INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Sometimes we get so hung up on sharpness that we forget just how great a bit of blur can be
Dial in a long exposure setting on your camera and motion blur can give an ethereal look to waterfalls, and smooth the surface of rivers,
Elsewhere, long exposures are also great for blurring passing vehicles and pedestrians, effectively erasing them from bustling city
scenes.But how can you use a really slow shutter speed in bright daylight, without getting massively overexposed images The answer comes in
the form of the ND (neutral density) filter
High-density 10-stop filters are particularly popular, enabling you to stretch your exposure time, for example, from 1/60th of a second to
around 15 to 20 seconds, without changing the aperture or ISO setting.Sometimes a 10-stop ND filter will be too powerful
For example, you might want to take portraits on a sunny day, using a wide aperture to give a tight depth of field that blurs the background
now make ND filters in a large range of stopping powers, from a single stop to 10 stops or even moreMany manufacturers now make ND filters
These are constructed from a pair of polarizing filters and, when one is rotated against the other, you can typically adjust the stopping
power between two and eight stops
Regular ND filters tend to enable better image quality for stills photography and are more straightforward to use, while fader filters are
generally more popular with videographers.A major buying consideration is whether to go for square filters that mount in a holder and attach
to the lens via an adaptor ring, or to buy circular screw-in filters
A range of basic adapter rings can also make it easier to use square filters with a variety of lenses that have different attachment thread
This is because the viewfinder image can be very dark with the filter fitted, even under bright sunlight
Square filters are therefore more straightforward to use, as you simply need to slide them in and out of the holder, rather than repeatedly
screwing them onto the lens and unscrewing them again
However, with digital cameras becoming increasingly proficient in Live View mode, it can be easier to fit the filter and then to use the
rear LCD (or electronic viewfinder, if featured) for shooting.Below we've listed six of the best ND filters and filter systems from the
B+W F-Pro 110 ND Filter 3.0 MRCA range of well-rounded circular filtersPremium build qualityGood range of densities and sizesLarger filters
can be very priceyProduce a slight red color shiftThe B+W line of filters is made by the legendary German photographic outfit, Shneider
anti-reflective and scratch-resistant properties, all of which are useful in high-density filters.Construction quality is good, based on a
slim-profile brass mount with a black anti-reflective coating
1, 2, 3, 6 and 10-stop filters are available, mostly with attachment threads ranging between 25.5mm and 122mm
As usual, larger sized filters are more expensive to buy, and not all densities are available in all sizes
Performance is good overall, but we experienced a noticeable red color shift during our tests.2
holders feel a bit plastickyCokin made the square filter system famous, as well as bringing creative filters to the masses
option for X-Pro 130mm holders.While many Cokin filters are plastic or resin, these are made from Schott mineral glass with a nano-structure
metallic alloy coating, to optimize light transmittance while minimizing reflections
They proved very effective in our tests, with minimal color shift.3
Formatt-Hitech Firecrest NDIt keeps all the options openAvailable in square and circular sizesWide range of densities and sizesAs usual,
extra-large sizes are priceyFirecrest Ultra series more durableBased in Wales, the Formatt Hitech company manufactures a wide range of
high-quality filters, and its Firecrest ND filters come in a wider range than most
For starters, you can choose between square or circular options
Square filters are available in five popular sizes to fit pretty much any holder type, and in everything from 1-stop to 10-stop densities,
in single-stop increments
Then there are Firecrest 13 and 16 options, with 13-stop and 16-stop ultra-high-density ratings respectively.In the round camp, there are
Again, single-stop increments are available between 1-stop and 10-stop, while the 13-stop and 16-stop circular filters are available in
72mm, 77mm and 82mm sizes
They preformed extremely well in our tests, with excellent color accuracy.4
Hoya ProNDDensities from 1-stop to 16.6 stopsNegligible color shiftPricey if you need a variety of sizesProfile is thicker than some
rivalsJust as Cokin made square filters famous, Hoya is the first name most people think of for circular, screw-in filters
Typical of the company's output, the ProND range of filters is well crafted from high-quality materials, and features black frames that help
to minimize unwanted reflections
shift.The range has grown to include nine filters which give reductions of between one and nine f/stops, most with a variety of thread
diameters from 49mm up to 82mm
Prices are pretty competitive throughout the range, and throughout our tests we found performance to be fabulous.5
One of its most famous filters is the Big Stopper, which has a 10-stop rating
The Stopper range of square filters has now been extended to include the Little Stopper, with a 6-stop rating, and the 15-stop Super Stopper
Overall, the system works extremely well and is ideally suited to pro-grade photography
Indeed, the SW150 Mk II filter system includes adapters for leading ultra-wide lenses with built-in hoods, which preclude the attachment of
a holder via a screw-in adaptor ring
to look at budget options
The range stretches from 40.5mm to 82mm, so covers most eventualities.Despite the relatively low selling prices, construction quality and
performance are very pleasing
Our test images had a slightly warm color cast, but the light-stopping effect was very even across the whole frame, and vignetting was
negligible, even with wide-angle lenses
sells less powerful ND filters in 1, 2, 3 and 4-stop options.g4e9fcojKsoLzvSabReBJ.jpg#
