We found the perfect way to learn how to take photos with a drone

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GearbestDrones are a thing now for their ability to take sweeping, high-res video from the skies. To get anything of substance along those lines, though, you have to drop hundreds on something like a DJI Phantom or Yuneec Typhoon.

Understandably, not everyone interested in this kind of tech will want to jump right into that kind of investment. Even if new models are only getting smarter, it’s good to learn how to fly a quadcopter first, and get the hang of controlling a camera in the air.

The Syma X5C is an affordable, largely approachable way to make that happen. Make no mistake: It’s cheap, it’s a toy, and it’s not quite as smooth or capable in the air as our current favorite for beginners, the Blade Nano QX. The controller isn't great either. But it costs $40 less, it’s at least comparable in terms of stability, and, most notably, it has a built-in camera.

Beyond that, the X5C comes with propeller guards, giving it some level of durability. Since it’s popular — with a 4.1 rating on Amazon after more than 4,240 user reviews — finding replacement parts isn’t too hard if things do go haywire.

Now, that camera is grainy. Like, flip phone grainy. Still, that it’s even there at this price is good value. You still won’t want to fly it in a moderate breeze, and the battery only lasts around six minutes, but that’s standard procedure in this range — being able to take any sort of video from the air is a good time to start, and if you do want to move up to a heavier-duty quad one, it should give you a little more confidence that you won’t bust your $1,000 purchase. Feedback from CNET and Gizmodo have been positive as well.

Again, if you can afford it, the Nano QX is a more efficient way to train. But this isn’t too far off, and if nothing else, it’ll give you (or your kids) a fun way to mess with your cat around the house.

Syma X5C Quadcopter with Camera, $43.99, available at Amazon.