Do ND Filters Matter? No filter vs ND vs NDPL Filter
Summary
TLDRThis video script explores the use of ND and polarizing filters for cinematic video in bright environments. It explains how ND filters reduce light to maintain exposure and shutter speed without altering camera settings, essential for natural motion blur. The script compares different ND filter strengths for various lighting conditions and highlights the benefits of polarization in reducing glare from reflective surfaces. It also provides practical advice on filter alignment and choosing the right ND strength for optimal video quality.
Takeaways
- 📹 ND filters are essential for shooting cinematic video in bright environments as they reduce the amount of light reaching the camera sensor without changing camera settings.
- ⚙️ Polarizing filters are used to remove glare and reflections from objects in the shot, enhancing detail and potentially lowering exposure.
- 🌞 The need for ND filters in photography depends on the situation; they are particularly useful for slow shutter speed shots during the day to manage exposure.
- 📸 Using the correct ND filter strength is crucial for maintaining the desired shutter speed and achieving natural-looking motion blur in video.
- 🔄 Polarizing filters require proper alignment to effectively remove glare and reflected light; an alignment marker can assist with this.
- 🎥 The script tests different ND and polarized ND filters, including the ND16 from DJI and the polarized ND16PL from PolarPro's Vivid line.
- 🎨 The use of corrective LUTs in DaVinci Resolve is mentioned for easier color correction when using different filters.
- 📊 The script provides a guideline for ND filter strength selection based on lighting conditions and shooting frame rates.
- 🌆 For 24 frames per second shooting, ND4 is recommended for overcast golden hours, ND8 for clear golden hours, ND16 for semi-cloudy midday, and ND32 for extremely bright days.
- 🌞 In very bright conditions, using an ND32 and increasing the frame rate can help manage exposure while maintaining motion blur.
- 🛠️ Choosing the right ND filter strength is simplified by understanding the environmental lighting and the desired aesthetic effect on the footage.
Q & A
What is the primary purpose of using ND filters in video shooting?
-The primary purpose of using ND filters is to reduce the amount of light that reaches the camera sensor, allowing for proper exposure in bright environments without adjusting camera settings.
Why is maintaining a 180-degree shutter angle important for cinematic video?
-Maintaining a 180-degree shutter angle is important because it synchronizes the shutter speed with double the frame rate, which helps to achieve natural-looking motion blur and aesthetically pleasing visuals.
What happens if you shoot during the day with a fixed aperture of 2.8, ISO at 100, and without an ND filter?
-If you shoot during the day with a fixed aperture of 2.8, ISO at 100, and without an ND filter, the shot may appear overexposed, lacking the desired motion blur and potentially looking too digital or blurry.
Can ND filters be used for photography as well? If so, in what scenarios?
-Yes, ND filters can be used for photography, particularly when shooting with a slow shutter speed during the day to allow for motion blur in moving subjects, which helps in controlling exposure.
How do polarizing filters differ from ND filters in terms of their effect on a shot?
-Polarizing filters are designed to remove glare and reflections from objects in the shot, adding more detail where glare was present and reducing the overall exposure. They are especially useful when filming reflective surfaces like cars, glass buildings, or water.
What is the significance of the polarization indicator on PolarPro's Vivid line of filters?
-The polarization indicator on PolarPro's Vivid line of filters helps users to easily judge and adjust the polarization, ensuring the filter is properly aligned to remove glare and reflected light, which is particularly handy when using a drone.
How does the alignment of a polarizing filter affect the image quality?
-If a polarizing filter is not properly aligned, it may not effectively remove glare and reflections, resulting in a brighter image due to the lack of polarization. Improper alignment can also cause cross patterns or dark spots in the image.
What are the recommended ND filter strengths for different lighting conditions when shooting at 24 frames per second?
-For overcast golden hour, an ND4 is recommended; for clear golden hour, an ND8 is used; for semi-cloudy midday conditions, an ND16 is suitable; for blazing hot, bright days with no clouds, an ND32 is appropriate; and for super bright conditions closer to the equator, an ND64 may be necessary.
If you could only choose three ND filters, which ones would you recommend and why?
-The recommended three ND filters would be an ND8, ND16, and ND32, as these are the most commonly used filters for shooting cinematic video at 24 frames per second in various lighting conditions.
What is a helpful tip for managing exposure when using an ND32 and still facing overexposure?
-If using an ND32 and still experiencing overexposure, increasing the frame rate to 60 frames per second and adjusting the shutter speed accordingly can help. This maintains natural-looking motion blur while allowing for a darker exposure when the footage is slowed down.
Outlines
📹 Understanding ND Filters for Cinematic Video
This paragraph discusses the necessity of using ND (Neutral Density) filters in video shooting, especially in bright conditions, to control exposure without altering camera settings. It explains the function of ND filters in reducing light reaching the camera sensor and the importance of maintaining a 180-degree shutter angle for natural motion blur. The speaker also addresses the use of ND filters in photography for achieving slow shutter speeds during the day and the challenges of using them with drones due to wind and vibrations. Polarizing filters are introduced as tools for removing glare from reflective surfaces, with the need for proper alignment to be effective. The paragraph concludes with a test of ND and polarized ND filters from DJI and PolarPro, including the use of corrective LUTs for easier editing in DaVinci Resolve.
🔍 The Impact of Polarization on Video Quality
The second paragraph delves into the effects of polarization on video footage, highlighting the importance of proper alignment for optimal results. It describes tests conducted at different positions of the polarizing filter to observe the changes in glare reduction and exposure. The speaker notes that while polarizing filters are effective at reducing indirect glare, they cannot eliminate all direct reflections, especially from the sun's impact on water surfaces. The paragraph provides recommendations for ND filter strengths suitable for various lighting conditions and frame rates, emphasizing the versatility of ND8, ND16, and ND32 filters. A tip for managing overexposure using higher frame rates and shutter speeds is also shared, concluding with an invitation for feedback and a light-hearted note about sharing the video.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡ND Filters
💡Polarizing Filters
💡Shutter Speed
💡Aperture
💡ISO
💡Motion Blur
💡Exposure
💡Glare
💡Reflections
💡LUTs
💡Frame Rate
Highlights
ND filters are essential for shooting cinematic video in bright environments as they reduce the amount of light reaching the camera sensor.
Polarizing filters can be used to remove glare and reflections from objects in the shot, enhancing detail and reducing exposure.
Maintaining a 180-degree shutter angle is crucial for achieving natural-looking motion blur in video.
ND filters help lower overexposed shots to a normal level without changing camera settings.
Slow shutter speeds during the day can create motion blur but also increase exposure, where ND filters are beneficial.
Using ND filters for photography, especially in landscapes, can help achieve slower shutter speeds without overexposure.
Proper alignment of polarizing filters is necessary to effectively remove glare and reflected light.
PolarPro's Vivid line features a polarization indicator, simplifying the alignment process for polarizing filters.
The polarization effect of filters can be tested by comparing footage with and without the filter at different alignments.
ND filters can be used to simulate a proper 180-degree shutter angle without a filter, by reducing light intake.
Different ND filter strengths are recommended for various lighting conditions, such as ND4 for overcast golden hours.
ND32 is suitable for extremely bright days with no clouds, while ND64 is rarely needed except in very bright conditions near the equator.
If only three filters are to be chosen, ND8, ND16, and ND32 are the most versatile for shooting at 24 frames per second.
Using an ND32 and increasing the frame rate to 60 frames per second can help manage overexposure while maintaining motion blur.
Polarizing filters, when properly aligned, can significantly reduce reflections and glare, improving the overall image quality.
Direct glare or reflection from the sun cannot be completely removed by polarizing filters, even when properly aligned.
For cinematic video shooting, choosing between no filter, ND filter, and polarized ND filter depends on the need to manage reflections and light exposure.
Transcripts
a common question i get asked is do you
need nd filters for video
and if so what strength of nd filters do
you need
and even further should i get nd filters
with polarization
nd filters do matter if you're trying to
shoot cinematic video in bright
environments
when it comes to polarization it can
depend on your shot first off let's get
a better idea of what nd filters do
and what polarizing filters do for your
camera nd filters are designed to reduce
the amount of light that reaches your
camera sensor
if your exposure is too bright shooting
with an nd filter can help
lower your exposure to a normal level
without adjusting your camera settings
this is common for filming in bright
environments while shooting at the 180
degree shutter angle
meeting your shutter speed is double
your frame rate
for the example in this video i was
shooting at 24 frames per second
and my shutter speed was 1 50th this
achieves natural looking motion blur
and objects just look aesthetically
pleasing to your eye without looking
digital
or too blurry however during the day my
aperture was a fixed 2.8 and my iso was
100
and my shot looked really overexposed
this is where nd filters help
another common question is do you need
nd filters for photography
and again it depends on what you want to
do shooting with a slow shutter speed
during the day
can allow for some motion blur in
filming moving subjects
but it will also increase your exposure
this is where nd filters can help bring
that exposure down to a normal level
using the correct nd filter for your
application will decrease your exposure
to normal levels
while maintaining the shutter speed that
you want shooting landscapes at a slower
shutter speed with an nd filter
is common in photography but hard to do
with the drone
wind and vibrations of hovering move the
drone slightly
making for a pretty blurry image it can
be done with the drone but it's
difficult
polarizing filters are designed to
remove glare in reflections from objects
in your shot
if you're filming reflective surfaces
like cars glass buildings or
water it's a good idea to use a
polarizing filter cutting down glare
will add
more detail to your shot where the glare
was previously
removing the glare will also bring down
the overall exposure of your shot
one thing to keep in mind with
polarizing filters though is that they
need to be adjusted to the proper
polarization to remove the glare and
reflected light
it can be tricky to get proper alignment
but we're going to be using polarpro's
vivid line that has a polarization
indicator
and we're going to test to see if that
does make it easier to judge the
polarization
this is especially handy if you're using
a drone because if you get the
polarization
wrong you're going to have to bring the
drone back land
adjust the polarization and then go fly
to your spot again
i went to my go-to testing spot in the
middle of the day for
maximum glare off the water in this test
i flew without a lens to simulate what
proper 180 degree shutter angle would
look like without a filter
and i took the nd16 from dji that came
in the fly more kit
and a polarized nd16pl from polarpro's
vivid line of filters
each of these filters have really slight
different color casts from the regular
stock
no filter but to make my editing life as
easy as possible i made some corrective
luts with my color checker passport with
each of these filters
and no lens in davinci resolve if you're
interested in my
cinelike to neutral lut for the no
filter dji filter and the polar pro
filter that i'm using in this video
check out the link in the description
below
for camera settings i was staying with
the 180 degree shutter rule at 24 frames
per second
my iso was 100 and my fixed 2.8 aperture
first up no filter this was obviously
overexposed and
needs some major help this is where the
nd 16 from dji comes in to bring
the overall exposure of our shot down
the nd filter helps bring our exposure
down without adjusting our camera
settings
you can see the edges of the frame where
the pier is moving quickly there is some
gentle motion blur that the slower
shutter speed is allowing us to capture
the blur is more obvious in faster
moving subjects but for the sake of this
test
this is the most motion blur we're going
to get here next up is the polarized
nd16 filter from polar pro
this filter is following polarpro's best
practices where we're filming with the
line of the filter
at 12 o'clock on the top of the filter
this seems to hold true and have a
polarizing effect on our footage
the nd16 is keeping our exposure just as
low as the dji filter was but in
addition to cutting down the light
that's hitting our camera
the filter is also removing some of the
glare off of the water as well
you can tell the difference in
reflections when comparing the nd16pl
to the nd16 side by side after flying
the polar pro filter at 12 o'clock i
decided to adjust the filter to six
o'clock
to see how it affected our overall image
overall the image looks pretty similar
maybe not as strong as 12 o'clock
after that flight i wanted to find a
spot where the filter didn't perform as
well
just to make sure i'm getting the best
performance out of this filter
so i decided to put the filter at the
nine o'clock position
and see how well it worked as suspected
the polarization didn't work as well and
the overall image was brighter
due to the lack of polarization the
filter performs more like an nd16
and maybe even like an nd8 just because
it wasn't properly aligned
one thing to mention here though is that
the polarizing filter will remove
most indirect glare but it won't remove
all glare
there's still some glare coming off the
water where the sun is directly hitting
off of the water
into the lens so even if you're using a
polarizing filter and it's properly
aligned
there will still be some amount of
direct glare or reflection affecting
your image
the polarizer cuts out the large
majority of reflections but not all of
them
this is most apparent when we're looking
at the water straight down from the top
of the pier
while the polarizer did a good job at
removing indirect reflections coming off
of the water
the direct reflections from the sun were
almost the same on all of these filters
even the polarized filter if you're
going to be shooting cinematic video in
the middle of the day
or any time of the day you're probably
going to need an nd filter
where filters get interesting is when
you add polarization to the mix
if you have indirect reflections coming
off of surfaces the polarizer can cut
off the light reflecting from those
surfaces
only if it's properly aligned and if
it's not properly aligned
it can work the same as a regular nd
filter maybe a little weaker but you
could experience some
weird cross patterns or dark spots in
the polarization if you're not careful
if you do not need to cut out
reflections regular old
nd filters are going to be the easiest
to use
if you do need to cut down reflections
on your shots make sure you're using a
polarizing filter
and make sure it's aligned properly i
like the polar pro filters have the
alignment marker
it just makes your life a little bit
easier getting that polarization correct
another common question i get asked is
what nd
strengths do you recommend and for what
times
i'll give a brief overview of the nd
filters that i'm shooting with when i'm
shooting 24 frames per second
and just as a disclaimer this is an
oversimplification
i live in ohio and if you live in a
brighter area you may need to go
up a strength but here we go
oversimplification i use an
nd4 at golden hour when it's overcast i
use an nd8 at golden hour when it's
clear
nd16 for the middle of the day in
semi-cloudy conditions like the example
footage in this video
nd 32 for blazing hot bright days with
no clouds
i've only used an nd64 a few times in
super bright conditions that were closer
to the equator
if i had to choose only three filters to
go with i would choose an
nd8 and nd 16 in an nd32
these are the filters i use most when
i'm out shooting cinematic video at 24
frames per second
i was recently in california for a week
driving the pacific coast highway from
san francisco to san diego
and i didn't use anything over an nd32
and a helpful tip if you're out using an
nd32
and you're still too bright shooting at
24 frames per second
you can bump up your frame rate and then
you have to bump up your shutter speed
as well to maintain that natural looking
motion blur
so if you're shooting at 24 frames per
second with the mavic air for example in
4k
and it's too bright shoot 4k 60 and
increase your shutter speed you'll still
have the same amount of motion blur when
you slow your footage down
but it'll be darker and you will get
away with that
nd 64 while using an nd32
that was a little confusing and kind of
technical but hopefully that helps when
you're choosing between no filter
nd filter and polarized nd filter
if you like this video give it a thumbs
up and share it with a friend
if you didn't like this video share with
someone you don't like
thanks for sticking around to the end
and i'll see you in the next one
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