I have tons of experience with gradient filters on my DSLR but zero experience on a drone. Didn't realize they even make gradient ND filters for a drone. If so, I'd absolutely be certain of your orientation on the lens! Just a few degrees off and the picture is off. You cannot adjust through the lens like on a SLR. Try to monitor the filter orientation while holding the drone on the ground before taking off. The orientation should be horizontal. Do the filters have marker? If not, can you put a dot at 9:00 and 3:00 for alignment?Want to try gradient ND filters for my MA. Does anyone have hands on experience using them? Do you find them useful? Anything negative I need to know before I buy?
I believe the OP asked about gradient ND Filters, not polarized filters. I have Freewell gradient ND filters and orientation to the sun is not an issue unless you are trying to ensure the sunward exposure exposure is what you specifically are adjusting for.I have tons of experience with gradient filters on my DSLR but zero experience on a drone. Didn't realize they even make gradient ND filters for a drone. If so, I'd absolutely be certain of your orientation on the lens! Just a few degrees off and the picture is off. You cannot adjust through the lens like on a SLR. Try to monitor the filter orientation while holding the drone on the ground before taking off. The orientation should be horizontal. Do the filters have marker? If not, can you put a dot at 9:00 and 3:00 for alignment?
Surely you still need to make sure the gradient of the ND filter is aligned correctly? Makes sense to me that you would.I believe the OP asked about gradient ND Filters, not polarized filters. I have Freewell gradient ND filters and orientation to the sun is not an issue unless you are trying to ensure the sunward exposure exposure is what you specifically are adjusting for.
Exactly what I didn't communicate clearly....my variable ND filter turns to the ND setting you want (numbers on the face to see) to optimize the video shutter speed and FPS, as opposed to adjusting a polarizer with respect to the direction of the sun.Yes. The filter is marked. I believe the OP specified orientation to dispell some confusion between split-grads and polarizers.
He was simply saying the filter effect is not change by the heading of your light source, like it is with a polarizer.
I've got a Freewell split-grad I rarely take off, but that fits my photographic style.
Yes but we're talking about gradient ND filters, not variable.Exactly what I didn't communicate clearly....my variable ND filter turns to the ND setting you want (numbers on the face to see) to optimize the video shutter speed and FPS, as opposed to adjusting a polarizer with respect to the direction of the sun.
Right you are.....I was writing about variable ND filters, not gradient. Thank you for clarifying.Yes but we're talking about gradient ND filters, not variable.
To illustrate:
View attachment 89520
Typically the darker gradient would be used for the sky.
Use the histogram in GO4, by that you see if the exposure is correct. If trying to film according to the 180 degree thumb rule & it gets underexposed, change to a lighter ND filter.went out and flew the drone today and tried the gradient filter used the 8 ones and must say footage was dark, flew it without them and footage was too bright, i was shooting in manual and 100 iso, so not sure, will try out the 4 and see where i go from there. maybe im doing something wrong
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