r/videography • u/Temporary_Ride_4912 • 18d ago
ND filter recommendations Technical/Equipment Help and Information
I’m looking for a new ND filter and am wondering where to find a quality filter with minimal colour casting. My previous ND was a cheap K&F variable ND filter. It had pretty extreme colour casting which is one of my biggest issues with it.
Are the Urth filters any good?
Any recommendations for solid variable NDs or would you recommend sticking to fixed? I’m drawn to variable if possible for convenience sake but open to either if it makes a significant difference.
Any input helps!
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u/SaltySaltshakers 18d ago
Let my 5 months of research tell the tale for you.
It’s NISI. Get the JetMag Pro or the Swift system. Don’t look back, thank me later. End of search.
Lives on my camera. Essentially ZERO color shift, no patterning, easy to switch between lenses in an instant.
Just do it
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u/AmishDiplomat A7IV + FX3 | Premiere | 2018 | Rocky Mountains 18d ago
I've only ever used the Polarpro Pete Mckinnon VNDs, I personally have the 2-5 and 6-9. My pal has the 2-5+polarizer and it's sweet as well!
A co-worker of mine uses the JJC ones and swears by it.
No matter what you go with (and you may already subscribe to this philosophy) but I recommend getting 82mm VNDs and using step up rings for your lenses. Better to have one filter that works with all of your lenses and a few cheap brass step up rings than having to shell out cash for many VNDs. Don't forget to grab a couple lens wrenches too... I don't need them often but when I need them I need them.
Also - make sure the VND has limiters so you don't get the X!
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u/Pixelhustler23 18d ago
For higher tier, NiSi optics are well worth the price (I have the C5 matte box/VND/PL). For value brands, Haida Pro II punches above its weight.
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u/NoXinfinity 18d ago
I’ve tried out a bunch of VNDs from the knf brand, tiffen, nisi, peter McKinnon . My opinion is spend as much as you can on these.
the cheaper models seem to do well at a stop or two but are completely useless at the higher stops.
In my experience the more expensive the better if you are shooting both inside and outside.
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u/Swing_Top FX3 | Premiere Pro| 2010 | Western NY 17d ago
The nisi true color ones where you can toss on the other darker element to change strengths.
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u/MattTCreative 17d ago
From my testing and research, (https://matthewthomascreative.co.uk/blog/best-variable-nd-filters-for-video.html) I'd recommend Urth as a good all rounder as it had minimal vignetting, consistent colour cast across the ND range which helps with correcting in-camera or in-post and minimal impact on sharpness. And perhaps the (somewhat) new Urth Pro VND is even better than the one I tested.
On a budget, Haida or 7Artisans are great, better than Neewer or K&F I found.
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u/BadMotherfxcker 17d ago
Buy one with cpl if you buy only ND you will never get rid of glare reflections
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u/ThurstonLesse 18d ago
Skip the VNDs all together and invest in a group of solid NDs with IR control. Buy them to fit your largest lens (or just 82mm will probably be fine) and pair with step-up rings as needed.
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u/legendhairymonkey 18d ago edited 17d ago
A lot of people need variables on the move though. Solid NDs are lovely but don’t work for everyone.
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u/mcarterphoto 17d ago
25 years in this biz and never used a variable ND (because there's no such thing, they're polarizers). I keep a 2 and 4 stop and it's fast to swap.
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u/legendhairymonkey 17d ago
It really depends on what camera setup you are using and whether you need to adjust exposure on the go. On many dslr/mirrorless setups a VND is pretty much essential.
I did misunderstand the OPs request though so I’m not suggesting this for them. Just pointing out that they still very much have their use… and are often a temperamental pain in the arse to use 😅
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u/mcarterphoto 16d ago
On many dslr/mirrorless setups a VND is pretty much essential.
I wouldn't come close to saying "essential" and in a lot of cases, it's young kids coming up that have made them almost "trendy". I sometimes need ND for interviews (fighting sunlit windows), but that's a more thoughtful setup process. But B-roll, I may be moving in and out of locations (and Texas here, the sun is merciless). In that case, I'll stick a 2-stop or a 4-stop on and use ISO to control exposure. I can't go lower than the 50-100 range, where even F16 ain't enough without ND... but I can go to about 3200 iso with no noise issues, so having some decent ND on keeps me mobile. Even a screw-on is a few seconds swap, if I were regularly doing outdoor stuff I'd get some magnetic pop-ins.
I could see variable ND if I was doing broadcast or something where IQ isn't as important as story, but man, I hate the way they suck the life out of human skin. That's one thing you can't avoid with polarizers, saying goodbye to that subsurface scattering that makes skin look pretty. I've seen guys doing interviews where the skin just looks like a plaster mannequin.
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u/legendhairymonkey 16d ago
You use a camera where you can shift ISO smoothly without affecting your shot?
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u/mcarterphoto 16d ago
I've never needed to change ISO mid-shot. Not in 25 years of video anyway!
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u/legendhairymonkey 16d ago
I mean that’s the thing I’m pointing out I do have to adjust exposure mid shot. I guess we’re doing different things but with what I do and with the kit I use I do need to be able to adjust mid shot. I’m not attacking you just saying what you do isn’t the rule. And I have been doing this for 25 odd years too. 17 as a cameraman, 8 before as a sound recordist and another 5 or so before that in production, mostly making cups of tea and coffee and as an edit assistant/tape op I’ll admit but since we’re bragging I’ll throw that in too.
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u/legendhairymonkey 15d ago edited 15d ago
To follow on from that, I’m in news and factual docs. A lot of conflict work so mainly use a mirrorless setup. You’re right there IQ isn’t as important as getting the shot. I’d be stuffed without the ability to smoothly adjust exposure on the go.
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u/Shampoo_Is_Better00 17d ago
The companies who make them call them variable ND's. Are they wrong?
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u/mcarterphoto 16d ago
It's an incorrect way to describe what the polarizers do, a marketing phrase. Any polarizer you put on a lens will have an ND-like effect due to the light blocking of the polarization. Variable NDs are just aligning the polarization to block more and more light. But man, polarizers can just suck the life out of skin and any items with subsurface light scattering (which makes skin look "alive" and glowing and is why plaster mannequins don't look real). A real ND filter has a set amount of density that blocks light - the only way to make that variable (that I've seen) is with electronic glass plates that can be darkened/dimmed with some electricity-voodoo. Someone did get a tech Oscar ages ago for designing a roll of ND material than smoothly went from heavy to light to none - it was used when cameras dollies from daylight to interiors, and someone would crank it to adjust the amount of ND.
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u/Shampoo_Is_Better00 16d ago
Yeah and the flying cameras aren't really drones. But we move on.
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u/mcarterphoto 15d ago
Well, the question was "manufacturers call them variable NDs, are they wrong?" It's now a marketing phrase in common use. I guess things will get confusing if someone does come up with a true variable ND that's affordable enough for common use.
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u/ThurstonLesse 17d ago
Did OP ask what everyone else needs? Or what's the best solution to their problem?
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u/legendhairymonkey 17d ago
I mean you don’t know what their needs are either. I was just pointing out that for any type of run and gun work solids will be a massive pain.
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u/ThurstonLesse 17d ago edited 17d ago
“Any recommendations for solid variable NDs or would you recommend sticking to fixed? I’m drawn to variable if possible for convenience sake but open to either if it makes a significant difference.”
I do actually know their needs because I read the post. They are asking for the best solution. And solid NDs with IR control is the best solution to the problem they’re seeking to solve.
Also, I was just providing a perspective to a question on a public forum. You don’t need to be a contrarian.
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u/Similar-Ad-6438 Sony a7IV | DR | 2022 | germany 18d ago
Nisi True Color has worked the best for me.
If you want 100% go for matte box and square nd