Comparison Syma X5SW vs Syma X11C

Maximum flight time of a quadcopter on one full battery charge. This indicator is quite approximate, since it is most often indicated for ideal conditions - in real use, the flight time may be less than stated. However, by this indicator it is quite possible to evaluate the general capabilities of the copter and compare it with other models - a longer declared flight time in practice usually means higher autonomy.

Note that for modern copters, a flight time of 20 minutes or more is considered a good indicator, and in the most “long-lasting” models it can exceed 40 minutes.

The type of camera installation that the quadcopter is equipped with.

- Built-in. A camera that is permanently installed on the vehicle and cannot be removed without disassembling the fuselage. This is the simplest option for tech who want to use a quadcopter for photo and video shooting or for flying with a first-person view (see “Real-time broadcast”); In addition, this camera design is considered more durable and reliable than a removable one. On the other hand, it does not make it possible to remove the camera to make the car lighter or replace it with another one that is more suitable in terms of characteristics.

- Removable. As the name suggests, such cameras are installed on detachable mounts. Thanks to this, the customer can remove or install the camera, depending on what is more important to him at the moment - the light weight of the car or the presence of an electronic “eye” on board. Note that in some models you can install not only a standard device, but also a third-party device.

- Absent. Drones that are not equipped with cameras at all fall into two main categories. The first does not involve the use of any cameras at all; As a rule, it includes inexpensive devices primarily for entertainment purposes, for which the “peephole” is just an expensive and unnecessary excess, which also increases the weight of the entire structure. The second type is models with...the ability to install a camera. It includes quite advanced copters - up to powerful professional machines capable of carrying a digital SLR. This option will be useful for tech who would like to independently select a camera to suit their needs. However, we note that the second type may have an auxiliary “eye” for live FPV broadcasts (see below); however, if such a “peephole” does not allow for taking photos/videos, it is not considered a full-fledged camera, and its presence is indicated only in additional notes. — Thermal imaging. A camera operating on the principle of a thermal imager - it detects infrared radiation from heated objects and forms a characteristic thermal image visible to the drone operator. Each color in this image corresponds to a specific temperature. A thermal imager equipped in a drone opens up possibilities not available to traditional optical cameras. So, with its help you can distinguish a person or animal against a camouflage background or in dense vegetation in an area. Thermal imaging cameras also “see” perfectly in complete darkness.

Quadcopters with a thermal imaging camera are by no means a cheap pleasure. They are used by rescuers, military, law enforcement, repairmen, hunters and fishermen. In particular, drones with a thermal imaging camera help find living people when clearing rubble, and are widely used to search for possible fires, gas leaks from pipelines, etc. In some situations, the performance of a thermal imager may be low - for example, it is not able to clearly identify an object if its temperature coincides with the background temperature (which makes it difficult to use in hot weather). In addition, the resolution and detail of the picture, even in advanced models, is quite modest. Thermal cameras in drones can be built-in or detachable.

Resolution of the matrix in the standard camera of the quadrocopter.

Theoretically, the higher the resolution, the sharper, more detailed image the camera can produce. However, in practice, the quality of the "picture" is highly dependent on a number of other technical features - the size of the matrix, image processing algorithms, optical properties, etc. Moreover, when increasing the resolution without increasing the size of the matrix, the image quality may drop, because. significantly increases the likelihood of noise and extraneous artifacts. And for shooting video, a large number of megapixels is not required at all: for example, to shoot Full HD (1920x1080) video, which is considered a very solid format for quadrocopters, a sensor of only 2.07 megapixels is enough.

Note that high resolution is often a sign of an advanced camera with high image quality. However, this quality is not determined by the number of megapixels, but by the characteristics of the camera and the special technologies used in it. Therefore, when choosing a quadcopter with a camera, you should look not so much at the resolution as at the class and price category of the model as a whole.

The maximum resolution and frame rate supported by the aircraft camera when shooting in HD (720p).

HD 720p is the first high-definition video standard. Notably inferior to Full HD and 4K formats in terms of performance, it nevertheless provides pretty good detail without significant demands on the camera and processing power. Therefore, HD support is found even in relatively inexpensive copters. And in high-end models, it can be provided as an addition to more advanced standards.

In drones, HD cameras typically use the classic 1280x720 resolution; other, more specific options are practically non-existent. As for the frame rate, the higher it is, the smoother the video turns out, the less movement is blurred in the frame. In general, values up to 24 fps can be called minimal, from 24 to 30 fps — medium, from 30 to 60 fps — high, and speeds over 60 fps are used mainly for slow motion HD.

Possibility of online video broadcasting from the quadcopter to an external device — smartphone, laptop, control panel with display, virtual reality glasses, etc.

This feature provides several benefits at once. Firstly, it greatly simplifies the control of the device, even if it is within sight; and if the copter is not visible from the ground (which happens often, especially when using heavy professional equipment), then it is very difficult to do without "eyes on board". Secondly, live broadcasting makes it possible to use a drone for real-time observations, as well as full-fledged aerial photo and video shooting; recording of footage can be carried out both on an external device that receives the broadcast, and on the aircraft’s own carrier (usually a memory card — see below).

The specific features of the live broadcast for each model should be clarified separately; however, nowadays, thanks to the development of technology, such an opportunity is available even in low-cost devices.

The presence of a slot for memory cards in the design of the quadcopter.

Usually, this function is provided in models equipped with cameras (see “Camera type”), and the cards themselves are used primarily for recording captured photos and videos. However, in some models, other data can be stored on such media — GPS tracks, flight routes, flight programs, etc. Anyway, cards are convenient, first of all, by the ability to quickly transfer data between the device and other devices that have a card reader (in particular, laptops).

It is worth noting that different devices can be designed for different standards of memory cards, and the media themselves are usually not supplied in the kit. Therefore, before choosing a card, you should clarify according to official data which type will be optimal for your model.

The range of the drone is the maximum distance from the control device at which a stable connection is maintained and the device remains controlled. For models that allow operation both from the remote control and from a smartphone (see "Control"), this item indicates the maximum value — usually achieved when using the remote control.

When choosing according to this indicator, note that the range is indicated for perfect conditions — within line of sight, without obstacles in the signal path and interference on the air. In reality, the control range may be somewhat lower; and when using a smartphone, it will also depend on the characteristics of a particular gadget. As for specific figures, they can vary from several tens of metres in low-cost models to 5 km or more in high-end equipment. At the same time, it should be said that the greater the range of communication, the higher its reliability in general, the better the control works with an abundance of interference and obstacles. Therefore, a powerful transmitter can be useful not only for long distances, but also for difficult conditions.

The frequency of the radio channel used to transmit the video stream from the camera on board the drone to the receiving device: smartphone or tablet, control panel or pilot’s video glasses. The most common frequencies are 2.4 GHz and 5.8 GHz; video data transmission at a frequency of 1.2 GHz is less common. This parameter directly affects the quality and stability of the video signal, depending on environmental conditions, as well as accompanying interference from other devices. Thus, for receiving video from FPV drones, the most preferable frequency is 5.8 GHz, which is due to a wide selection of channels and high data transfer rates.

The presence of an information display on the quadcopter control panel.

Note that this feature should not be confused with the FPV broadcast screen (see below). The information display is usually a simple segment display capable of displaying numbers, individual letters, and, on some models, a limited set of special icons. However, even such equipment significantly expands the capabilities of the remote control and allows the operator to receive a lot of additional information: battery charge, signal level, range, flight altitude, etc. At the same time, the auxiliary screen is inexpensive and can be used even in low-cost models. And in advanced drones, it may well complement the broadcast display: separating data into different screens contributes to ease of control.