Why the need for ND filters to video hyperlapse?

JustJeff · Jun 24, 2022

Hey everyone. First off, I'm basically brand new to being a pilot, and nowhere near considered a "photographer" or "videographer". But I've been watching a lot of YouTube videos to learn more about becoming better at flying and using more features on my Air 2S. I had forgotten that this drone was even capable of filming them until I saw them featured on several YouTube videos.

In most of the videos I've watched, they said that when making a day-to-night video for a hyperlapse, that an ND filter needed to be used for the day portion of it. I can't wrap my head around the reasoning for this. Can somebody explain it to me in laymen's terms please? Also, is the set of four ND filters that I received in the fly-more combo enough? Someone mentioned needing a 500 or even 1,000 ND filter to accomplish the correct effects on video. Thanks in advance for the assistance.

mobilehomer · Jun 24, 2022

ND filters are used to slow the shutter speed on video to facilitate motion blur. Hyperlapse is not video in the conventional sense. It is a series of individual photos taken with your choice of parameters. I do not use them and get some pretty good results.
This -

JustJeff · Jun 24, 2022

mobilehomer said:
ND filters are used to slow the shutter speed on video to facilitate motion blur. Hyperlapse is not video in the conventional sense. It is a series of individual photos taken with your choice of parameters. I do not use them and get some pretty good results.
This -

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Ah.......so the filters create the motion blur. Thanks!

Ziggy01 · Jun 25, 2022

Any fast moving objects will show up somewhat jittery in hyper lapse. I tend to use ND filters on virtually everything I shoot (other than night time, of course). I also try to slightly underexpose as the Air2s has a tendency to blow out highlights to a disturbing degree. Remember: Detail is your friend in Time Lapse only when the object is static. For everything else you want shutter drag.