Using Drone Filters and Lenses
Drone photography and videography filters and lenses are essential pieces of gear for anyone who wants to get better shots. They help capture photos and videos that can’t be fixed afterward, making them a must-have in any drone photographer’s or videographer’s gear bag.
Neutral Density (ND) Filters
ND filters are popular for reducing the amount of light reaching your camera’s sensor, allowing for longer exposures and smoother, cinematic videos.
For drone photography and videography, ND (neutral density) filters are essential components of a drone photographer’s kit. These filters act like sunglasses for the lens, blocking excess light from the sensor and helping to adjust the exposure.
This helps reduce the risk of overexposure, allowing for more dynamic imagery and richer colors. Additionally, it allows the photographer to use a longer shutter speed to create more natural-looking videos.
ND filters come in many different strengths from 2 stops to 1024 stops. These vary by brand and can be purchased for a wide range of DJI drones including Phantoms, Inspire, and Osmo.
As with all camera equipment, the right ND filter can help make your drone footage look more professional. Whether you’re creating commercials, shorts, or feature films, having the right ND filter can help ensure that your content is captured at a professional level.
For drone landscape photography, ND filters are particularly useful to ensure that your imagery is not overexposed and is not blurry from moving objects. The right ND filter can also help you create a more cinematic feel to your footage.
When using a DJI drone to shoot landscapes, it’s important to always be prepared with a set of ND filters. This can be especially helpful when filming during the day or in bright environments.
The right ND filter can help you get the most out of your drone shots, making it easier to capture cinematic-quality content without a lot of post-processing. It will also allow you to create beautiful aerial photos of any scene.
ND filters are an essential accessory for any drone photographer, regardless of their experience level. They can make the difference between capturing stunning imagery and missing out on a great shot altogether.
Polarizer Filters
Polarizer Filters are a popular choice for drone photography and videography because they can reduce glare and reflections. This helps capture a wider range of colors, increase contrast, and produce more vibrant landscapes and cityscapes.
A polarizer filter increases the saturation of blues, greens, and yellows in photos, and can also improve contrast between brightly colored objects. It can also help create a more dramatic effect in photos of water and glass.
These filters are usually made of two pieces of glass or plastic. They are designed to filter out reflected light that has become polarized due to its interaction with a non-metallic surface. This can be very useful for reducing reflections from water, and it also makes your skies look much more vivid.
Circular polarizers are one of the most common filters used for drone photography and videography. They block out certain wavelengths of light, and can be rotated to adjust the amount of polarized light entering the camera sensor.
Some polarizer filters also reduce the amount of light entering the lens, which can help to slow down your shutter speed and achieve a more cinematic look. The ND4 and ND16 filters, for example, cut the amount of light that enters the camera by 2 stops or 4 stops, respectively.
This means that you can use a lower shutter speed to get a better image without having to worry about blur. Using a polarizer can also make it easier to capture smooth water and clear reflections on shiny surfaces like a car.
You can also use a polarizer to darken the sky and add a little drama to your shots. This can be useful if you’re taking pictures of a sunset or sunrise.
There are a few things to keep in mind when using a polarizer filter, including that it only works for certain angles of the sun. In order to achieve the best results, you should take photographs at a 90-degree angle to the sun – otherwise, it will not produce the desired effects.
You should also be aware that polarizer filters can produce uneven polarization in your photos, which may cause some areas of the sky to appear darker than others. This can be especially noticeable with short focal lengths, such as 16-35mm lenses. This can make it difficult to edit the photos in post-production, since you will have to correct for the uneven polarization.
UV Filters
Most camera drones come with a stock UV filter that is designed to reduce haze, but this filter does not offer much in terms of protecting the lens from dirt, debris, and water. This means that it is essential to use a filter in order to keep your lens clean and your footage clear.
Fortunately, there are a number of different filters that are ideal for drone photography and videography. These include:
The most important benefit of using a UV filter is that it protects the lens from damage caused by water, dust, and other airborne hazards. This is especially crucial when you are filming in the outdoors, where there is a high risk of water and debris getting into your lens.
A UV filter can also help you capture more vibrant and detailed images and videos. This is due to the fact that it reduces haze, which can cause colors to appear dull and washed out.
Another significant benefit of using a UV filter is that they can help to improve your images and videos by reducing lens flare. This can be especially useful when shooting into the sun, as it can reduce the amount of glare and reflections that are reflected onto your camera’s sensor.
While there are a number of different UV filters available, it is important to choose one that offers optimal performance. You should look for a filter that has a strong design and is made from durable materials. This will ensure that your filter lasts for years to come and continues to perform at its best.
You should also consider buying a filter that is lightweight and easy to attach and remove. This will help to make it easier to switch between filters while you are in the field.
A UV filter can be a valuable tool for any drone photographer, and it will allow you to capture images and videos that are crisp and clear. It will also help to prevent your images from developing color shifts, which can be very frustrating and expensive to fix in post-production.
Neutral Density Filters
A neutral density filter is a piece of glass, resin, or polyester that fits over the lens of your drone camera. They alter the amount of light that enters the camera, affecting how the image is viewed.
They can be used in a variety of ways, including to reduce glare from natural surfaces and protect your footage from reflections. They can also be used to enhance color grading in post-production.
ND filters are also useful for creating motion blur in videos. This effect adds a smooth movement to the footage and can make your shots more professional.
There are many different ND filters on the market, and they are designed for a wide range of cameras. It’s important to use these filters correctly, though.
When selecting an ND filter for your drone, consider the type of lighting you will be using and the length of time you need to capture images. Using too much of an ND filter can cause overexposure while using too little can result in dull, dingy images.
Another important consideration is the weight of the filter. If your filter is too heavy, it may affect the balance of your drone’s gimbal, which can lead to gimbal overload errors and a poor-quality final product.
In some cases, it’s possible to add a piece of foam padding to the filter to reduce the impact on the gimbal. This is an important step, because it can help prevent the gimbal from causing the camera to stop working.
Circular polarizer filters are easy to install on any lens that has a thread in the front. They can be rotated to block or allow different amounts of polarization, but they must be aligned properly for the best results.
