Editor’s Note: This post appears in The Lumoid blog, and is reposted here with their permission. All the photos featured here are added later by 500px.

Lumoid is a band of creatives, photographers, and tech lovers offering a try before you buy service for the latest in technology from photography gear and drones to fitness trackers and audio equipment. They make it convenient and affordable to test drive the latest gadgets before committing to buy them. Lumoid is also a rental house for the best and latest in photography. Scroll down for an awesome aerial photography gear guide!


So, you’re looking to up your photography game with a drone but you’re not exactly sure where to start. Well, fret not! Below is a list of the four very best drones perfectly crafted for capturing the crispest, highest-quality aerial shots. Lucky for you, all of these great options are available to try on Lumoid. Whether you’re looking for a straight-up aerial photography minded drone, or a jack-of-all-trades drone to goof around with, these four options will certainly satisfy.

DJI Inspire 1

DJI Inspire 1

When it comes to drone manufacturers, DJI is king. The Inspire 1 is their flagship drone, and as the old saying goes: if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. This quadcopter comes equipped with a 3-axis gimbal, which provides an unobstructed, 360-degree view perfect for capturing expansive shots, and a 4K camera to lend those aerial photos the highest of quality. A maximum speed of 72.2 fps allows for capturing action-packed videos in addition to photos.

The Center of the Universe by Adam  Gibbs on 500px.com


Shot with DJI Inspire 1

DJI Phantom 3

DJI Phantom 3

Another great option from DJI, the Phantom 3 Professional has all the features and gimmicks of the Inspire 1, but with an improved 4K UHD video camera. This enables the Phantom 3 to shoot up to 12MP still photos using JPEG or non-proprietary DNG RAW format photos. This one is for the serious photographer looking to get the most out of their drone shots.

Urban Jungle #04 by Andy Yeung on 500px.com


Shot with DJI Phantom 3

3DR Solo

3DR Solo

This smart drone is easily controlled, offering seamless flight with a built-in computer system and program called Smart Shots, which allows the drone to capture professional, smooth aerial photos and videos all its own. The 3DR Solo is also the only drone to offer live video streaming in crystal clear HD from a GoPro directly to a tablet or mobile device, but does require one of those devices to operate.

zig zag tujunga canyon road by Jerome Obille on 500px.com


Shot with 3DR Solo

The Explorer Kit

Lumoid Explorer Kit

So maybe you’re not the most advanced photographer, but you still wanna have fun taking pictures in the sky from a drone – The Explorer Kit is for you. Complete with the user-friendly Phantom II drone, Go Pro Hero 4 and a 32GB memory card, strap the GoPro to the drone to capture breathtaking video footage!

Fishing Boats on the Lombok Coast by Sam Gellman on 500px.com


Shot with DJI Phantom II

If you have any questions or other gear recommendations or even aerial photography tips, let us know in the comments below!