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Here are the top professional-grade drones you can use for photography and videography this 2022. Diana Măceşanu/Unsplash (CC0)

Are you ready to jumpstart your professional career in drone photography and videography? Well, we’ve got some good news and bad news for you.

The good news is drone technology has gone through so many improvements in the past few years that you'll be amazed by what they're not capable of. Whether you need the most crisp, raw photos or you need to shoot action footage, there’s likely a drone for you. The bad news is, it also means finding the perfect drone for your needs can be quite overwhelming given the abundance of choices on the market.

Lucky for you, we put together the best drone brands and best drones for photography and videography in this list. We guarantee that our recommendations are top of the line in terms of performance, features and overall capability.

Here are our picks for the best drones for professionals this 2022:

Best Drones for Photography and Videography 2022

1. DJI Air 2S (Bundle)

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DJI Air 2S (Bundle) adorama.com

A sensational camera drone in every respect, the DJI Air 2S is a mid-price entry that is at par with some of the best in the industry thanks to its bevy of features. It can shoot up to 5.4K video at 30fps or 4K at 60fps and 150mbps. It can also take super sharp 20mp stills and that’s on top of being lightweight and highly portable.

It's also packed with four-way sensors that help avoid nasty collisions, while the piloting system has advanced in-flight features that can help you make the most of your photos and videos. This bundle comes with a 128gb card, strobe light and other accessories.

2. DJI Mavic 3 (Bundle)

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DJI Mavic 3 (Bundle) adorama.com

Despite not being DJI’s flagship model, the Mavic 3 stands tall as the brand’s most advanced folding drone, making it ideal for professionals. This drone is highly portable and weighs less than 900g.

It has a dual Hasselblad camera that offers excellent image quality and an adjustable f/2.8 to f/11 aperture that can capture raw footage. The second camera uses a 1.2 inch CMOS sensor for up to 28x hybrid zoom. It also has advanced safety features that can make flying your drone exciting rather than scary. This bundle comes with other essential tools that can make the job easier and more efficient.

3. Freefly Alta 8 Pro (with Pelican Case)

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Freefly Alta 8 Pro (with Pelican Case) adorama.com

The Freefly Alta 8 Pro is a true cinema drone for Hollywood-level productions. The Alta 8 Pro is highly favored because of its features. It provides the best in stability, thanks to smart features like a quick-release system and an adjustable o-ring vibration isolation to keep all your shots steady and focused.

Performance wise, the Alta 8 makes it easy to monitor and analyze your drone “health." It’s powered by industry-leading, open-source infrastructure Auterion and comes with everything you need to take your photography to the next level.

4. Autel Robotics EVO II V2 (Bundle)

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Autel Robotics EVO II V2 (Bundle) adorama.com

If cinematic action shots are your bread and butter, then you can’t go wrong with the Autel Robotics EVO II V2. Stunningly capable, this image- and cinema-focused drone is perfect for the most creative professionals. It can track your location and the speed of your targets, predict their trajectory and is very quick.

It’s equipped with about 19 sensors that can enable 3D maps and path planning in real time. It can also support video resolutions of up to 6K with greater dynamic range, strong noise reduction and a supersensitive CMOS sensor to achieve low-light photographs. It also has a fly time of 40 minutes.

5. PowerVision PowerEgg X Wizard (Bundle)

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PowerVision PowerEgg X Wizard (Bundle) adorama.com

If you’re on the lookout for a waterproof drone to capture gorgeous underwater shots, then you can’t go wrong with the PowerVision PowerEgg X Wizard. The company behind it is certainly inventive and has been making regular and underwater drones for professional use.

The PowerEgg X is a white egg that can be used as a drone but can also land in water or fly in the rain. It has 4K resolution and comes with its own A.I. system to assist you, as well as prevent collisions or crashes. It’s a very flexible pick and this bundle also comes with a memory card and landing pad.

6. Parrot ANAFI FPV Drone

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Parrot ANAFI FPV Drone adorama.com

If you are looking for a more budget-friendly drone that you can easily take anywhere without the fear of sacrificing picture or video quality, then the Parrot ANAFI FPV is for you. The body is made of carbon fiber that makes it extremely lightweight, while the advanced safety features make it easier to control and maneuver.

It also has a 2-axis control, 180 degree turn gimbal and zoom and can record up to 4K at 100mbps with HDR enabled -- all for a low price. It’s pretty much perfect at this price point, so you definitely shouldn’t miss it.