Drone cameras are one of the most exciting developments in the photography world in recent years. And more excitingly, as their popularity grows, so too does the number of innovative and often essential drone accessories available.
A simple drone comes with everything you need to use it from the get-go, but some drone accessories will dramatically transform your experience – and what you can do with your drone.
In this post, we go over some of the absolute must-have drone accessories in 2020, along with a few non-essentials that will improve your flying experience.
Our top 8 drone accessories for 2020
1. Drone propellers
Even the best experts crash their drones. And your drone’s delicate propellers are the most likely casualty in these crashes.
Damaged or chipped propellers can lead to even greater problems because they cause vibrations in your drone’s motor or body. That’s why it’s so important to change them out if they’ve been damaged in any way.
Having some spare propellers on hand makes the difference between getting your drone back up in the air to get the shot, or retiring home defeated.
Luckily for you, drone propeller replacements are very affordable, making them one of the best investments you can make in your drone kit. Just make sure you buy the right propellers to fit your drone.
2. Spare Batteries
Along with drone propellers, you’ll quickly be thankful to have one – preferably even more – spare battery on hand.
Even the best drones can only manage roughly 30 minutes of flight time, which isn’t nearly enough time for you to appreciate and capture the landscape from above.
Having a few replacement batteries (compatible with your drone!) means you can increase your drone’s flying time several times over, giving your drone the ability to capture a full day’s adventure – especially if you invest in a portable battery charger.
3. Drone battery charger
Imagine being able to recharge those spare batteries on the go so you never run out of power.
For example, the DJI Mavic Pro Battery Charging Hub can charge up to four Mavic Intelligent Flight Batteries at the same time (charging in sequence according to each battery’s power levels)
4. Drone casing or backpack
As with any camera gear, you’ll want to ensure your valuable yet fragile drone is protected in transit. There are plenty of drone cases and bags that will house your drone, remote controller, and other accessories.
The good news is that there are plenty of great options out there, from padded backpacks to hard shelled carry cases, that have been specially designed to protect your drone and fit all your accessories.
Consider the rugged Lowepro Quadguard BP X3 Backpack, made specifically for drones.
Or for truly tough, waterproof protection, you can invest in a Pelican case. These hardshell cases can be fitted with customisable foam padding and are a foolproof way of protecting your drone from the elements.
5. Spare high capacity memory cards
These days, quality drones come with 4K video capabilities – but 4K files take up a lot of space. While your drone may come with a standard memory card, these cards are often limited to 8 to 16GB.
You’ll get far more out of a high capacity card. Invest in a card with 32GB or 64GB, which will get you up to 40 or 80 minutes of footage, respectively.
Most consumer drones take MicroSD cards. The best quality cards are UHS-1 standard or higher (UHS-3 is often considered the best for drones). If the card has a Class 10 label, you’re onto a good thing.
6. Drone guards
While drones are built to withstand many tough conditions, by their very nature, they’re exposed to the elements like few other devices.
Propeller guards create a cage around your propellers to protect them should you fly the drone straight into a tree or a wall.
Landing gear is another popular accessory for drones. Landing gear is made up of little extensions you can fit to the bottom of your drone to increase its ground clearance and keep the body away from dirt, grass, sand, snow, and any other elements.
While these drone guards do a great job protecting your drone and potentially prolonging its life, it’s important to remember that any extension added to your drone can impact its flight performance by adding more weight to the body.
7. A drone landing pad
As with the drone landing gear, a landing pad protects your equipment from the elements, but doesn’t need to be attached to your drone.
A landing pad is a simple pad that can be secured to the ground with pegs. It protects your drone from moisture, sand, or snow, and also prevents dust and dirt from blowing about your drone and potentially getting into important parts.
These pads are affordable, portable, and foldable, making them a great accompaniment on any adventure – and unlike landing gear, they won’t affect your drone’s flight time.
8. Drone goggles
If you really want to take your drone experience to the next level, some drone goggles are the answer. Experience the ultimate in immersive experiences as you take on the drone’s point of view.
DJI Goggles enable real-time, first-person view (FPV) flying with DJI drones. The immersive experience will make you feel like you’re flying with the craft.
These comfy goggles have large, high-performance displays, long-range, low-lag wireless connectivity, and direct control of photo and video capture.
