Does Your Drone Need Filters? / Testing Freewell Air 2S ND and CPL filters

[@MR_RB2]

Got to be the best explained video I’ve ever seen! I too have falling into that trap and the light has changed and the footage has been horrible! I now use and filter 4-8-16 and just play about with shutter speed until I’m happy! Thanks my friend and again a very well explained video!!

[@debscannell]

SO well explained and extremely thorough. No hype just straight forward and accurate information. Well thought out! Love your style of expression!

[@AmazinglyAni]

By far the best video on ND filters on Drones!

[@fletcherbrown728]

Very professional in every aspect. Your studio, audio, just adds to the level of detail that you have achieved. Information is impecable. Clearly the best and most informative video I have seen on ND filters on drones (and I have watched a lot). Most are just a prelude to - click the affiliate links below, Well done sir!

[@scottclark1455]

Thank you so much for this, it was incredibly helpful. Seeing the Freewell in comparison to a shot without a filter and then seeing it in comparison to the DJI brand really helped me decide on what to buy. Much appreciated!

[@Keji839]

Subscribed. This man’s Audio is very good.

[@Martin-gg1up]

Best overview yet on the different kind of Filters. Helped me alot to avoid mistakes you figure out when its to late. Thanks!

[@elnegro8434]

The best tutorial and explanations on how when where to use these filters. Thanks man🙌

[@Zorastegard]

Thanks a lot, very helpful and best consultion on KZbin !

[@LionCoupleenRoute]

Hi Todd! I just bought a pack of ND filters and a CPL filter and wanted to know more about how to use CPL with my Mini 3 Pro. I watched few from YT before yours and I must say that your video stood out from the rest! Really professional touch! 👍

[@BernardBertrand]

I was looking for some information about the filter for drone and I bumped into your channel, really good stuff in here ! thanks for sharing !

[@beejoutbush3322]

Thank you for the info on the PL filter. I had this issue this morning. It is also difficult to adjust the filter while looking at the view finder on your phone as you are fighting against the gimbal.

[@rogeliorogel8690]

Damn! Im 3:40 in the video and I already love this channel, the way you explain, and quality of your video is great, Im glad I ran into this, definitely subscribing! And I just got the Air 2s arrived 1hr ago, and I got a yacht shoot here in Cabo in a couple of weeks and I need to find the best ND-CPl filter there is, Im sure this video will help!

[@Qantz]

Ahh after multiple videos I finally found the right one for me. Thank you!

[@AndrewKnepper]

This video was very helpful! I've always felt my drone videos were too overexposed so I'll definitely be investing in nd filter in the future!

[@dominey]

Great! Thanks Andrew.

[@Taino76]

@@dominey Hi Todd I'm studying for doing Mapping, what ND do you think I need for photos.i like shooting photos on my drone.

[@Mike-ur4ij]

@@dominey would rotating the nd/pl filter to the 3 or 9 o'clock position also minimize the cross polarization effect which darkens the edges of the image? Thanks.

[@HeliosDroneWorks]

This video and your channel are excellent! I just found your channel and it looks to be top notch Thank you for what you do

[@danielcalvocamacho4538]

I bought a bundle of Freewell solid ND filters last year, it inludes 6 different filters at increasing stops.

[@DronieUp]

Great video! Certainly deserves more views!!

[@mfthedronepoet9745]

Thanks for explaining the rotation of the CPL filter, it was hard to find the answer, I am not happy with the photos with the filter on, noise in the sky, over saturated, I am thinking I would be better to try use them only for video, maybe straight ND filters would have been a better buy...

[@juangarcia1974]

Totally agree, I always run in to that issue if I do 24fps the Mavic 2 has a variable aperture and I can get away sometimes, but you right the shutter has to go low sometimes, I photograph glaciers and the nd helps a lot with the exposure but it is an extra setting to prepare/preset before you fly, I have a OCD that I want perfect exposure all the time but sometimes on a instagram or fb post isn’t even noticeable, thanks for the video always great info.

[@boschulte]

Man, i love your photos…

[@jodokcello]

Makes it sense to use nd filters also in auto-modus?

[@melindapryor]

A well done, very informative video, great work. Thanks for sharing.

[@johnbaffin1]

damn that was a great vid // 1st time watching

[@yelapa999]

I am an experienced photographer and am just learning to fly my drone. In my view, Freewell makes wonderful stuff and I bought a set of 8. I was very frustrated at the number of companies that make filters for drones and action cameras who use the term "CPL" for filters that are not circular at all and not adjustable in any way. To buy a polarizing filter with only one setting-a person'd be some kind of cockeyed optometrist to sign up for that,

[@GaborOrszaczky]

very useful video, super informative! thanks!

[@waynelast1685]

Another benefit is using a filter will protect your camera lens? I would perhaps use a very low ND/PL filter or a stand-alone CPL filter, even if a filter is not required.

[@dougbell5950]

I always fly with a cpl filter set in the neutral position. It protects the lens, adds saturation and reduces glare. I shoot in 4k/60 on the Air 2s which has a crop effect on the video and reduces the chances of cross-polarization he demonstrated in this video.

[@waynelast1685]

Great review thanks . I too want to do photo and video.

[@QuinnTheTailor]

I've got a question. Both at 2:40 and 13:09 you have used CLP filters for the video. But the one at 2:40 seems to be much more vibrant and colorful than the footage at 13:09. Given it says ND32/PL which means its the hybrid with the ND filter.. i still don't quite unserstand how the one without the ND has much stronger colors. Was it shot at a different time or even color-graded afterwards?

[@RichardUttingSharpshootingUK]

Outstanding

[@sean19]

Thanks for his fantastic informative video. Appreciated 👌👍🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧

[@ABeaverProductions]

The video i needed in my life

[@belema22]

great video, super helpful!

[@Sparky_oto]

Thanks for going through the different kinds of filters! For the most filters, can you create the same mist effect in lightroom?

[@agremlin77]

Great video, liked & subscribed, thanks for sharing ‼️

[@waynelast1685]

16:32 Do you think that corner vignetting can be removed fairly easily in Photoshop or Video editing post?

[@robertstane5823]

DJI mini 4K... I only film on sunny days... I want the blue sky to be the same vivid color as with my natural sight... I find that it is a variable with the time of day... 8 am... noon... and 4 pm... My blue sky is often faded or almost white... What are the best filters for the most vivid blue on different day light on a sunny day? Thanks Todd...

[@TheRezolutionPhoto]

The 2-5 has a "zero" position where you can get the mist without the light reduction.

[@DangerousDaveKincaid]

Wow great video Todd, I have the Freewell variable ND filters and flew for the first time yesterday and was not to happy with the now I know cross polarization effect when on 5 or 32ND. So probably need to get the solid ND's. Question, I have the variable ND filters but was thinking of their Mist variable filters, which would you keep? Thanks Dave....

[@marklouieadame]

for me night pollution filter and CPL are a must more than the ND filter

[@rezjrprod]

What mic are you using? Great voice btw

[@georgemarciocardoso]

Nice job. Thank you.

[@sirnigel719]

Really sound advice

[@camilo8cheryl]

There are plenty of people who buy tech gadgets for the heck of it, like myself, latest gadget but too busy at work i only use this gadgets for recreational purposes like vacations trips.. so I’m one of those who buys stuff and rarely uses it😂

[@mmikaismail8533]

Thanks for the nice video. I have a question that I still haven't found the answer to it. Can we just use negative EV instead of putting on the ND filters supplied by DJI?

[@turisma_music]

No, the EV controls Aperture, Shutter Speed and the ISO in the background. It has nothing to do with ND filters.

[@GleezoVision]

what mic is used for your audio? thanks in advance

[@Foxy_Fabrications]

So since I am going to Iceland soon, and I spend alot of time in the northern latitudes. My question is do these ND filters act as a polarizer too? Or are they separate? Should I buy a polarizer or a variable ND? I have the DJI NDs but wanted a single item vs having to switch them out constantly. All of this is on an Air2s any thoughts?

[@terencemorrissey4413]

Great video, thanks.

[@dominey]

Glad it was helpful!

[@jazzthewayyoulikeit]

What brightness should I put my Mac book at when editing drone footage? I ask because the video may look "perfect" when the screen brightness is all the way out but them not so good when you adjust the brightness. I'm worried if I have my screen all the way up in editing, and then viewer is watching the video with their screen at half brightness, or visa versa, that the video will look bad over all to the viewer. Even though it looked good in editing at whatever brightness I chose. (I hope that makes sense)

[@dominey]

Makes total sense. First thing to know is that everyone’s display is going to be different, and you can drive yourself crazy trying to make an image or video look perfect everywhere. Assuming you’re editing video, my recommendation would be paying attention to your scopes - waveform in particular. That will show you how bright or dark your footage is regardless of what you see on your own screen. You generally want a good distribution of values between light and dark.

[@mikehays6526]

Good video thanks

[@InteractiveDNA]

Very simple rule... without the ND filter the playback on big screens will be horrible. It will look like 12fps playback. Also, because most of the Displays and monitors are playing in higher hertz, lower frame rate with a wrong shutter speed will cause sickening motions and bad interpolations on the videos. Simple rules: Slow Motion = Higher Shutter Speed, normal playback always follow the rules. I lost count how many times I had to pass on gorgeous footage because of the wrong shutter.

[@waynelast1685]

4:22 I don't understand. The only time you want to use ND filters is when there is extreme sunlight, thus no need to slow the shutter. I would not use ND filters in normal or low light. That's my experience but I am not a pro or expert. Comments?

[@waynelast1685]

edit - I see from your video you want to be able to switch back and forth from video to photo which is a good point. I agree with you not to use on unless you must . I think you must use one when the light is so bright you get blown out highlight. Just my non-expert opinion.

[@hukchone4521]

thank you so you mean no ND filter for photograph to get better photo in any condition ? im a beginner

[@dominey]

Right. Would not recommend using ND filters when creating still images.

[@hukchone4521]

@@dominey OK thank you

[@SetitesTechAdventures]

The first thing I learned as a new drone user. The DJI complains a lot about not being allowed to fly. The first thing I did was get an override. Turns out I live close enough to an airport that the thing never shuts up. There are 3 radiuses around the airport and I am in the second one. I suspect lots of people can't use their drones as much as they like because there are so few places to fly them. Here there are only two parks you are allowed to fly at, and at least one of them requires you to join a drone club even though it's a friggin tax payer funded park.

[@bushmanphotos]

Filters are highly over rated. Every one I've bought just ends up sitting in a drawer. Firstly the light changes (or even just the drone angle) and suddenly you need every shred of light you can get but the filter is crippling it and secondly nobody I have shown videos to has ever been able to tell the difference between video with filter and video without. Nobody. Ever. Polarizers are great for cutting down glare because I fly 95% over ocean but I'm not convinced at all that you need ND filters except in special situations. They're just another tool in the kit not the absolute necessity that all these youtubers are saying.

[@Razertw]

I don't use my Phantom 4 Pro without NDs when filming, it always goes on to be at 1/50 (or 1/120). Then as the light or drone direction changes I simply make adjustments with the apeture to stay at 1/50 and still have a perfect exposure. Since I'm getting tired of traveling and hiking with the P4P, the Air 2s would be a dream drone, if it only could adjust apeture…I would only miss the apeture control otherwise it looks like an amazing, compact and light drone (I would save 2kg and a lot of space over the Phantom). The Mavic 3 has all that but is too expensive.

[@albertstufkens4844]

Full commentary, but still not clear whether to use filters or not.

[@janmoseandersen8935]

first!