Honestly, I feel there is too much hype about ND filters on drones. DJI cameras are designed for drone photography. The algorithms are very good and the camera adjusts quickly to rapidly changing lighting conditions during flights Angles, altitude, lighting and flight speed are things a mirrorless camera (owner) doesn't really encounter. Also, the "motion blur" you can achieve sometimes is simply too blurry! Slow down flight speeds and gimbal movements and your audience will not care (or ask) if you used ND filters!
That’s true to some degree. I like to get in the right ballpark but I don’t 100% stick to the 180 rule when it comes to drones because as you say if flying high/slow enough you can’t tell.
Hi and thanks for the video. I bought these after watching this video last week and I'm not convinced with the polarising effect. When turned to horizontal there is no difference looking at a cloudy blue sky through the filter. When I turn the filter 90 degrees (leaving the dial on horizontal) it appears to make the sky more blue and has a strong polarising effect as I'd expect. Are my H and V wrong or am I missing something?
Hi, good remark. Be aware of the fact that polarization filters work together with the angle of reflections, the angle towards the sunlight. Under some angles you will not see a difference, under the right angle, under 90 degrees compared to the sunlight, it will work. So it is a good filter but using it with a drone is difficult as you are turning angles a lot. So for a perfect shot you need to rotate the filter the right angle (so drone should come back, you turn filter etc... ). So much easier with a handheld camera ;-)
Thanks for the review. I have a Freewell VND currently. I would like the Pl as well because of conditions I shoot in. My M3P gives the message that a wide angle lens is attached to my drone with the Freewell VND. Do you get the same with the ND/PL's?
Hi Jonathan. I'm new to drones and photography. I have a question about the ideal shutterspeed that you talk about (3:47s): 1/180. I read that shutterspeed must be double of framerate (ex. 1/60 for 30 f/s and 1/120 for 60 f/s which I use). So I understand there is AN ideal shutterspeed depending aan framerate of shooting. Can you clarify? Best regards, Nico
ideally you want to stick to the 180 degree rule as you mention, however with a fixed aperture and if shooting on a mixed weather day (sun going in and out behind clouds) that is very difficult to achieve. With most drone shots, the 180 degree rule isn't as important as most of the time there is less motion blur anyway. Unless you are flying fast and low you probably won't notice the difference between a high shutter speed and a low one with a drone shot. That's why I suggest just getting in the right ball park so that you don't find yourself with too strong of an ND on and unable to get correct exposure. It's better to have a slightly faster shutter to give you that flexibility.
These, just as the ones I just ordered from K&F Concept, says "ND/PL", not "ND/CPL". Photographing with a DSLR for a few years now, I am under the impression that PL is for analogue cameras, not digital ones. Can anyone explain why this would actually work on a drone, that has a digital camera?
no this not this. PL have a more masse effect than CPL. CPL's whas only develloped for less impact autofocus...back to 80'. That all. Technicaly. An old phase-detection reflex Autofocus is hugely impacted by the lost of light with many filters. CPL'S have a less effect about that.
Non luts. Just increasing contrast and saturation and reducing highlights. I always think the key to nice drone footage is protecting the highlights as much as possible. As soon as you blow out the sky the shot no longer looks good regardless of the rest of the frame looks like.
Honestly, I feel there is too much hype about ND filters on drones. DJI cameras are designed for drone photography. The algorithms are very good and the camera adjusts quickly to rapidly changing lighting conditions during flights Angles, altitude, lighting and flight speed are things a mirrorless camera (owner) doesn't really encounter. Also, the "motion blur" you can achieve sometimes is simply too blurry! Slow down flight speeds and gimbal movements and your audience will not care (or ask) if you used ND filters!
That’s true to some degree. I like to get in the right ballpark but I don’t 100% stick to the 180 rule when it comes to drones because as you say if flying high/slow enough you can’t tell.
Hi and thanks for the video. I bought these after watching this video last week and I'm not convinced with the polarising effect. When turned to horizontal there is no difference looking at a cloudy blue sky through the filter. When I turn the filter 90 degrees (leaving the dial on horizontal) it appears to make the sky more blue and has a strong polarising effect as I'd expect. Are my H and V wrong or am I missing something?
Hi, good remark. Be aware of the fact that polarization filters work together with the angle of reflections, the angle towards the sunlight. Under some angles you will not see a difference, under the right angle, under 90 degrees compared to the sunlight, it will work. So it is a good filter but using it with a drone is difficult as you are turning angles a lot. So for a perfect shot you need to rotate the filter the right angle (so drone should come back, you turn filter etc... ). So much easier with a handheld camera ;-)
so, all day pack or bright day pack????
ND 64 does the job for sunny days
Thanks for the review. I have a Freewell VND currently. I would like the Pl as well because of conditions I shoot in. My M3P gives the message that a wide angle lens is attached to my drone with the Freewell VND. Do you get the same with the ND/PL's?
Just what I need to watch. Thank you. Filters ordered from your link.
Beautiful clips, bravo! Also thanks for the review :)
Hi Jonathan. I'm new to drones and photography. I have a question about the ideal shutterspeed that you talk about (3:47s): 1/180. I read that shutterspeed must be double of framerate (ex. 1/60 for 30 f/s and 1/120 for 60 f/s which I use). So I understand there is AN ideal shutterspeed depending aan framerate of shooting. Can you clarify? Best regards, Nico
ideally you want to stick to the 180 degree rule as you mention, however with a fixed aperture and if shooting on a mixed weather day (sun going in and out behind clouds) that is very difficult to achieve. With most drone shots, the 180 degree rule isn't as important as most of the time there is less motion blur anyway. Unless you are flying fast and low you probably won't notice the difference between a high shutter speed and a low one with a drone shot.
That's why I suggest just getting in the right ball park so that you don't find yourself with too strong of an ND on and unable to get correct exposure. It's better to have a slightly faster shutter to give you that flexibility.
Tell free will to send me some I'll review them for him to I got them covered 😂
These, just as the ones I just ordered from K&F Concept, says "ND/PL", not "ND/CPL". Photographing with a DSLR for a few years now, I am under the impression that PL is for analogue cameras, not digital ones. Can anyone explain why this would actually work on a drone, that has a digital camera?
no this not this. PL have a more masse effect than CPL. CPL's whas only develloped for less impact autofocus...back to 80'. That all. Technicaly. An old phase-detection reflex Autofocus is hugely impacted by the lost of light with many filters. CPL'S have a less effect about that.
wow, Thank you. What LUT are you using between 6:40 and 6:50, I LOVE the color balance
Non luts. Just increasing contrast and saturation and reducing highlights.
I always think the key to nice drone footage is protecting the highlights as much as possible. As soon as you blow out the sky the shot no longer looks good regardless of the rest of the frame looks like.