ok so im pretty new to all this and trying to figure out my first real drone. been borrowing my brothers old phantom which is way too big and clunky to carry around. i want something small i can throw in a bag.

ive been looking at the Autel EVO Nano and Nano+ and im just not sure if the extra like 150 bucks for the plus version is worth it to a beginner. from what i can tell the main difference is the sensor size and the aperture? im not totally sure what that means practically for photos. i shoot mostly landscape stuff when im hiking and occasionally some video but im not doing anything professional.

also is there any reason to go with Autel over DJI for a first drone or am i overthinking this. i like that Autel doesnt have as many geo-fencing restrictions from what ive read but idk if that actually matters much day to day

honestly for hiking and landscapes the plus is worth it. the aperture control makes a bigger difference than you'd think when you're dealing with bright snow or dark forest shadows and you want some control over exposure without just cranking ISO. that said if budget is tight the regular Nano is still a genuinely good little drone and you wont be miserable with it or anything.

on the Autel vs DJI thing ? i have both and use both. DJI probably has a slight edge in how smooth the whole ecosystem feels but the geo-fencing stuff you mentioned is real and can be frustrating if you're in areas near airports or whatever. Autel gives you a bit more flexibility there which some people care about a lot and others never even notice

im also kind of a beginner and went with the Nano+ a few months ago, no regrets. only thing i'd say is make sure you budget for extra batteries because the flight time goes fast when your still learning and want to practice hovering and stuff. found that out the hard way haha