1. The list in brief ↴
2. Best value
3. Best square professional-grade filters
4. Best budget filter kit
5. Best for pros
6. Best for quick changes
7. Best mid-range option
8. Best for nightscapes
9. Best for use in the rain
10. FAQs
If you're experimenting with long exposure photography, there's a very good chance you'll benefit from purchasing one of the best neutral density filters. In this guide, we've rounded up some of the highest-rated filters, an absolute must for photographers who like to play around with exposure.
Neutral density filters, also known as ND filters, are essentially made of darkened glass. They're designed to reduce the amount of light that reaches your camera's sensor allowing you to keep your shutter open for longer without suffering from overexposure.
Using a long exposure is absolutely necessary if you want to capture motion. Think of those beautiful images of flowing waterfalls you've undoubtedly seen: They are all taken using an ND filter, allowing less light in the camera to allow for a longer shutter speed.
They're handy for creating different kinds of motion blur imagery, too, such as light trails from traffic and ghosted images of crowds. Neutral density filters can also be very useful in nightscape astrophotography.
Josh Dury Photo-Media (aka Starman) is a recognised, award-winning professional landscape astrophotographer, presenter and writer from The Mendip Hills "Super National Nature Reserve" in Somerset, United Kingdom. His work is recognized by major UK/Global media and publishing outlets, including BBC, ITV and CNN amongst others. He's been shortlisted twice for Astronomy Photographer of the Year Competition (2017/2023) and Overall Winner of Historic Photographer of the Year (2023).
He is an ambassador for photographic brands Sigma & Benro and is a representative of International Dark-Sky Association (IDA), campaigning for dark-skies. He graduated with First-Class Honors in Photography by the University of the West of England (UWE).
The quick list
Best value
The Hoya ProND filters are our choice for offering the best value, and come highly recommended for aspiring photographers.
Best square professional-grade filters
This filter kit from NISI comes with its own exposure calculator app.
Best budget filter kit
The three-piece ND-Kit by Tiffen is a good all-round filter choice for amateur photographers.
Best for professional photographers
This expert-quality filter is a suitable choice for professional photographers.
Best for quick changes
These professional-grade neutral density filters can be changed quickly thanks to a magnetic adapter ring.
Best mid-range
This three-piece ND filter kit provides adequate filtering and protection for your photography equipment.
Best for nightscapes
This graduated ND filter creates stunning nightscapes — and it comes with its own app.
Best for use in the rain
With multi-resistant coating, this ND filter is able to fend off water droplets and protect against dirt.
Best neutral density filters 2024 that we recommend
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Best value
✅ You're just starting out. For their budget price, these filters are great quality, making them a good choice for beginners.
✅ You're on a budget. They aren't high end but for the price, you're getting a good product.
❌ You want the most advanced filters. These are good filters, but you won't find any bells and whistles.
❌ You're a pro. As the price suggests, these filters are best for beginners.
🔎 Hoya ProND circular ND filters: A great choice for beginner photographers. Not only is there a broad selection of filters, they provide a flavor of what is possible. ★★★★
With a budget price, the Hoya ProND filter kit is our top choice for beginner photographers and those looking to experiment with longer exposures for the first time.
Coming from Hoya, a brand synonymous with good-quality camera filters, you know you're getting a decent product: The ProND filter kit may be an entry-level filter choice but it performs valiantly given its budget price.
The Hoya ProND filter kit consists of three filters, each with a different density. Each filter is constructed using anodized aluminum and boasts an ACCU-ND coating to create a neutral color balance.
The Hoya ProND filters are available in many different sizes, so you should have no problem finding one to fit your camera and lens set-up. We should note, however, that since the filters screw firmly onto the front of the lens, they're not very easy to switch in and out.
With alternatives involving square and bolt-in filters, these filters are arguably more compact and are, therefore, a good mid-range choice for both build and image quality.
| Attributes | Notes |
|---|---|
| Design | These aren't pro-quality, but that is reflected in the price. |
| Performance | With different ND-filter strengths available, the Hoya ProND filters perform very well given their budget price. |
| Functionality | Filters can't quickly be changed out. |
Best square professional-grade filters
✅ You are looking for quality glass. NiSi's products are designed to a professional level.
✅ You want good value for money. We appreciate the design-to-budget margin here.
❌ You don't want to invest in more equipment: You'll also need to purchase the appropriate filter holder systems in order to use these ND filters.
🔎 Nisi 6-stop ND Filters: A great choice for users looking for affordable, quality built professional-grade products. They're not only weather resistant and of a high quality, but provide sharp images too. ★★★★
As a brand, NiSi creates great products for professionals and advanced users, and the 6-stop ND Filter Kit is an excellent example of the brand. With a NiSi ND filter applied, you'll find your imagines to be beautifully sharp.
The NiSi 6-stop ND filters feature hydrophobic and oleophobic coatings on the glass, meaning the filters are water and grease-repellent. They're a great choice if you're planning to take photos near a water source, then, as they can repel the splashes from a waterfall, for example.
Despite being professional quality, these NiSi filters are within an affordable price range, so they're a great choice for beginners too. A huge market is catered for, thanks to numerous sizes being available to fit different cameras and lenses.
The filters are available in a number of different densities, meaning they can be used to create a variety of photographic effects.
NiSi also offers a downloadable exposure calculator app for smartphones that makes short work of calculating shutter speeds when using these ND filters.
| Attributes | Notes |
|---|---|
| Design | Professional-grade and excellent build quality |
| Performance | Being designed and constructed to a high-standard, provides sharp images and minimal color-casting. |
| Functionality | Nisi's filter systems allows for full-lens coverage in conjunction with the filter. |
Best budget filter kit
✅You want versatility. These filters can be adapted to a number of photographic applications.
❌ You're looking for quick-changeover filters. These are thread filters, so most suited to photographers focusing on single applications.
🔎 Tiffen 3-Piece Filter Kit: Tiffen's Tiffen 3-Piece Filter Kit is a great choice for photographers looking for professional-grade ND filters. This three-piece kit allows for multiple photographic applications. ★★★★
The Tiffen 3-piece neutral density filter kit is a great choice for photographers who want to be able to experiment with different photographic effects. The kit has three filters, each with a different density, and therefore each with its own ideal application.
The filters here use a lens thread attachment, however, so need to be manually screwed on to your lens. As such, they aren't the best choice if you're hoping to be able to quickly switch them out.
The Tiffen 3-piece ND Filter Kit is more affordable than some other ND filter choices in this guide, and that is reflected somewhat in their build quality. They're a little more flimsy than other filters on the market, and we've found they they offer slightly less color fidelity than other choices.
Bear that in mind when you're making a decision, then: If you can afford better ND filters, you should perhaps choose another option. But for the price, you'll still find the Tiffen 3-piece set to be perfectly adequate, giving decent value for money.
| Attributes | Notes |
|---|---|
| Design | Good quality, but a little flimsier than more expensive options. |
| Performance | Being thread adapters, it naturally takes more time to swap out filters. |
| Functionality | As thread adapters, they completely cover the lens element and would need to be selected based on lens diameter. |
Best for professionals
✅ You want a professional filter holder system with a variety of lens adapters and filters alike.
✅ You want true color-fidelity. The Cokin ND filters allow for beautiful colors.
❌ If you are on a budget. These filters are primarily designed with professional photographers in mind.
🔎 Cokin U3H422 Z-PRO Expert Gradual and Neutral Density Filter Kit: A great choice of ND filter for professional photographers, offering plenty of versatility. ★★★★
Cokin's U3H422 Z-PRO filter kit is our number one choice for neutral density filters for professionals, offering excellent quality and a good amount of versatility.
This ND filter kit comes with two graduated filters: GND4 and GND8. Graduated filters are a fantastic choice for landscape photography as they're excellent at preserving the details in the foreground, but might not be quite so appropriate for other types of photography, and you'll have to bear in mind the position of the filter.
Our only real complaint with the Cokin U3H422 Z-PRO Expert Gradual and Neutral Density Filter Kit is that its supplied adapter rings can be a little fiddly when attaching them to a filter holder. But it's a fair trade-off: once you get used to applying them, you'll find your images to be beautifully sharp.
We're big fans of the color reproduction in with the Cokin U3H422 Z-PRO Expert filters: They create beautifully vibrant images that are unrivalled by many other ND filter choices. It's a shame that these filters don't offer quite the same level as weather proofing as the NiSi range, which we've featured above, but we still think the Cokin filters are a fantastic choice, particularly for landscape photographers.
| Attributes | Notes |
|---|---|
| Design | Cokin's filters are made to high optical precision for increased sharpness and color fidelity. |
| Performance | Excellent for flexibility and adaptation to a variety of lenses. |
| Functionality | Using the systems filter holder and ring adapters, the filter can be applied to a diverse array of lenses. |
Best for quick changes
✅ You want ND filters you can change quickly. Kase's magnetized inlaid adapter ring means you can change filters quickly and effectively.
✅ You want the best quality. These filters have professional-grade glass, offering great quality images.
❌ You're looking for a greater spectrum of neutral-density grades. This filter has a limited number of 'stops'.
🔎 Kase Revolution CPL & Variable ND: This filter provides a unique approach to attaching filters to your lens, allowing for quicker changeover of filters. ★★★★
The Kase Revolution neutral density filter stands out for one key reason: It makes use of a magnetic threaded and inlaid adapter ring, which means you can change between filters quickly and effectively. It's an unusual feature, and one that some photographers will welcome with open arms.
If you'd like to play around with different densities and achieve different photographic effects without needing to laboriously apply different filters, the Kase Revolution may well be worth looking at.
More than just its magnetic system, however, the Kase Revolution ND filter is made of high quality glass and offers fantastic image quality. It can reduce glare and reflections from non-metallic surfaces (i.e. water and glass), and colors appear enhanced and more vibrant.
It's worth bearing in mind that Kase's approach to being able to quickly swap out filters means that there are some limitations. This filter provides less 'stops' than other choices, so if that's important to you it's worth bearing in mind.
| Attributes | Notes |
|---|---|
| Design | Kase’s magnetised adapter ring revolutionizes changing out filters in a short amount of time. |
| Performance | Performance is rated good in terms of its design and adaptability with magnetised filter holder systems. |
| Functionality | As a variable ND-filter, this can be adjusted from 1.5-5 stops, which is more limited than some other filters. |
Best mid-range
✅ You are looking for mid-range equipment. This filter is suited for both amateur and professional photographers.
❌ You want a broad spectrum of ND-stops. With 4 stops, these filters are more limited than others on the market.
🔎 K&F Concept 55mm UV/CPL/ND Lens Filter Kit: A good choice for novices and advanced users alike, these ND filters boast great quality images, particularly for landscape photographers. ★★★★
Sitting nicely in the middle of the field, the K&F Concept 55mm UV/CPL/ND Lens Filter Kit is a great choice for just about any user of any expertise level. Whether you're just starting out or you're already a seasoned photographer, these are neutral density filters worth considering.
These ND filters provide good protection for your lenses, and thanks to good quality glass, they're capable of capturing some beautiful images. We love that their glass is loaded with waterproofing, anti lens-glare and heat-resistant properties. Better yet, this filter kit comes with its own weather-resistant carrying case so you can rest assured it's always safe when not in use (as long as you put it away properly, of course!)
The K&F Concept 55mm UV/CPL/ND Lens Filter Kit comes in a variety of lens sizes, so can be used with a variety of cameras and lenses. Its one real limitation is that it's limited to four 'stops', making this ND filter best for landscape photographers. If you require a greater amount of 'stops' and more flexibility, it might not be the best choice for you.
| Attributes | Notes |
|---|---|
| Design | Available in a variety of sizes. |
| Performance | As a 4-stop filter, it's more limited than some other ND filters. |
| Functionality | The ring-thread design prevents light entering your shot, whilst providing heat-proof and water resistant properties. |
Best for nightscapes
✅ You like technology: This filter comes with its own smartphone app.
✅ You want the best quality: With ProGlass IRND glass, these filters are second-to-none.
❌ You're on a budget. The best features come with a hefty price tag, so this ND filter probably isn't for beginners.
🔎 LEE Filters 100mm Hard Resin ND Graduated Filter Set: With its own app and cutting-edge glass offering incredible optics, these ND filters are amongst the best available. ★★★★
An ND filter that comes with its own smartphone app? It sounds a little ridiculous, but that's where we are with the LEE Filters 100mm Hard Resin ND Graduated Filter Set. In reality, though, it's actually a great idea: the app has a built-in exposure timer and offers up notifications, taking the math out of getting the best shots with an ND filter. It can really help take your photographer to the next level.
However, square ND filters like the LEE Filters 100 x 100mm ProGlass IRND aren't for everyone. You'll need a 100mm filter holder — such as the LEE100 — and an adaptor ring for your lens. It might all sound fiddly, but it actually makes swapping between ND filters much faster than screw-in circular designs.
Available in various strengths up to 15 stops, Lee filters are about as advanced as they come. The new ProGlass IRND glass offers accurate stop values, lots of contrast, clarity, and accurate colors — in other words, these ND filters are capable of creating stunning images. It comes at a high price, though, meaning the LEE Filters 100mm Hard Resin ND Graduated Filter Set won't be in everyone's budget — but it's worth it.
| Attributes | Notes |
|---|---|
| Design | You'll need ou'll need a 100mm filter holder and an adaptor ring, which may be a bit fiddly for some. |
| Performance | ProGlass IRND glass allows for beautiful optics. |
| Functionality | A dedicated smartphone app takes the math out of setting up the perfect shots. |
Best for use in the rain
✅ You want the best resistances: Multi-resistant coatings make this a great choice for shooting in wet conditions.
❌ You need something other than a circular screw-on filter. The B+W XS-Pro filter doesn't come in any other variety.
🔎 B+W XS-Pro Digital ND MRC Nano ND filters: These ND filters have perhaps the best coatings on the market while still offering great performance. ★★★★
Since neutral density filters are often purposefully used close to waterfalls and on cloudy days, it helps if they can deal with water droplets. That's where the B+W XS-Pro Digital ND MRC Nano ND filters come in, offering better resistances than just about any other filter on the market.
With multi-resistant coating, the B+W XS-Pro Digital filter is able to fend off water droplets (whether that's rain or waterfall spray, for example) but it's also got built-in dirt resistance. Whether you're shooting near a waterfall, then, or trekking off the beaten path, these ND filters are a good choice
It also helps that they can offer up great images. The filter is able to let in light while also reducing reflections, and its SCHOTT glass gives excellent color vibrancy and clarity. The B+W XS-Pro Digital ND MRC Nano is sold in no fewer than 16 sizes, although only as circular screw-ons, so if you require something else, you're out of luck.
| Attributes | Notes |
|---|---|
| Design | It's available in 16 sizes, but only as circular screw-ons. |
| Performance | Made of SCHOTT glass, this filter offer great color and vibrancy. |
| Functionality | Leading glass coatings make this water and dirt resistant. |
Neutral density filters FAQ
How to use a neutral density filter
Although ND filters are little more than smoked glass, they can be fiddly to use. For starters, don't even think about using one unless your camera is on a tripod. That's because not only will you be taking long exposures, but you're going to further increase the time your shutter is open, so any movement within the shot is going to blur.
That's precisely what you want for your subject, but for that to have the desired effect, you'll want to make sure everything else is in focus and sharp. That means using a tripod. However, achieving a sharp focus while your camera lens is wearing an anti-filter can be tricky. So it's best to compose your shot first and only then fetch the ND filter.
How to choose a neutral density filter
ND filters come in two distinct physical shapes and sizes; circular filters that screw onto lenses (do check the thread size in millimeters) and square filters that need to be used with a filter holder. Whichever style you favor you'll also need to specify which strength you want.
ND filters are sold in different densities — expressed as 'stops' — according to how much light they block (a 1-stop or ND2 halves the light, a 10-stop of ND100 just a hundredth). You're essentially paying for the quality of glass, with more expensive ND filters more likely to give you sharper images that retain accurate color.
Here at Space.com, we've scoured the market for the best ND filters and rounded up the very best to suit all budgets. But if you're looking for a new lens to pair with an ND filter, check out our guide to the best lenses for astrophotography or the best zoom lenses.
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