Mavic 4 Pro ND filters
At this image quality, cheap glass costs more than its price. Useful densities, and what a variable aperture changes.
On this aircraft, the filter is no longer a stopgap
The Mavic 4 Pro produces images meant to be graded. At that level, two faults become visible and expensive:
- The stuttery look of too fast a shutter, which nothing rescues in the edit
- The colour cast of poor glass, which shifts the whole grade and corrects badly
A cheap filter therefore costs more here than it is priced.
The useful densities
| Density | When |
|---|---|
| ND8 | Overcast, golden hour |
| ND16 | Hazy sky, low sun |
| ND32 | Full sun |
| ND64 | Full sun over snow, sand or water |
| ND128 | Extreme cases, or low frame rate video at midday |
On this aircraft the full set is justified, where three densities are enough on a Mini. The reason is use: nobody takes a Mavic 4 Pro out for a single hour of the day.
What a variable aperture changes
When the lens has an adjustable iris, there are two ways to remove light: close the iris, or fit a filter.
⚠️ Closing the iris is not equivalent. Past a certain point, image detail degrades, and depth of field changes, which alters how the subject reads. The filter removes light without touching the image. That is exactly what it is for.
The method: choose the aperture for the look you want, fix the speed at 1/50 or 1/60 depending on frame rate, then fit the density that makes the exposure correct.
Fitting, not to be rushed
- Fit the filter with the gimbal locked, never by turning it by hand
- Check it is seated: a badly engaged filter comes free in flight, and the aircraft comes home without it
- Do not stack two filters, which darkens the corners
- Recalibrate the gimbal after changing filter sets, the mass having changed
What not to buy alongside
A polariser for everyday use: the effect depends on the angle to the sun, so it changes during a pan and cannot be corrected afterwards. It has its place on water or glass, as a deliberate choice, not as a filter you leave on.