~ 12 min read
BUYING GUIDE 2026The most important decision comes before the purchase: above or below 250 grams. After that, it comes down to sensor, flight time and safety systems.
Start readingNo other number shapes a drone purchase as much as this one. If your drone weighs less than 250 grams ready to fly, it falls into EU class C0. You may fly it without a remote pilot certificate and operate it close to people. From 250 grams upwards you need the EU competency certificate A1/A3 - a free online exam, but a hurdle nonetheless.
That is why every major manufacturer builds its entry-level models right at that limit: 249 grams is not a coincidence but a design target, paid for with smaller batteries and lighter shells.
Watch out for larger batteries
Before you study spec sheets, decide what you want to do. The three categories differ fundamentally and are hard to substitute for one another.
Travel, holidays, first aerial shots. No licence required, small enough for a backpack. Current models reach image quality that was reserved for premium drones three years ago.
Typical: 250-800 euros
Larger sensors, several focal lengths, longer flight time and better wind stability. The choice for anyone filming regularly or professionally - with licence and registration obligations.
Typical: 1,000-2,500 euros
Flying with goggles from a first-person perspective. Built for dynamic fly-throughs and chase shots. Requires practice - and in Germany always a spotter next to you.
Typical: 400-900 euros
Megapixels tell you little, sensor area a lot. A 1-inch sensor gathers roughly twice as much light as a 1/1.3-inch chip and about four times as much as a 1/2-inch sensor. In daylight the difference is subtle; at dusk, against the light and indoors it is obvious.
Manufacturer figures assume windless hovering at moderate temperatures. In practice, 45 stated minutes turn into roughly 35 usable ones, less in winter. A second battery buys you more than five extra minutes on a spec sheet ever will.
Omnidirectional sensors detect obstacles in every direction and are the most effective protection against a total loss. Entry-level models often look forward only, or not at all. Flying among trees, near buildings or at dusk calls for full coverage and, ideally, LiDAR.
The advertised 20 or 30 kilometres are FCC figures from the US. Europe uses the CE standard with lower transmit power - 8 to 10 kilometres is realistic, and you may not use even that: German rules require constant visual line of sight. Connection stability in built-up areas matters far more than maximum range.
The lighter the drone, the more it suffers in gusts. Most 250-gram models quote 10.7 m/s, which equals wind force 5 - quickly reached on the coast or in the mountains. Heavier camera drones handle 12 m/s and sit noticeably calmer in the air.
| Budget | What you get | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|
| up to 300 € | 4K video, 3-axis gimbal, around 30 minutes of flight, forward sensors only | First purchase, holiday footage, trying it out |
| 300-500 € | Better sensors, propeller guards or selfie automation, mature app | Families, indoor shots, social media |
| 700-900 € | 1-inch sensor, full obstacle sensing, log profiles, 35+ minutes | Serious hobbyists without a licence |
| 1,000-1,500 € | Two focal lengths, 45 minutes of flight, strong wind stability | Regular use, first paid jobs |
| from 2,000 € | 4/3-inch sensor, three focal lengths, 50 minutes, ProRes | Professionals, film production, industry |
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