Capturing stunning aerial footage and photos with a drone like the DJI Mini 3 Pro is incredibly rewarding, but anyone who’s flown in bright, sunny conditions knows the struggle. Blown-out skies, oversaturated colours, and choppy video motion due to high shutter speeds are common frustrations. This problem needs to be solved to unlock the drone’s full potential; otherwise, you’re left with video that looks unnatural and still images that lack detail and dynamic range, limiting the creative possibilities.
If you’re looking to take your drone imagery seriously, particularly with a DJI Mini 3 or Mini 3 Pro, you’ll quickly realize the limitations of the camera sensor in varying light. Drone filters, specifically ND (Neutral Density) and CPL (Circular Polarizer) filters, are essential tools to overcome these challenges. They help manage the amount of light hitting the sensor and control reflections, allowing for more cinematic video footage and better-exposed still photos.
The ideal customer for a filter set like this is a DJI Mini 3 or Mini 3 Pro pilot who flies frequently in diverse lighting conditions, from bright sunny days to overcast afternoons, and wants greater creative control over their exposure settings and image quality. This set is not necessary for someone who only flies indoors or exclusively at dawn or dusk in very low light where light reduction isn’t required. For pilots using different drone models, these filters will not fit the lens.
Before investing in a drone filter set, several factors warrant consideration. Firstly, the weight of the filters is crucial; they must be light enough not to affect the drone’s gimbal calibration. Optical quality is paramount; poor glass or coatings can degrade image sharpness and introduce colour casts. Ease of installation and removal is also important to avoid damaging the delicate gimbal. Finally, consider the range of filters included – does the set offer enough variety (different ND strengths and a CPL) to cover the conditions you’ll typically encounter?
- 【Lightweight Plastic Frame】 Built with plastic frame and CNC non slip design, the filters are easy to install and remove from your MINI 3 Pro lens. Weighs only 0.024oz/0.7g, all filters won’t...
- 【30 Layers of Nano Coatings】 Made of imported high definition optical glass, the filters feature double sided, 30 layers of Nano coatings to reduce glare and ghosting while ensuring accurate color...
- 【CPL Filter】 Enhance color and contrast, especially for white clouds and blue sky shooting, and remove glare from water and glass by rotating the CPL filter. Helps capture clearer, more detailed...
Introducing the NEEWER ND Filter Set for DJI Mini 3/Mini 3 Pro
Enter the NEEWER ND Filter Set for DJI Mini 3/Mini 3 Pro. This collection of lens accessories is designed specifically to tackle the lighting challenges faced by pilots of these popular drones. It promises to give you back control over your exposure and enhance the quality of your aerial visuals. When you purchase this set, you receive a total of six filters: a CPL filter, and a range of ND filters including ND8, ND16, ND32, ND64, and ND128. The set also comes with a protective filter case and a lens cleaning cloth.
Compared to very basic or no-name brand filters on the market, NEEWER filters are generally regarded as a significant step up in terms of build quality and optical performance without reaching the premium price point of top-tier brands like PolarPro. This specific set is tailored for the DJI Mini 3 and Mini 3 Pro, offering a dedicated solution rather than a one-size-fits-all approach. It’s clearly aimed at enthusiasts and creators who want tangible improvements in their footage without breaking the bank. It’s not for someone who needs extremely specific or highly specialized filter effects, or those looking for a variable ND filter solution (as this set provides fixed NDs).
Here’s a quick look at the pros and cons:
Pros:
* Lightweight design doesn’t affect gimbal calibration.
* High-quality optical glass with extensive nano-coatings for clarity and durability.
* Wide range of ND filters (ND8 to ND128) covers many lighting situations.
* Includes a CPL filter to manage reflections and enhance colours.
* Comes with a protective case and cleaning cloth.
* Easy to install and remove.
Cons:
* Plastic frame might feel less premium than metal alternatives (though contributes to lightweight).
* The CPL filter may lack orientation markings found on some higher-end filters.
* Not suitable for drone models other than the DJI Mini 3/Mini 3 Pro.
- 【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...
Detailed Features and Benefits
Having used this NEEWER ND filter set for a significant time with my DJI Mini 3 Pro, I can attest to how much of a difference it makes in various shooting scenarios. Let’s delve into the specifics of what makes these filters a valuable addition to your drone kit.
Lightweight Plastic Frame: Protecting Calibration
One of the most critical factors for any drone accessory that attaches to the camera or gimbal is weight. The DJI Mini 3 Pro gimbal is delicate and precisely balanced. Adding too much weight, or weight unevenly distributed, can prevent proper startup calibration or even strain the gimbal motors over time. NEEWER addresses this by constructing the filter frames from lightweight plastic. Weighing in at just 0.024oz (0.7g) per filter, they are incredibly light – almost negligible in the grand scheme of the drone’s payload. This minimal weight ensures that the gimbal calibrates correctly every single time you power up, without any issues or warnings. The benefit here is simple yet vital: reliability and peace of mind. You can swap filters in the field without worrying if your drone will function properly, allowing you to focus solely on getting the shot. The frames also feature a CNC non-slip design, which is a small but thoughtful touch making installation and removal a bit easier and more secure.
Premium Optical Glass with Nano Coatings: Clarity and Resilience
The quality of the glass itself is paramount for any filter. These NEEWER filters are made from imported high-definition optical glass. This means they are designed to maintain sharpness and clarity, preventing the filter from becoming the weakest link in your image chain. Beyond the glass, the coatings are where these filters really shine, especially at their price point. They boast double-sided, 30-layer nano-coatings. What do these coatings do? A lot, actually. Primarily, they work to reduce glare and ghosting, which are common issues when shooting into or near bright light sources (like the sun). Reduced glare means less washed-out images and better contrast, while minimizing ghosting prevents distracting reflections from appearing in your shots.
The nano-coatings also provide crucial protection and functionality. They are water repellent, causing water droplets to bead up and roll off easily, which is essential for shooting in damp or misty conditions. They are oil proof, making fingerprints and smudges less likely to stick and easier to wipe away. Scratch resistance is another key benefit, protecting the filter’s surface from minor abrasions that can degrade image quality. Finally, they are anti-dust and anti-static, helping to keep lint and dust particles from adhering to the surface, reducing the need for frequent cleaning and the risk of introducing scratches during cleaning. The combined benefit of these features is superior image quality even in challenging conditions and increased durability, ensuring your investment lasts.
The Versatility of ND Filters: Controlling Light and Motion
The core of this set is the range of ND filters. ND filters, or Neutral Density filters, are essentially sunglasses for your camera lens. They reduce the amount of light entering the sensor uniformly across the spectrum, hence “neutral”. This is incredibly useful when the ambient light is too bright to achieve your desired exposure settings without overexposing the image. The set includes ND8, ND16, ND32, ND64, and ND128. These numbers correspond to the amount of light reduction. An ND8 filter cuts the light by 3 stops, an ND16 by 4 stops, ND32 by 5 stops, ND64 by 6 stops, and ND128 by 7 stops.
Why do you need such a range? Different lighting conditions require different levels of light reduction. A lightly overcast day might only need an ND8 or ND16, while shooting in bright midday sun over snow or water might demand an ND64 or even ND128.
The primary benefit of using ND filters, especially for video, is the ability to control your shutter speed. The general rule for cinematic video is to have a shutter speed that is roughly double your frame rate (e.g., 1/50s for 25fps or 1/60s for 30fps). In bright light, achieving such a slow shutter speed would normally result in a completely white, overexposed image. ND filters allow you to slow down the shutter speed to these cinematic values, introducing natural motion blur to moving objects (like propellers, water, or vehicles), making the video footage look smoother and more film-like. For still photography, stronger ND filters allow for long exposures, enabling effects like blurring water into a silky smooth texture or creating light trails from cars at night, even if there’s some ambient light. This variety gives you immense creative freedom to achieve the look you want regardless of how bright it is.
The CPL Filter: Eliminating Glare and Enhancing Colours
Separate from the ND filters, the set includes a CPL (Circular Polarizer) filter. While ND filters reduce all light, CPL filters specifically reduce reflected light. Think about reflections off water, glass, or even non-metallic surfaces like leaves and painted cars. These reflections can obscure details and reduce colour saturation. The CPL filter helps to cut through this glare. By rotating the CPL filter in its frame, you can adjust the amount of polarization to minimize reflections and reveal the details beneath the surface of water or through windows.
Beyond removing reflections, a CPL filter also has the effect of enhancing colours and contrast, particularly in the sky. It can make blue skies deeper and more vibrant and make white clouds pop out with greater definition. This is incredibly valuable for landscape shots captured from above. Combining a CPL with an ND filter (in some configurations or in separate flights) can offer even more control over both exposure and reflections/colour. The user comment mentioning the lack of vertical/horizontal markings on the CPL is a minor point; while these markings can aid in precise alignment, rotating the filter while watching the effect on screen achieves the same result, just perhaps requiring a bit more trial and error initially. Despite this minor drawback, the ability to manage reflections and boost colours is a significant benefit for many aerial photography scenarios.
Ease of Use and Storage: Practicality in the Field
Using drone filters shouldn’t be a complex operation in the field. The NEEWER ND filter set is designed for practicality. The lightweight plastic frames with the CNC non-slip edge are easy to handle and twist onto the Mini 3/Mini 3 Pro lens. They attach securely but can be removed without excessive force, reducing the risk of stressing the gimbal assembly.
The included filter case is a rigid plastic shell that provides good protection for the delicate glass filters. It’s compact and lightweight, making it easy to slip into your drone bag. Keeping the filters organized and safe in the case prevents scratches and damage when they are not in use, which is crucial for maintaining their optical quality. The inclusion of a cleaning cloth is also appreciated, allowing you to keep your filters clean in the field, free from dust, smudges, or water spots that can ruin a shot. The overall design and packaging contribute to a positive user experience, making the process of using filters less of a chore and more integrated into the workflow.
Feedback from Other Users
Beyond my own positive experiences, I’ve certainly checked out what others are saying about this NEEWER filter kit online. The general consensus is overwhelmingly positive. Many users express satisfaction with the performance, noting how well the filters handle bright sunlight, allowing for proper shutter speeds and exposure control, which they find particularly useful for video. Several people appreciate the comprehensive range of ND strengths included, stating that it covers most conditions they encounter. The lightweight nature and ease of installation are frequently praised points, giving users confidence when attaching them to their Mini 3 Pro gimbal. The sturdy protective case is also a hit, keeping the filters safe when transporting them. While some users noted the lack of polarization markings on the CPL, this didn’t detract significantly from their overall satisfaction with the set’s value and performance, especially for creators looking to enhance their aerial visuals.
In Conclusion: Take Control of Your Drone’s Camera
The frustrating problem of overexposed footage and poor image quality when flying your DJI Mini 3 or Mini 3 Pro in bright conditions is a real barrier to capturing truly professional-looking aerial content. Without managing the light effectively, your videos can look unnatural and your photos lack the detail you know your drone is capable of.
The NEEWER ND Filter Set offers an excellent solution to this problem. With a versatile range of ND filters to control shutter speed and exposure, and a CPL filter to manage reflections and boost colours, it equips you with the tools needed to adapt to changing light conditions. The quality optical glass with robust nano-coatings ensures your image quality remains high, while the lightweight, easy-to-install frames protect your gimbal.
If you’re ready to eliminate blown-out skies and achieve smooth, cinematic motion in your drone videos, this set is a fantastic investment that provides great value. To see the full specs and check it out for yourself, Click here.
Last update on 2025-07-14 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API