5 Remote Controlled Helicopter Camera Copters

1. SilverLit Nano Video Spy Cam RC Heli | Best Budget

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Editor’s Rating: 4.3/5

The SilverLit Spycam is a nano-sized 3-channel coaxial helicopter. It doesn’t look like a conventional heli. It’s more like a flying camera with a unique appeal (see below). It’s also a perfect gift for kids.

• Best feature 1: Built-in 640 x 480 photo/video camera
• Best feature 2: Foldable, compact design
• Plus points: Great fun to fly, 2 shooting options, MicroSD, storage slot, Micro USB support
• Minus points: Low average footage, short flying time, not good in the wind

The smart feature for this nano camera heli is its foldable design. It’s already tiny, but folding it down makes it even smaller. It then fits into a special storage section on the top of the controller. That protects it and makes it more portable, but that’s not all. It can function as a regular handheld camera from inside the controller. There’s even a flip-up viewfinder—how cool is that?

Flying & Filming with the SilverLit Spycam

This flying camera operates on 2.4Ghz, not an infrared (IR) control system. That means you can fly it outside on sunny days. Infrared (IR) control systems can suffer interference from bright sunlight. Only one of the models on this page uses an IR control. There are plusses for using IR in some instances.

SilverLit’s Spycam is a stress-free copter to fly with easy-to-manage controls. It does turn painfully slow, though, especially to the left. Slow turns can be a good or bad thing depending on skill level. Using the camera is a doddle, with a light on the transmitter to let you know it’s working. The camera quality isn’t stunning but it’s good enough to keep the kids entertained.

The Not So Good

Filming and shooting with the tiny camera is easy, but the footage is a low-average quality. The older the pilot, the more disappointed he or she is likely to be with the stills and video. For younger kids, though, it’s a perfect flying camera heli. The short 5-minute flight time is typical for a model in this class but still annoying. Lastly, don’t fly it outdoors unless there’s no wind or you’re asking for trouble.

2. S977 Metal RC Helicopter W/ Camera | Best Value

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Editor’s Rating: 4.4/5

The Best Value slot goes to WLTOYS S977 radio control RC camera helicopter. This model comes with a built-in gyro. The gyroscope helps to steady the craft in flight and thus makes it easier to control.

• Best feature 1: Built-in 1.3-megapixel photo/video camera
• Best feature 2: Crash-resistant metal frame
• Plus points: Built-in gyro, easy to fly, bendy props, flashing LEDs, MicroSD card, cool controller
• Minus points: Camera use drains the battery fast, fragile parts, not good outdoors

The S977 is an affordable and capable camera heli. It also looks more like a traditional chopper, unlike the first pick. The metal frame makes it crash-resistant, though not all components are as sturdy.

Flying & Filming with the S977 Camera Heli

Anyone who’s familiar with a regular games pad will take to the 3.5-channel controller. The built-in gyro helps to keep the S977 stable in flight which also benefits filming. Flying and operating the camera is easy even at the beginner level. All the aerial pics and video save to the 512MB MicroSD card. It’s then a simple case of transferring the card to a computer or a smart device for viewing.

The restricted 3.5CH control is also a blessing for learner pilots. It keeps flying and maneuvers basic so that they can focus on the camera. Flight control includes: Forward / Backward / Up / Down / Left / Right /. The 3.5CH also means crashes are less common than models that use four or more channels.

What makes this camera heli stand out is its longish 10-minute flight time and fast 45-minute charging. The 10-meter range is also ideal for keeping the tiny model in the pilot’s line of sight (LOS).

The Not So Good

The flight time is decent for a small metal-framed RC camera heli—until you use the camera. It makes sense that camera usage shortens battery life, but this one seems a tad extreme. Some reviewers say the LEDs and camera usage halves the flight time from ten minutes to five.

Another gripe is that the parts are fragile and break easily on impact, but not the metal frame. Some report that it stops working after a hit. Others say its crash-resistant, so there’s inconsistency in the feedback. The model I had was on loan so I didn’t crash it to find out. Overall, more people praise this model than criticize it. It’s a lightweight heli, though, and better suited to indoor-only flying.

3. UDI U13A RC Spy Helicopter W/ Camera | Top Pick

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Editor’s Rating: 4.8/5

The sleek-looking U13A makes the Top Pick. It’s a metal-framed helicopter with a neat video camera. It comes equipped with a built-in 3-axis gyroscope that does an excellent job of steadying the craft.

• Best feature 1: Built-in hi- resolution spy camera
• Best feature 2: Sturdy metal alloy frame
• Plus points: 3-axis gyro, easy to fly, LCD controller, 1GB card, EVA shocks, decent range
• Minus points: Not good in the wind, short flight time, tricky MicroSD card reader

This 3.5CH camera helicopter is easy to fly at any level and great fun indoors. It has a decent range and can fly outside too, but only on calm days (see the last section).

Flying & Filming with the U13A Camera Copter

This heli’s remote controller (RC) has a traditional layout and feels comfortable to hold. It also has a built-in LCD screen. LCDs are handy as they display all kinds of useful data and let you make minor adjustments. LED light indicators on the craft and controller tell you when it’s ready for takeoff.

You must insert the included 1GB MicroSD card in the card slot at the rear of the heli before you can use the camera. There’s a single video button on the RC for filming. You know when the heli is recording video by a red flashing light on its underside. That’s all there is to it. Flying, filming, and taking aerial photos is as easy as it gets for an RC heli.

This is a crash-resistant little bird if it flies into something hard. Its sturdy metal alloy frame, flexible blades, and elasticated flybar help to protect it. The EVA shock absorbers also add an extra layer of crash-resistance. What they do is reduce the risk of damage in the event of a hard landing.

The Not So Good

Alas, the UDI U13A RC Spy Helicopter is one of the worst there is for flying outdoors. Don’t buy it if you hope to play outside as well as inside. Even the slightest wind will prevent this copter from moving forward. Seriously, anything above a breeze is likely to blow it into the nearest tree or another obstacle. And the short flight time of only 7-minutes is average but frustrating.

The final gripe is that the MicroSD reader is fragile and fiddly for folks with bigger fingers. Putting the card into its slot and taking it out can prove vexing to say the least.

4. Spy Hercules Camera Unbreakable 3.5CH RC Heli

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Editor’s Rating: 4.7/5

They call this the world’s first unbreakable radio controlled helicopter. It’s true, the Spy Hercules has an incredibly tough frame for a camera helicopter and deserves the forth slot.

• Best feature 1: Built-in mini SD picture/video camera
• Best feature 2: Hard-wearing polymer body (see review for details)
• Plus points: Low-maintenance, built-in gyro, beginner-friendly, three colors available, LEDs
• Minus points: No memory card, short flight time, fragile controller

The Spy Hercules camera copter uses a hard-wearing polymer material for its body. I highlight the polymer as it can withstand up to around 200 pounds of pure force. Is it really unbreakable—no, but it’s about as durable as it gets for a model in its class. Let’s see how this puppy behaves in the sky.

Flying & Filming with the Spy Hercules Camera Heli

The company challenges users to crash, smash, and step on their so-called unbreakable heli. I say don’t. Just enjoy flying it with the knowledge that it’ll most likely survive any bangs it endures. All RC heli pilots have occasional accidents, so crash-resistance is no minor detail.

This copter is enjoyable to fly, especially at the beginner level. It’s a coaxial model with a single rear rotor to keep the bird constant. It’s a low maintenance model too. The 3.5CH control and gyro enable precise movements with impressive flight stability. And the mini SD picture/video camera is super-easy to use. It produces good-average footage for an electric powered RC copter in its class.

The Not So Good

You need an 8GB micro memory card to save the camera footage. This model doesn’t include one, so that’s an extra cost. Be sure to add 7–10 dollars on the price if you don’t already have a spare card. The max flight time is only 8-minutes or less when using the camera or flying with the LEDs on.

The remote controller (RC) is fragile and easy to break, especially its antenna. That’s a pity seeing how much care has gone into making such a crash-resistant camera copter.

5. Nano RC Spy Copter W/ Video & Picture Camera

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Editor’s Rating: 4.5/5

The last spy heli in this guide is the Nano Spy Copter Camera by World Tech Toys. It has a built-in solid-state stabilizing gyro, a tough metal body, and a video/picture camera.

• Best feature 1: Integrated hi-res video camera
• Best feature 2: Micro SD card storage w/ 1GB card (included)
• Plus points: Steady hover, easy to pilot, USB cable, flashing LEDs, controller charging
• Minus points: Long charging time, not good in the wind

Camera helis don’t get much more stable than the Nano Spy Copter, at least not in this class. Stable fliers make piloting easier and produce vids and stills with less blur and shake.

Flying & Filming with the Nano Spy Copter Camera

This whirlybird is the perfect indoor camera copter due to its 3.5CH control and slow speeds. The traditional controller is uncluttered and straightforward for flying, recording video, and shooting stills. Kids love its push-button photo capture for high or low-down selfies and to spy on their siblings. The stills and video quality is pretty good for a model that costs less than 50 dollars.

The Nano Spy comes with a 1GB MicroSD memory card—ample storage for a single mission. There’s no need to remove the card to view the video and pics either. All you do is plug the heli into a computer or tablet using a USB cable (included).

Another practical feature is being able to charge the model on the go. It can plug directly into the controller and reenergize that way. The only downside is that it drains the controller batteries faster. It’s a useful feature, though, and there’s always the wall charger for when you’re at home.

The Not So Good

The good thing about the Nano RC Spy Copter is that it has a reasonable 10-minute flight time. The letdown is the long 90+ minutes it takes to charge the battery. The other setback is that it’s an indoor-only bird despite some sales pages showing it as an indoor/outdoor model. It’s too light to fly in anything above a gentle breeze. It’s also controlled by infrared (IR) that suffers from direct sunlight.