ok so i finally pulled the trigger on getting some ND filters for my Air 2S after reading that the 180 degree shutter rule thing is what i should be aiming for. problem is i dont fully understand which pack to get. ive seen ND4/8/16/32 packs and also ones that go up to ND64 or even ND256 and i genuinely dont know if i need the high ones or if ill ever use them.

i fly mostly in daytime, sometimes golden hour stuff, occasional cloudy days. not doing anything super professional just want my footage to look less jittery and harsh. also should i bother with polarizers or is that overkill for a beginner

for daytime shooting the ND16 and ND32 are probably gonna be your workhorses, at least thats been my experience. on a really bright sunny day i sometimes reach for the ND64 too. ND4 and ND8 are more for overcast or late afternoon when theres not much light coming in. so honestly a pack that goes up to at least ND64 is worth it, you'll use more of them than you think once you start paying attention to your shutter speed.

polarizers are cool for shooting over water or cutting through haze but id honestly skip it until you have a feel for the NDs first. theres a bit of a learning curve just getting exposure right with them and adding a polarizer on top of that when youre starting out is just more variables to deal with.

I went with a Freewell kit and no regrets. They make sets specifically for the Air 2S so the fit is exact and no vignetting issues. Bit more expensive than the random brands but i tried one of those first and had a loose filter rattle off mid-flight which was terrifying. Never again. The 180 degree rule is a game changer once it clicks, your footage will look noticeably smoother almost immediately.