Cost Effective Drone for Contextcapture

DJI Phantom 3 or 4 and Pix4DCapture or DroneDeploy for mission planning.

The only issue for Phantom(maybe others also) is with GPS altitude in photos that it has low accuracy so it is better to post-process images and rewrite GPS altitude with barometer altitude.

The phantom is a very nifty little drone that is super easy to fly, however the camera leaves a lot to be desired for photogrammetry. Depending on what you are trying to capture, it might be enough. But, if possible, its definitely worth getting something with a bigger sensor. The DJI Inspire 1 with the X5 camera is a micro four thirds sensor that is over 3 times the physical size of the phantom's little gopro sensor. Larger sensor can capture more light and produce better images which will give you better looking and more accurate models.

I think the most important question here is what are you trying to capture and for what purpose?

Thank you for your contributions to my querry. The drone I want to acquire is meant for Contextcapture (3D reality modelling -Photogrammetry). I wish I don't have to buy one just for training but to take it further. Arguments provided so far make a lot of sense. Some of the models seen recentley have high-rise buildings heavily distorted. Could there be a drone which carries multiple cameras - one pointing straight down and others in an oblique positions, Or a fish-eye lense to provide the straight down and the oblique images to help avoid the distortion especially among high-rise buildings. I'm certainly learning from you contributions so keep it coming. Thank you.

For city models you would definitely need expensive drone with multiple cameras. With Phantom(+3 batteries) one hour flight you can cover one small city block(200m x 200m) in double grid mission with camera in 30 degree. Nadir only flight or from video only will distort building a lot.

For city models you would definitely need expensive drone with multiple cameras. With Phantom(+3 batteries) one hour flight you can cover one small city block(200m x 200m) in double grid mission with camera in 30 degree. Nadir only flight or from video only will distort building a lot.