Two laziness questions - Propellers and ND Filter

NaweG · Jun 9, 2020

Is there any reason to take off the propellers after each flight? I presume as long as I fold them properly before bagging the drone I'm not hurting anything.

Similarly, because I worry about scratching the camera glass, any reason not to just leave the ND 16 filter on all the time? Or is there a clear glass protector I should be looking for?

Meta4 · Jun 9, 2020

NaweG said:
I worry about scratching the camera glass, any reason not to just leave the ND 16 filter on all the time? Or is there a clear glass protector I should be looking for?

The camera already has a clear lens protector.
If you are wanting to shoot stills, leaving an ND16 filter on isn't going to help at all.

Camino Ken · Jun 9, 2020

NaweG said:
Is there any reason to take off the propellers after each flight? I presume as long as I fold them properly before bagging the drone I'm not hurting anything.

Similarly, because I worry about scratching the camera glass, any reason not to just leave the ND 16 filter on all the time? Or is there a clear glass protector I should be looking for?

I put my propellers on a year and a half ago and haven’t removed them yet. I do, however, store and carry my M2P in hard case.

Motorcycle Rider · Jun 9, 2020

I'm curious about why anyone would remove the props every time?
My mini came with them already installed, and haven't take even one blade off so far. When not in use it sits on a shelf in my reloading room, and if i take it somewhere say in my vehicle, it sits on the floor.

~Jb · Jun 9, 2020

Meta4 said:
The camera already has a clear lens protector.

The camera does not have a "clear lens" protector.

NaweG · Jun 9, 2020

Will only be taking video (though willing to be convinced otherwise) as I have a nice DSLR for stills. As JB points out, there is a guard that comes on the Air 2 but it doesn't have plastic or glass on it, so no protection for dust kicked up or such things that can scratch the lens. On my DSLR I'm used to having a low ND filter to protect that lens, and pull it off if I'm shooting in conditions where I think I can't do proper exposure adjustment (rarely).

Glad to hear the propeller discussion is almost completely just leave them on. Thanks!

~Jb · Jun 9, 2020

NaweG said:
As JB points out, there is a guard that comes on the Air 2 but it doesn't have plastic or glass on it, so no protection for dust kicked up or such things that can scratch the lens. On my DSLR I'm used to having a low ND filter to protect that lens, and pull it off if I'm shooting in conditions where I think I can't do proper exposure adjustment (rarely).

This. I also keep a ND filter on all the time for the same reason.

Meta4 · Jun 9, 2020

~Jb said:
The camera does not have a "clear lens" protector.

The flat glass window that the camera shoots through is for protecting the lens.
You don't need a second one on top of that.

WithTheBirds · Jun 9, 2020

NaweG said:
Will only be taking video (though willing to be convinced otherwise) as I have a nice DSLR for stills. As JB points out, there is a guard that comes on the Air 2 but it doesn't have plastic or glass on it, so no protection for dust kicked up or such things that can scratch the lens. On my DSLR I'm used to having a low ND filter to protect that lens, and pull it off if I'm shooting in conditions where I think I can't do proper exposure adjustment (rarely).

Glad to hear the propeller discussion is almost completely just leave them on. Thanks!

Your nice DSLR probably produces better video than your Mavic also. Presumably you don't currently have a big enough drone to fly it though.

N11 EXPRESS · Jun 9, 2020

~Jb said:
The camera does not have a "clear lens" protector.

the glass that you have to remove to fit nd filter is a cover for the lens

Brockrock · Jun 9, 2020

N11 EXPRESS said:
the glass that you have to remove to fit nd filter is a cover for the lens

On mine, this is just a frame that snaps into the notches that the Air 2 ND Filters attach to. There is no actual lens inside this frame. Maybe it was an oversight on DJI’s part on mine, but I’m guessing not.

jigsaw · Jun 9, 2020

Brockrock said:
On mine, this is just a frame that snaps into the notches that the Air 2 ND Filters attach to. There is no actual lens inside this frame. Maybe it was an oversight on DJI’s part on mine, but I’m guessing not.

Mine is the same. There is no lens, just an empty frame.

Brockrock · Jun 9, 2020

jigsaw said:
Mine is the same. There is no lens, just an empty frame.

Thanks for the confirmation. I was a bit surprised to discover this, but after looking at it fairly well, I could not see how a lens could be installed. It seems that all it does is provide a bit of aerodynamics to the camera head and maybe keeps smashed bugs out of the notches that it attaches to. That may sound funny, but it wouldn’t take but a few critters to make putting an ND Filter on almost impossible.

WolfSpring · Jun 9, 2020

Mine is the same, I thought it had a piece of glass or plastic in it until I read this and checked, just the frame.

Meta4 · Jun 9, 2020

Brockrock said:
Thanks for the confirmation. I was a bit surprised to discover this, but after looking at it fairly well, I could not see how a lens could be installed. It seems that all it does is provide a bit of aerodynamics to the camera head and maybe keeps smashed bugs out of the notches that it attaches to. That may sound funny, but it wouldn’t take but a few critters to make putting an ND Filter on almost impossible.

Maybe DJI's cheaped out.
Lots of pix online show a protective filter

Definitely something you'd want to protect the lens from bugs, grit, dust, salt spray etc.

WolfSpring · Jun 9, 2020

Meta4 said:
Maybe DJI's cheaped out.
Lots of pix online show a protective filter

Definitely something you'd want to protect the lens from bugs, grit, dust, salt spray etc.

That piece is there like pictured, but not removable, the plastic frame comes off and the glass/plastic remains and the actual lens is under it.

WolfSpring · Jun 9, 2020

It's a metal frame not plastic my bad, but yeah this is with the frame removed.

Meta4 · Jun 10, 2020

WolfSpring said:
View attachment 104241

It's a metal frame not plastic my bad, but yeah this is with the frame removed.

Is that a flat, clear window in front the lens?

jigsaw · Jun 10, 2020

Meta4 said:
Is that a flat, clear window in front the lens?

Yes it is. It looks to be non-removable.

GadgetGuy · Jun 10, 2020

Meta4 said:
Is that a flat, clear window in front the lens?

I can also confirm that the stock filter frame is empty, and only a placeholder for the ND filters thst come in the Combo Kit. Except I can't get mine off!