Buying guide
ND Filters Buying Guide (2027)
How to choose an ND filter in 2027: stops explained, variable versus fixed, colour casts, X-cross, thread sizes and step-up rings.
Stops: the only ND language that matters
ND numbers confuse; stops clarify. ND2 cuts 1 stop, ND4 cuts 2, ND8 cuts 3, ND64 cuts 6, ND400 is about 8 to 9, and ND1000 cuts 10. Video in bright sun at 1/50 shutter typically needs 4 to 6 stops. A 10-stop ND1000 turns a 1/125 daylight exposure into 8 seconds. Buy by the stops your shooting actually requires, and treat any range claim beyond the marked stops as marketing.
Variable versus fixed
Variable NDs trade a slice of optical purity for dial-a-stop speed, which is why video owns them: exposure changes with the light, mid-scene, without a filter swap. Fixed NDs are single-density glass with no polariser interaction, no X-cross and the cleanest colour, which is why long-exposure stills own them. The mature kit holds a premium variable for motion work and an ND1000 for stills minimalism.
Colour cast, X-cross and wide lenses
Every variable ND shifts colour somewhat at high density and can print an X-cross of uneven darkness on wide lenses pushed too far. Mitigations are engineered (hard stops, limiters, True Color foils) and behavioural: stay within marked ranges, white-balance after setting density, and test your widest lens at your deepest stop before a paid day. Telephoto shooters should prioritise glass quality, since ND softness shows first at long focal lengths.
Sizes, step-up rings and frames
Buy the filter in your largest lens thread, commonly 82mm for pro zooms, and adapt smaller lenses with step-up rings; one great filter beats three mediocre ones. Prefer slim frames for wide lenses, front threads for caps and stacking, and brass frames if you shoot in cold or dusty places where aluminium threads gall and seize. Keep a microfibre and blower ritual: NDs live on lenses in bright, dusty, windy places by definition.
Start with our top 3
The three highest-ranked products in our full nd filters ranking. Read the in-depth review where one exists, or jump to the product in the ranked list.
PolarPro Peter McKinnon Variable ND II
The premium variable ND with hard stops and a defender lens cap system.
- Type: Variable ND, hard-stop editions
- Density: Edition 1: ND4 to ND32 (2 to 5 stops); Edition 2: ND64 to ND512 (6 to 9 stops)
B+W XS-Pro MRC Nano Variable ND
German variable ND with MRC Nano coatings and a slim brass frame.
- Type: Variable ND
- Density: ND2 to ND32, approx. 1 to 5 stops
Tiffen Variable ND Filter
The long-running ND2 to ND400 variable from the cinema filter house.
- Type: Variable ND
- Density: ND2 to ND400, approx. 1 to 8 stops
Questions, answered
Do ND filters reduce image quality?
Premium NDs are visually transparent apart from density. Budget variables cost some sharpness and colour fidelity at deep settings. The exposure control they enable improves real-world quality far more than their small optical tax on most work.
Can I use an ND filter for solar or eclipse photography?
Standard ND filters, even ND1000, are not certified solar filters and are not safe for direct sun viewing or unprotected solar imaging. Use purpose-built solar film and filters rated for the task.
What is an IRND and do I need one?
Infrared pollution can tint shadows on some sensors at deep ND densities, notably in video. IRND filters block it. If your deep-density footage shows muddy reddish shadows that grading cannot fix, IR-cut variants are the professional remedy.
How do I clean an ND filter in the field?
Blower first, then a clean microfibre with a drop of lens solution if needed, wiping in slow circles. Never use a shirt corner on coated glass you paid a premium for.