Whether you are a professional photographer or a hobbyist, many times, the one thing you need to get that perfect daylight image is long exposure. However, with more prolonged exposure and reduced shutter speed comes the battle between your camera lens and bright light. Here is where the neutral density filter comes into play. These filters are closely guarded secrets; they are used by many photographers to capture compelling images that promise to leave you speechless. For the rest of this piece, we would be revealing all you need to know to select the best neutral density filter for your camera. This way, just as we have done in the review section above, choosing an ND filter will be easy.
What is a Neutral Density Filter?
A Neutral Density Filter or ND filter is a particular type of filter placed in front of the camera lens to help reduce or block the amount of light that gets into the camera sensor.
What are the Functions of a Neutral Density Filter?
Are you wondering what an ND filter can do for your images? Here are some of the benefits you get to enjoy when you have the right ND filter.
It Helps with Getting Shots that Require Long Exposure
The possibility of achieving long exposures on a bright day is very slim due to the inability of a camera shutter to match the speed of light.
To tackle this problem, all you need is an ND filter. So what does the Filter do, you ask? It's pretty simple; since long exposure shots require a longer shutter speed when you place an ND filter in front of the cameras lens, it reduces the light intensity on the sensors.
It Helps Slow Down Shutter Speed and makes Capturing Beautiful Sceneries Possible
Slowing down shutter speed is another very vital function of a neutral density filter. Ordinarily, once you place an ND filter in front of a camera lens, the shutter speed will be slowed down since less light is getting into the camera.
When this happens, anything moving in the frame becomes blurry. This makes it suitable for capturing waterfalls, heavy traffic, rivers, clouds, smoke, and making people disappear from pictures. However, you should also know that to achieve this effect, you will need a tripod to ensure that the camera steady.
It Establishes the Possibility of Controlling brightness and Maintaining a Shallow Depth of Field
When you try to capture the image of an object with your f/1.8mm lens in the middle of a sunny day, you will quickly find yourself struggling and trying to increase the shutter speed of your camera because of overexposure. With an ND filter, you don't need to worry about this issue anymore. ND filters make maintaining selective focus and depth of field possible.
What are the Different Types of Neutral Density Filter?
Here we would categorize ND filters into ample categories. The first classification will be by their shapes. The second classification will be by the ability to vary their neutral densities.
Classification of ND filters According to Their Shapes
When choosing ND filters by their shape, you only have two choices. It's either you opt for the circular screw-on ND filters or square-shaped neutral density filters with filter holder.
1. Circular ND Filters
The screw-on circular neutral density filters come in various sizes, depending on the size of your camera lens. We call them screw-on because they have unique threadings that allow you to screw them in front of the camera lens.
You should also know that using a large circular filter for a small lens is possible with a screw-on filter; all you have to do is obtain some stepping rings. However, the reverse will not be possible; you cannot use a small-sized filter for a large lens.
2. Rectangular ND filters
When you opt for a rectangular ND filter, you are not limited to one ND filter for one lens; this means you can choose to use one rectangular filter with multiple lenses. The only disadvantage here is that sometimes you have to deal with light leaks.
Classification of ND filters according to their Ability to Vary their Density
Some neutral density filters can vary their density. Three types of ND filters belong to this category:
- The Graduated Neutral Density filteris majorly square-shaped; it has a coating that makes it possible to transition from light to dark.
- There are also variable-neutral Density filters with more than one ND stops in one filter.
- Lastly, you also get the Central ND filter with a dark center and bright edges.
These ND filters have their different purposes in photography; for one, a Graduated ND filter is useful when you need to balance the level of exposure in an image that contains both bright lights and shadows.
FAQs
When Should You Use a Neutral Density Filter?
The best time to use a Neutral Density filter is to take landscape photographs in an area where the light is bright. The ND filter's duty is to reduce the amount of light entering the camera lens, thereby making it possible to accomplish longer exposure times that would be typically hard to attain and maintain.
What is the Best ND Filter for Waterfalls?
If you are trying to capture a waterfall, the best ND filter will be the 3-stop ND filter. However, 10-stop ND filters also work well for long exposures that include waterfall under the midday sun.
What is the best ND filter for landscape photography?
When it comes to landscape photography, the best ND filter the best is the 6-stop ND filter. This filter guarantees the long exposure time required for shooting sunrise, sunsets, moving waterfalls.
What is the Difference Between a Neutral Density Filter and a Polarizing Filter?
As discussed earlier, the job of a neutral density filter is to block out light by reducing exposure of the camera lens to bright light, thereby making it possible to shoot under longer exposure time and wider apertures. On the other hand, a polarizing duty is to control the direction where light is coming to help boost the saturation, color, and contrast of the final image.
How do you use a neutral density filter for portraits?
Although not commonly used for portrait photography, you can use the neutral density filter to take portrait images. To achieve this, first set up your camera and flash; next, place the filter on your lens. Once you do this, open up the stops on your camera's aperture, as seen on the ND filter. Then, proceed to take the shots.