A basic overview of filters and how they're used in photography.
Filter Basics
Filters are typically used to control the brightness of areas in the image (for example, a bright sky) or adjust the exposure time creating a variety of in-camera effects.
This page provides a basic overview of filters for the filter novice, plus links to additional pages detailing filters used in specific applications, such as landscape photography.
Neutral Density Filter Basics
- Creating shallow depth of field during daytime
- Making water appear misty and ethereal
- Removing people from busy areas
- Transforming clouds and skies
- Adjust exposure on cinema cameras because shutter duration is fixed
What is Filter Density
- 0.3 = 1 stop
- 0.6 = 2 stops
- 0.9 = 3 stops
- (etc)
Popular ND Filter Uses
4-6 stop ND filters create a moderate lengthening of exposure time to create a misty effect in moving water. Usually around 1 second.
6-10 stop ND filters create 2-30 second exposures that are perfect for waterfalls, streams, and seashores.
13 stop ND filters are used to create ethereal effects in water and clouds, with exposure times around 2 minutes in duration, especially in areas where clouds are moving quickly (such as coastal cities).
16 stop ND filters are used to create the long exposure effects - such as streaky clouds and flat water - that have been popularized by photographers such as Joel Tjintjelaar. 16 stop filters allow the photographer to make 5-8 minute exposures, even during mid-day lighting conditions.
Choosing an ND Filter
Firecrest ND
Firecrest NDs are glass filters that use a technologically advanced rare-earth metal coating to create the most neutral filters in the world. Firecrest ND coating is a huge technological advancement when compared to any previous generation ND filter. Firecrest ND filters feature an almost perfectly even absorption of light across all spectrums (including UV and infrared) resulting in hyper-neutral NDs at all densities. In fact they’re so neutral, that for the first time we can create 13 and 16 stop densities in a single filter without significant color cast. Clearly, the advantage of Firecrest is most evident at the darkest densities, such as 10, 13 and 16 stops.
Because the ND effect comes from the coating itself, we’ve gone to great lengths to protect it. On our rectangular filters the coating is sandwiched between two pieces of bonded glass. This protects the coating completely and allows us to lap and polish the filters to the highest tolerance in the industry, meaning your filters will have the lowest possible distortion. On our circular filters, the coating is featured on the outside of the filter because the ring protects the filter. This allows us to add anti reflective and hydrophobic coatings to the outside of our circular filters.
Firecrest filters are available between 1-10 stops of ND, plus 13 and 16 stops for long exposure.
Standard ND
Standard ND filters are professional quality resin ND filters available between 1-4 stops of ND. Standard NDs don’t block infrared, but they only go up to 4 stops of density, so infrared is not an issue because there is not enough filter factor to overwhelm the digital sensor. With standard NDs, you get a professional quality ND at a really low price. Shop Formatt Hitech Standar Neutral Density filters
Variable ND
Variable ND filters work between approximately 2-6 stops. Variable NDs are actually two polarizers that counteract each other to create the ND effect. Meaning there is a slight polarization effect. For DSLR filmmakers working quickly the Variable ND is a terrific tool. Shop Formatt Hitech Variable ND filters
ND Filter Variations
ND filters are also available as grads or graduated ND filters. These filters provide the ND effect on a selected part of the scene. The most common use of a grad filter is to reduce the luminance of a bright sky to match the terrain below. Shop graduated Neutral Density filters
