Which ND filters should I buy for a DJI Air 3?

Question

okay so I just got this DJI Air 3 like literally yesterday and I am freaking out a little bit because I am supposed to be flying to Hawaii on Tuesday for my sisters wedding and I really want the footage to look like those professional cinematic videos on youtube but everything I record right now looks kinda jittery or just way too bright and someone told me I need ND filters but I am so lost on what to actually buy.

I have been looking at amazon and there are way too many options like there is ND8 and ND16 and then like ND2000 which sounds insane and I have no idea where to start. my logic was maybe I should just buy the biggest number because usually bigger is better right? but then I read that too high makes it way too dark so then I thought maybe I just need the middle ones but I dont know what the middle is. and the Air 3 has those two different lenses so do I need a special set that covers both at the same time or do they snap on separately? I am so sorry if these are really stupid questions I just dont want to ruin the wedding videos and I only have a few days to get these delivered to my house.

my budget is around 100 bucks maybe a little more if it is really worth it but I saw some sets for 30 and some for 150 and the 150 ones look exactly the same as the cheap ones to me... also what is a PL filter?? is that different from an ND filter? I saw a pack that said ND/PL and I thought maybe that is like a 2-for-1 deal but I dont want to buy the wrong thing and have it fall off the drone mid-flight or break the gimbal because it is too heavy or something.

do I need the ones that twist or just clip on

is there a specific brand that is easiest for beginners

which numbers are actually essential for a sunny beach day

I just need someone to tell me exactly what to click on so I can get them shipped before my flight because I am totally overwhelmed and the more videos I watch the more confused I get...

David Wright · Accepted Answer

Hawaii is gonna be absolutely epic! The Air 3 is a literal beast for this... honestly you are gonna love the results. For a bright beach wedding, lower numbers like ND8 wont cut it. You need a higher density to keep your shutter speed low for that cinematic motion blur. Stick to ND32 or ND64 for the midday tropical sun! Since the Air 3 has two lenses, the filters are designed as a single piece that covers both at once. I highly recommend picking up these:

Freewell Bright Day 6-Pack Filters for DJI Air 3

This set is fantastic and has the ND/PL hybrids which are amazing for making the water look crystal clear.

Skyreat 6-Pack ND Filter Set for DJI Air 3

Great value if you want to save a few bucks. Basically, 'PL' is a polarizer that kills reflections on the ocean. It makes the blues pop! These just twist onto the gimbal after you pop off the stock bezel. Super easy!

ArcticNomad · Answer

Yeah gimbal safety is huge, I've seen cheap sets ruin motors.PGYTECH DJI Air 3 ND Filter Set ProfessionalK&F Concept DJI Air 3 ND Filter Kit 4-Pack Grab these for peace of mind.

RandallFlems · Answer

To add to the point above: I have been flying these things since the original Phantom days and I've tried many different brands over the years. In my experience, the 'snap-on' ones can be a bit sketchy if the manufacturing tolerances are off. Back on my old Mavic, a cheap lens cover actually jammed my gimbal because it was a fraction of a millimeter too thick... terrifying stuff when you're mid-flight. For a wedding where you can't redo the shots, reliability is everything. You asked about ND/PL... that 'PL' stands for Polarizer. Honestly, for Hawaii, you need this. It cuts the reflection off the waves so the water looks deep blue and clear instead of like a giant white mirror. It is basically essential for beach footage. Since the Air 3 has that dual-lens setup, the filters come as one piece that covers both lenses at the same time, so its super easy to swap. I'd grab the Skyreat DJI Air 3 ND/PL Filter 6-Pack. They stay on tight and dont mess with the gimbal motors. TL;DR: Stick with the ND32/PL or ND64/PL for bright sun. The 'PL' makes the ocean look incredible. Skyreat is a reliable brand that wont break your drone or your budget.