DJI Mini 3 Pro ND Filter Review - Why They Are Important

[@wkwong80]

Great examples! Thank you.

[@SteveCoutts]

Thanks for watching, cheers!

[@bobwhitewo3b]

Thanks Steve, another excellent video. The larger aperture of the Mini 3 sure does make for a different (darker) selection of filters than those used with the Mini 2. Cheers, Bob

[@SteveCoutts]

It sure does make a difference! Thanks Bob, cheers!

[@dji1tommy29]

Always enjoy your vids Steve 👍

[@SteveCoutts]

Well thanks so much! I really do appreciate it. Cheers! 😀

[@regbanks7888]

I agree. Need a 128 or 256 for sure during the day

[@JoshConnectMedia]

It depends on what you are looking for as to when to shoot at 1/3200 or using ND filter to get motion blur. If you are looking for city details to pin point items , then sharpness and clarity is the key but if you are looking for sth "cinematic" where blurring is needed, then you could do that. It's subjective.

[@SteveCoutts]

For sure. I am just providing information so folks know what the filters can do for their photography and video work. Cheers!

[@JoshConnectMedia]

@@SteveCoutts yippee ! Right on

[@gekoldronevideos]

Steve, great video and good explanation again👍👏. In my latest holiday video I used the Freewell ND32PL. For me personally this filter and the ND64PL are sufficient in most bright daylight conditions when filming in D-Cinelike & Editing the footage with a Lut I now have two Freewell Gradient Filters on the way for making better landscape video. Greetings from 🇳🇱

[@SteveCoutts]

Thanks! I barely use the ND4 and ND8 and at least twice the ND64 wasn't enough. The ND1000 is great but the long exposure fun really starts happening at 1 or 2 seconds, so ND2000 would be better for that. I may have to look in to the gradient filters. Cheers!

[@craigbishop]

Steve, good eye - I completely missed the active-track-disabled-while-using-ND-filters in the manual. That said, I've have no issue using ND filters while using active track in a handful of outings - except while tracking my kayak at 6:00p, the drone kept losing me but I had assumed it was a result of low sun and reflections off the water. This intrigues me and I think I'll do some more in-depth testing. Speaking of bright sun and the Mini 3's aperture... I completely agree with you on wanting to use darker ND filters. A ND128/ND256 may be more useful than say an ND4... Come to think of it, maybe DJI's choices in their three-filter pack (ND16/ND64/ND256) make more sense now.

[@SteveCoutts]

Thanks! I tried tracking my wife on the SUP a couple of times and it didn't do a good job at all. Like you, I need to do more testing but you could be on to something with the reflections. I agree with that too. DJI's kit does make more sense for day-to-day. I did use the ND16 a couple of times but mostly the ND64. The ND1000 was photo only. Your suggestions, I think, would perfect for the base kit. Freewell does sell a "long exposure pack" with an ND128, 256, 512 and 2000, top end is mostly going to be for photo though. I guess everyone is going to be a bit different depending on where you live, when you shoot and if you're doing video or photo. Cheers!

[@DonJoyce]

Good one, Steve!

[@SteveCoutts]

Thanks Don!

[@BlairAir]

Hey Steve. This is a good exploration of ND applications. I have a terrible filter addiction, lately enjoying Polar Pro "FX" set of filters for Mini 3 Pro: Bluemorphic. Goldmorphic and a 1/4 Mist. These are for that laser like flare you get from Anamorphic, without the stretched aspect ratio. Fun, creative, but more for special effect than continuous shooting.

[@SteveCoutts]

Thanks! The specialty filters sound fun! I tried a mist a while back and I really liked it. I did that anamorphic look but wasn't keen on the crazy aspect ratio so what you're describing sounds like the ticket! I may just have to try them, cheers!

[@K9CareObedienceTraining]

Nice video Steve, good examples of motions blur, it's hard filming on your own, great work.. Bright light here in West Aus. What do you use on bright days ?? is ND 32, or ND 64, enough ? or would you use 128 / 256 ? Cheers Nikhil

[@SteveCoutts]

Thanks! On the really bright days an ND64 was just barely getting it done. I think I was 1/100th of a second, when I wanted 1/50-60th. So an ND128 would have done it. Same with the ND1000. A half second shutter (or a touch less) is ok but the real magic, especially with water starts around that 1-2 second range. Any more than that with a drone you're not getting many keepers so an ND2000 would have been better. Cheers!

[@K9CareObedienceTraining]

@@SteveCoutts Great info.. Many thanks

[@giantasparagus]

Which do you use the most would you say? Safe to leave the 16 on most of the time for run and gun?

[@SteveCoutts]

Good question. I just popped the lens guard off my Mini 3 Pro and it had the ND32/CPL filter on the lens, so I'm going to say it's probably the one I use the most. Cheers!

[@giantasparagus]

@@SteveCoutts Thanks!

[@alanr1476]

Great video. I bought the cpl filter set and notice when I look through the filter it's more polarising when set to V but held horizontally and vice versa. Is that normal?

[@SteveCoutts]

Thanks! Honestly I haven't noticed anything like that but I wasn't looking for it either. CPL filters for lack of a better word are tricky. The angle to the light source is important (90º for maximum effect), rotation is also important and you may even notice varying degrees of strength in a single shot, most noticeable in a blue sky. So you should definitely consider those factors when testing their effectiveness. I didn't specifically test V versus H setting and if they worked better with the camera in the other orientation. I only tested filter versus non-filter with the filter set for the correct camera orientation. I can't speak to one position being better than the other. The did what I expected them to do. Freewell is well regarded for good customer support so if you're overly concerned about it perhaps you should bounce it off them. Cheers!

[@jimshields9336]

Hey Steve. When you use the filters do you manually set the shutter speed or do you let the drone do it automatically?

[@SteveCoutts]

Yes, always manual. You can do it with auto too, it's just a bit more work. Either you get really good at knowing the light and how much ND strength is needed or you choose your ND filter using manual (look at EV to see "correct" exposure) and then switch over to manual for flight. Good question! 👍

[@jimshields9336]

@@SteveCoutts Thanks Steve. I’ll give it a try. 🇨🇦

[@theDRONEguytv]

Excellent as always buddy, got the #freewel polarized nd?cpl #filters and have had great results.

[@SteveCoutts]

Thanks! Yeah, what can I say right? The Freewell stuff has always worked very well for me. It's what I use day to day on my drones and mirrorless cameras. No complaints. Cheers!

[@Gordonbanksapp]

One of the best demos of motion blur…… ND filters disabled focus track? I think I have been using focus track with my NDs? Is it possible ND filters work unreliably with ND filters? I am glad to see smoke free skies in BC 😄

[@SteveCoutts]

Thanks! I need to experiment with it a bit. I suspect it wants a faster shutter speed to reliably track things - it doesn't like low light, which effectively the ND filters produce. Very happy with smoke free skies. Honestly though if we didn't get near record rain in the spring, it would have been disastrous. Barely any rainfall in the past two months. It's not good. Cheers!

[@BrnTanHides]

I'll have to disagree about the motion blur being more superior than crisp detail in pics. I say they both are equal and have their place. My preferred pic is crisp detailed shots when taking random pics. Blurred seems like rushed photography in my opinion when it comes to random pics. That being said, perhaps I've never seen a pic that stood out amongst motion blur pics. To each their own I suppose. Also, great vid and info.

[@SteveCoutts]

Cheers Al, thanks for the comment. "To each their own" - exactly! It's your art, your expression so create whatever makes YOU happy. Happy, safe flying!

[@shadad5299]

I’m new to this so ignore my ignorance but I’m a bit confused, can you not simply change your shutter speed and settings without the ND filter? What does adding an ND filter do

[@SteveCoutts]

ND filters are solely used to block light so you can use a slower shutter speed to achieve motion blur in your photos and videos. In bright, sunny conditions your shutter speed could be in the neighbourhood of 1/2000th of a second. When shooting 30fps video, ideally you would want your shutter speed to be around 1/60th of a second. As the Mini 3 Pro does NOT have an adjustable aperture, there is no other way to reduce the amount of light hitting the sensor. To achieve the slower shutter speed a suitable ND filter must be used. It's certainly not necessary to use one. It's kind of more of an aesthetic or artistic choice. Cheers!

[@-NateTheGreat]

ND filters are a good step in increasing your photography/videography game. After you understand each filter and test them you can create some next level results.

[@SteveCoutts]

Absolutely! Cheers Nate!

[@jesusgjchuza6491]

Cool 😎

[@ViewedUp]

how did you do a hand catch without it fighting back? What is your method? Thanks

[@SteveCoutts]

Basically, present your hand as a landing target underneath the drone and pull down on the left joystick like you were landing on the ground. It will kick off the automated landing process and come in for a landing. Mind those props!! I did a whole video on it, if you want more detail - kzbin.info/www/bejne/fGiqg4Cme6aca80. Cheers!

[@ViewedUp]

@@SteveCoutts thanks! I just watched your other video on this. I appriciate the tips. when i try and "pluck" it out of the sky, it always flies away, unless i grab it from the front and dont let the downward VPS see my hand. then i can grab it and either flip it or hold down on the left stick. I've done the flipping method a few times... now I'm worried about any stress/damage that could have happened while doing this. It does end up seeming pretty stressful for it. Do i need not worry? ugh.

[@TonesDroneVisuals]

Just wondering if anybody on here has had issues with video rippling/jello effect using an ND/CPL on an overcast day?

[@SteveCoutts]

Interesting. I didn't notice anything crazy and I'm usually pretty good at picking up anomalies.