The best drone settings for fireworks are manual exposure, 4K at 24 or 30 fps, a shutter of 1/30 to 1/60 s, ISO around 200 to 800, and a fixed white balance near 4000 to 5000K. Fireworks are much brighter than the night sky, so auto exposure overexposes the bursts and pumps brightness up and down. Fly well away from the crowd and the shells, and check the rules first; often you can't fly near a public show at all.
First: is it legal?
Usually not near a public show. You can't fly over crowds, big events and stadiums often have TFRs, many shows happen in controlled airspace, and cities often ban drones at public celebrations. You need night lighting too. Read can you fly a drone near fireworks before planning anything. Private shows over empty land or water, with permission, are the realistic option.
Video settings
| Setting | Recommendation | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Mode | Pro, manual ISO and shutter | Stops brightness pumping |
| Resolution | 4K | Detail in sparks |
| Frame rate | 24 or 30 fps | Slower shutters possible |
| Shutter | 1/30 to 1/60 | Short trails, smooth motion |
| ISO | 200 to 800 | Keeps bursts from clipping |
| White balance | 4000 to 5000K | Natural reds and golds |
| Color | Normal, or D-Log M | Log gives more highlight room |
Start in the middle, record the first few bursts, check the playback, then adjust. If bright bursts clip to white, lower ISO. If the smoke and sky are black and the scene is dim between bursts, raise it slightly.
Photo settings
- Mode: 12 MP RAW, hovering.
- Shutter: 1 to 2 s to catch trails. The Mini 5 Pro and Air 3S also have simulated long exposures from 2.5 to 8 s in 12 MP mode.
- ISO: 100 to 200.
- Timing: press the shutter as the shell launches.
- Wind: the drone has to be steady; long exposures in wind come out smeared.
Focus and framing
Focus on the first bursts or a distant light, then leave it. Frame wide with some ground or water in the shot, like a skyline, lake or crowd from a legal distance. Reflections in water double the effect. A tele camera, like the Air 3S's 70 mm, lets you stay farther back.
Where to position the drone
- Upwind of the launch site, so smoke drifts away from you.
- Well outside the burst height and radius. Don't fly through or over fireworks.
- Never over spectators or launch crews.
- Below 400 ft and within your visual line of sight, with lights on.
Land before the finale. Smoke and the final barrage make it hard to see your drone.
What is a drone fireworks show?
A drone light show uses hundreds or thousands of lit drones flying in formation to draw shapes in the sky. Some cities use them instead of fireworks to cut fire risk, smoke and noise. Professional companies fly them under FAA waivers over a closed area. If you go to one, leave your own drone at home; the airspace around it may be restricted.
Night flying rules
Recreational pilots need lighting that shows the drone's location and orientation. Part 107 pilots need current training and anti-collision lights visible for 3 statute miles. See can you fly a drone at night.
For more low-light settings, read drone night photography.
Related guides
- Filming a solar eclipse with a drone: settings and safety
- Best drone video settings: frame rate, shutter speed and ISO
- Drone night photography and video settings
- Drone settings for photographing the northern lights
- How to shoot a drone hyperlapse (DJI settings that work)
- Best DJI Air 3S camera settings for photo and video
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