ND Filters for Drones, Action Cameras and Inspections: The Key to a Professional Image

If you work with drone filming or aerial photography, you've definitely heard of ND filters. These small accessories can significantly influence the quality of the final image – whether you use cinema drones, FPV drones, action cameras or drone inspections. In Prague, Brno, Central Bohemia and Slovakia, drones are increasingly used not only for film production but also for commercial videos, real estate, and technical inspections. And ND filters are exactly what separates amateur footage from professional results.

What Is an ND Filter and Why Use It

An ND filter (Neutral Density) reduces the amount of light hitting the camera sensor. It works like sunglasses – it doesn’t distort colors but reduces light intensity.

Why is this important?

Proper exposure: in harsh sunlight, a camera without an ND filter uses very short shutter speeds, resulting in choppy footage. An ND filter allows longer shutter speeds and natural motion blur.

Film look: if you want your cinema drone footage to look cinematic, an ND filter is essential.

Consistency: during drone inspections of roofs, solar panels or bridges, an ND filter prevents overexposure and keeps details readable.

Which ND Filters to Use for Different Weather and Environments

ND filters are marked with numbers (ND4, ND8, ND16, ND32, ND64…) indicating how much light they block.

Sunny day: in Prague or Brno during summer, ND16–ND32 is ideal. Harsh sunlight over the Vltava River or city center destroys the cinematic look without a filter.

Cloudy weather: in Central Bohemia or Slovakia with changeable weather, ND4–ND8 is usually enough. These are universal options.

Water: reflections from water surfaces are strong, so ND32 is recommended. When filming with an FPV drone over a reservoir or shooting a commercial by a river in Prague-West, you can’t skip it.

Snow: winter filming in the mountains of Czechia or Slovakia requires ND64, because snow reflects a huge amount of light.

ND Filters for Different Types of Devices

Cinema Drones

They use large cameras (DJI Inspire, CineLifter with RED or Blackmagic). ND filters are essential for film production – commercial spots in Prague, music videos in Brno or short films in Central Bohemia.

FPV Drones

FPV drones fly fast and dynamically. ND filters help maintain natural motion blur even at high speeds. Ideal for FPV indoor fly-throughs of warehouses, hotels or offices in Prague-East, where promo videos are often filmed.

Action Cameras

GoPro, DJI Action or Insta360 – all benefit from ND filters. During sports, travel or outdoor activities in Prague-West or Slovakia, ND filters help balance light and prevent overexposure.

Drone Inspections

ND filters are crucial during inspections of roofs, solar panels, bridges or power lines. They ensure consistent exposure, so the resulting photos and videos are usable for technical evaluation. In Brno and Central Bohemia, drone inspections are becoming a common part of building management, and ND filters improve documentation quality.

Polarizing Filter: Another Step Toward Perfect Image Quality

Besides ND filters, there is another type of optical filter very important for drone photo and video – the polarizing filter (CPL – Circular Polarizer).

A polarizing filter is a special glass that removes unwanted reflections and increases color contrast. It works by blocking light reflected at certain angles – for example from water surfaces, glass or snow.

What it’s used for

Removing reflections: when filming above the Vltava River in Prague-West or by a reservoir in Slovakia, the polarizer eliminates water reflections.

Increasing contrast: colors look richer, the sky is bluer, and greenery is more vivid – ideal for drone commercial videos in Brno or Central Bohemia.

Detail visibility: during drone inspections of roofs, solar panels or glass facades, the polarizer reveals details that would otherwise be hidden in reflections.

Sports and action: for FPV drones or action cameras during outdoor activities, a polarizer adds clarity and color depth to dynamic shots.

When to Use a Polarizing Filter

Sunny day: the perfect combination with an ND filter – ND regulates light, the polarizer removes reflections.

Water and snow: in these environments, a CPL filter is practically essential; otherwise the footage will be full of blown highlights.

City: when filming in Prague or Brno, it helps remove reflections from glass buildings and cars.

Practical Tips for Using ND Filters

• Test before the flight: shoot a short clip and check the histogram.
• Carry a set of filters: ND4–ND64 for all conditions.
• Combine with a polarizer: removes reflections near water or snow.
• Clean your filters: dust or fingerprints can ruin image quality.
• Use them for photography too: ND filters help with long exposures when shooting from a drone.

ND Filters in Practice: Prague, Brno, Central Bohemia, Slovakia

In Prague, ND filters are used for commercial videos where you need to handle strong summer sunlight and reflections from the Vltava River. In Prague-East and Prague-West, FPV indoor fly-throughs of real estate developments are popular, and ND filters add a cinematic look. In Central Bohemia with variable weather, ND8–ND16 is the universal choice. In Brno, ND filters help balance contrast between shadows and strong light in the urban environment. In Slovakia, they’re essential for shooting in the mountains, near water or in snow – without them, professional footage wouldn’t be possible.

Conclusion

ND filters are key tools for anyone working with drone filming, drone inspections or action cameras. And if you want to push image quality even further, a polarizing filter is the perfect companion – it removes reflections, increases contrast and gives your footage a professional look.

Whether you work with cinema drones in Prague, FPV drones in Brno, solar panel inspections in Central Bohemia or commercial video in Slovakia, the combination of ND and polarizing filters will help you achieve the perfect result.