I tried my first quick shot with the mini 4k. The sky looks great, but the darker parts are not as clear as I’d like. Any advice on how to improve it?
You should try using Davinci Resolve. It’s a free video editor and really useful for things like this.
Nico said:
You should try using Davinci Resolve. It’s a free video editor and really useful for things like this.
Thanks! I’ll check it out.
Nico said:
You should try using Davinci Resolve. It’s a free video editor and really useful for things like this.
Thanks! I’ll check it out.
If your drone supports LOG mode, you could use that for better dynamic range. But be ready to color correct because the raw footage will look flat. If LOG isn’t an option, maybe consider it for a future upgrade.
@Lior
The mini 4k doesn’t even support D-Cinelike, let alone LOG.
Honestly, this looks good already! Balancing the sky and shadows is tough for any camera. If you want to brighten the darker areas, editing the shadows in post might help. But it’s not bad as it is.
Rayne said:
Honestly, this looks good already! Balancing the sky and shadows is tough for any camera. If you want to brighten the darker areas, editing the shadows in post might help. But it’s not bad as it is.
Thanks! I’m happy with it too, but I was hoping to bring out more of the colors in the bushes. I have another shot from the same spot that might be better, but it shows our faces, so I’m not sure about sharing it.
You could raise the exposure while filming, but you’d lose the nice sky colors. Editing the shadows afterward would be better. Just don’t overdo it, or it’ll look fake.
Ash said:
You could raise the exposure while filming, but you’d lose the nice sky colors. Editing the shadows afterward would be better. Just don’t overdo it, or it’ll look fake.
Got it, thanks! Looks like I need to get better at editing.
@Kingsley
No worries, you’re doing great so far. Keep practicing!
You could try Adobe Premiere for color grading, but it might be a bit advanced for a beginner.
You should’ve shot with the sun behind you. When you face the sun, the foreground gets too dark.
Ira said:
You should’ve shot with the sun behind you. When you face the sun, the foreground gets too dark.
I would’ve done that if I had more time. We got there late, so I had to make the most of what I had. I’ll keep this in mind for next time.
A gradient ND filter might help. It darkens the sky while keeping the foreground brighter. Not sure if they make those for the mini 4k, though.
Are you using LOG? If you pair that with an ND filter, you can adjust the shadows better. I usually aim for a shutter speed around 1/100 for smoother shots.
Roux said:
Are you using LOG? If you pair that with an ND filter, you can adjust the shadows better. I usually aim for a shutter speed around 1/100 for smoother shots.
The mini 4k doesn’t have LOG.
@Cameron
Yeah, it doesn’t even support D-Cinelike. LOG isn’t an option here.
Try using ND/PL filters to help with lighting and reflections.
Watch some tutorials on DaVinci Resolve. It’s great for color grading, and it’s free.
Learn how to use manual exposure and follow the 180-degree shutter rule. ND filters can really help here too.