Neo 2 ND filters
On an aircraft flown in automatic, an ND filter changes nothing. When it becomes useful, and which two densities are enough.
A question to settle before buying
The Neo 2 is built to be used without settings: you launch it, it follows, it films. That is its appeal, and it is also what decides whether an ND filter is any use.
⛔ An ND filter does nothing while the aircraft stays on automatic exposure. The filter removes light, the automation compensates by speeding the shutter up, and the rendering of movement stays exactly the same. The only effect obtained is a slightly noisier image.
The filter becomes useful the day you switch to manual. Not before.
If you film in automatic
Keep your money. The two accessories that genuinely change something on this model are a second battery, flights being short, and a memory card as soon as you film anything longer than a few seconds.
If you switch to manual
Two densities are enough on this aircraft.
| Density | When |
|---|---|
| ND16 | Hazy sky to low sun, the everyday case |
| ND32 | Full summer sun |
The rule is the same as everywhere: aim for 1/50 at 25 frames per second, 1/60 at 30 frames, sensitivity at its minimum, then pick the density that gives correct exposure at that speed.
The special case of subject tracking
Tracking modes produce fast paths and abrupt changes of heading. That is where motion blur counts most: without a filter, a tight turn gives a series of sharp frames with no continuity between them.
It is therefore the only use that genuinely justifies a filter on this model, provided you accept switching to manual just before the shot.
⛔ The mount is specific to this model
The Neo 2 does not accept filters from the brand's other aircraft. Its gimbal and diameter are its own. Check the exact reference before ordering, and prefer a light filter: this aircraft has very little payload margin, weighing 151 g.