Also known as a subject tracking drone, a follower drone can track a target without the need for a partner or control of the device, thanks to the Follow Me feature. It is not only suitable for sports and photography enthusiasts, but also for children and those planning a more recreational use. Despite the predominance of DJI, a reference brand but overpriced, it is not always easy to choose your follower drone. Our buying guide is here to save you time.
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Our selection
"The Snaptain SP500 will appeal to those new to drones. It folds up and is easy to transport. As for the price and performance, this…"
"The SilverLit 84774 is an ultra stable and very practical tracking drone. This model stands out from the others by its very low price, and…"
"For those with practice and demanding users in terms of maneuverability and photo quality, the Mavic Air 2 Fly More Combo drone offers the best…"
"The Parrot Anafi Extended tracking drone is sold with 3 batteries. But its major asset remains its 4K HDR camera rotating 180° with 2.8X lossless…"
The Snaptain SP500 will appeal to those new to drones. It folds up and is easy to transport. As for the price and performance, this tracking drone will not disappoint.
206 £ on CdiscountThe Snaptain SP500 is very practical. Unfolded, this entry-level tracking drone measures 32 x 32 x 5.7cm, for a weight of only 222g. The manufacturer provides it with 2 batteries Li-po 7,4 V for a capacity of 1 000mAh and an autonomy of 15 min each. The resolution of the onboard camera reaches 1920 x 1080. With 5G Wi-Fi transmission, the maximum control distance of this drone is 220m. In addition, it has different piloting modes, such as Slow and Fast mode, perfect for beginners. And thanks to the GPS, enjoy features like Follow Me, Point of Interest and GPS Waypoint.
The SilverLit 84774 is an ultra stable and very practical tracking drone. This model stands out from the others by its very low price, and unfortunately by a limited autonomy of 6 min.
99,20 £ on FnacThe SilverLit 84774 is a tracking drone especially designed for beginners. You can use it both inside and outside the house. The dimensions of this model are 20 x 20 x 5 cm for a weight of 499 g. The big weak point remains the battery, whose autonomy is limited to only 6 min. For photo and video, enjoy the 720p HD camera. Thanks to a wireless link of 2.4 GHz, the range of this drone tracker reaches 30 m. Like all the others proposed in this comparison, it has the Follow Me function with infrared detection. Finally, the Auto Hold mode allows you to lock the flight height for a good quality of shots.
For those with practice and demanding users in terms of maneuverability and photo quality, the Mavic Air 2 Fly More Combo drone offers the best of what DJI has, minus the CareRefresh option.
679 £ on AmazonApart from the Care Refresh option that offers up to 2 replacement units over a period of one year, the Mavic Air 2 Fly More Combo represents the best that DJI has to offer. Its 48MP CMOS sensor displays crystal clear detail. On top of that, the 3-axis gimbal ensures smooth 4K video at 60 fps. And let's not forget the Spotlight 2.0 function for the camera to fix an object in flight, ActiveTrack 3.0 for optimal centering of objects and POI 3.0 for dynamic tracking of subjects. This drone can even make hyperlapses in 8K! As for autonomy, you will be able to fly longer, 34 min exactly. At the front, back and bottom, sensors detect obstacles to prevent accidents. In addition, the OcuSync 2.0 system can transmit the video signal up to 6 km, so you can broadcast live with a Full HD resolution of 1080p.
The Parrot Anafi Extended tracking drone is sold with 3 batteries. But its major asset remains its 4K HDR camera rotating 180° with 2.8X lossless zoom and 21MP photo sensor.
719 £ on AmazonThe Parrot Anafi Extended is equipped with a 180° swiveling 4K HDR camera with 2.8X lossless zoom. This tracking drone also has a 21MP photo sensor. Unfolded, the device measures 24 x 17.5 x 6.5 cm with a weight of 320 g. In addition, this drone comes with 2 extra batteries, so 2 batteries in total, with a battery life of 25 min each. With the Parrot Anafi Extended, impress your friends with low angle videos, compensated traveling, automatic subject framing, original aerial selfies and even Follow Me drone mode via the paid app... and it's all possible in the blink of an eye from your smartphone!
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| TOP OF THE TOP | CHEAP | TOP OF THE LINE | EXCELLENT | |
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| OUR SELECTION |
Snaptain SP500
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SilverLit 84774
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DJI Mavic Air 2 Fly More Combo
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Parrot Anafi Extended
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The Snaptain SP500 will appeal to those new to drones. It folds up and is easy to transport. As for the price and performance, this tracking drone will not disappoint.
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The SilverLit 84774 is an ultra stable and very practical tracking drone. This model stands out from the others by its very low price, and unfortunately by a limited autonomy of 6 min.
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For those with practice and demanding users in terms of maneuverability and photo quality, the Mavic Air 2 Fly More Combo drone offers the best of what DJI has, minus the CareRefresh option.
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The Parrot Anafi Extended tracking drone is sold with 3 batteries. But its major asset remains its 4K HDR camera rotating 180° with 2.8X lossless zoom and 21MP photo sensor.
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Weight
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222 g
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499 g
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570 g
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320 g
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Dimensions
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32 x 32 x 5.7 cm
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20 x 20 x 5 cm
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18 x 9.7 x 8.4 cm
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24 x 17.5 x 6.5 cm
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Automatic tracking quality
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Autonomy of each battery
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15 min
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6 min
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34 min
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25 min
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Remote control range
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220 m
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30 m
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6 km
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4 km
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The autonomy of a tracking drone varies according to the model. It can go from 10 to 20 min depending on the speed of the drone or even the wind. The best ones can reach up to 30 min in flight. In any case, you should always have spare batteries. Most of them are interchangeable lithium batteries. Some brands also offer products with additional batteries.
Almost all current drones allow you to take photos and videos in flight. However, the quality of the images varies depending on the model. Because of this, you need to check the available formats and the image resolution. A drone equipped with a camera with a high resolution has a better image quality. If it offers the ability to zoom and control the orientation of the lens manually, it's even better.
Weight is among the important criteria to consider when buying a drone. The lighter it is, the less energy it consumes and provides a good flight range. It also has the advantage of being easy to transport. There are even models that can easily fit in a backpack. On the other hand, a drone that exceeds 800g will require online declaration and training.
Having stable, crisp video is well known to action cam users. The image stabilization function also exists in tracking drones. However, it is necessary to check carefully if the drone is equipped with this system. If it does not have this feature, you can use a mechanical device that compensates for camera movements or opt for a drone with several propellers. The more there are, the more stable it will be during the flight.
Ifthe drone does not have the Follow Me feature, you can't really say that it is really a tracking drone. The framing of the target or the quality of the shots depends heavily on this feature. If some models are already self-piloting, others have require software that can be updated with a dedicated application to be so.
The propellers are the most fragile elements on a drone. They undergo all the whims of the weather, but also it carries the whole drone under its blades. They allow you to perform aerial acrobatics and offer a stable flight of the drone. For a long life of your drone and its propellers, here are some tips to help you protect them.
At the moment, some companies have invented a kind of hoop protection for each propeller to avoid friction or contact with objects during flight. It may reduce the range of the drone however, the longevity of your propellers will increase.
The weather is an ideal parameter to know before taking off your drone. Besides, it's the propellers that are subject to all the vagaries of the weather. So, before taking your device out, it is better to check the wind speed, the humidity and also the temperature.
When you store your drone, make sure not to bend the propellers. Avoid touching the blades, as they are the most fragile parts. It is better to store it in its box or in a safe place.
Most drones these days come with a remote control. There are certain functions that are present in one model as well as others that do not. One can count a multitude of options that specify each drone by the elements that are present on the remote control device.
One of the flagship options of this type of drone tracker is undoubtedly the piloting via smartphone of the drones. No need for a remote control to fly the device. The smartphone-piloted follower drone syncs to an app through which you can direct it.
It has all the features of a follower drone, but these capabilities are quite reduced compared to conventional follower drones. This type of drone is ideal for indoor use, but that doesn't rule out external use.
These remote controls are powerful and can capture the drone even at a considerable distance. With this system, you can guide the drone as you wish or program it to activate the tracking mode by placing a sensor on the subject to be tracked. Some tracking drones have a GPS guidance system. Even if the drone is no longer visible to the eye, it can be landed easily as the pilot wishes. The pilot has a takeoff/landing function thanks to a button.
The piloting with a smartphone is a very practical option of the tracking drones. Because it allows an easy piloting of the device. The drone does not require any other special settings. It connects easily with the drone. The piloting is done automatically via the application previously installed on the phone. Unfortunately, the maximum range of the drone depends on the brand, but also on the power of the phone and Wi-Fi. With the Follow Me mode the drone automatically follows the GPS of the phone at a reduced distance and speed.
These 2 types of drones each have their own strengths and weaknesses. It all depends on what you want to do. It is quite difficult to make the right choice among all the models offered to the market. From the entry level to the most sophisticated drone.
Avoid exposure to hazardous materials
Store the drone in a safe place, as these devices are highly flammable. It is best to keep it away from risky places or other products that can cause damage.
Check compatibility with your smartphone
For drones that can be flown with a smartphone, it seems necessary to check whether the device is compatible with a particular phone. Before buying a follower drone, it is best to read the information written on the box. A notice like "Android, IOS compatible".
Respect the minimum distance to the item to be tracked
This tip allows you a stable and sharp image quality. Besides, respecting this average distance avoids incessant correction of the flight direction. As a result, you can enjoy the performance of the tracking drone.
Respect the battery charging time
The battery charging time is written on the drone's manual. Respect this charging time, it will increase the flight time of the drone. And avoid that the battery is completely flat before recharging.
Protect from bad weather
Before taking your drone out, it is better to consult the weather conditions to avoid damaging it with a gusty or rainy weather. Or you can apply a special solution that makes your device waterproof.
Connect the battery to a computer using the USB cable supplied with the drone. Check that the connectors are properly inserted. If it is well connected, you should see an LED that lights up. Finally, please respect the charging time written in the manual.
First, you need to activate the Wifi function on your smartphone. Then select the name of your drone in the list of Wifi networks. Once the connection is complete, install and launch the app compatible with the drone. And all that's left is for you to enjoy the experience.
Before you do this action, you need to have the right tools. First, gently remove the faulty propeller. Then, check the direction of the propellers before installing it. Finally, all you have to do is test to make sure the propellers are operational.
The drone is a device often intended for outdoor use, so it seems necessary to clean it before and after use. You can use a cloth and alcohol to clean the outside of the device, so the propellers stay clean.
Most crashes are often due to a total discharge of the battery. Before flying your device, a test is necessary to know the autonomy of your battery. Afterwards, you can program your drone according to its battery capacity.
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