While you purchase a set of ND filters on your motion digital camera or FPV digital camera, you’ll usually discover it comes with further UV and CPL filters. If you happen to’re questioning what these filters do, and whether or not you really want them, you’ve come to the best place. On this publish, we’ll break down what every kind of filter is for, when to make use of them, and the way they can assist you get better-looking FPV footage.
UV Filter
UV (Ultraviolet) filters have been initially utilized in movie images to dam ultraviolet mild that would trigger haze and cut back picture readability. Within the digital age, digital camera sensors aren’t as delicate to UV mild, so UV filters now not serve a robust optical function.
For FPV cameras and motion digital camera, UV filters largely simply act as a protector on your digital camera 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. When you’re not utilizing an ND filter, you’ll be able to simply depart 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 automobile our bodies. It additionally enhances coloration distinction, making skies look bluer and foliage richer. They’re nice for outside taking pictures on sunny days if you need to get rid of glare from surfaces or punch up the colours in your scene.
CPL filters use polarization to selectively block sure mild waves. Some dearer filters even means that you can rotate and discover the angle the place reflections are diminished 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 often extra necessary. However once more, like UV filters, it’s possible 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 digital camera. They cut back the quantity of sunshine coming into the lens with out altering coloration steadiness. ND filters are essential for movement blur and controlling publicity in brilliant circumstances. In brilliant daylight, your digital camera might default to a quick shutter velocity, leading to footage that appears too sharp or jittery. ND filters decelerate the shutter velocity, creating pure movement blur—important for clean, cinematic footage.
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Last Ideas
Whereas all three filter varieties have their makes use of, ND filters are essentially the most vital for FPV and motion digital camera filming. UV filters are nice for lens safety, and CPLs can work wonders in particular cinematic eventualities however are finest fitted to static or slow-moving pictures.
When shopping for a filter set on your DJI O3/O4 or motion cam, getting a equipment that features ND4 to ND32, a UV, and a CPL provides you the pliability to deal with virtually any lighting situation.