Hi All, just sign up.
I think DJI seem to be the go to drones but I am looking for a 1st drone that’s not too expensive to dip my toe in and see if I enjoy it. All being well I will then get a better drone but would still like something that will return to home if possible and a camera.
Thanks
Glenn
Hello Glenn and warm welcome to Drone Hub👋
DJI do some good go to drones and very reliable and practical, Have you had a look at the DJI Neo 2 its small and beginner friendly and has some great features and with a 4k camera and palm take off and landing (Gesture Control)
And it’s not very expensive so for starting out i would recommend this drone but again that’s my opinion and someone else may suggest something different for you.
Regards DroneDad 
Hi Glenn, welcome!
I joined relatively recently myself and am fairly new to drones (but already quite deep down the rabbit hole!).
Personally I started with a DJI Mini 4K, which is a great little drone to start with IMO. I don’t use it as much now since I moved on to larger drones and started getting into FPV, but the Mini 4K was a great “gateway drone” that got me hooked - and I do still use it when I need something I can pull out and get in the air quickly to grab some quick footage. It’s pretty cheap right now on Amazon too by the looks of it (but do be sure to get at least one extra battery, or the fly-more package if you can).
DroneDad’s suggestion of the Neo 2 is also a good one, I think that does a little more “automatically” for you and has some advanced features that you won’t get with the mini 4K. It costs a little more than the mini but might be a solid choice if you don’t mind spending a bit extra 
Cheers,
Ross
Any of the DJI mini series are good starters.
Which one depending on your budget and features desired.
I bought a Mini 3 Pro flymore combo a couple of years ago on eBay. They’ve come down by about a third since then. I still fly it all the time and it’s a lot of fun. It has a decent camera and the drone takes all the hard work out of flying
It’s probably best to step back a few models with DJI when starting out as they do seem to depreciate quite a bit after a new model is bedded in. Buying all the kit at the same time makes it an expensive first purchase and this is one way to offset that.
Right now the Mini 4 Pro is available for around the same price as I paid for my M3P.
As @DroneDad mentioned, the Neo is now available as a more beginner-friendly option and the Flip is a small, very inexpensive model with the same camera as the M3P. I’d be tempted to still go for a used, better model with a controller that has a screen on it.
Don’t bother with DJI. It is nothing more than a camera in the sky. Build a quad and learn to send it.
There are a few tiny Whoop entry kits for less than a mini that will take a bashing.
@jpmreece
This is also a good option. If OP wants to ultimately learn FPV, which is the best drone experience, best to start in a good sim to learn the basic controls. Then research a good micro drone with prop guards or a tinywhoop. Also a radio and goggles. Doable for 250 quid.
DJIs are highly automated for safe flying so you can focus on photography and filming, but you only learn the stick basics with those. For example, when you release the throttle stick, the DJI drone will automatically pitch backwards to brake. An FPV drone’s forward momentum will keep it moving until you manually pitch backwards.
FPV is about fully manual flight control and a lot more fun. A small FPV drone is much less expensive to repair, and since they weigh in at under 100g, generally much lower risk.
Hi. I’m new here as I just got my first (proper drone. Had a cheap none gps one years ago) so I’m just giving my opinion not expert advice in any way.
I got the potensic ATOM 2 and am very happy.
Yes its missing obstacle avoidance but i couldn’t afford a drone with fly more and obstacle avoidance so after allot of research this drone seemed to fit my needs. (I know its not a DJI and I’m happy with that as I’m not trying to compare it with one)
Plus today it also added waypoints in a new update.
Check out this video i did at the weekend for my first prooer flight at Blackpool after some testing and getting used to controls)
I know i have allot of learning to do but that’s part of the fun
