The 9 Best ND Filters of 2022
ND Filter – Buying Guide, Opinions and Analysis
If you want to take photos or record videos with specific techniques and effects, an ND filter could be your ideal ally. This type of filter can be mounted on various camera models and sizes, so it is a very practical accessory. One of the most recommended filters is the Neewer Kit, this pack comes with 4 pieces, ND2 ND4, ND8 and ND16, so you can get that unique effect in your landscape photography. Another filter that could be useful to you is the Gobe G86ND10001P, since it is an ND1000, so it will help you to capture landscape images when there is a lot of sun.
The 9 Best ND Filters – Opinions 2022
There are many models of filters on the Internet, which can have high and low prices, so buying a specific one can be a complicated task. To help you make an appropriate choice, we present the following list with some of the best ND filters of 2022, perhaps one meets your requirements.
variable ND filter
1. Neewer 52MM Neutral Density Filter ND2 ND4 ND8 ND16
This could be the best value for money ND filter, because it is a 4-piece kit, each with a different level of darkness, from ND2 to ND16, the latter being more useful for capturing images on sunny days. Also, this variable ND filter kit incorporates a small pen with fine and soft bristles, which will help to remove dust from the filters more safely. In other words, with this accessory you will avoid possible scratches and you will do an improved cleaning of the filter when necessary.
On the other hand, we mention that these filters do not subtract color from your photos and thanks to them you can have a better camera opening and exposure. Likewise, it should be noted that these filters are suitable for 52mm lenses, and are even compatible with Nikon D3300, D5300, D7000 cameras and many more.
Although it is one of the cheapest ND filter kits, if you buy it, you will have several options for your photos and videos.
Pros
Material: You are made of HD optical glass, so as not to reduce the quality of the images in digital SLR cameras.
Compatibility: These are screw-on filters compatible with different Nikon models and the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II lens.
Sizes: These filters will fit 52mm lenses, however, the seller offers other sizes like 58, 67, 77mm ND2-32, etc.
Cons
Lid: It would be nice if the package also included a lid to protect the filter while you are not taking pictures.
2. K&F Concept 49mm Variable Neutral Density Filter ND8-ND2000
This is perhaps the best ND filter, because it offers a wide range of light input. It offers the ND8 level, to let in a good amount of light, as well as the ND2000, which is very useful for taking photos with too much light without any problem. You simply have to mount the filter and rotate it to change the lighting in your photos. This filter progressively darkens, to make changes in real time when you are taking videos, timelapses or landscape photos.
In other words, this is a variable ND filter, so you don’t have to be changing parts often, but only with this product you can achieve many effects, including silk in the sea. Another quality that highlights this filter is that it supports splashes of water, oil, as well as scratches.
K&F Concept could be the best brand of ND filters, so check the pros and cons of this model, it may meet your expectations.
Pros
Material: It was made with Japan Optics glass, so it is very resistant and does not detract from the quality of the images.
Anti-glare: This filter offers anti-glare and reduces ghosting in images.
Sharpness: With this filter you can remove excessive brightness from images without having to make complex settings in the camera.
Cons
Exposures: For long exposures it could show the X effect, which could be annoying if you do photography of this type.
10-stop ND filter
3. Gobe Filter for ND Lens 86mm ND1000
If you are wondering which is the best 10-stop ND filter, maybe you have landed on the right product, because it offers clear photos without loss of true colours. Plus, it’s made with premium 12-layer Japanese glass, eliminating image reflections and annoying ghosting when shooting motion pictures.
This 10-stop ND filter works for 86mm lenses as well as other sizes 39, 43, 95mm, so you can choose the product that fits your camera correctly.
In addition to this, it is a fine profile ND1000 fixed lens, so it avoids the famous vignetting that damages the images. This means it takes steadier photos, making it quite useful for landscapes, moving water, and other brightly lit outdoor shots.
Below, we show you the main pros and cons of this fixed Gobe filter. Pay attention to each feature if you want to make a proper purchase.
Pros
Type: This filter is a fixed type and is used for landscapes with a lot of natural lighting and timelapse of the sky.
Material: Its premium 12-layer Japanese glass offers anti-reflection enhancements and prevents ghosting.
Thread: The edges of the filter are double threaded, to stack it next to others if necessary.
Cons
Packaging: It comes in a packaging that leaves specks inside, so you must carefully remove the filter and clean it before using for the first time.
ND1000 filter
4. K&F Concept ND1000 Square Glass ND Filter Set
If you are looking for a good ND1000 filter, this kit could be the right answer. This is a set of 8 adapters, to mount this 10-stop filter to almost any type of lens. There are adapters from 49 to 82mm, so you’ll have plenty of adjustment options.
Also, it should be noted that the package comes with a 10 x 10 cm square filter, which you can mount on various lenses, thanks to the filter holder. The latter allows you to combine the ND1000 filter with others, to achieve unique results in your photos and videos.
Another aspect that we can highlight about this product is that the filter has 20 layers, so it is quite resistant and prevents the reflection of images on its surface.
This could be the best ND filter of the moment to capture landscape images where there is a lot of light, so check out its pros and cons, which we will explain in the following lines.
Pros
Type: This is a square ND1000 filter that you can use together with lighter ones in the filter holders, to precisely achieve the images you need.
Adapters: In addition to its filter holder, it comes with 8 adapters for various lens sizes, including 52, 67 and 82mm.
Sheath: The package includes a practical leather sheath for its respective transport.
Cons
Filter holder: The filter holder does not stay completely fixed, sometimes it moves when you are taking photos or recording video.
77mm variable ND filter
5. Gobe Variable Lens Filter ND 77mm ND2-400
It is a 77mm variable ND filter capable of creating very beautiful effects in your photographs. If you are a landscape photographer, this could be the right filter for you as it offers a varied level, between ND2 and ND400. In other words, it reaches a maximum of 8.66 steps, also, to say that it does not affect the real colors of the images, so it captures nature well.
This 77mm filter can help you take photos with silk effects in the water. Also, it should be noted that this filter has high quality glass with 24 layers of coating, for greater durability. In addition, it prevents the reflection and ghosting that comes out when you take photos of things and people in motion.
If you still don’t know which ND filter to buy, be sure to check out this product, it may be the one you need for your recordings or nature photographs.
Pros
Functionality: With this filter you can control the brightness of photos or videos in places that are too bright.
Speeds: Allows you to use slow shutter speeds, to record moving objects or people smoothly.
Protection: Its material is resistant and has protection against water, dust and dirt.
Cons
Spots: In places with extreme lighting there may be some spots or distortions in the images.
52mm ND filter
6. Polaroid Neutral Density Pro-Grade 3 Pieces
This is one of the cheapest sets out there today, but it comes with several options, ND3, ND6, and ND9, so you can use the one that best suits your needs. Also, if you are looking for a 52mm ND filter, this might come in handy as it is a 3-piece pack of these dimensions.
All 3 filters have handy borders that prevent vignetting in images, for better indoor and outdoor photography. Another aspect that makes this set of filters stand out is that it does not damage the original colors of landscapes, so you can take more vivid photos and videos.
In addition to this, the ND9 filter will help you avoid overexposure on sunny days, for more balanced photos in terms of brightness.
We present the most important advantages and disadvantages of this Polaroid filter set, it may be the set you are needing.
Pros
Variety: The pack offers variety in your photography as it comes with 3 types of filters, ND3, ND6 and ND9.
Size: These filters fit 52mm lenses, so you can fit them on cameras of various makes and models.
Protection: All 3 pieces use multi-coated glass lenses that are resistant to dust, water, lint, and scratches.
Cons
Accuracy: They are not very accurate with respect to their corresponding ND, however, they do not change the original color of the images.
67mm ND filter
7. Gobe Filter for ND Lens 67mm ND1000
If you want more balanced photos and videos in terms of brightness, check out the qualities of this ND1000 filter. It is a suitable filter for capturing images in well-lit places, allowing long exposure effects. Also, with this accessory you can take pictures of nature in motion, to obtain photos with a silk effect in rivers and seas.
It’s a 67mm ND filter that easily screws onto many camera lenses. Also, the seller offers the same model in other dimensions such as 43 and 52 mm. This way, you will have no problem choosing the size that suits the lens you want to mount it on.
It should be noted that, if you are looking for a 10-stop ND filter with 77 mm, this model could also work for you, because it is one of the available sizes. In addition, we mention that it has high-quality Japanese optical glass with 16 layers, for a proper color balance, without reflections and annoying distortions.
In this section we present the most outstanding positive and negative aspects of this ND Gobe filter.
Pros
Material: Its 16-layer Japanese glass offers protection against dirt and scratches.
Edges: This filter has a handy fine profile, which will go a long way in preventing vignetting in images.
Sizes: Not only does it fit 67mm lenses, but the seller also offers this model in diameters of 39, 46, 62mm and many more.
Cons
Focus: The images lose a bit of quality in terms of focus, however, they are colorful and get the desired effect.
Gradient ND Filter
8. Lee Filters ND9GS100x150U2 Resin Neutral Gradient Filter
If you need a gradient ND filter, we recommend you check out this product, because it is used to reduce the brightness of the sun in landscape photos, highlighting other areas of the place. Its transition from light to dark is quite smooth, so that the photo looks more realistic, as if you had not used a filter. The dimensions of this filter are 150mm high by 100mm wide.
The package includes the support to mount the filter on your camera, you can also use one of another brand, as long as it is 10 cm wide.
On the other hand, we mentioned that it is an ND8 filter, that is, 3 stops, so it darkens the images, but not too much, being useful for photos in which you do not want to lose much of the natural brightness of the place.
These are the most important qualities of the Lee Filters Gradient filter, it may be the one you need to take pictures in nature.
Pros
Type: This is a gradient ND filter, which you can use to take photos where the sky appears above with a lot of light.
Transition: It has a smooth transition, so that the change is not drastic from light to dark.
Size: Its dimensions are 150 x 100 mm, so you can play a little with the position in which you want to mount it.
Cons
Protection: It is missing that it has protection against scratches, but since it is made of resin it does not offer these functions.
Hoya ND Filter
9. Hoya DFK67 UV PLC ND Filter Pack
The package includes not only a Hoya number 8 ND filter, but also a UV filter, which filters ultraviolet rays in analog cameras. Even in digital cameras it is used to protect the objective lenses from possible bumps and scratches.
In addition to this, the box comes with a third filter, which is a polarizer, so it will help you a lot when taking pictures of beaches on sunny days, to highlight the blue of the sky.
These three filters are multi-coated, so they prevent unwanted flare in photos, as well as ghosting when taking photos of moving objects or people. In addition, thanks to this multilayer coating, they also take pictures without reducing the light that reaches the camera.
These are the most outstanding pros and cons that you should know about the Hoya DFK67. Review each quality carefully before making your purchase decision.
Pros
Sizes: Filters are 67mm in size, but seller offers other options, eg 49, 55, 77mm, etc.
Glass: Its glass has 12 layers of coating, thus avoiding annoying reflections in the images.
Stops: The ND8 filter that comes in the box reduces the amount of light by up to 3 stops, making it very useful in daylight photos.
Cons
Functionality: This kit could be useful only for beginners, as it does not offer complete sharpness in the images.
Shopping guide
To acquire the right product, you must know its main qualities. That is why we have prepared a guide to buy the best ND filter, perhaps it will clarify the doubts you have regarding this type of product.
Guy
If you are doing a comparison of ND filters, you should know the different types that exist. First of all, we mention the fixed type filters, which come with a specific number of steps. For example, there are some that are ND8, others ND6 or ND1000. The higher the number, the more stops of light are left in the photos. In other words, the ND6s darken images, but not as much as the ND1000s, which are much blacker, to better filter light and balance brightness in landscape photos.
In practice you can use several fixed filters, for example, the ND2, if you don’t want to detract too much brightness from the images, and the ND1000 for photographs with extreme light conditions. Simply, you mount the filters according to the occasion.
Other types of filters are the variable ones, which offer various levels of ND, for example, from ND6 to ND1000. These fixtures gradually change the number of steps as you turn them, so a single one acts as multiple fixed filters. Some users prefer the fixed ones, because, according to them, these are more precise, avoiding vignetting and the X effect in the images. However, due to advances in filter technology, there are some variable types that promise professional images, as if you were using fixed ones.
If you are wondering how much a certain ND filter costs, you should know that the variable one has a higher price, but it is worth the purchase, because it offers different stops of light. However, if you search carefully on the Internet, you can find some good and cheap models.
Filter shape
As if that were not enough, the filters are also differentiated by their shape, as there are square and circular ones. The latter are threaded and we have talked about them in the previous paragraphs. Instead, square filters are mounted on a special holder, which is called a filter holder by many photographers. On these supports you can place several filters at the same time, so you can play with contrasts and effects to take beautiful and authentic photos.
Among the square models you can find common filters ND2, ND8, ND1000, etc., in addition to the gradient ones, which have a light lower part and a dark upper part, to take pictures of the sea in broad daylight without the brightness of the sky being exaggerated. Being degraded, the transition can be smooth, that is, you don’t feel the sudden change between light and dark in the photographs.
Material
Normally, the filters are made of glass or resin, but you should check that they are made with several layers of coating, as this will make them more resistant and in many cases they will offer greater clarity. Also, we mention that the quality of the material reduces distortion in images, including the well-known ghost effect. This is what we see when we take a photo of people in motion and they look blurry. Another advantage of the material is that it can decrease the reflections of light and things.
Also, the material can prevent the accumulation of dust, grease, and may even protect the filter from water and scratches. All this makes the filter last much longer and is easy to clean.
Size
The filters come in different sizes, so you can mount them on lenses of different diameters. There are some filters that are suitable for small lenses less than 40 cm, others are 50 cm or much more.
So that you do not get the wrong size, it is best to check the diameter of the lens on which you want to mount the filter. You can find this information by looking at the lens from the front, right on the edges. If you see that it says 67mm, it means you should buy a filter of that size.
Fortunately, square filters often come with a mount that fits lenses of various sizes. That is why you will be able to use them in most digital SLR cameras.
Accessories
There are many accessories that could come with the filters, but the most important ones are the holders and adapters, as well as the covers. Holders and adapters usually come with square filter packs, but most products should have sleeves as they will protect the filters while you’re moving your gear.
Frequently asked questions
Q1: How to use a variable ND filter?
First, you must mount the variable ND filter on the lens of your camera. To do this, you have to gently screw the filter onto the front of the lens. Be very careful not to hit or scratch your camera lens in the process. Also, try not to over-tighten the filter when you screw it on. Sometimes applying a lot of force makes the filter very difficult to remove when you don’t want to use it anymore.
Once you have mounted the filter on the camera, the next thing is to turn it on and start taking photos or recording videos. To add or subtract steps to the images you just have to rotate the filter to the right or left. If you need to take a lot of the brightness out of your images, make the filter as dark as possible. In addition, this type of filter will allow you to take photos with a silk effect in seas and rivers.
Q2: How to measure exposure with an ND filter?
Exposure is measured according to the ISO sensitivity, shutter speed, and aperture you have set. Also, you need to take into account the amount of light you are letting into the camera. To do this, most digital cameras come with a light meter, which tells you if the photo will come out with the correct brightness, overexposed or underexposed. You must play with all these parameters and the number of steps that your ND filter offers. The ideal is that you get a clear photo and according to your tastes, since the ISO, diaphragm opening and shutter speed settings are relative, that is, there is no perfect fit.
One of the most important tips if you are starting out in photography is to look for an exposure table with ND filters on the Internet and use the measurements or settings written there.
Q3: How to focus with an ND filter?
Normally, the ND filter makes it difficult for your camera to focus, so our advice is to do this task before mounting any ND filters, especially those that subtract 10 or more stops of light.
Another option is to focus the camera with the ND filter on. Yes, we have said that it is more difficult, but the truth is that with practice you will be able to achieve it. The first thing you should do is lower both the ISO and the aperture considerably, so that much more light enters the lens. By doing this you will see the image more clearly, even if you have the darker filter mounted. Next, focus on the image you want to capture, rotating the lens to change the position of the lenses.
Q4: What does an ND filter do?
Basically, the ND filter reduces the amount of light entering the lens, so you don’t have to detract from the quality of your images or use extra glow effects when editing. Many current digital cameras tell you if there is too much brightness in the image you want to take and sometimes, even with thousands of settings, you can’t reduce this extra brightness. That’s when the ND filter can play a very important role, reducing light.
