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How to Add Polarizer and ND Filters to the GoPros with the PolarPro Venture Filter 3-Pack

If you're looking to add polarizing or ND filters to the GoPro HERO7 models, the HERO5 Black, HERO6 Black, or HERO (2018), PolarPro has a 3-pack kit of snap-on filters specifically for these camera models. Here's my hands-on review.

PolarPro Venture 3-Pack Filters for the GoPro HERO5/6 Black

A GoPro HERO6 Black fitted with the ND8/GR graduated neutral density filter.

By David Coleman | @havecamerawilltraveldc
Last updated about 6 months ago // Categories: Filters
Tags: GoPro HERO5 Black, GoPro HERO6 Black, GoPro HERO7 Black, GoPro HERO7 Silver, GoPro HERO7 White, PolarPro

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GoPro is running a deal on the HERO9 Black. You get the HERO9 Black and a 1-year subscription to GoPro (which gets you unlimited cloud storage, up to 50% off accessories, and discounted camera replacement). They're also throwing in a free 32GB SD card, and the HERO9 Black comes with a case. It's all for $349.98.

If you’re looking to add polarizing or ND filters to the GoPro HERO5 Black or HERO6 Black, you’re pretty much limited to snap-on filters. Because the camera’s own case now doubles as the waterproof housing, there’s no way to insert something between the camera’s lens and the housing’s lens port, as you could with older models.1

I’ve recently been trying out PolarPro’s Venture Filter 3-Pack for the GoPro HERO5/6 Black. It includes a polarizer filter, a 3-stop neutral density filter, and a 3-stop graduated neutral density filter.

PolarPro Venture 3-Pack Filters for the GoPro HERO5/6 Black

From left to right: the polarizer filter, the ND8 filter, and the ND8/GR filter.

I’ve previously reviewed PolarPro’s ND and polarizer filters for older models of GoPros. And while those older ones were also snap-on filters, they were rather large and cumbersome. PolarPro has come up with a new designed for their HERO5/6 Black filters that’s a much more slimline and fitted approach.

Compatibility

PolarPro Venture Filter 3-Pack for GoPro Hero6 / Hero5 Black
PolarPro Venture Filter 3-Pack for GoPro Hero6 / Hero5 Black
Check Price on Amazon
The packaging only mentions compatibility with the HERO5 Black, but they work just as well with the other cameras that share the same body design. That includes the three HERO7 models, the HERO6 Black, and the HERO (2018).

They’re not compatible with the HERO5 Session or any of the other cube-shaped GoPros. These filters are also not compatible with earlier model GoPros because the shape and size of their lens ports are different.

How They Attach

All of these filters snap onto the front of the lens port. They’re held in place simply by friction.

That’s enough for controlled shooting, but if things are getting a bit more active it’s quite easy for them to bumped off. Because of that, there are tethers included. They’re nothing fancy–just bits of nylon string–but they get the job done. And because the filters themselves are so light, they tethers don’t need to be very strong. They thread through loops on the bottom fo the filter frames. One thing to watch for is that you keep the tether snug so that it doesn’t drift up in front of the lens and block your shot.

These aren’t waterproof filters, and it’s very possible for water to seep in around the frame and get in between them and the lens port. That’s not going to compromise the waterproofness of the camera in any way, but it might create ugly water drops on the lens. These aren’t the types of filters you’d be wanting to use underwater anyway–you’d usually be looking at red or orange filters for that–but it’s still something to keep an eye on when filming in damp conditions.

In Use

Polarizer for HERO5/6 Black

A polarizer filter is useful for reducing glare in the sky or from water or snow. In doing that, it can also lead to more vibrant colors, especially in blue skies. But they don’t work equally in all directions. How much effect they have depends on the angle from the light source such as the sun. It’s for that reason that they can be problematic to use on very wide-angle lenses because you can end up with uneven effects.

If you’re coming from the world of larger cameras, you might be used to circular polarizers that rotate. This isn’t one of those. It’s a static filter that stays in place on the camera in one position.

I found that it does have some effect, but it’s not as dramatic as you might expect from a typical polarizer. Here’s a side-by-side example, with the first shot taken without any filter and the second with the polarizer attached. As you can see, there is some effect in bringing out the color a little more on the grass and some other areas you can notice it working, but overall its effect is slight.

[caption id="attachment_21158" align="aligncenter" width="678"]PolarPro Venture Filter 3-Pack No Filter GoPro HERO6 Black without any filter[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_21159" align="aligncenter" width="678"]PolarPro Venture Filter 3-Pack with Polarizer GoPro HERO6 Black + Polarizer Filter[/caption]

ND8 Neutral Density Filter for HERO5/6/7

Standard neutral density filters block the amount of light reaching the sensor. And unlike the polarizer and even graduated ND filters, a standard ND filter ideally shouldn’t change the look of the image. Instead, they’re basically a hack. Since you can’t control the aperture on GoPros, and there’s a fairly limited span of ISOs available, using a ND filter is a way to manipulate the shutter speed while still maintaining proper exposure.

There are a few common scenarios where this comes in useful when shooting with a GoPro. One is to slow down the shutter speed to match a slower frame rate, such as 24fps, that can give you a smoother and more cinematic feel to your footage. This is something that can be especially useful if shooting from a drone to add a slightly more floaty feel to the footage.

Another use applies the same idea to shooting time-lapse. By deliberately dragging the shutter to add some motion blur to moving objects in the frame, it can result in much smoother time-lapse footage that looks more natural rather than the jumpy, staccato look you can get at very fast shutter speeds.

It might also be useful if you’re shooting in exceptionally bright conditions–perhaps snow or ice or even at a sandy beach–so as to keep the exposure within the GoPro’s shutter speed limit.

A less-common but still potential scenario is when shooting out of a plane or helicopter or even through the props of a drone, you can reduce the shutter speed to blue the blades out completely and prevent them from becoming a distraction. Here’s a quick example.

Ideally, a standard neutral density filter should be, well, neutral. But in practice, only very high-end filters come close to being perfectly neutral. Most add a bit of a color cast, often a slight bluish tint. And that’s what this one does. You can see the color cast here–I’ve used the same white balance setting for both. The first shot is without any filter; the second is with the neutral density filter.

[caption id="attachment_21158" align="aligncenter" width="678"]PolarPro Venture Filter 3-Pack No Filter GoPro HERO6 Black without any filter[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_21160" align="aligncenter" width="678"]PolarPro Venture Filter 3-Pack with ND8 Filter GoPro HERO6 Black + ND8 Neutral Density Filter[/caption]

Now, whether that’s a bad thing is entirely up to you. It’s something that is probably more of an issue with the more precise shooting you’re likely to be doing with a larger camera, but with a GoPro not so much. There are, of course, ways to compensate in a video editing app. Or maybe you simply don’t mind the look of the blue tint. Regardless, it’s worth knowing it’s there.

Neutral density filters come in different strengths. This different strengths are given ratings, but manufacturers have never really been able to agree on a common rating system, so there are at least three different ones you commonly come across. This particular filter is rated as ND8. That means it reduces the light by 3 stops of exposure. Sometimes this strength is also referred to by its optical density of 0.9. And sometimes you can see them rated as 8x ND filters. So if you the shutter speed is 1/200 without a filter and all else remains the same, it will be 1/24 with the ND8 filters.

With video it gets a little more complicated because you can be working with shutter speeds as multiples of frame rates, but the same underlying principle applies that you’re manipulating the shutter speed. But it also means that individual ND filters are pretty blunt instruments. ND filters where you can change the strength do exist–they’re known as variable ND filters–but they tend to be expensive, and I’m not aware of any specifically for GoPros. Most ND filters, then, are single-strength. So in an ideal world you’d have a kit of several of them, each with a different light-blocking strength. The 3-stop filter in this kit is a good, versatile compromise, but it’s not always going to be the ideal strength for every shoot, especially in very bright or dim lighting.

ND8/GR Filter for HERO5/6 Black

The last of the three filters included in this pack is a graduated neutral density filter. That means that it’s darker at one end and clear at the other, transitioning gradually in the middle of the filter. Most of the time you’d use this with the dark end at the top to reduce the brightness of the sky to even out with the darker lighting of the ground.

In this particular filter, the darkest section reduces light by 3 stops. The gradation is in the middle of the frame, and there’s no way to slide it up or down. Here’s the effect side-by-side with a no-filter shot.

[caption id="attachment_21158" align="aligncenter" width="678"]PolarPro Venture Filter 3-Pack No Filter GoPro HERO6 Black without any filter[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_21161" align="aligncenter" width="678"]PolarPro Venture Filter 3-Pack with ND8/GR GoPro HERO6 Black + ND8/GR Neutral Density Gradient Filter[/caption]

One thing I have found is that the exposure compensation function on the camera can come in useful with this filter because the auto-exposure meter can get thrown off trying to compensate. That’s why, in the example above, while the sky is darker with the filter attached, the grass is actually brighter.

Construction Quality Concerns

The thing about GoPros is that the whole point of them is that they’re rugged. They can go places that cameras have no right to go. And it’s not just about what the camera goes through when it’s mount. If you’re out surfing or skydiving or mountain climbing or trail biking, it’s not ideal conditions for calm, gentle handing of your gear.

These filters are designed to be very lightweight, in part to make them suitable to use on drones. But there’s a blurred line between lightweight and flimsy depending on conditions. And that’s where these filters can come a cropper. While having glass filters is a good thing for optical quality, when they’re as thin and light as this glass is it can become very brittle. So you do have to be quite careful not to snap them, especially by accidentally twisting them as you’re putting them on or off.

And while I haven’t run into this issue myself, a number of other users have complained of the glue holding the glass in place coming unstuck.

What’s in the Box?

The kit includes the three filters, a couple of lens cloths, and some nylon string tethers. The small case that the filters come packaged in is also a useful carry case for them.

Where to Find Them

You can find this kit at B&H Photo and Amazon.

PolarPro Venture Filter 3-Pack for GoPro Hero6 / Hero5 Black
PolarPro Venture Filter 3-Pack for GoPro Hero6 / Hero5 Black
  • Engineered specifically for the Hero6 / Hero5 Black camera
  • Perfect starter set for the aspiring film maker
Check Price on Amazon

  1. This is, however, a technical possibility if you’re using the Super Suit dive housing with the GoPro HERO5 Black, HERO6 Black, HERO (2018), or HERO7 models. ↩

Images and product information from Amazon PA-API were last updated on 2021-04-17 at 22:52. Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon Site at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.

More GoPro Tips & Tricks:

  • PolarPro's Neutral Density, Polarizer, and Macro Filters for the GoPro HERO4 Black & Silver
    PolarPro's Neutral Density, Polarizer, and Macro Filters for the GoPro HERO4 Black & Silver
  • How to Add a Polarized Lens Filter to a GoPro HERO3
    How to Add a Polarized Lens Filter to a GoPro HERO3
  • GoPro 128GB SD Cards
    Can I Use 128GB, 256GB, 400GB, or 512GB Cards in GoPro Cameras?
  • How to Add GoPro HERO 4 Filters and HERO 3+ Filters
    How to Add GoPro HERO 4 Filters and HERO 3+ Filters
  • GoPro HERO6 Black vs HERO5 Black Stabilization Compared
    GoPro HERO6 Black vs HERO5 Black Stabilization Compared
  • GoPro HERO6 Black vs HERO5 Black
    GoPro HERO6 Black vs HERO5 Black: Photo Modes
  • GoPro HERO6 Black Video Modes
    GoPro HERO6 Black Video Modes
  • Which GoPro HERO4 Accessories Will Work with the GoPro HERO6 Black and HERO5 Black?
    Which GoPro HERO4 Accessories Will Work with the GoPro HERO6 Black and HERO5 Black?
By David Coleman
Instagram: @havecamerawilltraveldc

Last updated on October 9, 2020

Categories: Filters
Tags: GoPro HERO5 Black, GoPro HERO6 Black, GoPro HERO7 Black, GoPro HERO7 Silver, GoPro HERO7 White, PolarPro

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GoPro News & Deals

New Smart Remote GoPro will be announcing the new Smart Remote for the HERO9 Black on December 17, 2020. The HERO9 Black isn’t compatible with the previous version of the Smart Remote.

HERO8 Black firmware v2.0 now available. Enables webcam mode; enables Display Mod compatibility; expands HyperSmooth 2.0 High and Boost availability to more video settings; general bug fixes. Update through the mobile app or manually.

GoPro Launches New Live Streaming Service for GoPro PLUS. GoPro has launched their own live-streaming platform for PLUS subscribers. It’s a pretty bare-bones offering for now, with livestreams shared with a dedicated URL. This is alongside their efforts to make the HERO8 Black useful as a webcam when connected to a computer (via USB plug-in-play, not requiring the Media Mod accessory with HDMI out). New firmware adds that functionality for Mac users, and the Windows version is in Beta.

New GoPro Zeus Mini Video Light. GoPro has released released a new video LED light designed to complement their GoPro cameras. It’s tiny, waterproof, and has a built-in magnetic swiveling clip. It’s waterproof down to 33 feet (10 meters), has four levels of brightness, and includes a diffuser to cool the color temperature to 5000K. GoPro claims that the built-in battery lasts up to 6 hours (presumably at the lowest brightness setting, although they don’t specify). It’s available now and priced at $69.99.

DJI Osmo Action firmware update adds live streaming. DJI has released a firmware update for the Osmo Action (v. 01.08.00.10) that adds live streaming support, so you can upload directly to platforms like Facebook and YouTube (it goes through the DJI Mimo mobile app). They’ve also improved the in-camera video stabilization. You can find the new firmware here.

New Underwater Housing for GoPro HERO8 Black from Isotta. Isotta, an Italian brand specializing in underwater housings, has announced a new high-quality underwater housing for the HERO8 Black. It’s an aluminum housing depth-rated to 650 feet (200 meters), has a one-handed open/close switch, double o-rings, and can be used with filters. There’s also a dual-handled tray to go along with it. And like all their housings, it’s in their distinctive red. Priced at $450, it’s only for those who need a highly specialized piece of underwater kit. It’s available for preorder from underwater specialists Backscatter.

Light Mod Now Shipping The Light Mod, one of the three new GoPro accessories, is now shipping. It’s a standalone light that is waterproof, rechargeable and compatible with all GoPro mounts. It was originally announced along with the HERO8 Black, but it hasn’t been available until now. It’s priced at $49.99, and you can find them at GoPro.com.

GoPro MAX Now Shipping. The new 360° camera, the MAX, is now shipping.

GoPro HERO8 Black and Max Unveiled. The new GoPro cameras and accessories have been unveiled. I have a rundown of the highlights of the HERO8 Black here.

DJI Osmo Action vs GoPro HERO7 Black. I’ve posted my detailed hands-on comparison of the Osmo Action and the HERO7 Black. There’s a lot similar between the models, but once you start digging down into the details there are differences that can help in choosing between them. And each has strengths the other doesn’t have. You can find my review here.

GoPro HyperSmooth vs DJI RockSteady. The new DJI Osmo Action also has built-in electronic stabilization to smooth out video. They’re calling it RockSteady (GoPro has HyperSmooth). I’ve been out testing them side-by-side. You can see the results here.

GoPro Deals page. I’ve put together a dedicated page on GoPro deals. So if you’re looking for cheap GoPro deals, check it out.

DJI Osmo action 4K Camera. Best known for their camera drones, DJI has released a new 4K action cam that’s taking direct aim at the GoPro HERO7 Black. It shoots up to 4K60 video and 12MP stills, includes electronic stabilization, has high-dynamic range video at 4K30, voice commands, a touchscreen on the back and another smaller live view screen on the front, and is waterproof down to 36 feet (11 meters). It’s priced at $349, and they’re now available at B&H Photo.

Comments

  1. Christian says

    March 18, 2018 at 5:05 pm

    The reason you doesn’t see a large effect from the circular polarizer is because you have your back against the sun and are shooting late in the day. These work best at perpendicular angles from the sun and at noon

    Reply
    • David says

      March 19, 2018 at 3:58 pm

      They were shot mid-afternoon with wide-angle lens incorporating the 90° in the sky (vertically). I have more info on shooting with polarizers here.

      Reply

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About Me

I’m a professional travel & location photographer based in Washington DC and traveling all over. Seven continents. Dozens of countries. Up mountains. Under water. And a bunch of places in between.

I’ve owned and used every GoPro since the HD HERO and particularly like finding new and different ways to use them to capture photos, video, and time-lapse.

You can find my main site at havecamerawilltravel.com.

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