This device is designed with content creators in mind, so it's both amazingly compact and has stunning video quality – at least in the daylight.

What do you envision when you hear the word “drone?” Today, drones are used in many ways including delivery of small items, industrial site inspections, infrastructure monitoring, mapping, crop monitoring, emergency response and security surveillance. The use cases seem endless as more and more industries discover ways that drones benefit their business. And of course, as world regulators are beginning to work with industry leaders and stakeholders to allow for more complex operations – as is the case in the US with the new beyond visual line of sight aviation rulemaking committee.

Drones have a bright future as they seep their way into more industries and companies discover more value-adding use cases. The future of autonomous drones is particularly bright due to the FAA’s shift towards streamlining approvals for fully autonomous drone flight, mainly with its new type certification (TC) program for drones. With this dramatic change, a reliable drone solution can undergo a series of thorough testing to prove to regulatory bodies that it can operate safely in specific, complex situations. With this roadblock removed, autonomous drones will be implemented at much larger scales across consumer and commercial industries alike, helping bring about a safer, greener and more efficient and productive future.

That all changed in the fall of 2016, when the landmark Part 107 rule clearly defined requirements for commercial operations in the US, effectively making skies open for business.  Soon after, the FAA began issuing thousands of drone permits per year.

In fact, you can take that further, quickly rotating the camera forward and popping the device on the top of some furniture to gather evidence from somewhere other than your chest, if you like.

❌ You want it tough: This camera is pretty easily seen and knocked off the head by an aggressor. ❌ You need the best 4K imagery: The sharpness means you might be better off with an Insta360 Go 3S and the hat clip attachment.

With that out of the way (and I'm a Mac person, so it pains me a little to recommend this to anyone), I still foudl this a great device because it isn't excessively priced, it uses more modern USB-C charging, it boasts GPS tracking, and – importantly – you can rotate the camera lens so that, if the device doesn't seem to be hanging optimally where you want to weat it, the lens can still point where you need it.

Chief among its enticing features is Full HD video up to 30fps, for which you’ll want to make use of the 32GB card supplied out of the box. Alternatively, a 64GB microSD card is offered. If there’s a compromise due to its diminutiveness, it’s that battery life can’t match others here at a comparatively paltry 180 minutes from a full charge.

In the mid-90s, the U.S. government began The Predator program , which resulted in the MQ-1 Predator, equipped with a Hellfire anti-tank missile on its wings. It paved the way to the MQ-9 Reaper in 2007. The Predator and Reaper drones are what most people today picture when they think of military drones.

With an adjustable camera angle, night vision, and GPS, this camera has a lot of funcationality for most users. Read more below…

Given it is in the teir of products that rely on simple button inputs – no joysticks or arrow-like controllers – usability is acceptable, especially the simple shutter. The night lighting is powerful enough to get the job done too.

Despite these major advancements in technology and regulation, it would be another decade before the commercial drone industry would truly take off.

He is the author of a number of books including The Complete Guide to Drones, The Smart Smart Home Handbook, 101 Tips for DSLR Video and The Drone Pilot's Handbook.

As a body camera, it is light enough to be worn atop of clothing like a T-shirt; you simply wear a magnetic pendant, included, and you can drop the camera onto your chest to record. It's discrete – smaller than most microphones, and surprisingly effective. You get 4K video and, like any good action camera, a built-in 6-axis gyroscope provides high-end image stabilization.

The 4K video is a little aggressively sharpened by the software, but nice and crisp for editing (or one-click sharing from the app). Sadly there's no night mode for bouncers, though there is IPX5 ingress protection for action fans. The cheaper EP6 lacks the powered gimbal, but might be a useful alternative if you’re pushed for cash.

In 2015, the first legal delivery of medical supplies occurred in the U.S. The market for global medical drones is predicted to reach $947.6 million by 2027.

Another market for drones that grown tremendously is the drone inspection market. The value of the inspections for confined spaces (examples include Oil and Gas, Power Generation, Mining, Chemicals, Marine Vessels, and others) was $795.12 million in 2019 and is projected to reach $1,936.32 million by 2027.

Adam is our resident expert on all aspects of camera drones and drone photography, from buying guides on the best choices for aerial photographers of all ability levels to the latest rules and regulations on piloting drones.

Since their first use in the mid-1800s, drones have been used for photography, security, safety, and environmental applications. However, warfare is responsible for paving the way for the drone technologies we have today. Military units across the globe were among the first to recognize the benefits drones could provide to wartime strategies and began working to expand the industry.

While it felt important to draw this device to your attention, we're still waiting to test one of these devices at DCW and it's worth saying that we've seen a few customer comments suggesting the stated battery life is open to doubt. This might stem from the existence of a wi-fi feature which can have a huge impact on battery. I would expect the quoted time assumes the feature is turned off.

After World War I, companies worked to push drone technology forward with inventions like the Hewitt-Sperry Automatic Airplane and the Kettering bug, an unmanned aerial torpedo. Most efforts during this time were completed by the military up until 1935, when actor and model-airplane enthusiast Reginald Denny became the first civilian to develop a remotely piloted vehicle.

This robust camera has passed stringent drop tests and is dust- and water-resistant. You also get night vision and a long charge. Read more below…

If you're out at night, there are four IR LEDs for recording in low-light conditions. Operation is one-touch, although the loud activation bleep and recording light may not be ideal if what you’re looking for is a device for discrete filming.

It wasn’t until 2013, after Amazon announced it would use drones for delivery, that the general public really began to take notice.

In 2021, the FAA reports that there are nearly 900,000 drones registered in the US alone. That includes a little over half a million drones registered for recreational use.

✅ You're working with people: The visual simplicity of the design very much says "evidence is being recorded!" ✅ You need to record long shifts day-or-night: The battery is able to cope with long periods in light or night modes.

Sure, this isn't for the security market – even in the housing the battery won't go all night – but if you're capturing content this will definitely make your videos stand out.

Today, when we think of military drones, we tend to think of sleek, advanced planes and quadcopters.  However, the world’s inventors and militaries first developed drone technology as balloons, torpedoes, and aerial targets – feats of invention and innovation at the time.

By the late 1960s, the U.S. government had invested in and used drone technology throughout Vietnam and to aid in naval missions, though most of these missions were classified.

With over 20 years of expertise as a tech journalist, Adam brings a wealth of knowledge across a vast number of product categories, including timelapse cameras, home security cameras, NVR cameras, photography books, webcams, 3D printers and 3D scanners, borescopes, radar detectors… and, above all, drones.

In modern uses, the word “drone” refers to Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). In other words, aircraft that don’t require an onboard pilot in order to operate. For our purposes, technologies in the drone sector will be broken down into two categories: drones that require a human operator to guide their missions and autonomous drones, which do not.

This compact option works with a clip or on a pendant, with all the basics you need for capturing up to three hours of footage. Read more below…

✅ Size & weight matters: As I've said, tiny can be helpful and this is super small meaning less weight on clothing lines. ✅ Easy transfer helps: The built-in USB port saves on irritating cables or cards.

The Ordro EP8 and its less-well specified sibling the EP6 offer, if not a unique perspective, then a rare means of capturing it that will appeal to some. Body-worn cameras are often clipped to a chest pocket (beneath the eyes), while an action camera with head strap can be excessively distracting. Instead this camera can be charged up and worn at exactly eye height thanks to the head band. It’s not invisible, but it’ll get the ideal first-person angle for certain vloggers – driving or cycling videos for example – and the head band can be worn over glasses.

❌ You want to go all night: The battery life is measured in minutes (though, to be fair, still around 3 hours). ❌ You want to record to memory cards: No microSD cards here; the device is the card!

The MQ-9 Reaper is a larger, more powerful version of the U.S. government’s initial MQ-1 Predator drone developed in the 1990s.

❌ You want the newest tech: DJI seem to have ceded the 'smallest action camera' race to Insta360 for a while now, concentrating on their 'traditional' best action camera. ❌ You're easily confused: If you go all in on the Action 2 accessories, the multiple devices can be challenging to manage.

Despite its small size, the camera also manages to cram in a color screen for menus and playback, though we’d recommend viewing via USB on a computer. We also liked the physical sliding switch to start video capture. Though they’ll draw power faster, there are four IR LEDs for night use and the option of a pocket clip (included) or screw mount.

In 2018, companies around the world, from the U.S., to China, to Israel, began  investing funds to research drone use for things like taxi services, photography, and indoor applications.

✅ You want POV: The head mount gives a more natural angle than a chest mount. ✅ You want image stabilization: There is an element of action-camera-like digital image stabilization.

By the time of the first US congressional hearing on the issue in 2015, only 13 permits had been approved in nearly 10 years.

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The DJI Action 2 is not built as a body cam but, thanks to its compact design and magnetic mount, but it still makes a good body-worn camera if you're looking to capture POV content.

The best way to think of it is as an action camera in two parts; the tiny camera, the size of a thumb, can simply pop out of the 'case' and keep working for around half an hour. The case, called an 'Action Pod' houses the rest of the electronics you might find on a GoPro – including a touchscreen for controls – and the two are linked almost magically.

Key features are a long recording time (made up of both a long battery life and good data storage capacity). This is more important if you work a long shift; creators are used to swapping batteries and memory cards. You'll also want decent camera resolution, and, if you're working in the wee small hours, you'll be looking for night vision functions such as infrared capture.

✅ You want top-quality video: This is right up there with the high-end 4K GoPros in terms of quality. ✅ Size matters: This is as small as it comes.

Though not the cheapest option in our roundup, this Transcend camera features a robust construction. It comes housed in a IP67-rated enclosure for outdoor use and conforms to rigorous US military drop-test standards for shock resistance (the MIL-STD 810G 516.6 transit drop test, to be exact.)

Agricultural and industrial sites were the first two main markets for commercial drone use. Drones were used to manage crops and carry out inspections. Due to tight margins in the agricultural market, other industries such as utilities, renewable energy, mining, drone deliveries and port and sea terminals have since outpaced it in terms of adoption.

You also need to know how you want to transfer video. Some offer Wi-Fi links to phones (which may affect price and battery life). Others accept a removable microSD card, and/or USB connection to your PC. Unlike most cameras, a built-in screen for composing and reviewing images is not always provided – or needed!

You can even review it on the unbelievably crisp built-in screen, or play it back on your phone thanks to its wi-fi connection. The camera’s range of attachments also makes it a great choice for cyclists (in which case the classic helmet mount may be preferable).

In the early 70s, Israel began using drones as decoys in the Yom Kippur War. It was during this same time that the United States officially confirmed that they had been using drones in Vietnam. According to the Armed Forces Journal International in 1982, the U.S. stated that they had flown more than 3,435 drone missions during the war for both decoy and surveillance applications.

In 1915, Nikola Tesla wrote about unmanned aerial combat vehicles. The first attempt at a self-propelled drone as an aerial target was completed in 1916 by A.M. Low. It wasn’t until World War I that the first pilotless torpedo was invented by the Dayton-Wright Airplane Company.

Yet when drones first emerged on the market, they were strictly used for military purposes. Let’s take a look into the history and uses of drones since they were first used to get a clearer picture of how the industry expanded to what it is today.

There are two reasons you might want a body camera, or body-worn camera. The first and most well-known is the protection of law enforcement and security personnel – or virtually anyone else – by capturing evidence. The other, increasingly common use is to capture point-of-view footage for videos.

Percepto, one of the first companies in line to receive type certification, is a global market leader for autonomous industrial drones and remote autonomous inspection and monitoring solutions. Their systems are autonomous, intelligent and simple.

In other words, just as cyclists use helmet cameras, and motorists use dash cams, all sorts of people can find body cameras handy – from folk in bad neighbourhoods to high-octane YouTubers. But how do you choose the right one for your needs?

This growth has been fostered in part due to the 2021 approval by aviation regulators in the U.S of the first fully automated commercial drone flights. This meant approved companies could have drones operating without anyone controlling or monitoring it onsite.

The camera charges when in the Action Pod, and the process is as seamless as Apple Airpods. The camera also boasts Apple FindMe in case you lose it!

Contact one of our drone experts today to learn more about our advanced drone solution and keep your critical infrastructure and assets protected and your workers safe.

Adam, our Managing Editor, is a big fan of walking, which he does in notoriously crime-ridden East London, so has tested more than a few body cameras for his own safety. He's also a big fan of tech in general, having written on the subject for over two decades and had several books published in over ten languages.

✅ Size matters: The compact form factor is well suited to the front pocket. ✅ You think you need the monitor always: Not all compact cameras include the monitor, but this does.

During World War II both Allied and German forces used drones to train aircraft gunners and aid in missions. After the end of World War II, drone developers began using jet engines in technologies like the Australian GAF Jindivik and the Model 10001, built for the U.S. Navy by Beechcraft.

✅ You want flexibility: The re-positionable lens means you can do more with this device.✅ You want to go all night: The battery will last a full shift, and then some.

While the commercial drone space has struggled with regulations over the last ten years, the personal and recreational drone industries have grown under less scrutiny.

A tiny 4K camera which captures top-notch video is ideal for content creators, and pops into a With its tiny body and go-anywhere aesthetic, the Insta360 Go 3S is capable of delivering some really unusual perspectives.

Discretion is the name of the game when it comes to this personal security device or, cough, spy cam. It’s a small and lightweight body camera option that also comes supplied with a clip, or, alternatively, can be worn about the neck, pendant-style.

Informed by military research and development over the previous 150 years, the first use of drones for non-military ventures started in 2006, the same year the Federal Aviation Administration issued its first commercial drone permit.

This is essentially the "classic" Boblov form factor, and you'll see it sold as an M5 and an M5 pro depending on the specifications – built-in GPS and the memory supplied memory card are variations.

❌ You want a police-style camera: While great for capturing action, the battery system isn't designed for long use. ❌ You're on a budget: With quality high, the price is also at the upper end.

It wasn’t until the 1980s and 90s, that the U.S. military began heavily investing in the technology. The U.S. Department of Defense awarded the AAI Corp and Israel-based Malat contracts in the 90s to develop more advanced drone technology, which resulted in more cost-efficient technologies.

The relatively basic control system isn't too difficult to master, and the color screen is of good quality, good enough that it's possible to navigate through recordings and review video on the device if needs be.

In the early years of the war, the U.S. Air Force began using unmanned aircrafts to cut down on pilot deaths over hostile territory. Investment in drone technology continued after the Soviet Union shot down an American spy plane in 1960.

Even as the consumer drone market exploded and reduced the cost of drone technology, enterprises were reluctant to scale their drone programs. The FAA’s long term rules for commercial use and their implications remained uncertain, and the risk of investing was perceived as too high.

❌ You want the smallest choice: Adding a screen still makes this more cumbersome than the Boblov C18. ❌ You want to go all night: For size, the battery has been compromised and there is a 4-hour limit.

If you need to capture video for a limited period and don’t want to wear more than a T-shirt or tank top, then the camera module of the Action 2 can be secured in place to a magnetic grip on a lanyard beneath the fabric; it’s much more discrete than a body belt or head mount yet gets quality first-person footage.

Today, over three-dozen countries  and multiple terrorist groups and non-state actors have  weaponized drones in their arsenal.

For example, if you're working in a difficult environment – on the door, or in a shop – and you are subject to career-threatening allegations or intimidation then you'll need a camera with a long battery life and a night mode. On this list, something like the Boblov M5.

Build quality is sturdy – though I didn't test it to the full extent, you can apparently drop it 2m – the height of a tall person – while the weight seemed reasonable given the battery life definitely supported a full shift. It's nice, too, to have the monitor display built-in.

If you're looking to capture video for YouTube or another platform while leaving your hands free, then it's more about quality than how long you're recording. That's where a device like the Insta360 Go 3S steps in.

The EP8 (as well as the EP7 it replaces) has a two-axis gimbal that serves to capture reasonably stable imagery. The app allows you to align your shot live, or you can just shoot ‘blind’ with the side buttons.

Having previously tested other small Boblov devices – like their very light Boblov C18 – I can see how this tries to strike a balance between the convenience of a display and the portability of that camera (though I'd recommend reading up on that too as I enjoyed that camera and the need for a monitor isn't always truly there when you're using the device.

Not all operations are covered by Part 107. Instead, they require a waiver which people/businesses can apply for. It can take months until the waiver process is complete and waivers and not always approved. Thus, regulation is still a roadblock for advanced commercial operations. Note, there are similar regulations around the world including the UK, EU and Australia.

It’s officially an action cam, but its magnetic mount works through a T-shirt, enabling the Action 2 to double up as a bodycam. Read more below…

With built-in Wi-Fi, a 130° field of view and the ability to take snapshots while recording video, it ticks the necessary boxes. You also get Full HD video capture, a fixed-aperture 2.0mm lens, a built-in mic and battery life of up to 12 hours, plus useful 64GB internal memory to get you started out of the box.

The simple trick this camera offers is the ability to reposition the lens if your clothing prevents it from shooting straight. Read more below…

❌ You have a Mac: When testing, we could not find a way to transfer files to a Mac.❌ You want to attach to light clothing: I found the clip better suited to coats than T-shirts.

I've kept this in the guide even though the Insta360 Go 3S might seem the obviously better option – it's newer and smaller – because DJI have also relatively recently made a minor improvement to this product line (by improving the built-in storage to 128GB), so it cleary has life in it.

When I tested the camera, it produced impressive results, and cames with a selection of clips, from the straightforward which worked with my jacket pocket, to a sucker cup for use as a dash-cam like device.

Boblov's classic M5 is simple but effective, and boasts 2K resolution and up to 256GB storage, as well as a windshield adaptor. Read more below…

Government agencies quickly began testing drone technologies for disaster relief and border surveillance while corporations began using them for commercial applications like pipeline inspections, crop evaluation, and security.

The Boblov M7 is a great body camera for a lot of users, though straight off the bat I'm going to say that Mac users should avoid it.

❌ You want to save money: This isn't the cheapest option.❌ You need battery reliability: We've heard some mutter that the 12 hour battery life isn't reliable.

✅ You want a tough build: It meets military dust-proofing & shock specifications.✅ You want an app: Trancehd are known for storage devices, and provide an app.

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What some may find useful here, however, is that the device features a built-in USB port for connecting directly to a laptop or PC for transferring footage. If you want simplicity, this device delivers.

✅ You're like flexibility: DJI's design is clever and flexible, especially if you get all the accessories. ✅ You want good image stabilization: Like other action cameras, the camera has digital image stabilization.

The majority of hobby drones, those used by private citizens for non-commercial purposes, are quadcopters, or drones with four propellers. They are considerably cheaper than their commercial counterparts, typically under $2,000 and lacking the sophisticated software and sensors required of their commercial counterparts.

One of the biggest issues with body cameras is that the lens points in the direction your clothing chooses. This device helps provide a solution in the form of rotating lens on a simple friction mount. This also affords the ability to re-direct the camera and place it discretely in different places, like the top of a fridge.

It’s not exactly discreet, but this headgear camera gives a precise first-person eye-level view that vloggers will love. Read more below…

For most people, the best body camera will be compact, unobtrusive, easily attached to clothing, and have a lens with a wide angle of view. You’ll also want something that’s robust and, ideally, can be worn out in all weathers and conditions.