While we wait for the next DJI rumor to play out, we wanted to share some tips and hints based on years of experience flying a broad range of drones. We’re very lucky because product manufacturers regularly send us new products to test and review, and the best ones usually end up in our drone bag for the long term.
Some of the accessories, like a lens pen, are usable with all of our drones. Drone-specific accessories like ND filters, obviously don’t.
We’ve been flying the DJI Air 2S since it came out, so here are the best accessories we always carry with us.
Smart Controller
We’re really happy that DJI unlocked the Smart Controller for the Air 2S. The glare-free bright screen lets you see clearly even in the brightest sunlight. And with options to record to the Controller, plus it’s great battery life we always grab it before we go flying.
Compatible with a range of drones from the Phantom 4 Pro V2.0 to the Mini 2, it’s no wonder the Smart Controller has a “Buy Now” rating in our 2021 Drone Buyers Guide.
About $749, available at DJI, B&H Photo, Adorama and Amazon.
Battery to Power Bank Adapter
This inoccuous little device, barely larger than a silver dollar has saved me more than a few times.
You basically connect it to your drone battery, activate the drone battery as if you were turning on a drone, and plug in any USB device you need to charge.
Back when travel was normal in 2019 our flight to Munich was redirected to an airfield in Linz, Austria. Low on iPhone power, the Power Bank Adapter quickly got us back to 100% to alert the rest of the squad and make arrangements.
Yes, the stock Air 2S controller will charge your phone while in use, but we love the convenience of having lots of extra juice on hand should we ever need it.
Available at DJI, B&H Photo, Adorama and Amazon.
Lens Pen
I think I bought my first lens pen back in the 90’s when I got into photography with a 2nd hand Pentax SLR. Since then we’ve dropped the film camera and added several drones to the arsenal.
If you’re not familiar with a Lens Pen, it’s the safest way to clean any camera lens. Usually equipped with a dust brush at one end, and a synthetic fabric tip on the other, a Lens Pen is a must have for neatly removing fingerprint smudges or dust from your drone lenses.
We prefer the ‘original’ LensPen. It’s inexpensive (about $10) and works well with all of our gear.
Available at B&H Photo, Adorama and Amazon.
Neutral Density Filters
lf you want to shoot the highest quality video with your drone, you won’t be doing it in Auto mode.
Taking control of your camera in Manual lets you shoot Cinematic video using the highest quality settings. To pull this off, you’ll need ND filters to perfectly control the amount of light hitting your camera sensor.
It sounds complicated, but once to try it a couple of times your videos will never be the same.
For the Air 2S we use Freewell’s Variable ND Filter set. This two filter kit gives us speedy dial control across 2-5 and 6-9 stops. Between the two filters you’ll be covered for both cinematic filming as well as some epic motion blur photography.
About $49, available at B&H Photo and Adorama.
Extra microSD Cards
We’ve managed to collect a variety of drones and handheld cameras over the years, which means we keep getting more and more SD cards.
The cameras have gotten faster, and more powerful, so the minimum specs on the memory cards has had to keep pace as well. With write speeds as high as 120 Mbps for 4K video, and every larger resolution still photos you need big, fast cards.
We keep several extra microSD cards in our drone bag at all times. You never want to arrive at a job and realize all you have is the drone’s internal memory.
Since day one we’ve been sold on the SanDisk Extreme line of microSD cards. They’re available up to 1 Terabyte and are U3 rated for 4K video. We never buy them smaller than 128GB.
About $23, avsailable at Amazon, B&H Photo and Adorama.
Extra Batteries
This one seems obvious, but you’d be surprised how many people buy the one-battery kit. Not only are you severely limited for flying right out of the box, you’re going to overpay for the next batteries you buy if you miss out on the bundled savings like in the Fly More Combo.
Our magic number for drone batteries is 3, but with some drones we’ve owned as many as 5.
We number each battery so we can keep track of charging and use cycles, to spread the wear evenly across the kit. This helps to keep the batteries healthy, and may be a plus if you decide to sell your drone kit.
It’s important to understand your battery as well, since they will automatically discharge if left for long periods on their own. And will discharge completely, making them unusable, if you leave them too long.
And don’t forget that drone batteries should only be packed in your carry-on when traveling by air. LiPo batteries are terribly flammable and are considered ‘hazardous goods’ by all airlines. Check your airline’s hazardous materials rules, available on their website, before flying.
Usually $115, available at DJI, Amazon, B&H Photo and Adorama.
Best Drone Backpack
We travel with multiple drones regularly. Sometimes by car, boat or plane. And over the years we found what we think is the best drone backpack. And it has a bonus secret feature that makes it our #1 piece of gear for traveling by airplane.
It was almost by accident that we discovered the Manfrotto Advanced Gear Medium Backpack when we got the Mavic 2 Pro. DJI was offering it as an accessory on the DJI Store, and it’s roomy interior in a compact size looked intriguing.
But it wasn’t until we flew to Rome in 2019, that we realized it’s best feature of all.
I rarely check bags when I fly so I have to be disciplined in how I pack my carry-on. Thanks to the ‘additional personal item’ allowance on top of a regular carry-on bag, we’re able to pack a big drone kit into a backpack that fits under the seat in front of you. This leaves my carry-on bag wide open to fill with all my clothes for the trip.
I can easily fit at least 2 drones (including the big Mavic 2), up to 6 batteries and chargers, controllers and even extra cameras like a Pocket 2 and an Osmo Action. And there’s even room left in a padded slot for my iPad.
Since we bought the Advanced Gear Medium Backpack Manfrotto has refreshed the model and it’s now called the Advanced2 Gear Medium Backpack. And the new model is even better than the original.
If you’re looking for an unbeatable drone backpack, the Manfrotto Advanced2 Gear Medium Backpack is the best there is.
About $130, available at Amazon, B&H Photo and Adorama.
Do you have a favorite drone accessory we should know about and review? Let us know in the comments or send us an email: dronenewsguy@dronereviewsandnews.com
