- Joined
- Oct 12, 2018
- Messages
- 11
- Reactions
- 2
- Age
- 72
Is it best to use an ND filter when taking aerial photos with the Mavic 2 Pro?
The simple answer is:Is it best to use an ND filter when taking aerial photos with the Mavic 2 Pro?
A polariser is good ... if you are holding the camera you have it fitted to, so you can align it to suit your viewing angle.A polarizer is good if you are trying to reduce reflections on non metallic surfaces (water, glass, etc).
That's what you have adjustable shutter speed for.If you don't want to stop down a bunch, you may need a ND filter on a sunny snow covered day.
I'll agree to disagree. If you are taking pics of a landscape and you know which way you are facing, you can set it before launch. If you are using it to reduce glare, you can set it before launch. Popping colors can be set before launch. I have been using polarizers for over a decade on DSLR's and am having no trouble using them on my drone. Just because you are unable to cope with it, dosen't mean others aren't capable of using this tool. I won't bother with the rest of your response...A polariser is good ... if you are holding the camera you have it fitted to, so you can align it to suit your viewing angle.
It's just not practical on a drone.
That's just fine for you going for that one shot but for the vast majority of users, and particularly those that don't have a lot of photographic experience, a polariser isn't worth the trouble.I'll agree to disagree. If you are taking pics of a landscape and you know which way you are facing, you can set it before launch. If you are using it to reduce glare, you can set it before launch. Popping colors can be set before launch. I have been using polarizers for over a decade on DSLR's and am having no trouble using them on my drone. Just because you are unable to cope with it, dosen't mean others aren't capable of using this tool. I won't bother with the rest of your response...
I guess thats why every manufacturer that makes ND's for drones also makes ND/PL's...A polariser is a qyute specialised accessory for drone photography and isn't suitable for general use up in the air.
And I guess that comprehension isn't your strong suitLike I said, just because you can't handle them...
I was careful to avoid making a blanket statement but advised of the issues that make a polariser unsuitable for general drone photography.I’ll add one point. Never say never when it comes to photography. I would take any absolute statements as to whether any tool is useful, to be ill informed at best. There are absolutely uses for every filter sold by the top manufacturers. Maybe you just haven’t found a use for them but that absolutely does not mean they are not useful. perhaps instead of arguing, post some of your best photos and let the reader decide whether you actually have any photographic ability and therefore credibility.
Despite yours and the opinion of every top aerial photographer out there, I'd still suggest that barring some specialised exceptions, there's no place for filters in drone still photography.as far as filters having no place in aerial photography, every top aerial photographer out there would likely beg to differ.
The simple answer is:
Unless you have a particular reason for wanting to use long shutter speeds in daylight, there is no place in drone still photography for using ND filters.
Then you aren't reading very well.This sure looks like a blanket statement to me...
All of which are specialised cases, which I allowed for in my previous comments.landscape photos at sunset certainly benefit from gradient ND filters. Yes you can take multiple shots and do an HDR photomerge but for single shot captures, you need a gradient ND to balance the sky/sun with the foreground.
To get to F4.0 during full sun, which many have found to be the sharpest aperture, you might just need an ND filter.
To get shutter speeds low enough to make moving water look natural, you might just need an ND filter.
Wow ... almost a hint of a compliment after the snarky demand for evidence of photographic ability with the implication that I lack credibility.As far as your shots of ships, I agree you don’t need a filter. I am not going to criticize your nice shots of very colorful ships.
I'm not sure how that relates to filters.But... there are a lot more challenging scenes that involve a lot more variables and especially much higher dynamic range.... too much range for the 12 stops of DR that the MP 2 Pro has.
That's great for all the world's great aerial photographers (that you know).And yes I know a lot of top Aerial photographers and everyone of them would beg to differ...
Gradient filters are nice if you are shooting during the day, your ground is dark(lake or dark green trees) and your sky is bright. Helps keep the sky from becoming blown out(white) is the ground being too dark.