If you are looking for an affordable camera drone that can take good quality footage, you can get the Holy Stone HS720E.
It comes equipped with effective electronic image stabilization (EIS). And that is not all! It also has a Sony sensor.
We have come to expect good cameras from HS drones. For example, their HS510 drone has a true 4K camera. Of course, you cannot lack some issues here and there. For example, a mechanical stabilization beats electronic stabilization any time. However, unless you are using such an aerial camera for professional photography, it should serve you just fine.
If you calibrate the quadcopter properly, you will not have any trouble flying it blindly, with the transmitter alone, without FPV. Overall, this Chinese drone maker has perfected the art of making affordable but feature-packed quadcopters.
Keep reading to explore some of its most outstanding features.
Holy Stone HS720E Features & Technical Details
While the 4K camera is almost excellent, it is not everything in an aircraft such as this one. Other features and good technical details also matter a lot.
Design and Build Quality
If you have been following Holy Stone for some time, you will realize that their quality keeps getting better. This places them in the list of the top rated toy class drone makers. The HS720E is foldable by design. This makes it easy to travel with as well as to store.
When you unfold it, it measures 13.3 by 9.5 by 2.3 inches. When you fold it, it is much smaller than that.
You get brushless motors with the 720E. They are long lasting, make minimal noise and they also do not overheat. Drones with brushed motors get the short end of the stick since they require more maintenance and eventually, even replacement.
You will need to register this aircraft with the FAA because it has a weight of 495g. While this may look like a downside, it actually makes the quad more stable in the air.
Holy Stone has used ABS plastic to make the hull and the remote controller of this quadcopter. This is more than enough protection for the delicate electronic parts inside the quad.
Camera Quality
As we have mentioned already, this is a true 4K camera, with electronic image stabilization which removes distortion from videos. EIS means that the camera automatically compensates for any slanting especially when the quad is going in circles (Circle Mode) or when it is cornering.
This camera also has a high quality Sony sensor, so you can take good amateur footage. This is one of the reasons why it is good for travelers.
When you use phone storage to keep your footage, you will be able to capture photos at a resolution of 1920 by 1080P. However, with TF card storage, you can capture 3840 by 2160P photos.
For video, you will be able to capture 4K at 30FPS or 1080P at 60FPS when you store them in a TF card. This drone has a slot for TF card and it supports capacities as high as 128GB.
You will also have a good FPV experience. You can see what the drone can see using the app. The 5GHz FPV transmission distance is 500 meters, which is quite good for a drone in this price range.
There is zero to minimal latency in the image transfer. You also enjoy FPV transmission in 1080P resolution, which is also quite good.
Battery and Flight Time
You will get your HS720E aircraft with 7.4V 2800 mAh Rechargeable Battery. Each battery can give you a flight time of 23 minutes, so you get 46 minutes in total. Even if we assume that each battery can give you 20 minutes, 40 minutes is a good time to have enough fun. There is no need to buy a third battery unless you really want to.
Modular batteries such as these ones are safe, easy to remove and insert into the drone. They also charge outside the drone. Therefore, you can charge one as you fly your aircraft with the other. Of course, they ship charged so you can get to flying your quadcopter straight away.
Remote Controller
Remote controllers don’t come any stylish than this one. First, it is small, comfortable and light in weight. Secondly, it has a small screen in the center that displays important data such as quadcopter distance, GPS data, drone height and the battery voltage.
You will need to buy two AA batteries to power this remote controller. In addition, it has a retractable smartphone holder at the top. That way, you can fly the quad using the remote controller or the app.
The only thing we have not been able to establish is whether both antennas are real or fake. Many controllers for toy-class drones come with fake antennas.
Holy Stone HS720E Flight Functions
If it is not a performance drone, it had better come with many flight functions that make it simpler to fly. This one packs quite a good number of these functions. Keep reading to see some of the most outstanding ones:
GPS Auto-Return
This is one of the best fail-safe functions. The aircraft connects with the GPS in your mobile phone and it comes back if the battery runs low or if it loses signal. You can also press the return to home key.
Tap Fly
Open the app, map interface and then set the route that you would like the drone to follow. This is one of the many ways of flying a quadcopter hands-free.
Point of Interest
Sample this … you have spotted a nice monument and you would like shots from different angles, with you in the middle. Just engage the point of interest mode and the quadcopter will fly around that recording footage.
Follow Me
In this mode, the HS720E recognizes your face, locks onto you and then follows you at a decent distance. When you move faster it flies faster and vice versa.
Optical Flow Positioning
We all love a stable hover with our quadcopters. That way, we can take distortion-free pictures and videos.
Short Summary of Feedback from Existing Owners
This is my third Holy Stone drone. This brand name has earned my trust and their prices are more affordable than DJI. Riley F.
We fly this quadcopter with my 12-year-old son whenever we can grab a weekend. It is simple to fly and a lot of fun too. Sam G.
App works just fine with my Android 10 smartphone. The FPV distance is also quite long at 500 meters. I could buy this quadcopter all over again. Harry K.
My only warning to you if you buy this quadcopter is … don’t fly it in the wind. If there is anything stronger than a gentle breeze, she can fly away. Kim L
I am skeptical about small drones so I look for mistakes first. I must grudgingly concede that this works as the manufacturer says it will. Matthew T.
Holy Stone HS720E Pros
- Sold with two batteries for longer flight time
- Easy to operate even for beginners
- Sleek remote controller
- Has many flight functions for hands-free fun
- Takes high quality videos and photographs
- Good build quality for durability
- Comes with a nice bag for traveling and storage
Holy Stone HS720E Cons
- Wind resistance could be better
- You have to register with the FAA
- Comes in one color only – dark gray
Who Should Buy The Holy Stone 720E Drone?
Anyone can buy this drone. It has some exciting functions and features even for the advanced users. For example, it has a long FPV transmission distance of 500 meters.
It has an even longer remote controller range at 1000 meters. In addition, flying this quadcopter in blind mode is incredibly exciting. This aircraft is very responsive, and so even punching the return to home key brings it home immediately even if you were flying it in blind mode.
Beginners also find it easy to fly. It has more than enough flight functions and the camera takes high quality footage. To use the maximum resolution, get a TF card to store your footage. Even when stored in the phone, the footage is not that bad, so you can opt not to buy the card.
Conclusion and Recommendation
Do not fly your Holy Stone HS720E in the wind. OK, it has good weight and some wind resistance. However, it can only resist so much. Apart from that, read the user manual to find out how to calibrate the quadcopter and fly it.
We recommend that you always fly it in an open space so that you can take it to maximum height, say, about 80 meters and fly it to full control range if possible. However, also keep it within your sight especially if you are a beginner.
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