The DJI Mini 5 Pro uses its own ND filter set: ND8, ND32 and ND128, which cut light by 3, 5 and 7 stops. Use ND128 in full or hazy sun at 24 or 30 fps, ND32 under bright cloud or for 60 to 120 fps in sun, and ND8 on dull overcast days or at golden hour. The goal is a shutter about twice your frame rate at ISO 100.
Why the Mini 5 Pro needs ND filters
The Mini 5 Pro's lens is a fixed f/1.8. You can't stop it down, so in sunlight at ISO 100 the camera has to use a very fast shutter, somewhere near 1/8000 s. That freezes every frame and makes motion look choppy, especially in pans and with water or trees.
For natural motion blur, video shooters use the 180-degree rule: shutter speed about double the frame rate. DJI's store page for the filters gives the same example: at 24 fps with a 180° shutter, exposure is 1/48 s.
| Frame rate | Target shutter |
|---|---|
| 24 fps | 1/50 |
| 30 fps | 1/60 |
| 60 fps | 1/120 |
| 120 fps (slow motion) | 1/240 |
Which filter to use
- ND128 (7 stops): full or hazy sun, beaches, snow, bright water. Brings full sun down to about 1/60 s at ISO 100.
- ND32 (5 stops): bright overcast at 24 to 30 fps, or sun at 60 to 120 fps.
- ND8 (3 stops): dull overcast, shade, late golden hour.
- No filter: dusk, night and indoors.
The figures are approximate. Check the shutter value in DJI Fly once the filter is on. Close is fine: 1/40 or 1/80 at 30 fps still looks natural. If you can't quite reach your target, a slightly faster shutter is better than raising ISO above 100 in daylight.
How to set up the camera
- Attach the filter with the drone powered off, so the gimbal isn't strained.
- Power on and switch the camera to Pro mode.
- Set ISO 100, your frame rate, and the target shutter.
- Set white balance manually.
- If the image is too bright or too dark, swap filters rather than changing ISO.
Filters only matter for video and for slow-shutter photos. For normal photos you can fly without one.
About the official set
DJI's Mini 5 Pro ND Filter Set includes one each of ND8, ND32 and ND128, and DJI lists each filter at about 1.12 g. DJI lists the set as compatible with the Mini 5 Pro only, so don't assume Mini 4 Pro or Mini 3 filters will fit its camera. The Mini 5 Pro already weighs about 249.9 g, so if you fly recreationally with filters or other add-ons, check your takeoff weight against the 250 g registration limit; see FAA registration.
Photos and hyperlapse with ND
ND filters also let you slow the shutter for creative photos: smoothing water, blurring traffic or clouds. The Mini 5 Pro shoots up to 2 s exposures, plus simulated long exposures from 2.5 to 8 s in 12 MP mode. In a hyperlapse, ND128 in daylight gives slight blur on moving cars.
For the basics, read what ND filters do and ND filter numbers explained. Pair the filters with our best Mini 5 Pro settings, or shop the Mini 5 Pro ND filter set.
Related guides
- Which ND filters for the DJI Mini 4 Pro? Settings guide
- Best DJI Mini 5 Pro camera settings for photo and video
- Which ND filters for the DJI Mavic 3 Pro? Settings guide
- Which ND filters for the DJI Mini 3? Settings guide
- How to shoot a hyperlapse with the DJI Mini 5 Pro
- Does the DJI Mini 5 Pro have obstacle avoidance? Settings explained
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