Polarizing Filter.

[MoToad]

Is there a reason to not have a polarizing filter installed? My question is because I have one picked out to buy more so to protect the bare lenses than anything. Oh wait, my bad. I see it's already protected.

 

[mavic3usa]

It doesn't hurt to have one installed I don't believe. I guess you can't have too much protection. You can always remove it when you install another. I still buy them for my drone, maybe even a circular polarizer.

 

[djwright]

Is there a reason to not have a polarizing filter installed? My question is because I have one picked out to buy more so to protect the bare lenses than anything. Oh wait, my bad. I see it's already protected.

The polarization effect is greatest at 90 degrees from the sun. The effect will not be even across the entire sky, which, may not be an effect that you want.

 

[MoToad]

The polarization effect is greatest at 90 degrees from the sun. The effect will not be even across the entire sky, which, may not be an effect that you want.

Yes, I read that. Wasn't aware but now am. My problem is most likely I am overthinking it. Thru all my DJI career, a good 10 years now, I have never used filters because what these old eyes see always looks fantastic to me. I do use polarized sunglasses for fishing, tho and am sure it helps.

 

[JAW]

You're not going to harm anything by using it full time but you may not like some of the outcomes, quality wise. I have used a UV filter as a lens protector with zero affect (effect?) on outcome. That said, I haven't tried a UV lens on my (UNFLOWN) Mini 4 Pro.

 

[mavic3usa]

You're not going to harm anything by using it full time but you may not like some of the outcomes, quality wise. I have used a UV filter as a lens protector with zero affect (effect?) on outcome. That said, I haven't tried a UV lens on my (UNFLOWN) Mini 4 Pro.

I think that's what I was thinking about; a plain uv filter lens. get the circular polarizer for occasional use (not full time).

 

[MoToad]

So the UV is best for bright sunlight? Or cloudy days?

 

[Meta4]

So the UV is best for bright sunlight? Or cloudy days?

The filter that came with your drone is a UV filter and works just fine for cloudy and sunny days.

It's a bad idea to leave a polariser on all the time.
Ignore any suggestions it can't hurt.
To do so would result in a big cut to the light getting through to the sensor and unless aligned correctly relative to the sun angle, you would get uneven dark and light areas in your sky on sunny days.

Polarisers are more trouble than they are worth on a drone because you cannot adjust them in flight to maintain correct alignment relative to the sun.
If you plan your flight and set it correctly before launching, as soon as you fly in a different direction, you are going to get blotchy sky, dark on one side of the frame and light on the other.

 

[DarR-T]

The UV is best for protection. A polarizer is great for a fixed camera but does not work well for a drone that's constantly changing angles to the sun as others have mentioned. Moreover, sometimes you do want the reflection based on your artistic objective.

 

[Dale D]

Is there a reason to not have a polarizing filter installed? My question is because I have one picked out to buy more so to protect the bare lenses than anything. Oh wait, my bad. I see it's already protected.

Living in Miami with bright light most of the time, I almost always leave the ND16 filter on the Mini 4 Pro.

The mini 4 Pro comes with a clear opening to the lens. There is no glass in that. For lens protection, you can buy a set of filters , including ND filters, and a UV lens which will protect the lens. The set also includes a circular polarizer which put be used carefully to avoid dark and light areas in the same frame. I got the 8 pack from, Neewer on Amazon and use the ND 16 for bright days and some motion blur. The price now is lower. Unfortunately for me, the set does not come with a high ND filter to slow water (waterfalls, oceans, lakes) like the ND 500 or ND 1000. This set only goes up to ND 256. You should watch some of the You Tube films on ND filters. I am attaching the Amazon ad of the 8 set I purchased.

Dale

 

[DarR-T]

BTW, UV filters for protection is unnecessary for those with an AIR 3S as the bird comes with a lens protection as STD equipment.

 

[Dale D]

BTW, UV filters for protection is unnecessary for those with an AIR 3S as the bird comes with a lens protection as STD equipment.

I was only referring to. my Mavic Mini 4 pro. The lens cap is a blank space with no lens. I put a UV filter there for protection.

 

[DarR-T]

I was only referring to. my Mavic Mini 4 pro. The lens cap is a blank space with no lens. I put a UV filter there for protection.

Absolutely. I'd do the same if the Air 3S did not come with lens protection.

 

[Dale D]

Is there a reason to not have a polarizing filter installed? My question is because I have one picked out to buy more so to protect the bare lenses than anything. Oh wait, my bad. I see it's already protected.

My Mavic Mini 4 pro comes with a clear lens cover, e.g.: NO cover. I decided to protect it with the Neewer kit that contains a UV filter. A polarizing filter will give you unexpected results depending on where the sun is, and images that are both polarized and non polarized depending on the angle of the sun from the lens.
Dale

 

[JAW]

+1 for the UV filter.

 

[dgibbphoto]

If it is lens protection you want, then I would use a ND4 filter over the lens. My air 2S has an open frame bezel to make the gimbal/lens look finished. It does nothing as far as protection or has any optical effect. I use a polarizer only when I want the effect and the conditions are right. Without taking the angle of the sun and position of the drone in the sky you may get undesirable effects from the polarizer or partial effects.

 

[Meta4]

If it is lens protection you want, then I would use a ND4 filter over the lens.

You don't want any kind of ND filter for lens protection.
An ND4 filter cuts 75% of the light before it gets to the sensor.