I personally think ND filters are just another way to complicate your life and squeeze more money out of your wallet. I am as ever interested in what others think.... Although this is in the Mini 3 (The Frog) area answer for any drone you have

can we have an option for "I'm going to try them?"

chillibadger Posted at 5-24 07:59
can we have an option for "I'm going to try them?"

No...... and if I were you I would not waste my dosh...... Give it to me instead and I can find better ways to waste it

Yes, pretty much all the time when working outside, not only with drones but with ground based cameras too. I'm holding off using the Mini 3 Pro for client work until I get some ND filters for it too.

I did order them today so waiting for it

Bigplumbs I love your surveys

Andre vd Weide Posted at 5-24 08:06
I did order them today so waiting for it

ordered today as i saw in stock and already shipped. did you get some too?

They are an important factor in filmmaking to get that natural motion that you cannot get without them, they can also help in photos too especially for mood shots or midday shooting

Bashy Posted at 5-24 08:26
They are an important factor in filmmaking to get that natural motion that you cannot get without them, they can also help in photos too especially for mood shots or midday shooting

Yeah right

I don't know if it's so much natural motion but the lack of any motion blur at all especially on foreground elements screams amateur. I'm pretty sure if I told a director that I'm shooting 1/4000 because ND doesn't do anything that would be the last time I'd be hired!

Bigplumbs Posted at 5-24 08:36
Yeah right

It’s not because you are not using those filters that they are not useful…
Some people like to make the best of their shots while others just want to fly.

If you want to improve your filming or shoot specialty photos then filters are needed. If you are happy with what comes out of the camera thats fine to.

All the time for "normal" shooting, and not just for drones.
Sometimes, for creative reasons, we may need the fast shutter "look", so that's when the ND filters are off the lens.

I will be getting some soon

Remember you're going to need at LEAST ND32s, likely 64s on this drone.
4/8/16s arent going to darken enough due to the f/1.7 lens.

I will be trying them out too

If you like what comes out of the camera, then you don't need them. If you are doing professional work or want a pro look to your video, you basically have to use filters during bright sun to bring down the the light level so you can have a more natural motion blur. You need several different filters for different brightness levels of light and different shutter speeds. Sometimes you can get away without one near sunset and still have the right shutter speed for natural blur.

ND filters have a place in video, but for the majority of users in this forum, they aren't needed at all.
Motion blur is talked about like it's essential, but it's almost irrelevant for most drone video.
People with a poor understanding of photography are easily mislead into thinking they are necessary.

Hello there Bigplumbs. Good day and thank you for creating this post I hope that our fellow DJI co pilots can share there valued insights with regards to this matter. Thank you.

I both a set - back in days of MP and find them more of a burden than help and decided never to buy again

Labroides Posted at 5-24 18:32
ND filters have a place in video, but for the majority of users in this forum, they aren't needed at all.
Motion blur is talked about like it's essential, but it's almost irrelevant for most drone video.
People with a poor understanding of photography are easily mislead into thinking they are necessary.

Well said…………People get so obsessed with what they perceive as quality they forget the content

alex_markov Posted at 5-24 21:43
I both a set - back in days of MP and find them more of a burden than help and decided never to buy again

Yup just more to confuse people and faff about with

Labroides Posted at 5-24 18:32
ND filters have a place in video, but for the majority of users in this forum, they aren't needed at all.
Motion blur is talked about like it's essential, but it's almost irrelevant for most drone video.
People with a poor understanding of photography are easily mislead into thinking they are necessary.

What about daytime hyper-lapse, and other long exposure work ND filters are pretty much essential?  

I know which i would prefer...

Yes,   waiting for a VND for the Mini3.  

Bashy Posted at 5-24 23:10
What about daytime hyper-lapse, and other long exposure work ND filters are pretty much essential?  

I know which i would prefer...

Why have you posted 2 pictures exactly the same

Bashy Posted at 5-24 23:10
What about daytime hyper-lapse, and other long exposure work ND filters are pretty much essential?  

I know which i would prefer...

What about daytime hyper-lapse, and other long exposure work?
I said that they have a place in video ... and that's one.
Their place is where you want or need to reduce the shutter speed.

But for general drone video, the idea that they are essential, isn't correct.
People should try with and without and see what works for them, rather than just accepting what some forum post or youtube video suggests.

Bigplumbs Posted at 5-24 23:53
Why have you posted 2 pictures exactly the same

The first picture has excellent motion blur on the cars, the 2nd looks unnatural as the cars are sharp and look static,.

Bigplumbs Posted at 5-24 23:53
Why have you posted 2 pictures exactly the same

What? Wait, what? Where have I done this?

Labroides Posted at 5-24 23:54
What about daytime hyper-lapse, and other long exposure work?
I said that they have a place in video ... and that's one.
Their place is where you want or need to reduce the shutter speed.

But for general drone video, the idea that they are essential, isn't correct.
People should try with and without and see what works for them, rather than just accepting what some forum post or youtube video suggests[/I]

Agreed, I use them on occasion with my p4p and If I do get the Mini 3 Pro I will get the Dji set for that too, there is certainly a place for them with this craft and could be fun.

Hyperlapse IS video.

gnirtS Posted at 5-25 02:45
Hyperlapse IS video.

Its part video, part photography as far as i can gather.

The video is the moving part and the timelapse is the photography part.
Basically moving the camera between each timed shot. Then all are put together into a video to create the effect.

Unless of course, i am way off? wouldnt be the 1st time...

You consider wrong.
ND Filters helps with the effect of Moiré and Aliasing.
Is up to you if want to have it on screen, but any Pro will put a filter on, especially when you have fixed F.
We don't talk about blur, some like, some do not like the blur, but for sure you will not like Moiré and Aliasing )).
By the way, have I mentioned the effect of skipping frames that will be so obvious in daylight at SS 1/4000 ??? )))

Geo_Drone Posted at 5-26 00:19
You consider wrong.
ND Filters helps with the effect of Moiré and Aliasing.
Is up to you if want to have it on screen, but any Pro will put a filter on, especially when you have fixed F.

Arnt they specific filters for AA and Moire though and not ND perse?

Bashy Posted at 5-26 00:41
Arnt they specific filters for AA and Moire though and not ND perse?

Aren't they specific filters for AA and Moire though and not ND per se?
Yes ... AA filters are not ND filters.

Labroides Posted at 5-26 01:37
Aren't they specific filters for AA and Moire though and not ND per se?
Yes ... AA filters are not ND filters.

Thought they were, thanks.

Bashy Posted at 5-26 00:41
Arnt they specific filters for AA and Moire though and not ND perse?

Anti Aliasing is expensive, I doubt you would put one or even find one for Mini 3.

ND Filter is lowering SS making each frame softer as blends.

Also same thing for the motion at SS 1/4000 vs  1/120...you cannot compare it, only if there is an amateur with videos for himself and that is it.

Did I mentioned you can remove Moire and make AA with the BCC Lens ? But it costs all BCC pack....also if you have SS at mid day at 1/4000, good luck with that

Bashy Posted at 5-26 00:16
Its part video, part photography as far as i can gather.

The video is the moving part and the timelapse is the photography part.

Its video.
A video is a series of images played back 10s of times a second.

A hyperlapse is a video and as such those rules apply.

Bigplumbs Posted at 5-24 23:53
Why have you posted 2 pictures exactly the same

That fact that you can't see the difference between these two timelapse examples kind of explains why you don't see the benefits of ND filters. I do sometimes wonder if different people have differing abilities to percieve motion blur.

gnirtS Posted at 5-26 05:14
Its video.
A video is a series of images played back 10s of times a second.

I know its a video, but its also comprised of timelapse photos, is it not?

Bashy Posted at 5-24 23:10
What about daytime hyper-lapse, and other long exposure work ND filters are pretty much essential?  

I know which i would prefer...

Excellent example Bashy. First video really shows the motion blur, which looks like the traffic and cars moves fast (smooth). The right hand side video as someone said here, does look a bit funny or strange (stuttery). Thank you very much for showing this, as it certainly shows a difference with a ND filter. Happy that I just ordered some.