Eurka! I get it now. You summed it up in a way that a hundred other people couldn't. "Allows you to set the correct shutter speed to get the appropriate motion blur." That's the answer I've been looking for. THANKS!
It's becoming obvious to me that you are a wonderful teacher as well as a photographer. Your explanations make a sometimes complex subject seem very simple. Keep up the good work..
Best explanation for need of use of ND filters. Far away shots may not need it. Lower light levels may not need it. Like he said, close moving objects in bright light may need it. I only use it near midday for cars or when hugging the coastline/ridgeline to accentuate motionblur with a stationary background. That said, I find myself only using the ND16 one. Hobbyists flying a drone and being the videographer is tough enough to remember to bring a bunch of drone accessories.
180 Degree Rule: Double the frame rate to get the best shutter speed for motion blur; as in 25 frames per second, shoot at 1/50th shutter speed. My concern is not so much people moving in my drone video, but the disturbing effect from flying over terrain, or when panning the drone. Would like to have as high as possible frame rate to keep sharp, but need somewhat slower frame rate to remove the disturbing "jitter" created by fast shutter speed. I guess I need to do the tests. Thanks for the explanation, it was clear.
Before I had a Mavic I never heard of ND filters. I've been reading so many tutorial and watched many movie clips over the last weeks. No wonder why there is so much confusion among photography "rookies" like myself. This tutorial rocks !! It clears up the myths, is simple to understand. No bull-straight-to-the-point explanation. Thank you so much and a huge thumbs up !! I will recommend this video from now on.
Finally. Straight talk on NDs. Too many RUclips channels preach the same gospel that you *must* get the 1/50 or 1/60 shutter and *must* have "cinematic" motion blur. No, not always. And, as you mention, they can be a pain in the neck. On the Mini2, getting them on just right can be fiddly. If you don't, you can easily have gimbal issues. I use them sometimes, but my default is not to. On the other hand, a circular polarizer is incredibly useful, especially for scenery.
Listen to this man folks! It's always best to hear it from people who are out there making a living from this and have real hands on experience. Not like most youtubers who think they know it all but do videos just for subscribers. Good Job mate!
I have watched SO MANY videos about ND filters, this is the only time they have been properly explained in my opinion!! Thanks so much 🙏🏻 now I know when to use the expensive set I bought and have never used! Any chance of any idiots guide to polarising filters next please (my ND filters are polarising too!).
I have been working on an explanation for the ND scenario for a while but I have now binned it. Will simply point those who ask to this video. Thanks bud, keep up the good work.
Have watched several videos on ND filters and by far your explanation of why and when to use them was the best. Thank you for the detailed explanation (and visual understanding) of them. Much appreciated!
The first video that actually explains what these expensive pieces of plastic are actually for, thank you! now i save money and use to buy another battery.
So glad you explained this on youtube- now I can simply point to your video when I have an insane argument with some one re ND filters. Sick and tired of this argument. "They are used to increase dynamic range - gives more saturation and contrast to an image". People are creating channels and spouting a whole lot of rubbish leave it to the pros. Love your channel. Subscribed.
For sure, NDs are pretty boring to be honest...just loads of confusion about them for some reason! Maybe people are talking about polarisers giving more saturation and contrast but no filter increases dynamic range sadly!
Perfectly explained:) I use them on every shot apart from when its getting dark, you never know when a deer might run out or a bird fly past giving some motion blur:) Great job on your channel Stewart and Alina.
Hey! For sure, pro shoot (with pro NDs) then ND filter every time. A bird flying into shot is always the give-away. Thanks for your continued interest in the channel!
When (scenario) but how do you know which ones specifically to put on for which moment? And what do you set the shutter speed to on the drone if it has a filter?
@@mattremer9507 The easiest way to figure out what filter to use is to first set your shutter speed according the the frame rate of the video you are recording. So if it’s 30fps, you’ll want a max of 1/60 for the shutter speed. With the ISO set at 100 (we’re trying to minimize the amount of light coming into the lens, so set the ISO as slow as possible), attach a filter to the lens and then check the exposure on your device’s screen. If the exposure is too bright, go to the next “darkest” filter. Of course, you’re doing this while the drone is still on the ground (or in your hand). Once you’ve found the filter that results in the best exposure for that particular lighting condition, make a mental note of that. You’ll find that you’ll quickly learn which filter will work with whatever the lighting conditions are at the time. If you’re always shooting on sunny days, it’s likely you’ll he using the same filter for that. Cloudy days, or at dusk or dawn, you’ll probably use a different filter.
1:34 thanks for clearing that out. Clearly, it's use purpose is rather different than that of a digital still camera. I actually wasn't sure what I would use my ND filter set for on my M2A, as I got the FlyMore combo with 3 NDs.
Have just came across your video. I have to say it is one of the best explanations of one how to use ND filters on a Drone, where and when. I have just got myself a DJI Air 2S. The use of filters is very important with this drone. It can be a little of a guessing game as to what strength ND Filter to attach. Trying to achieve the correct shutter speed for your frame rate is not so much as important as you explained in your video. Very informative.
Thank you, great channel. I have ND Filters for the Mavic and wouldn't be without them. I never thought about movement or no movement so that was good to learn, thanks. I do have a Polar pro app which is great at helping picking the correct filter for the light, and a bonus, it is free. If I'm asked I always recommend filters.
Great vid again pal cheers. If I don't use an ND filter the play back on my PC stutters. Flying a drone you have always got motion. The best footage is when you fly next to trees, rock face etc. Personally I use a 4 ND on mine all the time. Thanks.
Excellent video. This is THE TRUTH about when you DONT need to bother using an ND filter. As a rule of thumb to work out if and what ND filter I need to put on my Mavic Pro I point the drone in the direction of where I will be shooting at about head height before I take off to calculate (You can just use trial/error) which ND fliter SHOULD work best in theory. It may change when you're up in the sky but its a good starting point.
You two are Rock 🎸 Stars 🌟. Thank you so much explaining, about the purpose of ND filter's, You guy's helped me so much, I'm not the Sharpest tool in the tool box, Thank you from the bottom of my Heart, I'm 61 and I'm a new pilot, I don't want to become a Professional photographer are a RUclips channel, I just like to keep a eye on my Deer habits, and hopefully to learn how to do some mapping, of are own Farm properties, I hope to learn how to setup some missions, but it isn't easy for me, I have 3 Drones now, My most expensive Drone is my Autel Evo pro 6k, my second one is a Fimi2020, and my Third one is my First DJI Mini 2 I bought it on Black Friday, I haven't opened it yet, When the New FAA rules were coming out, and then a Rigged Election, I thought maybe something crazy was going to happen to all Drone Hobbyist, So I just want to Thank you guy's, that's the best lesson I have ever watched and understood, Thank you. Sincerely your freind from Mo Rick and God bless you and your family
Brilliant explanation. Everyone I watched on TouTube told me I needed to use ND filters, but I had no idea why to be honest. Subbed and I will now be trawling through your previous vids.
damn, it makes sense now, I was so used to black and white film photography with a fully manual ricoh 35mm and developing myself, that the electronic stuff always kinda made no sense to me as the options are there, but why don't they work like they should..... Thank you so much, I learned a lot in this vid.
First of all three cheers for not being an American reviewer that habitually repeat themselves, with the annoying tendency of what I had for breakfast routine! This was nicely presented, and explained just with just the relevant information. So three cheers for Scottish reviewers!
1:25. To be perfectly accurate (and pedantic), the sole purpose of a ND filter is to reduce the amount light coming through your lens. That's it. Everything else, setting shutter speeds etc., is a result of having lower light levels to play with. I have been using ND filters since the steam age of photography and to hear them referred to (constantly) these days as 'sunglasses for your lens' just causes me to gnash my teeth and rend my garments.
wow....Thanks for clearly and slowly drilling into my head how to use filters....I believe I understand now.....IF you look at my stuff, you will see that any help in any form is appreciated at anytime anywhere on any day on any drone subject.....God bless
This was great! The examples of faffing around with specific filters when the moment you're trying to capture is fleeting was great. As long as I'm a one-man production juggling filming with getting camping tasks done, I think I'll hold off on the filters.
LOVE your Videos! Just got my Mavic Air last week, and very excited to continue to watching all of your uploaded content. Side note that made me comment was your use of the word Faffing about. Best thing this Canadian has heard in a LONG time. :) Keep up the great works! Much love from this Canadian eh! :)
Useful too in still photography if you want shallow depth of field. Allowing a wider aperture. That said, it's easy these days to drop to a very short exposure to achieve the same effect. In my early days, the best you could hope for was 1/1000. Thanks Stewart - a lot of this info is out there, but you pull it all together and present it in a simple and engaging way. I am subscribed to your Masterclass and also your Grading course. Keep up the great work.
Very good video Captain C! well done! u really know your stuff! I wish I knew about the photography side of drones! I love drones & have a few DJI ones, but i'm pretty clueless on the camera side!! 😁
FANTASTIC - So Clear and Concise - Keep up the great work. If I was filming the ocean with waves etc from about 30 meters would you suggest to use a ND filter. Best Drone Channel out there. Thank you
Experience. On a Mavic Air with a fixed aperture for example, on a sunny day it's ND64 for 1/50th. On a M2P setting the aperture to 5-8, an ND16 is enough for 1/50th.
I had a similar query. The review is excellent on explaining the reasons and benefits in using ND filters, but with the range of values available, I was looking for advice on which one to use with different types of light, exposure and subject being filmed, at elevation, proximity, sun orientation, shadowing, speed of flight, etc. Trial and error now. Guideline is perhaps the brighter the light and closer the subject, the higher the number to use? Have subscribed - very good YT videos. Thanks for posting.
Great explanation and I finally understand why I don't need an ND filter for my still panos! Not coming from a photography background your explanations are "edumacating" me! Thanks!
Well, all good, but since some people asked about slow motion video, shooting at a high frame rate with the intention of slowing down in post, etc., it’s worth noting that with video as with photography there are times when you do not want any motion blur. It follows that the 180 degree rule and the desirability of motion blur is purely subjective. Anyone who watches things like football or golf in ultra slow motion knows that in some scenarios it makes sense to use as fast a shutter as possible and remove blur so that you see every spec of detail. That all said, I have seen excellent still photos of golfers and footballers that have a lot of blur. It depends ultimately on what you want to achieve and what you find desirable and pleasing to the eye. This is art, after all. And good artists when it comes to video and photography know what they want and how to achieve it. The more you familiarise yourself with all this, the easier those sort of decisions and how tto achieve desired results gets. Professionals are doing this just about every day, all day, iit’s their bread and butter and they of course are bound to be better at it, but anyone with practice can get there.
Thanks for the breakdown on these. I've been running them from time to time, but mostly (not always) for landscape shots. This explains why I'm hard pressed to tell the difference in post with my limited skills 😀👌
Wow great advice. I'm new to drones and couldn't understand why I need them. I thought I needed a filter for pictures as well. Now everything makes sense. Thank you sooo much for the clear and concise explanation. Bravo!! PS. I subbed your channel.
Awesome guide thank you very much. Your such a great teacher and you present amazingly. I now I understand why and when ND filters are need in cinematography.
Thank you for explaining this, I like the way you break things down and simplify everything. Great teaching mate . So glad I subscribed to your channel.
Shoot.. I just bought a whole bunch of filters and just learned from this awesome video I really don't need it for the type of shots I take. :( I should have waited to watch this video. Very good thank you...
Although I appriciate your channel, here you forgot one essential issue.... the EV value. Where my Inspire 2 has an adjustable aperture, you are correct that the Mavic doesn't have that. But the steps in between two ND filters can be set with the EV value (on the Mavic with the right jog wheel). Value must be ideally between -0,7 and 0,7. And with a shutterspeed of 1/50, only then you have a correct setting
Hello! Not forgotten actually. I don't think you're quite right here so I'll clarify. In manual mode the EV is just numerical representation of the image's exposure and is NOT setting in itself. The only way to change the EV number is to change the aperture, ISO or shutter (or add and ND filter), of which only the shutter can be controlled on most drones. If EV changes it's because one of these three things has changed. Unless you are shooting in auto exposure (which we do not recommend) you cannot "set" the EV value as it is not a setting, merely a byproduct of your other settings. The EV is nothing more than a guide to be used to help set exposure along with the histogram and over exposure warning. All the best!
Great video - so basically I don't need an ND filter for most of my scenic stuff then... Just stick it on Auto white balance and auto camera settings and off we go. I thought the sunnier it was the higher ND filter needed. Very enlightening. Thanks. :)
I don't think going auto on white balance is a good idea, it will create inconsistent footage and you would have to do lots of work in post in order to bring it together smoothly. My 2 cents.
Thanks for the very clear explanation! Still not entirely sure WHY I would want motion blur however. Isn't a clear picture better than a blurred one? 🤔
What about motion blur when spinning via yaw 360 degrees, do ND filters and/or the relationship to proper exposure/fps matter here? Hovering in one spot and simply pressing left or right on the left stick (for yaw) is a shot I like to take, but I have noticed that these shots are always "hard on the eyes" and seem to have that extra-clear "jitter" effect.
Thank you, finally an easy guide on how they work and what they do For a beginner you made that so understandable One question, if you could have only one which would it be?
First things first, we LOVE your accent :-) We hope for a video like this about CPL filters. If you ever want to come on Dolomites mountains, send us a message.
Hi Stewart, Alina! Always enjoy your videos. I use waterfalls (as a few people mentioned below) and flying birds as examples when I explain ND filter to my friends. Actually any water droplets (including waves crashing on rocks) would look weird without ND filter ;)
I've been waiting for this video so long, thanks for sharing! I also have the Sandmarc ND filters and they are great. My only issue is that they don't have an ND32 filter so in sunny days (thinking that ND filters must always be used for getting better results) I wasn't able to film with the right shutter speed. Would you say that using "auto" is a good idea for capturing slow-moving scenic clips with little motion(no ND)? Or still manually adjust shutter speed?
Eurka! I get it now. You summed it up in a way that a hundred other people couldn't. "Allows you to set the correct shutter speed to get the appropriate motion blur."
That's the answer I've been looking for. THANKS!
It's becoming obvious to me that you are a wonderful teacher as well as a photographer. Your explanations make a sometimes complex subject seem very simple. Keep up the good work..
Very kind of you!
I love how he immediately calls out the viewer for having already bought the ND filters... Felt like he was talking right to me
Best explanation for need of use of ND filters. Far away shots may not need it. Lower light levels may not need it. Like he said, close moving objects in bright light may need it. I only use it near midday for cars or when hugging the coastline/ridgeline to accentuate motionblur with a stationary background. That said, I find myself only using the ND16 one. Hobbyists flying a drone and being the videographer is tough enough to remember to bring a bunch of drone accessories.
I'm a complete newb with my first drone, no photographic experience at all and this channel is pure gold for all kinds of info...thanks man
Finally someone in youtube tells the real truth about the ND Filters. Thank you mate!
180 Degree Rule: Double the frame rate to get the best shutter speed for motion blur; as in 25 frames per second, shoot at 1/50th shutter speed. My concern is not so much people moving in my drone video, but the disturbing effect from flying over terrain, or when panning the drone. Would like to have as high as possible frame rate to keep sharp, but need somewhat slower frame rate to remove the disturbing "jitter" created by fast shutter speed. I guess I need to do the tests. Thanks for the explanation, it was clear.
It's a rare talent to be able to explain technical complexities to an eejit! You did it again!
Thanks a million from Ireland.
Finally someone has broken down the ND filter / frame rate principles so that I understand. Thank you so much 👌
Before I had a Mavic I never heard of ND filters. I've been reading so many tutorial and watched many movie clips over the last weeks. No wonder why there is so much confusion among photography "rookies" like myself. This tutorial rocks !! It clears up the myths, is simple to understand. No bull-straight-to-the-point explanation. Thank you so much and a huge thumbs up !! I will recommend this video from now on.
Finally. Straight talk on NDs. Too many RUclips channels preach the same gospel that you *must* get the 1/50 or 1/60 shutter and *must* have "cinematic" motion blur. No, not always. And, as you mention, they can be a pain in the neck. On the Mini2, getting them on just right can be fiddly. If you don't, you can easily have gimbal issues. I use them sometimes, but my default is not to. On the other hand, a circular polarizer is incredibly useful, especially for scenery.
Listen to this man folks! It's always best to hear it from people who are out there making a living from this and have real hands on experience. Not like most youtubers who think they know it all but do videos just for subscribers. Good Job mate!
Really appreciate you acknowledging this!
I have watched SO MANY videos about ND filters, this is the only time they have been properly explained in my opinion!! Thanks so much 🙏🏻 now I know when to use the expensive set I bought and have never used!
Any chance of any idiots guide to polarising filters next please (my ND filters are polarising too!).
Polariser video on the way soon(ish)!
Excellent! I was just about to ask the same question about polarizing filters.
Agreed
I agree. Explained perfectly within the first 2 minutes 20 seconds.
@@DroneFilmGuide Was the video on polarisers released?
"faffing around" is my new favorite expression.
I have been working on an explanation for the ND scenario for a while but I have now binned it. Will simply point those who ask to this video. Thanks bud, keep up the good work.
Have watched several videos on ND filters and by far your explanation of why and when to use them was the best. Thank you for the detailed explanation (and visual understanding) of them. Much appreciated!
The first video that actually explains what these expensive pieces of plastic are actually for, thank you! now i save money and use to buy another battery.
You`ve explained that really clearly. A few minutes and I know everything what I need. Thanks
Best explanation I’ve found on ND Filters!!! Thank you for the video
And all that time i didnt knew l was loosing my time checking a lot of videos about that, you are the best to explain thank you!
So glad you explained this on youtube- now I can simply point to your video when I have an insane argument with some one re ND filters. Sick and tired of this argument. "They are used to increase dynamic range - gives more saturation and contrast to an image". People are creating channels and spouting a whole lot of rubbish leave it to the pros. Love your channel. Subscribed.
For sure, NDs are pretty boring to be honest...just loads of confusion about them for some reason! Maybe people are talking about polarisers giving more saturation and contrast but no filter increases dynamic range sadly!
Perfectly explained:) I use them on every shot apart from when its getting dark, you never know when a deer might run out or a bird fly past giving some motion blur:) Great job on your channel Stewart and Alina.
Hey! For sure, pro shoot (with pro NDs) then ND filter every time. A bird flying into shot is always the give-away. Thanks for your continued interest in the channel!
Just what I needed! Just bought a pack of ND filters and have no real clue how to use them! Great video
Point well made... if you don’t have motion, you don’t need motion blur, so you don’t need an ND Filter 👍🏼👍🏼
Why I didn't come across this channel till date. SO MUCH informative. Thank you. Yes, Best drone channel indeed.
Thank you. Thats the most complete answer I've heard yet. Most just tell me its bright, get "sunglasses" for your drone
When (scenario) but how do you know which ones specifically to put on for which moment? And what do you set the shutter speed to on the drone if it has a filter?
I was thinking this as the video came to a close, I was like, wait so when do I use the 4, 8, or 12?? lol HELP!
try 8 / 16 / 32 and see what YOU think looks best, there is no right or wrong
@@mattremer9507 The easiest way to figure out what filter to use is to first set your shutter speed according the the frame rate of the video you are recording. So if it’s 30fps, you’ll want a max of 1/60 for the shutter speed. With the ISO set at 100 (we’re trying to minimize the amount of light coming into the lens, so set the ISO as slow as possible), attach a filter to the lens and then check the exposure on your device’s screen. If the exposure is too bright, go to the next “darkest” filter. Of course, you’re doing this while the drone is still on the ground (or in your hand). Once you’ve found the filter that results in the best exposure for that particular lighting condition, make a mental note of that. You’ll find that you’ll quickly learn which filter will work with whatever the lighting conditions are at the time. If you’re always shooting on sunny days, it’s likely you’ll he using the same filter for that. Cloudy days, or at dusk or dawn, you’ll probably use a different filter.
1:34 thanks for clearing that out. Clearly, it's use purpose is rather different than that of a digital still camera. I actually wasn't sure what I would use my ND filter set for on my M2A, as I got the FlyMore combo with 3 NDs.
Have just came across your video. I have to say it is one of the best explanations of one how to use ND filters on a Drone, where and when. I have just got myself a DJI Air 2S. The use of filters is very important with this drone. It can be a little of a guessing game as to what strength ND Filter to attach. Trying to achieve the correct shutter speed for your frame rate is not so much as important as you explained in your video. Very informative.
Thank you, great channel. I have ND Filters for the Mavic and wouldn't be without them. I never thought about movement or no movement so that was good to learn, thanks. I do have a Polar pro app which is great at helping picking the correct filter for the light, and a bonus, it is free. If I'm asked I always recommend filters.
Marc Harvey Thanks for the tip about the PP App.
Great vid again pal cheers. If I don't use an ND filter the play back on my PC stutters. Flying a drone you have always got motion. The best footage is when you fly next to trees, rock face etc. Personally I use a 4 ND on mine all the time. Thanks.
Excellent video. This is THE TRUTH about when you DONT need to bother using an ND filter. As a rule of thumb to work out if and what ND filter I need to put on my Mavic Pro I point the drone in the direction of where I will be shooting at about head height before I take off to calculate (You can just use trial/error) which ND fliter SHOULD work best in theory. It may change when you're up in the sky but its a good starting point.
Dude u made this so simple thanks for not dragging on and getting to the point
You two are Rock 🎸 Stars 🌟. Thank you so much explaining, about the purpose of ND filter's, You guy's helped me so much, I'm not the Sharpest tool in the tool box, Thank you from the bottom of my Heart, I'm 61 and I'm a new pilot, I don't want to become a Professional photographer are a RUclips channel, I just like to keep a eye on my Deer habits, and hopefully to learn how to do some mapping, of are own Farm properties, I hope to learn how to setup some missions, but it isn't easy for me, I have 3 Drones now, My most expensive Drone is my Autel Evo pro 6k, my second one is a Fimi2020, and my Third one is my First DJI Mini 2 I bought it on Black Friday, I haven't opened it yet, When the New FAA rules were coming out, and then a Rigged Election, I thought maybe something crazy was going to happen to all Drone Hobbyist, So I just want to Thank you guy's, that's the best lesson I have ever watched and understood, Thank you. Sincerely your freind from Mo Rick and God bless you and your family
You guys are funny together! Not in a bad way. I like it. Thanks for sharing all these tips!
What an awesome explanation of ND filters, and why and when they are used. The veil from my eyes has been lifted!
Brilliant explanation. Everyone I watched on TouTube told me I needed to use ND filters, but I had no idea why to be honest. Subbed and I will now be trawling through your previous vids.
Makes it sense to use nd filters also in auto-modus?
ND filters are a reduction of white light through the lens. ND filters also let you choose what f-stop you can use to control depth of field.
Great work, of all the explanations out there, yours hits the mark for expediency and simplicity
- Cheers from Down under !
WOW! I was seriously JUST watching videos about this subject and your video new pops up in my notifications! Thanks, man!
Thank you, thank you. Just bought my first drone Air 2s and I have been struggling with this
That cleared that up nicely. Mostly shoot landscape so no rush to get any Filters.
damn, it makes sense now, I was so used to black and white film photography with a fully manual ricoh 35mm and developing myself, that the electronic stuff always kinda made no sense to me as the options are there, but why don't they work like they should..... Thank you so much, I learned a lot in this vid.
Awesome!
First of all three cheers for not being an American reviewer that habitually repeat themselves, with the annoying tendency of what I had for breakfast routine! This was nicely presented, and explained just with just the relevant information. So three cheers for Scottish reviewers!
I had a bacon roll now you mention it! Thanks for your kind words and for your interest in the channel!
1:25. To be perfectly accurate (and pedantic), the sole purpose of a ND filter is to reduce the amount light coming through your lens. That's it. Everything else, setting shutter speeds etc., is a result of having lower light levels to play with. I have been using ND filters since the steam age of photography and to hear them referred to (constantly) these days as 'sunglasses for your lens' just causes me to gnash my teeth and rend my garments.
wow....Thanks for clearly and slowly drilling into my head how to use filters....I believe I understand now.....IF you look at my stuff, you will see that any help in any form is appreciated at anytime anywhere on any day on any drone subject.....God bless
Best ND filter explanation I've watched.
This was great! The examples of faffing around with specific filters when the moment you're trying to capture is fleeting was great. As long as I'm a one-man production juggling filming with getting camping tasks done, I think I'll hold off on the filters.
LOVE your Videos! Just got my Mavic Air last week, and very excited to continue to watching all of your uploaded content. Side note that made me comment was your use of the word Faffing about. Best thing this Canadian has heard in a LONG time. :) Keep up the great works! Much love from this Canadian eh! :)
At last, now ND filters make sense. Thank you!!
Thanks for the tutorial, just a note, to get ND 10, you just combine the ND 4 & 6
Excellent, clear explanation of why, how and when to use the ND filters - Top job!
Very instructional video. But how do you determine wether you use an ND8, 16 or 32?
Trial and error! You'll quickly get to know that you'll need an ND64 on a sunny day and and ND32 on a cloudy day.
Useful too in still photography if you want shallow depth of field. Allowing a wider aperture. That said, it's easy these days to drop to a very short exposure to achieve the same effect. In my early days, the best you could hope for was 1/1000. Thanks Stewart - a lot of this info is out there, but you pull it all together and present it in a simple and engaging way. I am subscribed to your Masterclass and also your Grading course. Keep up the great work.
Hey Doug! DELIGHTED to have you with us on the Masterclass!!
Wow , this is the best tutorial video on nd filters I've seen ..Thanks for the great detailed explanation
It's videos like these that made me hit the subscribe button! Thank you for explaining this in a way that's easy to understand.
Very good video Captain C! well done! u really know your stuff! I wish I knew about the photography side of drones! I love drones & have a few DJI ones, but i'm pretty clueless on the camera side!! 😁
FANTASTIC - So Clear and Concise - Keep up the great work. If I was filming the ocean with waves etc from about 30 meters would you suggest to use a ND filter. Best Drone Channel out there. Thank you
Great video! I would have wanted to hear ND4 vs ND8 vs 16 and 32. How do you know which one is the right one for the selected shutter speed. ty!
Experience. On a Mavic Air with a fixed aperture for example, on a sunny day it's ND64 for 1/50th. On a M2P setting the aperture to 5-8, an ND16 is enough for 1/50th.
I had a similar query. The review is excellent on explaining the reasons and benefits in using ND filters, but with the range of values available, I was looking for advice on which one to use with different types of light, exposure and subject being filmed, at elevation, proximity, sun orientation, shadowing, speed of flight, etc. Trial and error now. Guideline is perhaps the brighter the light and closer the subject, the higher the number to use? Have subscribed - very good YT videos. Thanks for posting.
Great explanation and I finally understand why I don't need an ND filter for my still panos! Not coming from a photography background your explanations are "edumacating" me! Thanks!
Well, all good, but since some people asked about slow motion video, shooting at a high frame rate with the intention of slowing down in post, etc., it’s worth noting that with video as with photography there are times when you do not want any motion blur.
It follows that the 180 degree rule and the desirability of motion blur is purely subjective.
Anyone who watches things like football or golf in ultra slow motion knows that in some scenarios it makes sense to use as fast a shutter as possible and remove blur so that you see every spec of detail.
That all said, I have seen excellent still photos of golfers and footballers that have a lot of blur.
It depends ultimately on what you want to achieve and what you find desirable and pleasing to the eye. This is art, after all. And good artists when it comes to video and photography know what they want and how to achieve it.
The more you familiarise yourself with all this, the easier those sort of decisions and how tto achieve desired results gets. Professionals are doing this just about every day, all day, iit’s their bread and butter and they of course are bound to be better at it, but anyone with practice can get there.
Got one :). I use them evertime I fly. Nd4 8 16 32 64. ;)
Wow you really helped me to understand when I need to use nd filters! I have polar pro... Next footages will good! Thank you so much!
Thanks for the breakdown on these.
I've been running them from time to time, but mostly (not always) for landscape shots.
This explains why I'm hard pressed to tell the difference in post with my limited skills
😀👌
Very nice! I have been wanting to get my hands on some for the Mavic Pro to test and review on my channel!
Best explanation so far I’ve found on RUclips! Thank you!
Great presentation the sample videos are worth a 100 words alone.
Thank you so much. Yet again a great technical video explained so well
Wow great advice. I'm new to drones and couldn't understand why I need them. I thought I needed a filter for pictures as well. Now everything makes sense. Thank you sooo much for the clear and concise explanation. Bravo!! PS. I subbed your channel.
Thank you for producing such a clear and well made demonstration of the use of ND filters.
Great video guys! Always appreciate the hard work and information.
I've learnt something else there, great clear info as always great stuff
Awesome guide thank you very much. Your such a great teacher and you present amazingly. I now I understand why and when ND filters are need in cinematography.
Now this is how you do a tech vlog. Simplicity! Thank you. Subscribed!
Thank you for explaining this, I like the way you break things down and simplify everything. Great teaching mate . So glad I subscribed to your channel.
Excellent just what i needed to know. Thank you and for the great videos.
Shoot.. I just bought a whole bunch of filters and just learned from this awesome video I really don't need it for the type of shots I take. :( I should have waited to watch this video. Very good thank you...
Although I appriciate your channel, here you forgot one essential issue.... the EV value. Where my Inspire 2 has an adjustable aperture, you are correct that the Mavic doesn't have that. But the steps in between two ND filters can be set with the EV value (on the Mavic with the right jog wheel). Value must be ideally between -0,7 and 0,7. And with a shutterspeed of 1/50, only then you have a correct setting
Hello! Not forgotten actually. I don't think you're quite right here so I'll clarify. In manual mode the EV is just numerical representation of the image's exposure and is NOT setting in itself. The only way to change the EV number is to change the aperture, ISO or shutter (or add and ND filter), of which only the shutter can be controlled on most drones. If EV changes it's because one of these three things has changed. Unless you are shooting in auto exposure (which we do not recommend) you cannot "set" the EV value as it is not a setting, merely a byproduct of your other settings. The EV is nothing more than a guide to be used to help set exposure along with the histogram and over exposure warning. All the best!
Best video on nd filters i saw so far! thanks!
Great video - so basically I don't need an ND filter for most of my scenic stuff then... Just stick it on Auto white balance and auto camera settings and off we go. I thought the sunnier it was the higher ND filter needed. Very enlightening. Thanks. :)
I don't think going auto on white balance is a good idea, it will create inconsistent footage and you would have to do lots of work in post in order to bring it together smoothly. My 2 cents.
Great tutorial, finally I understand when I use the ND filter.Thanks for sharing/.
Thanks for the very clear explanation! Still not entirely sure WHY I would want motion blur however. Isn't a clear picture better than a blurred one? 🤔
Agree with you :)
It depend on the picture. You can make awesome picture of waterfalls or rivers with some motion blur.
What about motion blur when spinning via yaw 360 degrees, do ND filters and/or the relationship to proper exposure/fps matter here? Hovering in one spot and simply pressing left or right on the left stick (for yaw) is a shot I like to take, but I have noticed that these shots are always "hard on the eyes" and seem to have that extra-clear "jitter" effect.
For sure, if you want that amount of motion in the shot then it'll look jumpy without an ND.
Very useful, thank you. There's so much confusion around what ND filters are for.
Thank you, finally an easy guide on how they work and what they do
For a beginner you made that so understandable
One question, if you could have only one which would it be?
this was super helpful! thank you!!
great to hear a familiar accent on a successful RUclips channel!!
what a comprehensive explanation.......thank you
Just got filters in , now I know what the hell their for Very informative vid. Thanks. So that’s how she keeps her shape, chasing your drone lol
Great video. Love the detailed info. This helped a lot. Thank you.
Salute. I love the clarity of your explanation.
First things first, we LOVE your accent :-)
We hope for a video like this about CPL filters.
If you ever want to come on Dolomites mountains, send us a message.
Hey! I'm thinking the Dolomites would make for pretty good drone footage!!
Oh yes, absolutely 😀
Ditto for us except you'd have to come to Hawaii to visit us. I think you'd find more than a few things worth droning over!!
Hi Stewart, Alina! Always enjoy your videos. I use waterfalls (as a few people mentioned below) and flying birds as examples when I explain ND filter to my friends. Actually any water droplets (including waves crashing on rocks) would look weird without ND filter ;)
Thanks for the knowledge.
Subbed.
Keep sharing!
I've been waiting for this video so long, thanks for sharing! I also have the Sandmarc ND filters and they are great. My only issue is that they don't have an ND32 filter so in sunny days (thinking that ND filters must always be used for getting better results) I wasn't able to film with the right shutter speed. Would you say that using "auto" is a good idea for capturing slow-moving scenic clips with little motion(no ND)? Or still manually adjust shutter speed?
A nice, easy to understand explanation. Keep up the great work.
Very well explained! I feel much less pressure now to rush out and buy some haha
Finally i get it! That Mini is sick! So is your channel!