As someone who loves capturing outdoor adventures with my action camera, I know the frustration of trying to shoot in bright sunlight. Overexposed skies, blown-out highlights, and lack of motion blur can ruin otherwise great footage. It’s a problem that significantly limits creative potential and the quality of your shots. If you don’t tackle these issues, your videos can look amateurish, losing detail and dynamic range, especially when trying to achieve that smooth, cinematic look. Finding the right tools to control light was essential for me.
Before you dive into buying filters for your action camera, it’s crucial to understand why you might need them and what makes a particular filter set suitable. Action cameras excel in dynamic environments, often facing challenging lighting conditions like harsh sun or reflective surfaces (water, snow, pavement). ND (Neutral Density) filters are like sunglasses for your camera; they reduce the amount of light hitting the sensor. This allows you to use slower shutter speeds, essential for achieving natural-looking motion blur when shooting video at frame rates like 24fps or 30fps (following the 180-degree rule). Polarizing (PL) filters, on the other hand, help manage reflections and enhance contrast and colour saturation, particularly making skies appear bluer and reducing glare from water or glass.
The ideal customer for these filters is someone who shoots a lot of video outdoors with their DJI Osmo Action camera and wants more control over their exposure and image quality. This includes action sports enthusiasts, vloggers, travellers, and anyone who wants to step up their action camera videography. If you only ever shoot indoors or in consistently low-light conditions, you might not need ND filters. Likewise, if you’re only using your action camera for quick snapshots rather than video, their utility is diminished.
When considering a purchase, think about: compatibility with your specific camera model (DJI Osmo Action 5 PRO/Action 4/3 in this case), the range of filter strengths offered (ND8, ND16, ND32, etc.), whether you need a polarizer (PL), the build quality and material of the filters (optical glass is preferable), the ease and security of the mounting system, and how the filters are stored and transported.
- 【Osmo Action 3/4/5 PRO Accessories】6 pack PL ND8 ND16 ND32 ND64 ND256 compatible with DJI Osmo action 3/action 4/action 5 Pro. ND reduces shutter speed by 3/4/5/6 f-stops, suitable for partly...
- 【Snap-on】 Use with one click, no need to remove the original filters, simple and quick, no complicated steps, faster installation.
- 【ND Polarizer Function】Osmo action 5 pro PL filter prevents unwanted glare from non-metallic reflective surfaces when shooting outdoors, reduces glare. ND filters reduce shutter speed by 3/4/5/6/8...
Introducing the K&F Concept Snap-on Filter Kit
The K&F Concept Snap-on PL, ND8, ND16, ND32, ND64, ND256 Filter Set for DJI Osmo Action 5 PRO/Action 4/3 is designed to give action camera users greater control over their footage in various lighting conditions. It’s a set of six filters specifically made for the DJI Osmo Action 3, 4, and 5 Pro cameras. The promise is simple: provide high-quality optical filters with a fast, secure snap-on mounting system to improve video quality outdoors. The set includes PL, ND8, ND16, ND32, ND64, and ND256 filters, giving you options to reduce light by 3 to 8 stops and manage glare. Compared to needing separate ND and PL filters or dealing with screw-on systems, this set offers a convenient, integrated approach. It caters specifically to owners of the supported DJI Osmo Action models who want to achieve more cinematic and visually appealing video by controlling light and reflections. It’s perhaps less suited for users who prefer minimal accessories or who only shoot in controlled lighting.
Here’s a quick look at the pros and cons based on my experience:
Pros ✔️:
* Convenient and fast snap-on design
* Good range of ND strengths for various daylight conditions
* High-quality optical glass with effective multi-coating
* Includes a PL filter for managing reflections
* Secure attachment that stays put during movement
* Comes with a protective carrying case
Cons ❌:
* Carrying case can be a bit bulky
* Combined ND+PL means you can’t use them separately
* Potential concerns about the camera’s waterproofing with filters attached (though K&F lists them as water resistant)
- 【Complete Camera Lens Filter Kit】This lens filter set includes all the filter accessories you need for filming outdoors: ND2 ND4 ND8 neutral density filter, CPL, UV and FLD filter, collapsible...
- 【58mm Lens Filter Accessories】This NEEWER lens filter accessory kit offers 9 pieces for your choice: UV/CPL/FLD filter, ND2/ND4/ND8 filter, tulip lens hood, collapsible rubber lens hood, snap on...
- 【58mm Filter Accessories】This lens kit is an essential addition to your photography toolbox with a 0.43x wide angle lens, a 2.2x telephoto lens, UV/CPL/FLD filters, a set of neutral...
Features & Benefits Explored
Let’s dive deeper into what makes this filter set a valuable tool for action camera videography.
The Snap-on Design: Speed and Convenience
One of the standout features of the K&F Concept filters is the snap-on mounting system. Unlike traditional filters that might screw onto a specific adapter ring or require removing the camera’s original protective lens, these filters simply push directly onto the front of the Osmo Action lens housing. The inner ring has a rubberized grip that creates a snug, friction fit. This is incredibly beneficial when you’re out in the field or trying to capture a fleeting moment. Swapping filters takes seconds, not minutes. Imagine you’re filming a sunset skate session; as the light fades, you can quickly switch from an ND16 to an ND8 filter without fumbling with threads or risking dropping tiny components. The convenience translates directly into less missed shots and a smoother workflow. It feels secure once on, despite the simple mechanism, which is crucial when your camera is potentially subject to bumps and vibrations during action shots.
Optical Glass with Advanced Coating: Clarity and Durability
The quality of the glass used in filters is paramount, as a poor filter can degrade image quality more than it helps. K&F Concept uses high-quality AGC optical glass for this set. This is important because it ensures that the filters are clear and won’t introduce unwanted colour casts or reduce sharpness. Furthermore, the filters feature a 28-layer nano-coating. This multi-coating serves several purposes: it reduces glare and internal reflections from the filter itself, enhances colour and contrast by minimizing light dispersion, and provides water and oil resistance, making the filters easier to clean and more durable in outdoor conditions. A blackened frame surface on the filter also helps to further minimize reflections. This combination of quality glass and advanced coating ensures that while you’re controlling light, you’re not sacrificing the clarity and vibrant colours your action camera is capable of capturing. It’s a noticeable difference compared to cheaper plastic or poorly coated alternatives.
A Range of Neutral Density Strengths: Mastering Exposure
The set includes ND8, ND16, ND32, ND64, and ND256 filters. Each number represents the amount of light reduction, measured in “stops.”
* ND8 (3-stop reduction): Useful for partly cloudy days or early morning/late afternoon when the sun isn’t at its peak. Allows you to slow your shutter speed down to around 1/60s or 1/50s in moderate light while maintaining proper exposure.
* ND16 (4-stop reduction): Ideal for moderately bright sunny days. Helps you hit that target shutter speed (e.g., 1/60s at 30fps) when the sun is out but not directly overhead.
* ND32 (5-stop reduction): Necessary for bright, sunny conditions, especially around midday. This filter allows significant light reduction to achieve cinematic shutter speeds even under intense sunlight.
* ND64 (6-stop reduction): For very bright conditions, like shooting on snow or sand in direct sun. It provides an extra stop of light reduction when the ND32 isn’t quite enough.
* ND256 (8-stop reduction): This is quite a dark filter. While the ND64 covers most extremely bright situations for video, the ND256 is there for exceptionally intense light or potentially for longer exposure photography if the action camera settings allow. For typical action video at 30fps or 60fps, the ND64 or ND32 will be your most used ND filters.
Having this range means you’re equipped for a variety of lighting scenarios, ensuring you can maintain your desired shutter speed (and thus motion blur) whether you’re shooting in overcast conditions or bright sunshine. This level of control is vital for consistent, professional-looking video footage.
The Inclusion of a Polarizer (PL): Reducing Glare and Enhancing Colour
Alongside the ND filters, the set includes a dedicated PL filter and some of the ND filters are combined with a PL. A polarizer works by filtering out light waves vibrating in certain directions, most notably reflected light from non-metallic surfaces.
* Reduced Glare: When shooting near water, wet roads, or through windows, a polarizer can dramatically reduce reflections, allowing you to see through the surface or capturing the scene without distracting hotspots.
* Enhanced Skies: A classic effect of a polarizer is making blue skies deeper and more saturated by cutting through haze and reflected light.
* Improved Colour: By reducing reflections, polarizers can also boost the saturation and contrast of colours in foliage and other surfaces.
While the combined ND+PL filters offer convenience, the dedicated PL filter allows you to use the polarization effect without the light reduction of an ND filter. This is useful for situations where you need to manage reflections or enhance colour, but the light levels are already low enough that you don’t need an ND filter (e.g., on a cloudy day or indoors). The ability to rotate the PL filter allows you to adjust the polarization effect to the desired level, which is a crucial aspect of using a polarizer effectively.
Combined ND+PL Filters: Efficiency Outdoors
A unique aspect mentioned in some variations of this set is the combination of ND and PL filters into a single unit (ND8+PL, ND16+PL, etc.). For many outdoor action camera scenarios, where you’re battling bright light *and* potentially glare (from water, sky, etc.), needing both effects simultaneously is common. Having them in one filter simplifies the process and reduces the potential for image degradation that might occur from stacking two separate filters. This 2-in-1 design is particularly efficient for outdoor vlogging, watersports, or landscape videography under sunny skies where both light control and glare reduction are desired. While it limits flexibility (you can’t use the ND effect without the PL effect in these specific combined filters), for its intended use case in bright, reflective outdoor environments, it’s a practical and time-saving feature.
Lightweight and Secure: Maintaining Camera Performance
Action cameras are designed to be lightweight and used in dynamic situations. Adding heavy accessories can affect their balance, especially if using them on gimbals or mounts that rely on weight distribution. The K&F Concept filters are designed to be lightweight, ensuring they don’t add unnecessary bulk or weight that could negatively impact camera performance, stabilization, or battery life due to added strain. The secure snap-on attachment means you can trust the filters to stay in place even during movement, filming sports, or attaching the camera to vehicles, minimizing the risk of losing a filter during shooting.
Potential Downsides in Practice
While these filters perform admirably for their primary function, there are a couple of minor points based on extended use and user feedback. The carrying case, while protective, is indeed on the larger side for a set of action camera filters, which slightly reduces portability if you’re trying to pack minimally. Also, the combined ND+PL filters, while convenient, do mean you lose the option to use just an ND filter without any polarization effect, or vice-versa, on those specific filters. The dedicated PL filter addresses this partly, but it’s something to be aware of. Lastly, while the filters are listed as water resistant, the snap-on design doesn’t replicate the original lens’s silicone seal, which might raise questions about the camera’s full waterproofing integrity when these filters are installed compared to the factory lens cover. However, for general outdoor shooting in wet conditions (rain, splashes), the water resistance of the filters themselves is beneficial.
Overall, the features like the fast snap-on system, quality optical glass and coatings, the useful range of ND stops, and the inclusion of polarizers make this a highly effective filter set for tackling challenging lighting conditions and achieving more cinematic results with your DJI Osmo Action camera.
What Users Are Saying
Having looked around online to see what others think after using this set of filters for a while, the feedback is generally very positive. Many users appreciate the quality that K&F Concept consistently delivers, noting that the filters perform exactly as expected, effectively acting as ‘sunglasses’ for the camera to enable slower shutter speeds and motion blur. The snap-on mechanism is frequently highlighted as a major plus, praised for being quick, easy to use, and securely fitting onto the camera lens, eliminating the need to remove the original lens. The optical quality is often mentioned, with users finding the glass clear and the coatings effective at reducing glare and enhancing shots. While some find the included case a bit larger than necessary for travel, the overall consensus points towards high quality and great value for enhancing action camera footage.
Bringing Your Footage to Life
Dealing with bright light and glare is a common hurdle in action camera videography that can result in washed-out colours, lost detail, and unnatural-looking motion. This is why having the right tools to control light is absolutely necessary for anyone serious about getting the most out of their DJI Osmo Action camera. The K&F Concept Snap-on Filter Set provides a fantastic solution. Its key benefits include the incredibly convenient and fast snap-on system, the high-quality optical glass with effective coatings, and the useful range of ND and PL filters included in the set. These features empower you to manage exposure precisely, reduce unwanted reflections, and achieve that smooth, cinematic motion blur you’ve been looking for. To enhance your action camera videos and gain greater control over your creative vision, Click here to check out the K&F Concept Snap-on Filter Set.
Last update on 2025-07-14 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API