Video with ND filter, the result was too dark, my fault

[jarimy]

I went to film (with a DJI Air 3 drone) the slopes of the Riihivuori ski resort (located in Central Finland) on a sunny morning on March 21, 2025.
I used 32/64 ND filters (Freewell Split ND). Since I had my sunglasses on, I didn't notice on the screen that the image was quite dark .
Should I have possibly used 16/32 ND filters ?
I used a video editor (DaVinci Resolve) to lighten the video a little.
Here is the original without lightening: original video and here is the version after editing: edited video.

I haven't had to adjust the brightness of videos much before during the editing phase, so I still have a lot to learn.

 

[slup]

...I used 32/64 ND filters... the image was quite dark .
Should I have possibly used 16/32 ND filters ?

The auto exposure setting will be averaged to neutral grey... so if the motif is mostly consisting of bright white snow, the auto setting will under expose slightly making the snow grey instead of bright white. In these conditions it's usually necessary to over expose up to 1 stop to get the correct look (set the exposure correction to +1EV). Guess that this was the main reason, not your choice of ND strength.

ND filters are used to regulate the motion blur & prevent judder (by forcing longer shutter speeds while still achieving a correct exposure), this is only desired when flying closer to objects (like on a 30m distance or less) or panning, flying by with faster speeds. In your clip you probably didn't have to use a ND filter, you flew too far away from any object.

Another use for a ND filter could be to prevent over exposure due to that the shutter can't go faster... but that is unlikely as the cameras of today usually can achieve speeds up to 1/8000sec.

If you instead used manual exposure in your clip... then you simply dialed in the wrong exposure for the ND strengths you used.

Activate the histogram in the Fly app & learn how to use it... in this way you don't need to rely on how bright the motif looks on your screen.

 

[jarimy]

If you instead used manual exposure in your clip... then you simply dialed in the wrong exposure for the ND strengths you used.

Activate the histogram in the Fly app & learn how to use it... in this way you don't need to rely on how bright the motif looks on your screen.

Hello!
Thanks for your reply!

I used manual settings, so incorrect exposure is definitely the cause.

Yes, I need to learn how to use the Fly app features better.

Regards
Jari

 

[slup]

Hello!
Thanks for your reply!

I used manual settings, so incorrect exposure is definitely the cause.

Yes, I need to learn how to use the Fly app features better.

Regards
Jari

You turn on the histogram here...



Then go for instance here & read up about how to use it --> How to Read a Histogram? Understanding Histograms in Photography

The second useful setting to consider turning on, is the overexposure warning... it will show you in the live view on the RC where or if you will blow the highlights somewhere in the picture... some hate it, but I think it's rather useful.

Look like this on the RC:

 

[Mrktn]

You turn on the histogram here...

View attachment 181566

Then go for instance here & read up about how to use it --> How to Read a Histogram? Understanding Histograms in Photography

The second useful setting to consider turning on, is the overexposure warning... it will show you in the live view on the RC where or if you will blow the highlights somewhere in the picture... some hate it, but I think it's rather useful.

Look like this on the RC:

View attachment 181567

It is useful when deciding on what ND to use, holding the drone and turning it around 360 degrees and seeing what’s blown out and to what degree. I only do this after ensuring my shutter speed is manually set to in PRO mode 1/60 as I almost always record in 4K/30

NDs and metering can be a nightmare towards sunset or sunrise when the light darkens or brightens rather quick but is much easier to determine most other times