Blade Chroma and Yuneec Q500 4K

It has been an exciting few weeks for aerial photographers and videographers. Two cutting-edge camera drones from two cutting-edge drone manufacturers have been released and we are thrilled to say that they are coming soon to Modelflight. The Blade Chroma (pictured above on the left) and the Yuneec Q500 4K (pictured above on the right), are two of the best camera drones we have seen. In this blog post, we will be discussing each in turn and talking about the great features that make them the ultimate flying drones.

Blade Chroma Action

Blade Chroma

The Chroma is one of the most innovative releases from Blade. This remote control drone comes with a CGO3 camera pre-installed, which can capture 4K video at 30fps or 1080p video at 120fps. Thanks to the in-built downlink, this footage can then be streamed in real-time to the included ST-10+ transmitter, in addition to multiple iOS and Android devices with compatible WiFi connectivity. You can also use the CGO3 to shoot 16MP aerial photos. What's more, with the Chroma's 3S 5400mAh LiPo battery, you will be able to enjoy this camera in the air for approximately 30 minutes per flight time.

An exciting feature of the Chroma is the inclusion of SAFE Plus Technology. SAFE Plus incorporates different flight modes to make aerial photography and filming easy, even if you have never flown a quadcopter before. There is also a Follow Me mode, whereby the drone will follow the movement of the ST-10+ radio (essentially following you, the pilot). This allows you to focus on panning and tilting the camera to capture the best shots possible. The Chroma also offers a Watch Me mode, during which the drone's camera will always be pointed towards you holding the transmitter. It is the ultimate selfie drone!

Another handy function with the Chroma is Return Home. When this is activated, the drone will (as the name suggests), return to its start-up point and land automatically. This is an excellent feature for first-time pilots or if you simply lose sight of your drone during flight. Blade have also included adjustable flight boundaries, whereby you can pre-program altitude and distance limits for the drone. This is very beneficial in the interests of flying within legal parameters. The Chroma is, overall, one of the best drones we have seen from Blade and we are very pleased to say that it is coming soon to Modelflight.

Yuneec Q500 4K

We are certainly spoilt for choice when it comes to camera drones and here is why. Yuneec have recently announced the Q500 4K. This follows on from their very successful Q500+ drone. Just like the Chroma, this Q500 comes with the CGO3 camera. It is built into a self-stabilising gimbal which has brushless motors on three axes (pan, roll and tilt), so you will notice how stable and reliable the camera is in the air. With the CGO3 app installed on your iOS device, you will also have complete control over the drone camera. Not only will you be able to shoot images and capture film, you can adjust various CGO3 settings. This includes frame rates, colour settings and white balance - all at the touch of a finger!

A great addition to the Q500 4K is the Yuneec ProAction SteadyGrip. You can easily remove the CGO3 camera from the drone and then click it into this handheld device, allowing you to capture the same high quality footage on the ground. The SteadyGrip comes with a smartphone holder, so you can attach your iPhone and view your footage in real time (and adjust the camera settings) through the aforementioned CGO3 app.

You will also be pleased to know that the Q500 comes with the same transmitter as the Chroma! The ST-10+ works brilliantly with this Yuneec drone. Being able to access the same FPV functionality as the Chroma will really enhance your flying experience. You will also benefit from the telemetry data that is provided on the radio's screen in real-time and adjust the camera's pitch and tilt on the fly.

Time To Fly

We hope this blog has given you a good overview of the Blade Chroma and Yuneec Q500 4K. Both of these drones are coming soon to Modelflight, so keep an eye on our website for more details. If you have any questions about these quadcopters, do not hesitate to leave us a comment below. Until then, happy flying!