While you purchase a set of ND filters on your motion digital camera or FPV digital camera, you’ll typically discover it comes with extra UV and CPL filters. In the event you’re questioning what these filters do, and whether or not you actually need them, you’ve come to the suitable place. On this submit, we’ll break down what every sort of filter is for, when to make use of them, and the way they will help you get better-looking FPV footage.
UV Filter
UV (Ultraviolet) filters had been initially utilized in movie images to dam ultraviolet gentle that would trigger haze and scale back picture readability. Within the digital age, digital camera sensors aren’t as delicate to UV gentle, so UV filters not serve a robust optical objective.
For FPV cameras and motion digital camera, UV filters principally simply act as a protector on your digital camera lens, particularly when flying particles or crashes are widespread. It’s additionally simpler to interchange or clear a UV filter than your precise lens. They give the impression of being clear and doesn’t influence video high quality a lot. If you end up not utilizing an ND filter, you possibly can simply go away the UV filter on as safety.
CPL Filter
CPL (Round Polarizing Filter) helps scale back reflections and glare from any shiny surfaces like water, glass, snow, or automobile our bodies. It additionally enhances colour distinction, making skies look bluer and foliage richer. They’re nice for outside capturing on sunny days if you need to remove glare from surfaces or punch up the colours in your scene.
CPL filters use polarization to selectively block sure gentle waves. Some dearer filters even means that you can rotate and discover the angle the place reflections are diminished essentially the most.
Nevertheless, CPL filters usually are not generally used for FPV flying since FPV cameras solely enable one filter to be put in, and ND filter is often extra necessary. However once more, like UV filters, chances are you’ll use CPL filter as lens protector if an ND filter isn’t wanted.
ND Filters
ND (Impartial Density) filters are like sun shades on your digital camera. They scale back the quantity of sunshine getting into the lens with out altering colour steadiness. ND filters are essential for movement blur and controlling publicity in shiny situations. In shiny daylight, your digital camera could default to a quick shutter velocity, leading to footage that appears too sharp or jittery. ND filters decelerate the shutter velocity, creating pure movement blur—important for clean, cinematic footage.
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Ultimate Ideas
Whereas all three filter varieties have their makes use of, ND filters are essentially the most essential for FPV and motion digital camera filming. UV filters are nice for lens safety, and CPLs can work wonders in particular cinematic situations however are greatest fitted to static or slow-moving pictures.
When shopping for a filter set on your DJI O3/O4 or motion cam, getting a equipment that features ND4 to ND32, a UV, and a CPL offers you the flexibleness to deal with nearly any lighting situation.
