Must-Have Filters for Drone Photography
It seems like it wasn't all that long ago that using a drone to take photos seemed like something right out of a science fiction novel.
That's because consumer drones have been around for less than a decade...
My, how things have changed in such a short time period!
Now that drones are so popular, it's time that we talk about how to improve the quality of your drone photos and videos.
One of the easiest ways to do that is to outfit your drone's camera with high-quality filters.
Polarized Filters are a Must-Have
Ask any landscape photographer what their go-to filter is, and I'm willing to bet they'll say a polarized filter.
That's because a polarized filter offers many benefits for landscape photos. And since drones are often used for landscapes, that means a polarizer can help improve your images, too.
First of all, polarizers help reduce glare off of non-metallic surfaces like water, wet rocks or plants, and even glass.
So as you're flying around above the earth taking photos, a polarizer will help limit how much light bounces back toward the camera, eliminating glare.
What's more, a polarizer helps cut down on atmospheric haze. This results in a photo that's much cleaner and crisper, especially as you look out on the landscape toward the distant horizon.
That's an invaluable feature to have when you're using a drone for photography because it enables you to see more of the landscape and less haze and smog.
On top of that, a polarizer, boosts the contrast in the sky, making the blue color of the atmosphere deeper and the white color of the clouds brighter.
All that added contrast and improved dynamic range gives your drone photos tons of visual pop.
Neutral Density Filters Help Expand Your Creativity
The claim to fame for neutral density filters is that they block out a certain amount of light from entering the camera's lens.
That means you can use longer shutter speeds to get creative with your shots, like blurring the movement of water or passing cars.
ND filters also enable you to take smoother, better-exposed photos in a variety of weather conditions.
For example, a ND4 filter is ideal for use on moderately cloudy or partly sunny day.
Likewise, a ND8 filter is ideal for use on moderately sunny days.
And even on bright, cloudless days, you can use a ND16 filter to block out enough light to get gorgeously smooth motion blur in your photos.
See how ND filters add a smooth, cinematic quality to drone videos in the video above by SANDMARC.
The Quality of the Filters Matters
There's a saying in photography that the higher the quality of the lens you use, the better the photos you can take.
Well, the same holds true for filters.
If you use a good quality lens and filter, you increase your chances of capturing an image that's sharp, with great colors and contrast, and with minimal aberrations, ghosting, and flare.
In other words, you want the best filters for your drone, and SANDMARC has just what you need.
SANDMARC's filters are manufactured with an industrial-grade multi-coating that gives the filters unparalleled performance.
That means the filters minimize flare while maximizing accurate transmission of color and light.
These filters can be left on your drone's camera when not in use, and since they weigh less than one gram, they won't bog down your drone, either.
With a wide variety of filter packages for DJI drones, SANDMARC filters are the perfect complement to your drone photography kit.
You can trust that SANDMARC knows what it's doing with filters, too.
That's because this company has built a reputation for designing and developing premium photography accessories, particularly for active photographers that use iPhones, DJI drones, and GoPros.
SANDMARC is also widely known for their commitment to customer service with easy returns and hassle-free exchanges.
So, whether you fly a DJI Mavic, Spark, Phantom or Inspire, get in touch with SANDMARC, pick out a filter kit, and take your drone photos to the next level!