos tend to take a lot of space. So you may have to look for larger cards that allow you to store several videos like the SanDisk Extreme MicroSDXC Card.
Fortunately, the majority of drones work with SanDisk cards as they allow pilots to save their precious experiences. Keep in mind that you may need up to four microSD cards if you’re a real estate professional photographer, depending on the storage size and your projects. Although this card only gives you 64 GBs to work with, it has the crucial U3 support and 100MB/s read and write speeds to enable users to record videos quickly.
However, the actual speed transfer depends on your computer and operation environment. The card is perfect for cameras, smartphones, and other devices. You can also use it in different weather conditions as it is resistant to heat and water. When it comes to compatibility, it works with all devices that support microSD cards.
If you’re wondering whether there’s a way to protect yourself and your drone, the DJI Mavic 2 Propeller Guard is perfect for improving flight safety. Just mount to your drone some propeller guards to ease your flying fears and protect bystanders and other objects around you. However, you need to be careful as they aren’t foolproof.
DJI Mavic propellers are ideal for protection against accidental bumps or if you want to fly your drone near trees as they are designed with proximity sensors that help detect objects. The propellers also protect the spinning prop in case you hit an obstacle or a wall while in the air. Plus, they don’t impact maneuverability and stability.
While propellers are a must-have drone accessory for every pilot, note that these propellers are compatible with DJI drones like Mavic 2 Pro, Mavic mini, DJI Mavic Air and Mavic 2 Zoom. However, some manufacturers provide custom guards for drones that fit over the motors. Their ingenious design also allows for quick disassembly and assembly.
Carrying extra batteries like DJI Mini 2 Flight batteries with you will offer you a lot of benefits. For instance, they can help you fly longer before you need to recharge. When you fly out, you might choose a great destination, inspect the props, get out your gear and take off, only to return in 15 minutes and pack up again.
However, an extra DJI Mini 2 battery gives you more time in the air as it offers 31 minutes of flight time and has a capacity of 3850mAh (milliampere-hour). It's also equipped with the DJI Intelligent Battery Management System that ensures you have a safe flight. When it comes to performance, it has no issues with future updates
The only downside of this flight battery is that it's not compatible with DJI Mavic Mini Series. It only works with DJI Mini 2. So ensure you buy the right batteries for your specific drone. Also, note that there’s a cool-down period of 5 minutes before inserting the batteries into your charging dock.
Sunlight is not good if you want a clear view of your screen or your aerial video shots. However, you can fly and also enjoy good weather by getting the DJI Mavic Remote Controller Sun Shade. It's one of the best drone accessories you can invest in as it prevents light from reflecting on your screen to give you clear images.
In turn, this prolongs the battery life of your controller because you don’t have to increase the brightness to the maximum. Apart from providing a better view, this folding remote control also increases safety as it prevents you from viewing blurred images.
Additionally, this drone accessory is ideal for new real estate photographers because it's inexpensive. You can also attach it to your smartphone easily and won’t occupy a lot of space in your bag. If you find it difficult to control your drone when the sun is very bright, you need this sunshade so you can continue taking real estate shots.
This small Tile Sport GPS Tracker is a useful gadget as it can help you find lost items. It's also one of the best drone accessories because you can connect it to your drone and check the map on your smartphone if you lose track of it accidentally.
This GPS tracker will help you find your drone’s location with high accuracy. To use this tracker, download and install the Tile App on Android or iOS. Be sure to leave the app running in the background so that it remembers the last time and place you were using your drone. It also has a Bluetooth connectivity feature.
So you can ring to find it if you’re within 200 feet range from your drone. Plus, it rings loud making it easy to locate your drone if it's nearby. Additionally, this gadget can endure the elements as it is durable and waterproof. Get this device if you want to know the exact location of your drone at all times.
A landing pad is a good drone accessory whether you’re flying a small or a large DJI drone. Sometimes take-off areas may not be ideal and you have to think about your drone’s safety. The Homga Drones Landing Pads protect your drone when you land or take off on uneven surfaces.
These easy to fold and portable pads are perfect for DJI Mavic Pro, DJI Phantom 3/2, DJI Inspire 2/1 and 3DR solo drones. Landing nails are also included to allow you to secure it to the ground. It also protects your aircraft from rocks, dirt, and other debris.
If you plan to land on grass, wet ground, or rocky terrain, the Homga pads are a must-have gear. This extra-large pad also shrinks down to 11 inches after folding for stress-free transportation in the included carrying case. The pads also have double color design for highlighting the color of your drone and being easy to identify from the air.
If you don’t like waiting around to charge your cells, the DJI Mavic Battery Charging Hub is one of the best drone accessories that can handle everything. If you have five drone batteries that take 80 minutes each to charge, you will have to stay near your charger for about 7 hours to keep swapping the batteries.
However, the DJI Mavic battery hub is reliable and quick as it allows you to charge four drone batteries simultaneously. This allows you to relax or do something more productive with that time. Additionally, its functions allow it to power the batteries in sequence depending on their power levels.
It's compact design also makes taking the DJI Mavic hub along anywhere you go easy. However, it only works with Mavic 2 zoom and Mavic 2 Pro drones. So you might have to check for another battery hub that's compatible with your DJI drone.
Flying drones is exciting for photographers, pilots and hobbyists alike. From small drones to larger ones and various performance features to check, purchasing a new drone can be hard. This guide will help you know what to look out for.
| Accessories | Compatibility | Material | Dimension (Inches) |
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| DJI Smart | DJI Mavic 3, DJI Mavic 3 Cine | Silicon | 9.1 x 9.1 x 9.1 |
| Lowepro DroneGuard | DJI Mavic Pro system | 600D polyester exterior, 150D polyester | 11.42 x 6.69 x 18.5 |
| Professional Cleaning Kit | Canon, Nikon, Sony, Pentax, Panasonic | Microfiber Cloths | 6.7 x 1.6 x 5.1 |
| SanDisk Extreme MicroSDXC | UHS-I bus | Plastic | 6 x 4 x 0.3 |
| DJI Mavic 2 Propeller Guard | DJI Mavic Mini & Mini 2 drone | Aluminum Alloy | 7.48 x 4.33 x 9.06 |
| DJI Mini 2 Battery | DJI Mini 2 | Aluminum Alloy | 3.58 x 2.36 x 1.65 |
| Remote Controller | 4.7-5.5 inch Android, iOS | Leather | 7.28 x 5.51 x 0.71 |
| Tile Sport Tracker | iOS and Android | Plastic framed by stainless steel | 1.57 x 1.57 x 0.23 |
| Homga Landing Pad | DJI Mavic pro, DJI Phantom 3/2, DJI Inspire 2/1 | Waterproof Nylon | 11 x 8 x 3 |
| DJI Mavic Charging Hub | Mavic Intelligent Flight Battery | high-quality abs material | 3.2 x 1.5 x 2.8 |
Every drone including racing drones requires a drone bag for transporting it to different locations and carrying accessories. The bag should have several storage configurations and customizable compartment divider for secure storage.
It should also have a removable divider to allow you to utilize the space to suit the needs. You should also check the bag’s weight and ensure it's tear-resistant. Luckily, the Lowepro backpack has these features. It also has accessory pockets where you can store SD cards, filters, camera lens and other drone accessories.
Although your drone may not look dirty after a flight, you still need to clean it regularly with a kit like the Professional Cleaning Camera Kit. There could be dust that may have creeped into cracks around the drone.
While you can blow off dust with a compressed air canister, you need a cleaning solution and a microfiber cloth to wipe down mud and dirt.
It also features different cleaning tools to ensure your camera is spotless. However, avoid changing lenses in open windy places because dust and other debris can get blown in and impact your sensor.
A good drone controller should be integrated with a quality speaker and microphone for superior audio. It should also have a mobile app like the DJI GO 4 app and a short setup time. Additionally, you should consider the controller’s weight.
Also, ensure it's compatible with your drone and check whether it has good screen brightness with a built-in display. The DJI Smart Controller has these features plus it allows you to post video or photos directly from the controller to your computer.
Before buying any memory cards, check their class as it states their minimum transfer speed. For example, class 10, which is for the SanDisk Extreme cards we’ve featured in this review has a minimum of 10MB/s and up to 100MB/s.
However, note that most cards are faster than their suggested minimum speeds. You also need to check your card’s read/write speed to enjoy smooth footage. When shooting 4K UHD, look for cards with 70MB/s minimum read/write speeds.
If you want to capture high-resolution real estate photos, go for cards with 165MB/s minimum read/write speeds. It's also crucial to check capacity and whether you can format the cards with common filling systems.
Generally, you might not be able to add a backup battery to a drone. However, you can look for a bigger battery that gives more voltage capacity that fits in with the terminals of your drone. Upgrading to Li-ion batteries might be a good choice as they tend to keep the charge for longer flying time.
Safety should be your first concern when buying drone accessories. So protective accessories should be your priority like LED lights if you fly at night or a sunshade if you fly in harsh sunlight. Also, consider your aircraft’s safety and those around you and invest in a carry case, landing pad or propellers to protect your drone. A charging dock and spare batteries are also important.
Yes, drone accessories are important for your drone because they make using your drone easier and safer. For instance, a GPS Tracker can help you find your lost drone while a cleaning kit ensures your camera is untainted and functional. Additionally, a smart controller helps you take quality pictures under different weather conditions.
Like any device, drones require accessories to function optimally. Each accessory is useful in its own way, whether it's a charging hub or backpacks for transporting your drone. I hope our list will help you find the right gear before heading out.
