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What is ND filter and what effect could they bring to you?

What's ND filter?

ND filter (Neutral density filter) is used to reduce the light getting through the lens, which allow you to use slower shutter speed or large aperture. It is the necessary filter for long exposure photography.

Neutral Density filters are the most commonly used along with C-PL and UV filters. These filters, instead of the ones that protect the lens from damage or UV pollution, were created to decrease the volume of the light entering the lens. True ND filters decrease light equally to achieve the same density through the all visual spectrum giving no changes in color balance of the image. That is why the called Neutral Density.

Long Exposure

Heavy-stop NDs allow you to extend shutter speeds to extremely long lengths of time for creative photographic applications.

Why ND filter is important?

We have already entered the era of super high sensitivity, super high resolution photographic equipment. Obviously, the power of this huge sensor can easily be affected by lenses and other optical accessories that are located right on the path of the light entering the camera. In other words, the filter quality serves as the front "gate" for the light to enter and is of the utmost importance.

In particular, ND filters have become a must for high sensitivity cameras with ISO settings that starts from 200 or 100. This is the reason that ND filters currently garner a high level of attention and have strict quality requirements. Professional photographers requires ND filters that decrease light volume in the most natural and harmless way.

For what kind of photo?

Do you want to express your creativity using a fixed neutral density filter?

You could for example shoot:

- A waterfall, river, sea.

- An urban scene with cars.

- A place where you want to erase bystanders (eg. Times Square).

GiAi produce 4 kinds of ND filter -- ND8, ND16, ND64 and ND1000, which reduce light 3 stops, 4 stops, 6 stops and 10 stops. Usually ND8 filter can be used for photography at nightfall, for example, the sunset, and car traffic. And ND64 and ND1000 filter can be used for waterfall, etc.