Q: Why do I need an ND filter?

ND filters can do a few things that are beneficial:- They can reduce or eliminate jello from your footage cause by vibration- They can add motion blur to give your motion a more natural and cinematic feel (movies use motion blur)- They can allow you to use a fixed shutter speed so your GoPro does not keep changing thew exposure/brightness over the course of your clip

Question 1

What camera mounts are compatible?

Accepted Answer

The Session filters are just over 1mm thick (1mm for the glass, plus the adhesive), and fit into most mounts. If you have a mount that is designed to have the GoPro *Session* inserted from the side and it fits very tight, then it may not be possible to insert the camera with a filter attached. You can try putting the filter on after the camera is already in the mount if there is room. As a last resort, you can try cutting just enough of the TPU on the front away to make room to get the lens on.

The best mounts and protectors for the session are rear-entry. Anything like this one works really well and protects the filter.

The Hero filters will fit in any mount that does not have material up against the front of the lens.

Question 2

What do I do if it does not stick well to the camera or comes off?

Accepted Answer

The adhesive is made to stick to clean glass, and if used correctly, it will stick very well. If you are having problems with it not sticking well, then check these things:

Is the adhesive only touching glass, and is the filter/Lens Shield centered? If it isn't centered on the lens, then it might be partially stuck to the plastic casing of the camera, which could cause it to fall off.
Are you using another lens protector underneath? They often have anti-stick coatings on them, so stuff won't stick to them.
Do you use a GoPro mount that might touch (or get under) the filter or Lens Shield? Some GoPro mounts can rub up against the filter/Lens Shield and lift it off if there is vibration.
Did you take the this clear liner off the adhesive?
Did you clean the glass with the wipe, then dry it off completely? If there are any oils or anything on your lens, it will make a big difference to how well it sticks. You can try isopropyl alcohol (99%, not less, they often have oils in them!) as well. When putting it on, give it a good push on around the edges (don't push the middle, it might break!). Every once in a while, push the filter towards the lens around the edges just to make sure it is sill attached properly.
Are you using a lens cleaner on the camera lens? They often have non-stick ingredients in them. Was the lens completely dry when you put it on? Like bone dry?
Do you live in a humid environment? If so, try putting it on where it's dry (for example where there is air conditioning). Wetness of any type can cause the adhesive to not work as well.
is it possible that the adhesive got dirty or oily (for example, from handling with your fingers)? Take the adhesive off the filter and clean it with tap water and soap, then let it completely dry. If the adhesive is coming off the filter itself (and sticking to the camera lens), then also clean the back of the filter around the edges (where the adhesive goes) with isopropyl alcohol, let it dry and carefully put the adhesive back on.

Question 3

Can they break?

Accepted Answer

The filters are made of hardened glass, so they resist breakage more than regular glass filters. That being said, they are made out of glass, so if you crash and they hit something hard enough, they can break.

The mount that you use can make a huge difference. Mounts that have "tabs" sticking out will protect your filter much better than ones without. I use these types of mounts and do not get breaks: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1893078

Question 4

How do I apply them to the camera?

Accepted Answer

Read the full application instructions here:   https://camerabutter.com/pages/application-instructions

Question 5

What ND strength of filter should I buy What settings should I use on my camera?

Accepted Answer

Read the full explanation here:  https://camerabutter.com/pages/nd-filter-tips - it explains both a "set and forget" way and an "expert" way of setting up your camera to get the most out of the filters.

Question 6

What do I do when my adhesive gets worn out from usage?

Accepted Answer

If your adhesive gets dirty or worn from removing and re-applying, simply remove it from the filter, wash it with tapwater, rubbing it to remove dirt/grease and let it dry completely before carefully re-applying it to the filter.  If it gets ripped or wrecked somehow, we sell replacement adhesive squares in the store.

Question 7

Can I use them along in addition a lens protector?

Accepted Answer

Many lens protectors such as the ones that we sell have anti-stick coatings on them to repel dirt and grease.  Unfortunately this will also cause the filter to not stick properly.  It is advised to not use lens protectors between the filter and the camera for this reason.  The filter should provide adequate protection for your lens.

Question 8

Does the adhesive affect the image quality?

Accepted Answer

No!  The adhesive is only around the edges of the filter and does not get in the way of the image.  What's more, the adhesive is black, so it stops light from getting in through the sides.

Question 9

Do you ship worldwide?

Accepted Answer

Currently, I ship to most places including North America, Europe, South America, Australia and parts of Asia.   If you live in a place that does not show up in the shipping list, please contact me via the contact form and I will arrange it for you.  Some places do not show up on the shipping form because the shipping calculator cannot automatically calculate shipping to that area.

Question 10

How quickly do you ship my order?

Accepted Answer

Typically orders will go out the same business day or next business day.

Question 11

Why do I need an ND filter?

Accepted Answer

ND filters can do a few things that are beneficial:

- They can reduce or eliminate jello from your footage cause by vibration

- They can add motion blur to give your motion a more natural and cinematic feel (movies use motion blur)

- They can allow you to use a fixed shutter speed so your GoPro does not keep changing thew exposure/brightness over the course of your clip

Question 12

It doesn't stick well or falls off

Accepted Answer

The adhesive is made to stick to clean glass, and if used correctly, it will stick very well. If you are having problems with it not sticking well, then check these things:

Is the adhesive only touching glass, and is the filter/Lens Shield centered? If it isn't centered on the lens, then it might be partially stuck to the plastic casing of the camera, which could cause it to fall off.
Are you using another lens protector underneath? They often have anti-stick coatings on them, so stuff won't stick to them.
Do you use a GoPro mount that might touch (or get under) the filter or Lens Shield? Some GoPro mounts can rub up against the filter/Lens Shield and lift it off if there is vibration.
Did you take the this clear liner off the adhesive?
Did you clean the glass with the wipe, then dry it off completely? If there are any oils or anything on your lens, it will make a big difference to how well it sticks. You can try isopropyl alcohol (99%, not less, they often have oils in them!) as well. When putting it on, give it a good push on around the edges (don't push the middle, it might break!). Every once in a while, push the filter towards the lens around the edges just to make sure it is sill attached properly.
Are you using a lens cleaner on the camera lens? They often have non-stick ingredients in them. Was the lens completely dry when you put it on? Like bone dry?
Do you live in a humid environment? If so, try putting it on where it's dry (for example where there is air conditioning). Wetness of any type can cause the adhesive to not work as well.
is it possible that the adhesive got dirty or oily (for example, from handling with your fingers)? Take the adhesive off the filter and clean it with tap water and soap, then let it completely dry. If the adhesive is coming off the filter itself (and sticking to the camera lens), then also clean the back of the filter around the edges (where the adhesive goes) with isopropyl alcohol, let it dry and carefully put the adhesive back on.

Question 13

My filter cracked or broke

Accepted Answer

The ND filters are made of high quality optical glass. Although they are hardened and are stronger than regular glass, unfortunately that also means that they can break if enough force is applied.

A GoPro mount with little protective "tabs" on the front can make a huge difference in whether or not you will break filters. Use a mount similar to this one if you can.

The Lens Shields are made of much stronger glass, and if you break one, then feel lucky that it's probably saved your camera lens.

Question 14

Blurry or poor picture quality with ND filter

Accepted Answer

Camera Butter ND filters are made of very high quality optical glass. if you are having problems with the picture looking blurry, it is likely due to one of these things:

The plastic covering the front of the filter is still on.
The front of the filter is dirty - wash it!
The back of the filter is oily or dirty. Sometimes you can get oils from your fingers on the back of the lens if you pick it up wrong, and it can be very hard to see. Remove the adhesive form the lens, wash the lens with soap and water (might as well wash the adhesive too at the same time), and let them dry completely. Carefully re-apply the adhesive. (make sure it's applied to the back, it will not stick well to the front due to the coatings)

If the image is too dark, then you need to either decrease your shutter speed or use a lower ND filter. You can also increase your ISO, however this introduces more noise, so it's better to use one of the 2 other methods.

Frequently Asked Questions

Compatibility and usage