so ive been wanting to get into drones for a while now, like maybe a year or so of just watching youtube videos and reading stuff but never actually pulling the trigger on buying anything. my budget is probably around 200-300 dollars maybe a little more if something is really worth it. i dont really know what im looking for exactly, i just want something that wont be a nightmare to fly and that i wont immediately crash into a tree on day one. i dont have any RC background or anything like that. do i even need to register with the FAA right away or can i just fly it around my backyard first and figure things out? also does it matter if it has a camera or not for learning, i kind of want one but maybe thats just adding more to worry about

honestly the DJI Mini 2 SE is probably where id point you if youre okay stretching the budget slightly. its under 250g so the FAA registration thing is simpler, and the stabilization on it is really forgiving for beginners. ive seen people with zero experience get decent footage their first week out. the camera is fine, its not gonna blow your mind but its not terrible either. the thing is with DJI you also get the app ecosystem which helps a lot when youre first figuring out airspace stuff. if 300 is really the hard limit though the Holy Stone HS720 comes up a lot for beginners and its decent for the price, just dont expect DJI build quality

camera vs no camera for learning is kind of a non issue imo, most beginner drones come with one anyway. what actually matters is whether it has decent obstacle avoidance or at least a reliable return to home, because you WILL lose orientation at some point and panic, everyone does. also re: the FAA thing, under 250 grams and recreational flying you mostly just need to register once for like 5 bucks and label your drone, its not a big deal. just dont fly near airports without checking the B4UFLY app first