If you’re interested in the exciting world of drones, but not sure where to start, or feel overwhelmed by the choices on offer, then Canada Drone is the place for you. As an authorized DJI dealer we’re ideally placed to offer advice to anyone thinking of purchasing a drone, whether you’re looking for a DJI professional drone or an entry level consumer drone. Our online drone store will have exactly what you’re looking for, from the drone itself through to the accessories and extras you need to get the most out of your purchase. If you want to buy drones in Canada, then take the time to look through this quick guide:

Types of Drones
As an authorized DJI dealer we understand that drones can generally be split into two main categories. These are consumer drones and enterprise drones. Consumer drones are used by members of the public who purchase them for recreational purposes. This means either simply the thrill of flying and controlling a high-tech drone or capturing unique images via photograph or video.

Enterprise drones, on the other hand, are used for commercial purposes, taking advantage of their ability to reach and broadcast back from spots which might otherwise be too dangerous or completely inaccessible. Industries which use drones in this manner could include firefighting, offshore rig maintenance and mapping.

Within these broad categories are the following types of drones:

Starter Drones
These are the smallest and least expensive drones, ideal if you just want to dip your toe into the water. Although these don’t include the many extra features which come with more advanced drones, they are an ideal means of learning the basics of drone control and flying. Starter drones generally have a fairly short flight time before they have to be charged again, and although some may be equipped with cameras, the quality is usually at the basic end of the spectrum. If you don’t mind these issues, then a starter drone can be an inexpensive introduction to the hobby, and a way of learning to fly a drone before investing in a more advanced model.

Camera Drones
Where a drone such as a DJI Mavic Mini is concerned, the focus is on creating a steady platform to carry the lens, as opposed to creating a drone which specialises in flying tricks and stunts. The extra image capturing equipment on a drone of this kind means that the overall size is increased, and so the drone needs to be registered with Transport Canada (although the Mavic Mini weighs in at 249g, which means it does not need to be registered). The increased size of the drone as a whole is reflected in the larger size of the batteries, with the result being that video drones of this kind can sometimes fly for as long as 30 minutes before the batteries have to be recharged or replaced.

Racing Drones
There are several types of competitions which have emerged as drones have risen in popularity, and by far the most dynamic is drone racing. Racing drones, as the name suggests, are built for speed above everything else, and are therefore usually smaller and lighter. During the course of a race, the pilot will be given a first-person view of the course via the lens of the drone, enabling them to navigate the twists and turns and stay ahead of the competition.

Specific Drones
The drones listed below are just a few of the specific models we stock at Canada Drone, together with the basic information needed to decide whether a particular drone model you should go for.

DJI Mavic Mini Drone

A small but highly effective drone, the Mavic Mini is the ideal starter drone. It weighs slightly less than 250 grams, which makes it lighter than most smartphones, and so it is incredibly easy to transport to the places you want to film. Once you’ve taken the footage, using the instinctive DJI Fly app, you can upload it to the SkyPixel social media platform to share your genius with the world. Feature of this drone include:

• Flight time of up to 30 minutes on a single fully charged battery
• HD Video Transmission over a distance of up to 4km
• A dedicated remote controller with a built-in viewing screen and detachable control sticks for ease of storage and transportation
• A 3-axis motorized gimbal which stabilizes the camera and keeps image captures as smooth as possible. Quality is enhanced thanks to aerial pictures being captured in 12 megapixels and videos boasting 2.7 Quad HD
• The CineSmooth mode works to slow down the speed of the drone, enabling the user to film with extra precision and stability
• The QuickShot feature enables users to select pre-set cinematic shots with a single button. One example is Dronie, which means the drone hovers close to the user before shooting back and up, filming all the while to create the drone equivalent of a selfie
• The propellers of any drone are amongst its most fragile components. The Mini deals with this issue by having a 360-degree propeller guard to protect them while in flight
• The small size of the Mini means that there are no licensing or regulatory issues to consider when flying the drone in Canada, however you do still need to abide by the rules around where to fly.

DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone

The DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone is the next step up for anyone who has mastered the use of the Mavic Mini. As a consumer drone, it is compact in size and easy to fly. The built-in camera comes with enhanced HDR as standard and the extended range of the Mavic Air 2 stretches as far as 10km. Some of the other features of this drone are as follows:

• Maximum flight time of 34 minutes
• Sensors at the front, back and underside of the drone enable it to avoid obstacles
• The remote control has been completely redesigned for the first time since the original launch of the Mavic drones. The revised, more ergonomic design features a screen at the top of the control unit, a retractable device holder, which means the unit is more compact for storing, and a battery life of 240 minutes.
• The built-in camera uses the ½” Sony IMX586 image sensor, which manages to capture pictures in a stunningly detailed 48 megapixels
• As well as QuickShot modes seen on other Mavic drones – such as Dronie, Circle, Helix, and Rocket – the Mavic Air 2 also boasts Boomerang Mode and Asteroid Mode, which creates a final image like the one which has been captured by a 360-degree camera
• The drone has an intelligent flight mode which locks the camera onto an object, enabling users to accurately track it as they fly, as well as a mode – ActiveTrack 3.0 - which tracks objects even after they disappear behind buildings or trees. Finally, Point of Interest 3.0 mode means that the camera will stay locked even on a moving object

DJI Phantom 4 Drone

This drone is called the Phantom because enhanced wind resistance and 4dB noise reduction mean that it can glide, hover and swoop in a stable and quiet manner. Together with the other features, this makes it the ideal drone for someone who wants to film fast moving objects. Amongst those other features are the following:

• Maximum range of 7km and a flight time of 30 minutes on a fully charged battery
• DJI OccuSync video transmission which scans available frequencies to find the one with the minimum of interference. In addition, this technology enables users to download images and videos to a connected device during a flight, as well as providing real-time flight statistics.
• Five obstacle sensors around the body of the drone include infra-red systems along the sides and stereo vision sensors at the front and rear, offering a high degree of reassurance when flying close to obstacles
• The images gathered by the Phantom 4 Pro come courtesy of a 20-megapixel camera powered by a 1-inch Sony CMOS Sensor. This means that it can capture 4K video imagery at up to 100 Mbps, as well as having a global shutter for video, a mechanical shutter for stills and an adjustable aperture
• As well as the standard intelligent flight modes such as ActiveTrack, the Phantom 4 Pro offers Draw mode. This lets the user draw a route on the screen which the drone will then follow, leaving them free to concentrate on controlling the camera while the drone controls the flight path.
• Other time and labour saving features of the drone include gesture mode, which enables users to control the drone through gestures rather than via the remote control and Return to Home, which means that the drone automatically flies back to you using the best route to avoid obstacles.
• Under Tripod Mode the speed of the drone drops to 4mph or less, which is perfect for indoor or high precision use.

DJI Mavic 2

The DJI Mavic 2 series covers two drones, each with a different camera. The Mavic 2 Pro has a Hasselblad camera for extra high-quality images, while the Mavic Zoom 2 offers 2x optical zoom for ultra-high-quality close-up shots. The camera on the Pro 2 is a Hasselblad L1D-20c, which captures images in colour saturated 20 megapixels, with a maximum ISO range of 12800. A colour profile which offers more than a billion colours makes this the ideal drone for users keen on extensive post-production of their images.

The Mavic 2 Zoom is the first drone of its kind to offer 2x optical zoom through a 48mm telephoto lens, while the 4x zoom lets users shoot in Full HD from a distance, ideal for wildlife filming. Both drones also offer the following features:

• The Mavic 2 series offers a maximum flight time of 31 minutes on a fully charged battery and a range of 8km, across which 1080-pixel videos can be transmitted
• The obstacle avoidance feature of the Mavic 2 series is based upon Omnidirectional Obstacle Sensing, which means that there are sensors on every side of the drone. In addition, enhanced wind resistance means that the drone is much better equipped to deal with poor weather conditions.
• Intelligent flight modes offered by this drone Waypoint 2.0, which lets users tap waypoints into the app as a quick and easy means of planning flight paths which can then be used for future flights.
• Other modes include Panorama modes which enable 180 degree vertical and horizontal photographs, and, on the Mavic 2 Zoom, there is Dolly Zoom. Dolly Zoom automatically adjusts the focus of the zoom while the drone is flying, creating a distinctive, high impact warping effect.