Do ND Filters Matter? No filter vs ND vs NDPL Filter

Summary

This 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

00:00

📹 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.

05:01

🔍 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.

Keywords

💡ND Filters

Neutral Density (ND) filters are optical filters that reduce the amount of light entering the camera without affecting the color or contrast of the image. In the context of the video, ND filters are crucial for shooting cinematic video in bright environments, as they help maintain proper exposure levels and achieve the desired shutter speed without overexposing the shot. For instance, the script mentions using different strengths of ND filters depending on the lighting conditions, such as ND4 for overcast golden hour and ND32 for extremely bright days.

💡Polarizing Filters

Polarizing filters are designed to reduce reflections from non-metallic surfaces and glare, which can enhance the color saturation and contrast in a scene. The video discusses the use of polarizing filters to remove glare from reflective surfaces like water or glass, thereby adding more detail to the shot. The script gives an example of using a polarizing ND filter from PolarPro's Vivid Line, which includes a polarization indicator to help achieve the correct alignment for glare reduction.

💡Shutter Speed

Shutter speed in video refers to the length of time the camera's sensor is exposed to light, which affects the motion blur in the footage. The video emphasizes the importance of adhering to the '180-degree shutter rule,' which suggests setting the shutter speed to double the frame rate for natural-looking motion blur. For example, shooting at 24 frames per second would require a shutter speed of 1/50th of a second.

💡Aperture

Aperture refers to the size of the opening in a camera lens that controls the amount of light entering. The script mentions a fixed aperture of 2.8, which is a relatively wide opening allowing more light in, but also affecting the depth of field and exposure levels in bright conditions.

💡ISO

ISO measures the sensitivity of the camera's sensor to light. A lower ISO, like the 100 mentioned in the script, indicates less sensitivity and therefore requires more light to achieve a properly exposed image. This setting is often used in bright conditions to avoid overexposure.

💡Motion Blur

Motion blur is the visual effect that occurs when fast-moving objects in a scene appear blurred due to the shutter speed. The video explains how a slower shutter speed can create a more aesthetically pleasing motion blur, which is desirable in cinematic video to avoid a digital or overly sharp look.

💡Exposure

Exposure in photography and videography is the measure of the amount of light that reaches the camera sensor, affecting the brightness and detail of the image. The script discusses how ND filters help manage exposure in bright conditions, allowing for proper levels without adjusting camera settings.

💡Glare

Glare is the unwanted bright light that can cause reflections or reduce visibility in a shot. The video script explains how polarizing filters can reduce glare from reflective surfaces, improving the overall quality of the image by allowing more detail to be seen where glare was previously present.

💡Reflections

Reflections are images formed by light bouncing off surfaces. The video discusses how polarizing filters can minimize reflections, particularly useful when filming water or glass, by reducing the light that bounces back into the camera lens.

💡LUTs

LUTs, or Look-Up Tables, are used in video editing to apply color grading and correction to footage. The script mentions creating corrective LUTs with a Color Checker Passport to normalize the color casts introduced by different filters, making post-production easier.

💡Frame Rate

Frame rate is the number of individual images (frames) that are displayed per second in a video. The video script suggests increasing the frame rate to 60 frames per second if the exposure is still too bright at 24 frames per second with an ND32 filter, which also requires increasing the shutter speed to maintain natural motion blur.

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

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thanks for sticking around to the end

and i'll see you in the next one