GoPro is the brand par excellence when it comes to buying high-quality ActionCams. Since you can rely on high-quality recordings and durability when buying a camera from the manufacturer, it makes sense to buy a drone for GoPro cameras.
GoPro Karma Drone
There is a large variety of drones on the market that are compatible with such a camera. These include a quadrocopter that GoPro has developed itself, the GoPro Karma.
After some improvements, which were carried out on the drone developed by the ActionCam manufacturer, we finally come to a very positive result with the GoPro Karma.
Depending on the price, there are different equipment variants for this model. For example, this drone is available in combination with the GoPro Hero 5 Black for about 1300-1400 €.
When fully loaded, the GoPro Karma weighs a full 1900 g, but it is driven by extremely powerful brushless motors and has a powerful battery. According to the manufacturer, the fully loaded GoPro Karma drone can fly for about 20 minutes. In our GoPro Karma test we only managed about 16-17 minutes, which was probably due to our flight behaviour. For charging the flight battery you need about 120 minutes.
For perfect video recordings with a GoPro camera the Karma is in our opinion currently the best aircraft, because it was developed directly by the manufacturer of the GoPro cameras.
Further drone for GoPro: Walkera QR-X350
For those who want to fish in low priced segments, we can warmly recommend the Walkera QR-350 Quadrocopter.
It is compatible with the GoPro cameras GoPro 3, 3+, 4, flies safe, stable and reliable. Of course you won’t get DJI quality here, but this model is perfect for beginners.
It is equipped with a G-2D Brushless Gimbal System, which holds your GoPro camera in position.
Also advantageous are the numerous functions and assistance systems, which ensure that a smooth flight is guaranteed and clean video recordings can be made. The Walkera QR-X350 Pro can also perform cool stunts and is fast & agile in the air.
For the low price of about 400-500 € you also get GPS, a home function and a flight mode with which it is particularly easy to produce beautiful video recordings. This is the IOC mode (Intelligent Orientation Control mode). With other drones it is also called the “headless flight mode”. If it is active, the position of the camera and the front of the drone is not important anymore. The quadrocopter simply follows the movements of the control lever, regardless of how it is positioned in the air.
Technical data of the Walkera QR-X350 Pro
- Dimensions: 29 x 29 x 20 cm
- Weight with battery: 982 grams
- Charging time: about 60 minutes
- Flight time: 25 minutes with 5200 mAh battery
- Range: up to 1000 meters
The following parts are included in the delivery:
- Walkera QR-X350 Pro Quadrocopter
- Remote control
- 5200 mAh battery (Lipo)
- Charger
- Power supply unit (adapter)
- G-2D brushless gimbal system
- User Manual (English)
- Spare propeller set
- Tool for Walkera QR-350
- Small parts and material for fastening
3DR solo drone
The 3DR Solo Drone is perfect for you if you are looking for a drone that works well with GoPro cameras.
The quadrocopter was specially designed to be compatible with GoPro cameras only. For the development, GoPro and 3D Robotics have cooperated with each other to design and manufacture this great aircraft. Which of course has many advantages. For example, the gimbal head is designed so precisely for GoPro devices that the installation of the cameras is quick and easy.
A wobble-free and error-free image is also guaranteed if you use the 3DR Solo Drone in combination with GoPro cameras.
Gimbal head of the 3DR solo drone especially for GoPro
The GoPro ActionCams HERO3, 3+, 4 Silver and Black fit perfectly into the 3-axis stabilization gimbal. A contact on the gimbal head picks up the signal from the camera and sends it to the drone, which sends the live image directly to your remote control and smartphone or tablet.
The live image has an HD resolution of 1280 x 720 pixels, but the memory card records the full image quality that you have previously set.
Since the maximum load of the gimbal head is only 420 grams, it is not possible to use other cameras than ActionCams for this drone. This can be a disadvantage. But if you are looking for a drone for GoPro cameras anyway, the 3DR Solo is perfect.
Unfortunately, the GoPro Hero 5 series does not work with this gimbal head because the connectors are not compatible. However, if you own a 3rd or 4th generation GoPro, you will easily be able to take great photos and videos, because thanks to the precise cooperation between the GoPro and the drone system, you have access to all settings and functions of the camera without having to remove the ActionCam.
Photo and video recordings can be triggered during the flight via smartphone or tablet. This makes the 3DR Solo Drone one of the best aircraft for GoPro cameras.
Technical data of the 3DR Solo Drone
- Flight time: up to 25 minutes, but only 20 minutes with gimbal
- Weight with gimbal and GoPro: 1800g
- Speed: up to 90 kilometers per hour
- Range (WiFi): Up to 800 meters in open space
- Battery: Lipo with 5200 mAh
Scope of delivery:
- 3DR Smart Drone
- Remote control
- 3D Gimbal, compatible with GoPro ActionCams HERO3, 3+, 4 Silver and Black
- 5200 mAh battery
- Charger for the flight battery
- Charger for the battery of the remote control
- 3 pairs of propellers
The 3DR Solo Drone does not come with a GoPro camera. So if you don’t have a suitable home, you’ll have to plan with the cost of an appropriate ActionCam and buy one!
Yuneec Q500 Typhoon: Secure drone for your GoPro
A drone for GoPro cameras with an excellent price/performance ratio is the Yuneec Q500 Typhoon, which we can warmly recommend. It is perfectly suited for the GoPro 3, 3+ and 4, as well as the Black Edition.
The Typhoon is very stable in the air and produces clean, high-quality images. The fact that this drone produces such high-quality video recordings is mainly due to the high-quality gimbal and the camera position. What we find especially cool is the handheld Gimbal Steadygrip G, which is included in the delivery. With it you can also make normal selfie videos or photos.
In our test report on the Typhoon Q500, we once again compared all the advantages and disadvantages of this drone. Often it is sold in combination with a 4K camera developed by Yuneec, but you can also simply buy the basic model without it for a lower price and then install a suitable GoPro camera.
DJI Phantom 2: Oldtimer drone for your GoPro
Looking at the fast pace of the drone market and looking at the release date of the DJI Phantom 2, this quadrocopter could well be called an oldtimer. Nevertheless, it is perfectly suited for many a GoPro camera. The gimbal was specially designed so that series 3 and 4 of the GoPro ActionCams fit in and harmonize with the drone. If you don’t have a GoPro, we recommend a Phantom 3 Pro or the Phantom 4 instead, as they have better cameras.
Why do we list this drone to you anyway? Meanwhile it has a very good price/performance ratio and can often be found used with a suitable camera position. But even as a new product it has had an enormous price drop, because after the release of the DJI Phantom 3 many people switched to the successor and sold their Phantom 2.
Advantages of the Phantom 2 drone for your GoPro
- Especially developed for the use of ActionCams.
- Is now a low-cost drone with very good performance.
Disadvantages
- The model was launched 5 years ago and therefore has fewer functions than much newer drones.
Technical data of the Phantom 2 from DJI
- 25 minutes flight time according to the manufacturer
- Return To Home Function
- Dimensions: 37,4 x 33,6 x 21,4 cm
- Weight: 1000 g
- 3S Lipo battery
DJI Phantom 3
The Phantom 3 is also perfect for ActionCams, as the gimbal is also designed to work perfectly with such cameras.
Quality is a top priority with this model, as is typically the case with DJI drones. The Phantom 3 comes with new features and can be flown in FPV mode. In our test of the DJI Phantom 3 Standard, we achieved a top speed of 60 kilometers per hour and a flight time of 25 minutes, which is roughly in line with the manufacturer’s specifications. With battery and propeller, the Phantom 3 weighs about 1.2 kg.
You will enjoy the Phantom 3 for a long time, because quality pays off in the long run. However, the question arises how useful it is to buy a GoPro camera and the Phantom 3, for example. Here you will quickly get out with four-digit amounts, so 1000 € +. If you have that much budget at your disposal, we recommend to buy a Mavic Pro or Phantom 4 Advanced and forget about the GoPro.
Technical data of the Phantom 3
- Weight: 1216 g
- Flight time: 25 minutes
- Speed: up to 60 kilometers per hour
- Battery with 4480 mAh
Advantages of the Phantom 3 drone for your GoPro
Stands very stable in the airSuitable
for ActionCams
Disadvantages of the Phantom 3
- In combination with a GoPro somewhat expensive.
Cheap drones for your GoPro camera
For about 100-300 € you can get drones, which are also well suited for ActionCams. With some models, however, you have to make sacrifices in the performance as soon as a GoPro is installed. The performance of the following drones is sometimes a bit too low to fly fast and agile through the air with the additional cameras.
Syma X8C for under 100 €
The Syma X8C is delivered “ready to fly” and is perfect for beginners. So if you have never flown a drone before and are looking for a very affordable model for your GoPro, the Syma X8C should be on the shortlist.
For just under 100€ you can’t expect too much, though. The flight time is only about 7 minutes and the 2s LiPo battery has to charge for 2 hours, so if you want to use this drone, we recommend that you buy at least 2-3 additional batteries. You can buy them in various online shops at very reasonable prices.
DJI F550 kit drone for about 200 €
The DJI F550 is a hexacopter and is perfect for hobbyists. The kit is available for about 200 € and you can build your GoPro camera on the finished drone.
Fact is that the 6 brushless motors provide enough power to carry an ActionCam. But if you don’t like to use a soldering iron and all the tinkering, you might want to choose one of the above drones for a GoPro camera. Once you’ve assembled the Hexacopter, you’ll have a high quality drone that is strong, can withstand enormous gusts of wind and is packed with high quality materials at a ridiculous price of just €200. In terms of quality, it looks like a finished drone that costs 400-500 €.
Parrot AR drone for GoPro cameras
The Parrot AR drone is not officially suitable for a GoPro camera, it does not have a proper gimbal. But as you will see in the following video, it is possible to attach a GoPro to the drone:
Also in this video, in which a GoPro 2 HD was used with the Parrot AR drone:
The quality of the AR drone from the French manufacturer Parrot comes close to the DJI Phantom 2, but only in terms of quality and finish. It can be purchased for about 300 €. A few simple steps will allow you to install the GoPro camera of your choice, but without the gimbal system!
Interesting facts about drone for GoPro cameras
The manufacturer GoPro has recognized the trend to bring cameras into the air and will continue to focus more on improving its own quadrocopter, the GoPro Karma, but also has plans to conquer the market of multicopters and develop new aircraft.
If you attach great importance to owning an ActionCam and a drone at the same time, we recommend you to keep your eyes open for the latest news about drones, as more compatible quadro- and multicopters will be released.
In our experience the best devices for GoPro cameras are the GoPro Karma and the DJI Phantom 3.
