If you purchase a set of ND filters on your motion digicam or FPV digicam, you’ll usually discover it comes with extra UV and CPL filters. Should you’re questioning what these filters do, and whether or not you really want them, you’ve come to the best place. On this submit, we’ll break down what every sort of filter is for, when to make use of them, and the way they may also help you get better-looking FPV footage.
UV Filter
UV (Ultraviolet) filters had been initially utilized in movie images to dam ultraviolet gentle that would trigger haze and cut back picture readability. Within the digital age, digicam sensors aren’t as delicate to UV gentle, so UV filters not serve a robust optical goal.
For FPV cameras and motion digicam, UV filters largely simply act as a protector on your digicam lens, particularly when flying particles or crashes are frequent. It’s additionally simpler to interchange or clear a UV filter than your precise lens. They give the impression of being clear and doesn’t impression video high quality a lot. If you find yourself not utilizing an ND filter, you may simply go away the UV filter on as safety.
CPL Filter
CPL (Round Polarizing Filter) helps cut back reflections and glare from any shiny surfaces like water, glass, snow, or automotive our bodies. It additionally enhances colour distinction, making skies look bluer and foliage richer. They’re nice for outside capturing on sunny days once you need to eradicate glare from surfaces or punch up the colours in your scene.
CPL filters use polarization to selectively block sure gentle waves. Some costlier filters even permits you to rotate and discover the angle the place reflections are decreased essentially the most.
Nevertheless, CPL filters should not generally used for FPV flying since FPV cameras solely enable one filter to be put in, and ND filter is normally extra necessary. However once more, like UV filters, chances are you’ll use CPL filter as lens protector if an ND filter isn’t wanted.
ND Filters
ND (Impartial Density) filters are like sun shades on your digicam. They cut back the quantity of sunshine getting into the lens with out altering colour stability. ND filters are essential for movement blur and controlling publicity in shiny circumstances. In shiny daylight, your digicam might default to a quick shutter pace, leading to footage that appears too sharp or jittery. ND filters decelerate the shutter pace, creating pure movement blur—important for easy, cinematic footage.
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Remaining Ideas
Whereas all three filter varieties have their makes use of, ND filters are essentially the most essential for FPV and motion digicam filming. UV filters are nice for lens safety, and CPLs can work wonders in particular cinematic situations however are greatest suited to static or slow-moving photographs.
When shopping for a filter set on your DJI O3/O4 or motion cam, getting a package that features ND4 to ND32, a UV, and a CPL provides you the flexibleness to deal with nearly any lighting situation.
