Honestly, I wish I could tell you the cheap generic ones are fine, but I learned the hard way that they usually arent. Last summer I grabbed some budget filters for a trip and every single shot came back with this ugly yellow tint that I couldnt fix... it was super frustrating. You basically want those numbers like ND16 or ND32 to act like sunglasses to slow your shutter speed down. This gives you that smooth cinematic motion instead of the stuttery video drones usually make in bright light. Since youre going to Utah, the sun is gonna be brutal. I eventually switched to the PolarPro DJI Mini 4 Pro Vivid Collection ND/PL Filters after my bad experience. They include polarizers which help a ton with glare on rocks. They feel way more solid than the flimsy plastic ones that feel like they might snap the gimbal arm.

• I suggest Freewell DJI Mini 4 Pro ND Filter Standard Day 4-Pack.
• Be careful mounting them so you dont strain the gimbal tho.
• Always make sure they click in properly.

Regarding what #2 said about "Honestly, I wish I could tell you the..." - he's right. Low-quality optics unfortunately degrade your sensors dynamic range significantly. I had issues with cheaper glass causing soft corners, which was not as good as expected for professional 4K results. If youre on a budget, the Skyreat DJI Mini 4 Pro ND Filter Set 6-Pack is a reliable alternative. They maintain neutral colors and the weight is calibrated for the gimbal.

Building on the earlier suggestion, the main reason you want these is for the 180-degree rule. Basically, if youre shooting at 30fps, you want your shutter at 1/60th. In that bright Utah sun, thats totally impossible without NDs... your video will just be a white mess because the sensor is getting way too much light. Ive tried many brands over the years and found that reliability is everything when youre out in the field. Here is what I would do:

• Pick up the K&F Concept DJI Mini 4 Pro ND Filter Set 6-Pack. Its a solid middle ground between the super cheap stuff and the pro gear. The glass is actually really decent for the price.
• To handle the gimbal fear: just pinch the camera body behind the lens gently with two fingers while you swap them. It stops the motor from jumping around while you twist the filter.
• Start with the ND16 or ND32 for midday shots. In the desert, those are gonna be your workhorses. Honestly, once you get the hang of it, you wont even think twice about touching the lens area. Just try to keep your fingers off the actual glass part so you dont leave oily smudges... thats a pain to clean later.