Mavic Air Polar Pro filters

gnuPilot · Mar 21, 2018

Moving Zen said:
My glass lens cover came of really easily. The pp filter went on just as easily. I flew with the 16 pl the other day near my house and I can't wait to get out in the field with the setup. I used a pair of polarized sunglasses to tune the filter and was able to see into water considerably better. I'm happy with the purchase.

Can you explain how you used your glasses to tune the filter!

Moving Zen · Mar 22, 2018

gnuPilot said:
Can you explain how you used your glasses to tune the filter!

If you take two pairs of polarized sunglasses and hold them 90 degrees out or in the shape of a '+' they should block all light through the lenses. Since I want to see into the water, I held the sunglasses in front of the MA camera horizontally like I was wearing them. I then rotated the bezel of the polar pro filter until I got the brightest image on my tablet screen. I believe that should be just like a pair of polarized sunglasses on the MA camera lens.
I did three different runs, one with no filter, one with the filter tuned for brightest image, and one with the filter tuned to not allow light with the sunglasses (black screen on tablet). imo The tune that resulted in the brightest picture allowed me to see into the water the best.
I hope that helps. Check it yourself, I could totally be talking out my *** and not know it.

gnuPilot · Mar 22, 2018

Moving Zen said:
If you take two pairs of polarized sunglasses and hold them 90 degrees out or in the shape of a '+' they should block all light through the lenses. Since I want to see into the water, I held the sunglasses in front of the MA camera horizontally like I was wearing them. I then rotated the bezel of the polar pro filter until I got the brightest image on my tablet screen. I believe that should be just like a pair of polarized sunglasses on the MA camera lens.
I did three different runs, one with no filter, one with the filter tuned for brightest image, and one with the filter tuned to not allow light with the sunglasses (black screen on tablet). imo The tune that resulted in the brightest picture allowed me to see into the water the best.
I hope that helps. Check it yourself, I could totally be talking out my *** and not know it.

Do you have any footage using this method?

Moving Zen · Mar 22, 2018

gnuPilot said:
Do you have any footage using this method?

Yep, my so called tuning and a fly around the drainage pond by my house. It's in 4k.

gnuPilot · Mar 22, 2018

Moving Zen said:
Yep, my so called tuning and a fly around the drainage pond by my house. It's in 4k.

Link lol?

Moving Zen · Mar 22, 2018

gnuPilot said:
Link lol?

This will be my first video I've ever put up on youtube. If I'm doing it right, it's processing right now. As soon as it becomes available I'll post the link or the video if I can get that working.

Moving Zen · Mar 22, 2018

Here it is, I guess it'll take some time for the 4k version to become available. Sorry no sound or anything, I was just checking it out with no plans of anyone else seeing the video.

Jameslavis · Mar 23, 2018

Moving Zen said:
Here it is, I guess it'll take some time for the 4k version to become available. Sorry no sound or anything, I was just checking it out with no plans of anyone else seeing the video.

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I just boot the drone up, keep an Nd 8 pl on and check the shutter speed to get
The 180 rule. If it’s the 8 I go, 180 from the sun and begin tuning the vivid lens.

I picked up a base set of NDs without polar If I just want to Zip around. The PL lenses are by far a nicer picture.

Alistair · Mar 24, 2018

if these polarizer lens filters work in the same way as normal DSLR camera filters, the polarising effect is at its strongest at 90 degrees from the sun. You should see the effect on the control screen as you rotate the filter , so once in the air just watch the suns angle to the camera

leatherbird · Apr 7, 2018

Was thinking about buying some of these filters, but before i committed, i've been trying to get the factory cover off.
This thing is not budging. I have no idea how you guys got yours off.
Fingers: nope.
Rubber band: nope.
Rubber gloves: nope.
Plyers + rubber band: nope. And managed to scratch up the cover. Great.
Not happening.
Nuts! At least i didn't spend money on the filters.

msinger · Apr 7, 2018

The ring on the camera has kind of a sticky feeling to it the first time it's unscrewed. It turns very slowly for at least the first turn. The key is to grip it as loosely as possible while turning it counterclockwise. Make sure you hold the camera firmly with your other hand. If your fingers slip, doing something like wearing a rubber glove is usually helpful.

Are you sure you're turning it counterclockwise? Is it possible that you bent the ring?

philh24 · Apr 7, 2018

leatherbird said:
Was thinking about buying some of these filters, but before i committed, i've been trying to get the factory cover off.
This thing is not budging. I have no idea how you guys got yours off.
Fingers: nope.
Rubber band: nope.
Rubber gloves: nope.
Plyers + rubber band: nope. And managed to scratch up the cover. Great.
Not happening.
Nuts! At least i didn't spend money on the filters.

I struggled when I first tried, I found I was putting to much pressure on the bezel. It’s so thin and collapses easily. I think I had tried to hard and it had locked on. Because I had used the 9-3 position trying to take it off several times I tried holding holding it in the 12-6 and it came straight off very easily. I think I had crushed it slightly. The new filters go on and off easily.

leatherbird · Apr 7, 2018

msinger said:
Are you sure you're turning it counterclockwise? Is it possible that you bent the ring?

Yes. I know which direction is counterclockwise.
As for bent ring, i don't know. I started out gripping as loosely as possible, and with each attempt tried gripping harder and harder.

msinger said:
The key is to grip it as loosely as possible while turning it...

I do appreciate your response and you trying to help but this doesn't make any sense whatsoever. The ring doesn't move. How could gripping it loosely possibly do anything for me?

msinger · Apr 7, 2018

leatherbird said:
How could gripping it loosely possibly do anything for me?

Gripping it firmly puts a lot of pressure on it and could cause the ring to bend. It's very thin. Once bent, I'm sure you could imagine how it would not be able to unscrew correctly.