Do you need one of the best neutral density filters? If you're experimenting with long exposure photography then the answer is probably yes.
Little more than dark glass, neutral density filters (aka ND filters) are designed to control light. They purposefully reduce the amount of light that reaches your camera lens and, therefore, your camera's sensor. That means you can open the shutter for longer.
So with an ND filter, you must use shorter shutter speeds to get the same image. Why would you want to do that? Usually, it's to capture motion.
Those beautiful milky water images of waterfalls that you've seen all over Instagram are created using an ND filter. They're also commonly used to create other kinds of motion blur images such as traffic trails, streaky clouds and ghosted images of crowds, as well as for creating a shallow depth of field while working in bright conditions. Some kinds of ND filters can also be used for nightscape astrophotography as well.
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. X2 Shorlistee Astronomy Photographer of the Year Competition (2017/2023), 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 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
High-quality, expert-quality class is a suitable choice for professional photographers.
Quality-grade filters for professional photographers
Professional-grade fixed and variable ND Filters
Good quality filtering for amateur and professional photographers alike
Professional-grade fixed and variable ND Filters
Best neutral density filters 2024 that we recommend
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Best value
✅ If starting out, these are a great series of ND-Filters for beginners. Not only are they affordable, they are of a quality to experiment with long-exposure photography.
✅ You are looking for filters within an affordable price range. These filters may not be the highest-end, but are practical for within their budget and design.
❌ If you are looking for more advanced, robust filters. As the price suggests, these filters are best adapted for beginners.
❌May not be ebay suited for professional photographers and so more advanced equipment may be preferred with other models on the market.
🔎 Hoya ProND circular ND filters: Hoya's ProND circular ND filters are a great choice for beginner photographers. Not only is there a broad selection of filters, they provide a flavor of what is possible. ★★★★
This is a great series of neutral-density filters for aspiring and beginner photographers. The Hoya ProND filter kit consists of three filters, all constructed using anodized aluminum and an ACCU-ND coating to create a neutral color balance.
These filters vary from 3-stop, 8-stop, and 10-stop filters. They have a supplied lens thread, which, although it secures the filter firmly in front of the lens element, makes it a timely process to swap out filters. 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. These filters are also available individually in myriad sizes and strengths.
| Attributes | Notes |
|---|---|
| Design | The design of the Hoya Filters is good, although not rigid and reflective in price. |
| Performance | providing a variation in ND-filter strengths, this is a good selection for various photographic applications. |
| Functionality | As adaptable thread filters, and reasonable, build, these filters provide multiple applications. |
Best square professional-grade filters
✅ You are looking for quality, well-machined glass for versatile applications and quality build. NiSi's products are designed to a professional level.
✅ If you're looking for an affordable price margin, Nisi offers filters with a good design-to-budget margin, which is another reason to pursue Nisi.
❌ You don't want to invest in more equipment: Being advanced equipment, you will need to invest in the appropriate filter holder systems, which is expected of a professional-entry kit.
❌ No thread: This option may not be desired if wishing to use thread filters to which Nisi offers alternative versions on their website.
🔎 Nisi 6-stop ND Filters: Nisi's 6-stop ND Filters are a good selection for affordable, quality built professional-grade products, not only weather resistant, provide sharp images are great build quality. ★★★★
Nisi's 6-stop ND Filter Kit comes with a selection of filters available in varying densities to acquire an array of photographic effects. Not only does it provide sharp images and excellent build quality, but Nisi also provides hydrophobic and oleophobic coatings, which are both water and grease-repellent. Nisi's equipment is of a professional grade and so can be deemed a great option for both amateur and professional photographers alike. They are within an affordable price range, and Nisi also caters to its target market with these filters being available in varying sizes (100 x 100mm and 100 x 150mm) to fit a variety of lenses with Nisi's compatible 100mm Filter System.
NiSi offers an exposure calculator app for smartphones that makes short work of calculating shutter speeds when using these ND filters.
| Attributes | Notes |
|---|---|
| Design | Nisi providing design and building precision for professional grade filters. |
| Performance | Being designed and constructed to a high-standard, provides sharp images and minimal color-casting. |
| Functionality | Using Nisi's filter systems, are a great option to provide full-lens coverage in conjunction with the filter. |
Best budget filter kit
✅ You are seeking professional-grade filters built to a high specification and standard. As thread adapters, they completely cover the entire lens element.
✅You are looking for a versatile, broad range of filters which can be adapted to a number of photographic applications.
❌ If you need filters to fit a variety of lenses. These filters are available in individual sizes rather than a set.
❌ If you are looking for an option of quick-changeover filters. As thread filters, this is an option for photographers focusing on single applications.
🔎 Tiffen 3-Piece Filter Kit: Tiffen's Tiffen 3-Piece Filter Kit is a good selection for professional-grade Neutral Density Filters. As a three-piece kit, provides a great spectrum for multiple photographic applications ★★★★
The Tiffen ND-Filter range provides a wide selection of ND Filters for various applications and artistic photographic effects. Presented as a three-piece kit is suitable for brighter and darker environments. Using a lens thread attachment, these filters are more purposefully designed by being securely attached to the lens over the timely process of swapping out the filters. Because of their affordability, the quality is slightly more flimsy than other filters on the market but provides photographers accessibility to such filters at a more affordable price-range. Ultimately, their affordability results in less color fidelity within the filter optics and would be worth bearing in mind with this choice of filter selection.
| Attributes | Notes |
|---|---|
| Design | Tiffen provides professional grade filters for quality optics and enhanced precision. |
| Performance | Being thread adapters, it will naturally take more time to swap out filters, for the compromise of quality performance. |
| 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 are seeking equipment that provides true color-fidelity and weatherproofing. A good selection and applications for professional photographers
❌ If you are looking for filters on a tighter budget. These filters are primarily designed with professional photographers in mind
❌This filter application uses a filter holder system, which naturally requires more components. Its worth checking their website for further applications
🔎 Cokin U3H422 Z-PRO Expert Gradual and Neutral Density Filter Kit: Cokin's Expert Gradual and Neutral Density Filter Kit is a great selection with professional photographers in mind with a number of applications and versatility amongst lenses. ★★★★
Cokin's professional-grade Z-Pro kit really has taken into consideration the choice of lenses for professional photographers. Even though the adapter rings supplied can be a tad fiddly when attaching the filter holder to your lens of choice, the setup executes a variety of applications with professional-grade glass.
The supplied GND4 and GND8 are graduated filters. Although beneficial for landscape photography in preserving foreground details, it is worth bearing in mind how you position the filter for other photographic applications. While you don't get the same weather-proofing as the NiSi range, you get excellent color reproduction. If you are a serious landscape photographer the Cokin Z-Pro system is a good recommendation.
| Attributes | Notes |
|---|---|
| Design | Cokin's filters are made to high optical precision and optical materials for increased sharpness and color fidelity. |
| Performance | Performance is rated as excellent for flexibility and adaptation to a variety of lenses. Therefore requiring more time for photo-setup. |
| 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 are looking for a simplified route to Neutral Density Filters, using Kase's magnetized inlaid adapter ring to changeover filters quickly and effectively.
✅ You wish to implement new, adaptive processes to your photography workflow whilst maintaining quality optical design and build
❌ If you are looking for a greater spectrum of neutral-density grades, as this filter has a limited number of 'stops' naturally on the design of this filter.
❌ This filter is limited to the number of lenses it can support and therefore external ring adapters may need to be purchased
🔎 Kase Revolution CPL & Variable ND: Kase's CPL & Variable ND-Filter provides a unique approach to attaching filters to your lens, allowing for quicker changeover of filters. Overall, it would need to be adapted for other lenses outside of 77mm. ★★★★
The Kase Revolution (1.5-5 stop) ND filter provides a new adaptation to Neutral Density Filters. Boasting a magnetic threaded and inlaid adaptor ring, allows the user to change filters quickly and more effectively.
The filter's intention is to reduce glare and reflections from non-metallic surfaces, such as water and glass. It also enhances colors, making images appear more vibrant. High optical glass is built into its design, ensuring minimal degradation of your images.
This variable filter takes into account not having to swap out filters. Although this approach reduces the ease of swapping out filters, there are limitations in this design. If you, per se, wish to acquire more 'stops' than you would with a solid-filter alternative, you are limited by the number of stops this filter provides. This is a new approach, and the intention of this design is to make the approach to ND filters more accessible.
| Attributes | Notes |
|---|---|
| Design | Kase’s magnetised adapter ring revolutionises a unique approach to changing out filters in a short amount of time. |
| Performance | Performance rated as 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 and is this suited for limited photographic applications. |
Best mid-range
✅ You are looking for mid-range equipment that is suited for both amateur and professional photographers and a selection of filters with varied ND-stops.
✅ Looking to invest in filters for a broad spectrum of lens sizes. K&F Concept has you covered and so the correct lens size would need to be selected.
❌ You are looking for a greater spectrum of ND-stops. The ring-thread adapters are great to provide full coverage and thus more options can be found at K&F's website.
❌ You are looking to select a variable ND approach. These filters are more time consuming in terms of photographic setup for compromise of optics.
🔎 K&F Concept 55mm UV/CPL/ND Lens Filter Kit: It is clear to see that K&F Concept has gone the extra mile to cater for as many photographic setups as possible, providing an array of ND-stops for most photographic scenarios. ★★★★
The K&F Concept 3-Piece Polariser, Ultraviolet and Neutral-Density Filter-Set provides adequate protection and filtering for your photographic equipment.
Available in a range of lens sizes, these filters are designed for outdoor use. They boast good-quality waterproof, lens-glare, and heat-resistant properties. The filter kit comes with its own weather-resistant carrying case.
The one limitation is that the ND Filter supplied is designed to a maximum of four ' stops, ' which makes this kit best suited to landscape photography and may not be suitable for other photographic applications.
| Attributes | Notes |
|---|---|
| Design | K&F Concept has adapted its ND-setup to a wide variety of lenses, which is well suited for a versatility of applications. |
| Performance | As a 4-stop filter, this selection is limited to the one filter but provides a Polariser and Ultraviolet to protect your lens optics. |
| Functionality | The ring-thread design prevents light entering your shot, whilst providing heat-proof and water resistant properties; as a compromise for a more time-consuming installation. |
Best for nightscapes
ND filters that come with a smartphone app? It's a novel idea, but with a built-in exposure timer and notifications, it helps take the math out of using these excellent ND filters. 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 — the reward for paying the admittedly high prices.
Best for use in the rain
Since ND filters are often purposefully used close to waterfalls and on cloudy days, it helps if they can deal with water droplets. Cue the B+W XS-Pro Digital ND MRC Nano, high-end ND filters that do something unusual with their multi-resistant coating. Able to fend off water droplets — be that spray from waterfalls or just plain old rain — that coating also defends against dirt. Able to let through light while reducing reflections, its SCHOTT glass ups the color and clarity. The B+W XS-Pro Digital ND MRC Nano is sold in no fewer than 16 sizes, though only as circular screw-ons.
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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