Experiences – Life – Inspiration 🇨🇭🇯🇵

Warning: This post is strictly for FPV nerds, drone addicts, and those who know the pain of digging through grass looking for parts you just paid good money for.

If you have no clue what an ND filter is, or you think DJI is some sort of wellness brand—do yourself a favor and skip this one. I’d hate to waste your precious time. Consider this my little act of Swiss hospitality. You’re welcome.

How I Lost (and Might Still Find) My ND Filters – A Lesson for FPV Pilots

One thing I’ve learned from flying FPV drones is that crashing is part of the game. It’s actually how you get better. But there’s a hidden cost that I didn’t fully consider when I started practicing more seriously—losing ND filters.

Over the past months, I’ve lost five ND filters on my DJI Neo, and just this week, my first one on the DJI Avata 2. It’s frustrating. These filters easily click onto the camera lens, but they seem to pop off just as easily on impact. Every time I crash, I end up on my hands and knees searching through grass, leaves, and branches… only to give up after a while, hoping they’d magically show up next time I visit the spot. Spoiler: they never do.

My Unusual Idea to Recover Lost Filters

Today, I had an idea that feels a bit crazy—but possibly brilliant. I ordered a mini metal detector for just 16 euros. Why? Because the ND filters for the DJI Neo have tiny metal screws holding the glass in place. I figured, why not give it a shot? Maybe I can return to the spots where I lost them and see if I can recover at least one or two. It feels a bit like hunting for buried treasure… except the treasure is my own lost gear.

Unfortunately, the Avata 2’s ND filter doesn’t have any metal in it—just plastic and glass. And as far as I know, there’s no such thing as a plastic detector. But I do have something else: the crash footage. I carefully reviewed the recording, paused on the frame where I crashed, and marked the spot. It’s a park area I’m familiar with, and the Avata 2’s ND filter is fairly large. So, I’m planning to go back tomorrow with a fresh pair of eyes (and hopefully more luck).

Lessons Learned and Tips for Fellow Pilots

Losing ND filters might sound like a small thing, but if you crash a lot (like most of us beginners), it starts adding up. Here are a few things I’m considering to prevent this from happening again:

• Adding a tiny strip of clear tape or micro Velcro to make the fit more secure.
• Attaching a short piece of fishing line to the filter and securing the other end to the drone frame. It might look a little DIY, but it could save me from losing more filters.
• Using brightly colored paint or stickers on the edges of the filters to make them easier to spot in grass or dirt.
• Looking for magnetic or twist-lock ND filters, if available for your drone model.

And of course, review your footage after a crash. Sometimes it gives you the exact clue you need to narrow down your search area.

If I do manage to recover any of my lost ND filters, I’ll definitely update you all in a follow-up post. Until then, wish me luck on my tiny treasure hunts.

Because if I’ve learned anything from this hobby, it’s that the real skill isn’t in flying, it’s in losing stuff and still laughing about it.