I've seen a few posts with some great pictures from a drone. Mostly on this site. If a beginner wanted to purchase a decent,Relative cheap one, what drone would you suggest?

I'd start with a drone forum somewhere online.

I'd personally start with a Parrot Bebop Drone

Depends on what you mean by "great pictures," "decent" and "relative cheap" because you are buying a camera as well as an aircraft. The camera itself could be anything from a $40 webcam to $4000 production video camera, and that price might be before buying lenses.Starting out, probably the best approach is a complete package: aircraft, camera, radio control system. The BeBop at $500 is a good start for "let's go up and see what's out there." It holds cost down by skipping conventional radio control. It uses the smartphone you are presumed to already have as the controller, setting up peer to peer WiFi as a limited operating range 2-way radio. The camera this is not pointable (you point the aircraft) and has a 180-degree fisheye view. That may or may not mean "great pictures" for you.$1300 Yuneec Q500 4K Typhoon puts a decent 4K video camera on gimbals into a quad-copter chassis with a fairly high performance radio control system (for greater operating range). Q500+ Typhoon at $1050 has a HD video camera, fixed focus with 110 degree field of view. The camera is gimbal mounted pointability and some stability, but it is not like having a gyroscope. There are also Typhoon models to carry a GoPro, if you already have that ($250-400) action camera.Next step up, minimum pro expectations on video quality, will be about $4500-8000. Yuneec's Tornado line is an example, aircraft with about 2000 meter operating range carrying a HD video cam with a focusing zoom lens. Still not gyro stabilized, that's in the 5-6 figure price range. At this level, the camera probably represents 1/4 to 1/2 the cost of a system, the bare aircraft with the capability to lift a lightweight semi-pro camera and gimbal costing around $2500, $3500 with a controller. Then it is a matter of do you install $500 worth of camera and mount, or $4000 camera, or whatever in between.Many others out there, these have become respected in the photographic community.FWIW, once you get up past the "carry my GoPro" class, the most frequently carried camera is Panasonic's Lumix GH4, for 4K video quality, weather resistance, and remote-controllability. A GH4 body costs about $1300, lenses start at about $180 and go up into the $1000 range, which isn't bad considering Nikon and Canon lenses can run as high as 10X that. Yuneec sells a gimbal specifically for this camera.

I didn't know there was any cheap ones out there. but in saying that I bought on with a camera off the HSN last year for $69. but I see they were twice that this year.

Also, before you actually fly one, it's worth checking into FAA regulations so you don't get in trouble...like here

Camera Drones | Good Sam Community

96Bounder30E
Explorer II
Nov 18, 2015
If you see one of these.........RUN!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNPJMk2fgJU
monkey44
Nomad II
Nov 18, 2015
stevewise wrote:
You may also want to check out the FAA website as the laws are rapidly changing for drones, on who and where you can fly them. Being a pilot and also flying drones I have heard of some very close calls with aircraft because people do not follow the instructions delivered with every drone.

Yes, check laws carefully ... Based on several comments on various professional photo forums, you folks better buy the cheap ones, because any one that gets a bit irresponsible and invades privacy or security areas will find it used for target practice, whether one calls it a drone or a copter/camera makes no difference.
jfkmk
Explorer
Nov 18, 2015
dapperdan wrote:

It's fun to fly but it comes with responsibility. Like most things in life common sense goes a long way.

Unfortunately, responsibility and common sense don't abound in most people. We went to Muir Woods this summer. Despite the natural beauty and pleas for everyone to respect nature and the quiet enjoyment of others, some idiot had a drone, it crashed and he went trampling off path to get it.
dapperdan
Explorer
Nov 18, 2015
rseymour21 wrote:
Wow, thanks for all the additional info on RC quad copters!

Perhaps I will take a look at some of the under 100, and maybe find a good deals closer to Christmas!

I would say start out at a price point you're comfortable with. There are tons of options for you. As mentioned above, spend only what you wouldn't mind "losing"on a crash or mishap.

Just about everything you can get involved in takes practice. Golfing, playing poker, boating heck even backing up the RV into a campsite takes skill. And in each of those activities there can be jerks. Common sense needs to prevail.

Dan
Johno02
Explorer
Nov 18, 2015
Those things can't actually fly at all! they are just so ugly that the ground repels them. Most airplanes, if you shut off power, they can be glided down, with various results. A rotary craft, if power is removed, immediately becomes a rock, generally with predictable results.
Bobbo
Explorer II
Nov 18, 2015
rseymour21 wrote:
I've seen a few posts with some great pictures from a drone.
Mostly on this site. If a beginner wanted to purchase a decent,
Relative cheap one, what drone would you suggest?

I think the phrases "decent" and "relative cheap" are a contradiction in terms.
dodge_guy
Explorer II
Nov 18, 2015
Guy next to me had one on Columbus Day weekend. It was a high end one. I forgot he name but i looked it up and it started at $1500! The one he had came back to the exact spot it took off from using its GPS guidance, if it flew out of range.

Very cool, but pricey!
dave54
Nomad
Nov 18, 2015
A lot of people around here do not call them drones or UAVs.

They call them targets.

Many folks do not like strangers taking sneak pictures of their back yards. Regardless what the law says they are taking direct action.
icanon
Explorer
Nov 18, 2015
There are a lot of drone clubs popping up everywhere maybe you should check them out, sure they will be able to help and you could see a few models in action.
rseymour21
Explorer
Nov 18, 2015
Wow, thanks for all the additional info on RC quad copters!

Perhaps I will take a look at some of the under 100, and maybe find a good deals closer to Christmas!

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