DJI Mini 2 ND filters - Why you NEED them

[@geoffwarren2993]

And I've been charging customers $250 per hour using my phantom 3 professional for 3 years. All the other competing drone companies around Ontario - they seem to not know about ND filters. You look at their demos - and blue sky has become a white wash. Such a simple little step - to use ND and CPL filters - makes such a huge difference. Also - folks, you can find ND 2 as well. Sometimes that's enough - and doesn't darken the shot much at all. Thanks Phillip Skraba - Great Videos! - happy flying!

[@cancerbass6095]

what do you normally do? in your jobs

[@geoffwarren2993]

@@cancerbass6095 Normally ND 4 filters for shooting where the sun is in the shot, and land below.

[@romanhenkel9429]

I purchased my mini 2 a year ago, thanks to you. Now I've purchased filters. Today will be my first test.

[@PhillipSkraba]

Filters make such a difference, great stuff Roman! Thanks for the message.

[@JohnnyHand]

I used for the first time nd filter today. Im not sure if i took the right one but the footage is better! Thank you very much!!!

[@PhillipSkraba]

If your sky wasn't blown out and completely white, and your ground wasn't totally black it should have been all good if you set your camera settings to ISO 100, 25fps, 1/50th and 5600k.

[@PhillipSkraba]

@V V I hope you're talking about me 😂

[@Solarfactor]

@@PhillipSkraba, that was a great tip where you pointed the drone's camera at the sky with the attached ND filter to check exposure. It's the small things that people often miss.

[@bjnslc]

Polarizers darken the sky at right angles to the sun. With a wide field of view the gradient can look odd and you can get no effect depending on the camera's direction. They can also bring out color by reducing specular highlights from things in the landscape, but that can also give the scene less texture.

[@PhillipSkraba]

Sure, I dial them in on the ground, check they look good and usually stick to that 90 degree angle from the sun, and yes, they can gradient if you're facing too far over. They work though, that's why I use them quite often.

[@gimbalair]

Really helpful. Flying a drone is the easy part😂 understand photography techniques is all new to me. SUBSCRIBED!

[@PhillipSkraba]

I’m glad it helped you! Great to have you on board!

[@tvd9294]

Phil, my man. I discovered you the other day when researching the DJI Mini 2. Recently become my first drone and it's amazing. I have not stopped watching your videos. I love the way you produce your content, explain in depth what you're doing and how the drone operates. Your footage and shots are just perfect and breathtaking. Thank you so much for all these videos, a real blessing! I just purchased this 8 day pack from Freewell, I must say I am a little nervous as there are a number of reviews that are negative and show the footage/pics with filters. I believe these numpties haven't attached it right, so I'm putting all my faith in your video with regards to correctly attaching :)

[@PhillipSkraba]

The Mini 2 as your first drone, that's a good choice! It's an excellent tool, I love it! Thank You so much for the kind words, I really take pride in what I do on my channel. When it comes to the Freewell filters, yes, user error. The standard ND filters are fine, even when attached a little off, the CPL filters on the other hand have such a small hole that they need to be on real snug, and it's worth checking them on your screen before take off, just to make sure there is on vignetting on the bottom left and right of the frame.

[@apep7188]

Would you recommend the DJI Mini 2 for someone who never flew or owned a drone, but is going to backpack around the European mediterranean for over 6 months?

[@PhillipSkraba]

Hell yes! It’s an excellent started drone, and for travelling you won’t find anything better 👌🏻

[@furistasTedis]

@@apep7188 yes yes and yes. I bought mini 2 as a first drone. Done almost 11km walking today with it and tbh… 1.5ltr bottle of water was pain in the … and mini 2( i got combi fly) with its bag with 3bateries charger controller and mini itstself, didnt feel like i have it with me 😂

[@DNMEBOY]

I ended up here the same way. Just got my mini 2 yesterday.

[@iandavies2868]

Watched several of your videos today, just the content I’ve been looking for. Nice to see someone comfortable with the drone. I’ll be back for more.

[@PhillipSkraba]

Thank You Ian! Oh I love flying drones, been doing it for quite a while, with enough time in the air you'll be comfortable with it too.

[@iandavies2868]

@@PhillipSkraba it’s my first one and I am terrified of losing/damaging it but watching you handle yours, seeing the flying instruction and return to home demo has me wanting to get out and fly.

[@PhillipSkraba]

I wouldn't worry too much Ian. As long as you set your RTTH height before each location you fly in above all obstacles, you'll be fine whatever happens, it'll come back home even if your smartphone dies. Make sure you have RTH set to return to home of course, not hover or land.

[@theheightoflife]

Bang on video... Everything explained clearly no messing about. Perfect video!! 💯 I have Freewell NDs for my Gopro and wanted some for my Mini 2 so searched before I bought. This was the first video Ive watched and do not need to watch anymore. Thank you for saving me a lot of time gling through videos that still leave me wondering. Awesome stuff 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 ATB mate... Chris ✌🏼

[@daydreamc.8746]

I've been watching lots of KZbin videos for many topics, but your contents are funny and at the same time explain the topic really good. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and experience! I love your contents!

[@PhillipSkraba]

Thank You! I'm happy you like them, it's always great when someone clicks with my humour!

[@Blueice294]

Bro what this video is just awesome no way whattt this guy is so awesome you deserve everything my dear brother much love all the way from Minnesota

[@greatnorthernviews3052]

I've got the f Freewell nd filters for my mavic mini they are excellent, if I go with the mini 2 they will fit. Thanks for the video. 👍

[@PhillipSkraba]

Yes, they will fit the Mini 2 Chris, no problem at all. Heads up, affiliate links are in the description. Thanks for dropping by 🔥

[@DreamlandUSA]

You are my favorite when it comes to Dronography guru !

[@PhillipSkraba]

Thank You!

[@sk72]

Great tips with ND filters. Now I need to learn the shutter speed settings. 😎 I have no photography skills. 😢

[@PhillipSkraba]

Thank You! It’s pretty simple, keep the fps at 25 and the shutter at 1/50 and you’ll be fine. If the shutter is slower it will be blurred, if it is faster it will freeze objects. 25fps and 1/50 allow for smooth natural motion blur like we’re used to.

[@sk72]

@@PhillipSkraba sweet! I’ll try those settings. Thanks for quick reply!

[@thewitchdoctorofficial]

Thank you so much for your explanation and detail

[@PhillipSkraba]

Awesome, I hope you have fun with that!

[@mattp9029]

Interesting. I just received mine. I didn't think your video examples on the motion blur looked materially different, though the CPL did help the colors. Good information either way, I'm going to try them.

[@DariuszTech]

I bought NR filters last week and was so excited however it's been raining here in the UK for the whole week and I haven't had a chance to use it. So frustrating 😭

[@PhillipSkraba]

It's not been the best weather here in Poland either Dariusz! Hope the sun comes out soon ☀️

[@964cuplove]

ND I know NR are new to me ;-)

[@Mike0193Azul]

Thank you for the in depth explanation and overview

[@PhillipSkraba]

You’re welcome!

[@GenesisFilm]

Hey Phillip, newly subbed. Just picked up a Mini 2 over a week ago; super excited with the value for the cost. I appreciate that you reply to so many of the comments. Your replies are helping me make a more informed decision on the filters!

[@PhillipSkraba]

Hey! How are you liking it? I find it's very smooth when it comes to cinematic manoeuvres. Yes, when it comes to value for money, I'm very happy with this drone. Filters, for this little guy, Freewell wins. Links are in the description of different variations.

[@GenesisFilm]

@@PhillipSkraba Yea, I'm pretty impressed. Some of the stuff on YT seems to stutter a little bit, but I'm assuming that's due to them shooting at 24p rather than 30. I went with the Freewell ND/CP figuring that it wouldn't hurt to always have both on there.

[@PhillipSkraba]

I shoot everything at 25fps as I'm in Europe, I don't think it's YT. I think it's because a lot of people shoot auto, I've noticed this in quite a lot of films creating the stutter effect. The hybrids are the best ones to go for, I use them 90% of the time.

[@GenesisFilm]

@@PhillipSkraba Sweet- Thanks so much!

[@PhillipSkraba]

Anytime!

[@MelCoker]

Thanks for your Mini 2 videos. New Mini 2 owner (3 weeks). Just shot a few photos in Isla Mujeres, MX. Also, we live on a lake in central South Carolina USA. So, I appreciate this video and just ordered the Freewell ND filters from your link.

[@PhillipSkraba]

You're welcome! Oh wow, I bet it's stunning out there for drones! Hopefully when this is all over I can get out to the States again and fly my drone! The Freewell ND filters are excellent, thank you for your support, it really means a lot to me 🤜🏻🤛🏻

[@MelCoker]

@@PhillipSkraba If you ever wanna go USA East and South... let me know. i.e. Lake Murray, Myrtle Beach area, Charleston.

[@PhillipSkraba]

I'll keep that in mind, thanks Mel!

[@Akulion1]

Thanks your video was very informative, the explanations were easy to grasp and provided the right length / amount of info. Thanks!

[@PhillipSkraba]

Thanks for the feedback Akbar! You're welcome!

[@lougoncalvesmedia]

Great video, much appreciative! Good information. Subscribed! Cheers from CANADA!

[@PhillipSkraba]

Thank You, and welcome to the channel!

[@ollenilssonen]

Great video Phillip!

[@PhillipSkraba]

Thank You Olle:

[@GAVINHR]

Great Channel and content man! fair play, great explanation on the ND's! I hope mine comes out even half as good as this!

[@PhillipSkraba]

Thank You! I'm sure it will, keep it smooth, no stick flicking, count to 10-15 on each shot and you'll have some great footage.

[@ORGANIZEDCoNfUsioN]

That was great Phillip, now I know what its all about.

[@PhillipSkraba]

I'm glad I could help!

[@bobs-Videos]

I've seen a number of reviews on Amazon that show when using the Freewell polarizing ND filters that there is a slight vigienette on lower right and left sides or fuzziness. Is that user error or could be a problem with manufactured filter?

[@PhillipSkraba]

Total user error, or sun bouncing off the edge of the filter and causing a vignette. Check it on your phone screen before taking off that it’s sitting on there well and no vignetting is present.

[@billballard2019]

Good information here - however, I'm curious about the use of CP filters on drones. As I understand them, CP filters are rotated, or 'dialed in,' to eliminate glare and reflections relative to the angle of the light source to the camera. When flying, the angle of the light source to the camera is constantly changing. How are they effective on drones? Thanks!

[@denisnatera3633]

I saw another vid on drone filters where the guy said that cpl on drones are pretty useless because of the fact that you cant dial em cause theyre on the sky and far from you

[@PhillipSkraba]

Hi Bill. Yes, CPL filters need to be rotated for the sky to pop or the reflections to dim. All CPL filters need this, and it's something I dial in on my drone whilst looking at the landscape and then I fly. The same goes for my camera, it's not something I change mid shot. They are very effective on drones, but this ofcourse, just like with any polarising filter depends on the direction you're facing. When the sun is in the frame, or directly behind you, a CPL will do very little to your image. The best results come with side light or reflections at 90˚ angles and on polarised light. So you'll basically set it up on the ground and fly in the general direction of the polarised light, much like you saw in the mountains example I showed in this video, it's at a more or less 90˚ angle away from the sunset and the sky is really popping.

[@PhillipSkraba]

Like with every CPL you have to dial it in and it will work when facing a certain direction like I mentioned in this comment Denis. All CPL filters work like this, so it's not like you can dial in CPL looking at the sun. So in my opinion, having used them for years, they are very useful, even on drones.

[@billballard2019]

@@PhillipSkraba, thank you...I've not had much success with CPL in drone still photography. I may give it another go.

[@petesig93]

CPLs also cut through glare generally, so in a situation where there is a lot of glare in the sky, as we often have where I live, they will be of great benefit. Same for when you are shooting into the water, they just cut through the reflected light.

[@howzchannel9843]

Have the Freewell's myself. I did a test, found the ND filters were sharp but the ND/PL polarizers were a bit soft... Could have been my set, but it's easy enough to do a test yourself - don't even have to fly the drone.

[@PhillipSkraba]

Yes, I've tested all my filters, and my hybrids seem to be just as sharp as my ND filters, no problem there. Mind you, would be nice to have a slightly softer image, the Mini series is a touch over-sharpened, so count yourself lucky on that one!

[@howzchannel9843]

@@PhillipSkraba I see a little Gaussian blur in your future.... lol ;)

[@PhillipSkraba]

@@howzchannel9843 I sometimes have to do that! No kidding 😂

[@watchmelearntodrone]

Me totally engrossed in watching these filter lens videos before I've even learnt to fly it. Only got it this week wish me luck.🤞🏼🤭😂

[@bzwvrs01]

Phillip, great videos without any doubt, clear explanations and practical examples which helps a bunch. but I have a general question in regard to the filters and based on your experience is a kind of all around filter that it can be use in most of cases? or it is exactly like you mentioned at the end, just try and see it... Thanks And keep the great work.

[@jamesss1953]

on the strength of watching I have ordered the 4 pack of ND filters. cheers for this well explained vblog

[@PhillipSkraba]

That's a very good choice!

[@peterjaycock7155]

Very good explanation and comparison shots, thank you. I wish all explainer video hosts would just "get on with it" the way you do. Champion job !

[@PhillipSkraba]

Thank You Peter, I really appreciate that, glad you liked it!

[@EveryTongue]

You definitely get much more from the silky with cpl

[@frederichoedt2506]

once again very well explained, even for amateurs who aren't experienced in neither photography or drone flying (yet) ... with a touch of humour ... love it !

[@PhillipSkraba]

Thank You Frederic! I'm glad I could pass that info over!

[@MichaelDavidHiltner]

Very helpful insight! Thanks for your time taken.

[@PhillipSkraba]

You're welcome Michael!

[@piotrslataa2726]

Can you comment on how practical CPLs are? It's not like you can rotate them during the flight, and depending where you rotate your drone, different rotation on CPL should apply. Also CPLs have tendency to make pictures/videos look weird when used on wide angles (because they cover a lot of sky and the sky becomes unevenly blue). (Based on my photography experience). Have you observed any of these?

[@curtworton3877]

felt like this whole video shoulda been shot with a gradual ND filter on the camera haha, really tho man, very informative, massively appreciate the video! im for sure going to grab some of these, thanks a ton! x

[@PhillipSkraba]

haha, I really need to dive into my filter box and pull that out!! You're welcome, happy to help. Awesome filters, highly recommend them.

[@TomWylie]

Nice. Wow, love how it makes the blue sky pop!

[@PhillipSkraba]

Yes, the CPL does an excellent job at that!

[@thierrylaflamme4823]

Great landing... on the ice! 😉

[@PhillipSkraba]

That was fun, a little scary, but fun!

[@Ben-xm6vz]

How much do I need to twist my folter by? What does the little mark on it symbolise too? Great video, thanks

[@Adventurekm]

Good explanation I ended up buying a different set but similar in the way they attach. They haven't arrived yet so fingers crossed. I have flown my drone for over a year and love it. I made a few drone videos too. Cheers new subscriber

[@geoffwarren2993]

Thanks Man! Great videos! Can't wait for my mini 2 to arrive here in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

[@PhillipSkraba]

You're welcome! Oh, you're going to love it!

[@DungarooTV]

Great video bro, but I’m only going to use the drone for family trips to shoot home videos so I actually prefer the stock sharp footage but I can appreciate what you mean by cinematic motion blur for that Hollywood movie look. Would you bother with these for quick home videos?

[@PhillipSkraba]

I would Kevin, but I'm just like that, I like it when it looks pro.

[@chadmeyer3331]

Very helpful video, was exactly looking for this info. Any chance you could summarize which filter is best for which scenario in the description? I’ll grab the filters you recommended. Subscribed and looking forward to more Mini 2 videos.

[@PhillipSkraba]

Thank You! I think the 4 pack I added in the links is a great start! Like I mentioned in this video, it's best to check yourself on the screen which filter looks best for your lighting scenario. ND4 is for overcast, ND8 less overcast, ND16 sunny clouds, ND32 sun, and ND64 crazy Vegas desert sun. That's more or less how it looks, but every situation and time of day is different, so worth checking on the screen before you fly away.

[@chadmeyer3331]

@@PhillipSkraba I captured this. Thank you! I have the Mini 2 and taking time to watch your videos and study up before trying to fly this weekend. I noticed that, when powered on and sitting inside my home, it gets surprisingly hot, propellers not moving, just the gimbal and camera powered in. Air will cool that during flight ... is that normal?

[@HermantjeB]

Yet another great video from this man! Thank you Phillip, nice and complete explanation of the filters👌😁. Thank you mate👍🏻

[@PhillipSkraba]

You're welcome, and thank You! Glad you liked it.

[@jamesw5966]

Love your channel! When do use CPL vs a 32 64 ND PL filter

[@marcelloscardovi5549]

I'm using SKIREAT filter. It's a good choice. Nice video

[@PhillipSkraba]

Thank You! I've had one of those before, I wasn't 100% happy with the colour cast it produced, did the job though with a bit of colour correction.

[@xdgs567z]

I just bought skyreat have yet to use them. Is freewell good? Wonder if I should buy them

[@PhillipSkraba]

The Freewell filters are no doubt the best filters I have ever used.

[@hectorcoria3650]

I Have been wondering that for the longest time and no one has explained it as well as you have. For I will be getting my drone in 2 more weeks at taking notes until then. Thank you.

[@PhillipSkraba]

I’m happy I could help you out! Have fun with it Hector 👌🏻

[@kgsriram]

Absolutely cream of a video! Beautifully explained!

[@PhillipSkraba]

Thank You!

First time seeing you. Your style is awesome. Subscribe indisputable, looking forward to seeing more of your content 😍

[@PhillipSkraba]

Thank You Jonas, that's great to hear, great to have you on board!

[@yvesbechet2651]

Coucou Phillip ! Merci pour tes conseils ! 👌👌👌

[@PhillipSkraba]

You're welcome Yves!!

[@EveryTongue]

Watching this again because I need to study up for my mini 2

[@AZTEC_ARTS]

If you could only afford 1 or 2 ND filters .... which ones would you get ?

[@JoseAnayaTV]

New viewer here. Loving your videos so far. Straight to the point. New subscriber. Keep up the great work.

[@PhillipSkraba]

Thank You Jose, I really appreciate that! The further along I go the more I realise getting straight to the point is key.

[@RJ-xu6wz]

Cześć Philip! Często nagrywasz na plaży w Jelitkowie? Zakupiłem swój pierwszy Mini 2, chętnie bym się kiedyś podczepił na naukę : )

[@magdalenakuakowska4438]

Hi, just became an owner of the dji mini 2. Your videos so far have been very helpful. I’m just in the process of looking at filters. I know you’re using freewell brand but I also found some other brand. Would you recommend any? I’m going for some holidays too with plenty of fun and blue waters. Therefore may I please ask which filters I should go ahead with? I will also be filming in UK weather conditions. Thanks for the advice! Ps. Writing in English even though I’m Polish as it may help others 🙂 Pozdrawiam!

[@Vyken27]

Finally a clear video about ND filter, I have to buy some ! I just discovered your channel, amazing work. Thank you from Canada :)

[@PhillipSkraba]

Thank You! Glad it cleared things up. Definitely worth having a set on each camera you have if you're into cinematography. You're welcome from Poland.

[@ashjackaman6230]

New subby. Great content. I need these for my mini 2. Just want our British weather to cheer up 😩

[@PhillipSkraba]

Trust me, the weather over here in Poland isn't much better! It almost makes me miss the British weather 😂 Great filters, highly recommendable. I really appreciate the sub Ash!

[@ashjackaman6230]

@@PhillipSkraba bloody hell it must be bad 😂

[@PhillipSkraba]

@@ashjackaman6230 It's not great!

[@TheKhloroform]

One way I like to find the proper ND filter is to set my shutter speed first (i.e: 1/60) without any filter. Then I check how it looks like. Then I double the shutter speed (1/120). This is the first hop (ND 2). If it is too bright, I double the shutter speed again (1/240). This is the second hop (ND 4). And I do this until it looks good. Typically at noon, no cloud with sun blasting, I need 5 hops, so ND 32. Then I set back my shutter speed to 1/60 (I like 30 fps), and put my filter on.

[@PhillipSkraba]

Sure, sounds like a fun way to do it. I usually just stick on the ND16 when it's sunny cloudy and I'm off, ND32 in full sun, ND64 in tropical sun, ND8 in overcast and you're off to the races.

[@Adrian_Adrian11]

@@PhillipSkraba Great explanations, thanks so much! Quick question about your above comment. When you mention above filters, you are speaking indeed about ND16/PL, ND32/PL, ND64/PL and ND8/PL, correct?

[@itshunterking]

hey Phillip, I just got the Freewell Filter Set for my Mini 2, when I turn on the drone with one on I get a pretty loud humming sound from the gimbal that isn't there without filters. This is concerning as I don't want to damage the gimbal, I've made sure to put them on correctly and this still happens every time, any input would be great

[@PhillipSkraba]

Yes, I've heard about this before. Fiddle the gimbal about, it should fix it, or calibrate the gimbal, those are the fixes I've heard helped people. I've never had this problem, so it should work.

[@DorosDimitriou]

Ordered a set of the all-day kit! Just took the drone out for a test drive and now i can see how you get so good results on your videos! One question though: On the polarising ones there are some line markers…how do you know at what position to adjust that? How do those “alignment” lines affect the video?

[@PhillipSkraba]

Well, don't worry about the lines, turn everything on, point your drone at the sky and dial it in until you feel it looks good, that's about it.

[@DorosDimitriou]

@@PhillipSkraba Cheers mate! I will try it and see how it affects the image then!

[@MayoNguyenXO]

Im missing the top back part of the camera to attach my filters. Do you know where or how i can replace it?

[@JCoelho]

Nice video mate ;) Greatings from Portugal

[@PhillipSkraba]

Thank You, greetings from Poland!

[@OilBaron100]

Thanks for the explanation. I’ll buy some filters from your affiliate page (if they ship to Australia).

[@PhillipSkraba]

Thank You! I'm sure they do.

[@nathanbarzilay9025]

Is there a specific rule on how to decide which filter to use in any given circumstances? like when to use CPL or ND CPL or just ND?

[@PhillipSkraba]

I use ND most of the time just to get that shutter speed down to 1/50. When it comes to CPL, I don't really use that much, unless it's super dark and I want to get rid of reflections. I use the ND CPL filters when it's nice and sunny, the skies are blue and I want them even more saturated, or if I want to get the glare off the water. That's how I use them Nathan.

[@perrypelican9476]

I wipe the filter after snapping it on to make sure there is no finger smudge. Is motion blur realistic? What does realistic mean? Isn't it what you see with your eyes? When you look at something zooming by, do you see motion blur? Of course not.

[@auxsom]

Extremely helpful video. Ty!

[@PhillipSkraba]

You're welcome, thanks!

[@BartlomiejSiodmak]

First of all good manners so “Hi, Phillip! 👋”. And needless to say I just love your work - crisp videos, stunning shots and your sense of humor - that all makes your channel sooo good! And here I’d like to ask a question- regarding the best camera settings for cinematic shot. Yesterday I started my adventure with DJI mini 2 and correct me if I’m wrong but - 4K 25fps + 1/50 + 5600 settings make no sense without ND filters, is that right? I’ve just tried it and basically I could only a blown off screen of my phone instead of aerial shot... Many thanks in advance and keep your work rollin’ Cheers, Bartek!

[@PhillipSkraba]

Czesc Bartek! Thank You for that, I do my best so that everything looks and sounds informative and fun! Yes, that's correct, they make no sense without the filters, they will be way too much light. It'll only work when it gets darker during the day, but with the sun out it'll be blown out.

[@BartlomiejSiodmak]

@@PhillipSkraba - ok, understood, many thanks!

[@dtonky8158]

Another great video Phil and thanks for doing this for us very interesting and useful 👍

[@PhillipSkraba]

You're welcome!

[@josephjohn3560]

When I'm taking photos with my camera, and I use a CPL filter, I always have to make minor adjustments to the filter. How does this work in a flying drone that is going way above the horizon? What technique should I use to eliminate reflected light as much as possible when flying my drone? Thanks for the video!

[@PhillipSkraba]

The way I do it is to dial it in on the ground. When it comes to reflections on water I usually do the same thing, dial them in on the ground and them get that bird in the sky. It's no where as easy as using them on a camera, and when it comes to reflections takes a bit of getting used to, it's much easier to dial in on the sky.

[@hexen79]

How does this work when you need to adjust for angle when it is constantly changing if your lens is in motion as on a drone?

[@kylewoods923]

If you had to choose one of the 4-packs, which one would you start with?

[@PhillipSkraba]

I'd probably go with the standard pack linked in the description, it does a good job Kyle.

[@nooshiofficial]

Do you recommend ND8 or ND16 or CPL for super sunny locations? Vietnam for example.

[@remarinus]

géniales vos vidéos pour les tests de filtres !!!! merci !!!!!

[@PhillipSkraba]

You're welcome!

[@remarinus]

@@PhillipSkraba thank you my friend !!

[@mrmultimediaman]

Have them...never used them but great information!

[@PhillipSkraba]

They’re worth putting on, they make a nice difference, of course depending on what you shoot. All the best Joe!

[@mw9542]

Can you stack the filters? Just wondering if you want to add motion blur and CPL. Is it possible to add two filters? Great video by the way

[@PhillipSkraba]

I'm afraid not, no stacking here possible, it would be way to heavy for that tiny gimbal. However, Freewell do make hybrid filters, ND/CPL, I have some in the description of this video. Thank You Mark!

[@THATGREEKGUY_]

Hello Phillip. Got these filters recently. How are you actually setting the rotating part? What it means when the white lines are aligned or in which direction you turn it? Hope the question is kinda clear. Regards from Greece.

[@PhillipSkraba]

Hi! So put it on, aim it at the sky and twist it, see how the darkness of the sky changes, or aim it at water and see how the reflections change. I usually use it for the sky, so concentrate on that first, once you see it darken and pop, that's it.

[@THATGREEKGUY_]

@@PhillipSkraba dzieki my friend!

[@Chetan-K]

Thank you for sharing your experience

[@PhillipSkraba]

You're welcome!

[@hankwojo]

This may be dumb question but here goes . . . Will the filters from the Spark fit on the Mini 2?

[@PhillipSkraba]

I’m afraid not, no Henry.

[@zahawarizakaria8205]

Hai great explanation...keep it a good work. Got question here, once you installed the filter can you use original gimbal protector supplied or need to remove it back before install back the gimbal protector?

[@PhillipSkraba]

Yes, you can keep the filter on and use the gimbal protector, no problem at all.

[@godsakes]

Very hard to adhere to the 180 degree rule with a DJI Mini... the aperture is fixed at f2.8, the sensor is so small you don't want to strain it beyond it's base ISO at 100, so you basically only have shutter speed to control the exposure. ND filters can only really help if the conditions aren't changing otherwise you have to compromise on the shutter speed

[@PhillipSkraba]

I beg to differ. I've used it at iso 3200, it's not that bad, but that really depends on whether you're using it to pixel peep or to tell a story. I always use ND filters, and never change my shutter, unless there is an artistic reason to. So I really only change ND filters and ISO. I'd say it's very easy to adhere to the 180 degree rule with the Mini 2, unless your end point is to pixel peep, then yeah, get a Matrice 600 and a Sony a7sIII.

[@AndyBDrone]

Just wondering if there is a reason why you film at 4k 35 and not 4k 30? Would be interesting in seeing what you use to edit your mini2 videos and the settings in that you use to create the output video. Great videos.

[@PhillipSkraba]

I film everything on every single camera I have at 4K and 25fps 1/50th, unless I'm shooting slow motion, so 100fps. European cinematic standards.

[@jarrod2292]

Can’ these filters damage or make it stuck? I’ve tried one of these filters on my mini 2 and after taking it off its come up with an error saying it’s stuck.

[@PhillipSkraba]

I've never experienced that in my couple of years flying with these filters on, did you attach them correctly? Try calibrating the gimbal too!

[@mickeytheviewmoo]

Yes, this more common than reported.

[@PhillipSkraba]

That sounds like improper attachment to me, as neither me or my friends have ever had problems.

[@Chimera_Photography]

Was the drone ON when you took it off? Because manhandling the gimbal while the drone is powered on, will give you that error.

[@DjTonioRoffo]

Thanks for the video. I was expecting you would also explain how many f stops the NDx filters would bring, and how that relates to shutter speed going down.

[@PhillipSkraba]

Totally bypassed that as I didn't think people would really need that info with the drone. I'll drop that info here in that case Yves. ND4 - 2 stops, ND8 - 3 stops, ND16 - 4 stops, ND32 - 5 stops, ND64 - 6 stops, ND1000 - 10 stops. The same goes for the hybrids. Hope that helps!

[@anandyahamdi]

@@PhillipSkraba At what condition you would choose the ND4 or 8, 16 etc?

[@PhillipSkraba]

ND4 evening time, well just before, ND8 cloudy weather, ND16 sunny cloudy weather, ND32 pure Vegas sun, ND64 tropical island. That’s how they work for me.

[@anandyahamdi]

@@PhillipSkraba Thanks so much, I note this. I'm in tropical country, unfortunately the highest ND filter I have only 32ND-PL

[@PhillipSkraba]

@@anandyahamdi That should be okay, I've used the ND64 a handful of times when on the Seychelles.

[@mjanek20]

I've also just started playing with the filters. For me the 25 fps is way too low though. I've tried 30 fps with 1/60th. I understand the idea behind setting the SS slower in order to get fast paced footage blurred and get the feeling of movement but I'd rather be doing 60 fps (or 120 fps even) w/o the ND than 30 fps with it on :/ Do you have a different feeling? I like it when all the frames are "in focus" without any blur on them so that the footage is crisp sharp all the way.

[@PhillipSkraba]

Hi Michal. So I personally cringe when I watch something filmed at a frame rate other than 25fps. The crisp look for me is made for certain cinematic moments, and is very unnatural, even tiring for us to look at. When I buy a new tv, the first thing I do is turn it on to filmmakers mode, otherwise I can't even look at it. 25fps is the cinematic standard for a reason, and breaking that cinematic standard has a time and place, but flying a drone for me personally, isn't one of them. Cinematic blur at 25fps is very natural, try it yourself, wave your hand in front of your face at a normal rate, and tell me what you see, blur right? The bottom line though, even though it's how it should be done, is if you like it that way, then roll with that, I'm just trying to teach the community about the cinema standard rule, which like many rules, can be broken 👌🏻

[@mjanek20]

@@PhillipSkraba I'm just trying to do the right thing here hence buying the NDs. I wanna learn doing it good and just stating my observations here. I surely cannot compare my fist shooting trial with an ND on to your vast practice an experience. Maybe I did something incorrectly or the conditions were not right. I'll try more as I want to practice as much as possible before going to the places where my skills really do matter as I'll be shooting just once (vacations abroad). But as it comes to cinematic mode on a TV .... I love the smoothing the TVs are doing and cannot live without them. Otherwise the image looks choppy AF to me. Personal preference I guess.

[@PhillipSkraba]

The filters are a good way to go, especially on a drone as it moves so fast, of course the closer you are to the ground, which I am a lot. If you have any questions when you get them, just ask, I'll be happy to help. Yes, when I get a new tv I turn everything off completely, filmmaker mode is awesome, it's so smooth, just like the films were filmed with no choppy weird stuff going on.

[@AlexanderShelestov]

@@PhillipSkraba > 25fps is the cinematic standard for a reason Yep, and the reason was technology and budget. There is no reason today to shoot at 25fps. With new digital cinema cameras more and more directors and film producers want to shoot at 60fps and above.

[@ignajara]

@@AlexanderShelestov Image and sound design student here. Thats not correct. The cinema standard is 24 fps. 25 fps and 29.97 fps correspond to PAL and NTSC respectively. Video works due to an effect in our vision called Retinal Persistence. Our eyes at arround 15/16 ish fps start to percieve a sequence of frames as a moving image (video). Films were shot at 16 frames a second before, and they were cranked (because things were filmed and projected using manual machines) at arround 24 frames per second to acomodate for Retinal Persistence. Going above 30 fps, requires a high shutter speed, and eliminates a lot of motion blur, but our eyes are accustomed to having motion blur, so images tend to look unnatural crossing over 48 fps. Cinema wont step out of 24 frames anytime soon. Take a look at Gemini Man... Most of the negativity came from the framerate. It does become hard to watch. Now if we are talking about video, 30 fps is good, 60 as well.

[@graysonallenn]

Hey man! Great video! I'm on more of a tighter budget but I still want to get nd filters for almost every situation. Which pack would you recommend?

[@PhillipSkraba]

I'd get the standard pack, or pick them up one by one, make sure you have an ND8, ND16 and ND32, the rest you can pick up as you go along. ND64 is good for tropical climates, and the ND4 I use when it starts to get a little dark.

[@MundoPorAqui]

Awesome video Skraba!

[@PhillipSkraba]

Thank You Leandro!

[@Low2234]

Can I get away with just buying a ND/PL Hybrid set and just not use the PL function when I dont want it? Or is there a negative drawback I am not seeing

[@anandyahamdi]

I just bought ND-PL, should I buy the CPL only filter too?

[@PhillipSkraba]

Well, unless you need to get rid of some reflections at night, I don't think it's needed, no.

[@MrYhuggybear]

Glad to see you do a video on these I just picked up the sunny life branded ones. Have you tried those and will you mind comparing them to the free well filters. Also a lot of the filter reviews say that they cause issues with the gimbal have you noticed any error messages from the drone with the filters attached?

[@PhillipSkraba]

Hi Yug, I've got to be honest with you, I've tried a lot of brands and I stick with two, Freewell and Polarpro. I also use Tiffen, but I feel they're not so great when it comes to the photo filters which we use on your cameras. If I had to recommend on it would be Freewell for its price and quality. If you watched the video all the way through, I did touch on error messages from the drone. It's user error in my experience, nothing to do with the filters.

[@MrYhuggybear]

@@PhillipSkraba thanks I didn't actually watch just yet 😂 I was considering just skipping filters overall but I got my free well ones in and did a little testing and the footage comes out much nicer once you dial in that exposure and shutter speed. Go ahead to know that gimbal issues should not be common. One more question, do you think it's worth getting the freewell pack with the polarized ND filters as well or just stick with non-polarized ND Keep up the mini 2 content!

[@PhillipSkraba]

@@MrYhuggybear If you feel the 4 pack is enough I'd go for that, but it you need a separate CPL and clean ND filters, then the 8 pack is your best bet.

[@andrzejbrandowski3481]

jesli nie planuje latania w srodku dnia w mocnym sloncu, standard 4pack bedzie wystarczajacy? swietne materiały btw, mnostwo wiedzy dla poczatkujacego droniarza :) pozdrawiam :)

[@PhillipSkraba]

Najważniejsze są ND8, ND16, ND32. Możliwe ze w Lipcu nadmorze w środku dnia ND64 by się przydał. Dziękuję!

[@droneshorts4394]

Thank you for your great tips!

[@PhillipSkraba]

You’re welcome!

[@jralicea6299]

Hi, I found your channel and appreciate all the content you've shared. I am no where near the level of other subscribers as I'm about to order my first Drone being the mini 2 in September. I've put it off for quite sometime worried about features the more expensive models that the mini does not like active track though i understand it does have obstacle avoidance (I think). So I'm excited and looking into essentials I would need to consider like these filters. Thanks for you feeds, any comments and/or suggestions please do share.

[@PhillipSkraba]

Don't worry about the bells and whistles, check out some of my other Mini 2 videos, see what it can really do. My Road Trip video was fun, and it shows that even with the limited options the Mini 2 offers, you can really pull a lot out of it. Go pick it up and have fun!

[@iainmasterton2]

Just got my Mini 2 ( also have Mavic 2 Pro). For 4K video I use 24fps and 1/50 shutter. With the Mini 2 the only variable is therefore the ND filter... can't change aperture or shutter speed or ISO ( 100 to give max quality). This is obviously severely limiting....I use ND 32 mostly on the Mavic 2 pro in bright days. Is this the only way to fix exposure on the Mini 2 ...?....check on ground and change ND filter to fix correct exposure? Thanks

[@bicycletouring4413]

Thank you for sharing. Freewell filter for Dji Mavic Mini 2. Which filter do you recommend me. normal filters ND or ND-PL.

[@PhillipSkraba]

I use the PL filters the most myself.

[@orlandomarinjr]

Best Explanation ever

[@PhillipSkraba]

Thank You!

[@jayant.]

I have been watching your whole Mini 2 playlist as I was confused to order or not but you kinda convinced me plus I am on a budget. My question is which set of ND filters you use most of the time for photography and videography ND+PL or just ND? Thanks for making these videos looking forward to more!

[@PhillipSkraba]

Hi Jayant! Whoa, that's a lot of videos 😂 It depends on what you're doing, if you're into the droning seriously and want killer shots then the ND/PL 8 kit, but if you're happy flying around and want a nice smooth cinematic image, I'd recommend the 4 hybrid kit, that goes a long way and it really does the job whether it's sunny of cloudy. If you travel a lot or film over water the PL comes in useful and if you have a lot of blue skies it really helps make them pop. Thanks for the support, I'll be concentrating a little more on how to fly videos soon.

[@jayant.]

@@PhillipSkraba Haaha ah well got to do my research right before investing my money into my first drone. By the way any idea on how FStop filters are? Freewell ones aren't being shipped to the country I stay in. Thanks for your response.

[@PhillipSkraba]

@@jayant. I've heard they're quite poor in image quality. It's worth looking around different Amazon sites to see, Germany, UK, Italy, they usually send to various countries. Or you can go on to the Freewell website, they'll send all over the world and you'll be satisfied you bought a good set!

[@rondoc8071]

what shutter speed do you typically set your drone on with what filter? I'm trying to understand how the shutter speed works in along with choosing the right filter and shutter speed when taking cinematic videos. Do you have a video explaining the shutter speed with the filters?

[@PhillipSkraba]

I always have the same settings that I never change. ISO100, 25fps and 1/50th shutter speed with a colour temp of 5600k. That's it. Then I attach a filter and see if the exposure looks good or not.

[@gamerboyzak981]

Hi, do you have a link to buy this box for a Mini 2 please? Thanks

[@PhillipSkraba]

Sure, they should be in the description of this video.

[@J-GregChannel]

Hello! I have the same filter and drone and i've been noticing some vignetting in the bottom corners of my shots.. Is there a reason for this to be happening?... Thanks!!

[@kundalinicalling3295]

Great video! Thanks man. 🙏🥳

[@stridycraig]

Hi. Nice vid. The links are for Mavic 2. Do you have any links for Mini 2. Thanks

[@PhillipSkraba]

Thank You! That usually means they're sold out in the US. Here is a link to singles ones in that case - amzn.to/3qXQO08