I posted here a few days ago asking about drones, and a bunch of folks told me to go with the Mini 4 Pro instead of the Air 3s. I ended up going with the Mini 4 and I’m honestly really happy with it—it’s my first drone! Now I’m trying to figure out which ND filters to get. I saw the Freewell set but it’s $140 and that’s a bit steep for me. Is it really necessary, or are there cheaper options that still do the job? I’m mostly using it to shoot reels and stuff for Instagram while traveling, and I live in a super sunny place.
Do you actually know how ND filters work and why you’d need them? $140 isn’t that crazy if you want solid quality. Cheap ones usually aren’t great. You’ll want filters that are rated well.
Ellis said:
Do you actually know how ND filters work and why you’d need them? $140 isn’t that crazy if you want solid quality. Cheap ones usually aren’t great. You’ll want filters that are rated well.
Yeah, I’ve looked into it and I get why they’re used—I’ll be filming a lot in bright daylight, sometimes near water too. I just wasn’t expecting the good ones to cost that much, haha.
@Devon
Totally fair. Just make sure you’re clear on exposure settings, like the shutter speed rule and the exposure triangle. ND filters add another layer to think about, so it’s easy to get overwhelmed when you’re still new.
You probably won’t even use all the filters in those big packs. I got the Freewell mega pack instead of the all-day one—it was around $60—but honestly I only use a couple of them. You can save money by not going all-in unless you really need the full range.
Hey, I’ve got both the Mini 4 Pro and the Air 3s. I think I might’ve replied to your older post too—or maybe it was someone else, not sure. I recommended the Air 3s back then. I still love my Mini 4, but honestly the Air 3s blows it out of the water for quality. Makes the Mini feel like a toy in comparison. Next up for me is probably a Mavic. These things get addicting quick. If you’re into this long-term, maybe consider upgrading down the road.
I got the Freewell filter pack and I think it’s totally worth it. But I don’t mind spending on gear that makes a difference.