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The best variable ND filter helps you nail your exposures. Whether it’s landscapes, long exposures, or outdoor video, a variable ND filter gives you more exposure control. So we’ve compiled a list of all the best variable ND (neutral density) filters available.
Our top choice is the K&F Concept Variable ND2-ND400 ND Lens Filter. It’s an affordable camera accessory that changes how you approach a shot but improves outcomes. It’s also available in different sizes, so you can find one that fits your lens.
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The best variable ND filter gives you more control over your exposure settings. It lets you shoot with a shallow depth of field or long exposure, even in bright conditions. So you have more freedom over your camera settings when you have no control over the lighting conditions.
You must make sure the variable ND filter fits your lens. Unfortunately, there’s no universal filter thread size on the end of lenses. They can measure anywhere from 37mm to 82mm. But thankfully, most of the ND filters on our list have different size options.
It’s also good to think about the cost. We’ve included some budget-friendly variable ND filters. But the more you spend, the better the quality of the filter. It’s a matter of weighing up what you need vs what you can spend.
You can see a quick rundown of the best variable ND filters in the table below. Then we look at each filter in more detail in the section after. We also have an FAQ section at the end if you need more information on variable ND filters.
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Now we’ll look at all the best variable ND filters. We have filters with a limited range and filters with a wide range. And there are affordable filters and filters for professional budgets.
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The K&F Concept Variable ND2-ND400 ND Lens Filter is a great place to start if you’re new to this type of photography. It’s one of the most affordable variable ND filters on our list. But it also has high optical quality for fantastic results.
You get nine variable stops with an optical density range of ND2 to ND400. This gives you excellent flexibility. You can use it in different conditions or in situations where the conditions change frequently.
It has a super-slim design, adding next to no bulk or weight to your lens. And the outer frame has a non-slip design, making it easy to get the perfect optical density setting.
The filter even comes with a microfiber cleaning cloth. Dust, smudges, and scratches affect your images. So keeping the filter clean is important. And the microfiber cloth lets you do that without any risk of damaging the filter glass.
We highlight and link to the 67mm K&F Concept Variable ND Filter. But plenty of other sizes are available if that’s not the right size for your lens. It’s another reason why this filter is great for beginners. You can get it for pretty much any camera lens.
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The Neewer MRC Variable ND2-ND400 ND Filter is an absolute bargain. It’s the best variable ND filter if your budget is super tight. It strikes the perfect balance of affordable pricing and optical performance.
It has a wide nine-stop optical density range, letting you adjust it between ND2 and ND400. This means you only need to buy one filter even if you work in different lighting conditions. You can readjust as a cloud covers the sky. And you can use the filter in completely different locations.
The filter is made up of four glass elements. And the outer elements have been treated with 42 nano-coatings. They block some unwanted ultraviolet rays. And they help improve picture quality by reducing lens flare and ghosting.
These multi-layer coatings also help protect the Neewer MRC‘s glass. They make it water-repellent and prevent scratches and smudges. That’s always handy when you’re working outside.
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The B+W XS-Pro Digital is a pricier variable ND (VND) filter. But with the extra cost comes professional quality. The optical quality is fantastic. And it can improve your images by reducing flare and ghosting.
With five stops of variability, it doesn’t have the widest optical density range. But that still gives you plenty of flexibility in changeable conditions. And the glass has a Multi-Resistant Coating (MRC) with nano technology that keeps the image quality sharp and clear.
You can combine this filter with other ND filters from B+W. But you need to be aware the Vario ND always needs to be the outermost filter.
4. K&F Concept True Color Variable ND2-32 ND Lens Filter
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The K&F Concept True Color Variable ND2-32 is more expensive than the previous K&F Concept variable ND filter listed. But the overall quality is worth the extra cost.
You only get five stops of variance with this filter. But changing the optical density is easy thanks to the adjuster K&F put on the side. And the hard stop points give you a more accurate shooting experience, as you can adjust it by exact stops.
Lesser ND filters are often prone to some color shifts. But the quality of the glass here prevents any such problems. The outer titanium technology coating also improves quality. And it protects against dirt and scratches.
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The Tiffen 58VND Variable ND Filter is another high-quality VND filter. The optical quality is superb, with the outer element helping to reduce vignetting at wide angles.
It has a seven-stop optical density range, starting at ND2 and increasing to ND256. This means it’s an excellent choice if you’re always working in bright sunlight.
Being so lightweight and compact, variable ND filters are easy to lose. But that’s not the case with the Tiffen 58VND filter. It is compact and lightweight. But it comes with a protective nylon pouch that keeps the filter safe. So it’s easy to store in any camera bag.
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The JJC Variable ND2-2000 has the widest optical density range of all the filters on our list. It starts at ND2 (0.3), and you can increase the density to ND2000 (3.3).
That gives you incredible freedom in changing conditions. And it means you don’t have to buy different ND filters. You have one that works in all conditions. It can help you get a shallow depth of field in daylight. Or you can use it for super-long exposures.
The optical quality is also fantastic. The glass has been treated with a nine-layer anti-reflection coating on both sides. This means it has 18 layers of coating. And it ensures you get sharp images without flare, ghosting, or vignetting.
The JJC’s Variable ND2-2000 is also water-resistant. So you can use it for most types of outdoor photography.
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The GOBE NDX Variable ND Lens Filter is a beautiful piece of glass at an affordable price. Gobe (renamed Urth) isn’t one of the best-known brands for photography gear. But it is bringing new life into the market with its environmental practices. It also makes great equipment.
It gives you nine stops of optical density control from ND2 to ND400. That’s great versatility, allowing you to adapt to your environment as it changes.
The glass also has an eight-layer nano-coating for improved optical quality. It helps to give a neutral color balance and reduces lens flare and ghosting.
We’ve selected the 58mm GOBE NDX filter for our list. But Gobe has plenty of other size options available. It has every size from 37mm to 86mm. You can use a Gobe filter no matter what lens you have.
Gobe’s (Urth’s) green practices are a big reason for their growing popularity. All of Gobe’s packaging materials are recycled. And for every Gobe product you purchase, they donate money to local tree-planting projects around the world. It’s nice to know you’re having a positive impact when buying a product.
8. PolarPro Peter McKinnon 82mm Variable ND Filter II
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Developed in partnership with renowned photographer Peter McKinnon, the PolarPro VND Filter II is a classy piece of kit. It’s one of the pricier VND filters. But it’s a quality product that gives you more accuracy.
It isn’t the most versatile lens filter, with only four stops of optical density variability. But the haptic feedback mechanism allows easy and accurate stop-value changes. You don’t need to remove the filter or take your eye away from the viewfinder to readjust.
It’s one of the more obscured filters. The lowest optical density level is 1.8 (stop 6), and the highest is 2.7 (stop 9). This makes it the perfect filter for extremely bright conditions. And it’s ideal for long-exposure photography in daylight.
Variable neutral density filters are a complicated topic, especially for beginners. But we answer all the important questions to give you a head start. So you’ll be an ND filter expert in no time. And this will help you make an educated decision about buying one.
What Is an ND Filter? What Is a Variable ND Filter?
A neutral density (ND) filter reduces the light that passes through the lens and hits the camera sensor. It does this without diminishing the quality of your image. There’s no color loss. It doesn’t alter color tones. And there’s no loss of detail or increased distortion.
A neutral density filter blocks light in a neutral way. This means it doesn’t change the color of the light as it passes through the filter. It merely decreases the amount of light that can pass through.
A standard neutral density filter has a fixed optical density. So you can’t adjust the amount of light that is blocked. But with a variable ND filter, you can adjust the optical density.
What Is Optical Density? How Is It Measured?
Optical density refers to how strong the filter is. Or rather, how much light the filter blocks from the camera. Its strength can be defined in three ways.
As with many photography settings, the range of ND filters is measured in “stops.” And some filter manufacturers label the variable optical density range in stops. For example, a filter with six stops has six levels of strength you can select.
We measure optical density in stops because of how it relates to your exposure settings. Every ND filter stop affects your image by one exposure stop.
Some manufacturers measure the strength of ND filters in units of optical density. These are measured in units of 0.3. For example, a variable ND filter might have an optical density range of 0.3 to 1.8. And that would give you six stops of optical density adjustment.
Other manufacturers use ND factors as the unit of measurement. The minimum 0.3 optical density is measured as ND2 in this system. And when you increase by one stop, the ND factor doubles. When used this way, the 0.3 to 1.8 ND range would be ND2 to ND64.
The chart below illustrates how optical density is measured.
Why Use a Variable ND Filter?
An ND filter reduces the amount of light getting to the camera sensor via the lens. But why would you want to do that?
The answer is that it gives you more exposure control in bright conditions. Overexposure is a high risk if you’re shooting outside in bright conditions. This means you have to use fast shutter speeds and narrow apertures.
If you’re shooting a landscape with a deep depth of field, that’s no problem. But what if you want a shallow depth of field? Even if you reduce your ISO to the lowest setting, you can’t widen your aperture enough without overexposing the image.
Therefore, using an ND filter lets you use wider apertures to achieve a shallow depth of field. It’s useful for outdoor portrait photography, where a bokeh effect always looks fantastic. And it’s handy for product or food photography in bright conditions.
ND filters are also useful for long-exposure photography. When shooting long exposures, your shutter is open for long periods. So the sensor is exposed to a lot of light.
An ND filter lets you keep the shutter open longer without overexposing the image. So it’s great to use when shooting dynamic subjects like waterfalls or busy cityscapes at night.
Variable neutral density filters are also popular to use with videography cameras. As with photography, ND filters give filmmakers more control over their camera settings. They can get a shallow depth of field in bright sunlight. And they can create more atmosphere when the scene is too bright and flat.
Shot with Sony a7R II and an ND filter at stop 10. 16mm, f/22, 35 seconds, ISO 100. Photo by Fuyu Yeo (Unsplash)
Conclusion: The Best Variable ND Filters
The best variable ND filter gives you more exposure control when shooting in bright conditions. They also let you shoot long exposures in daylight without overexposing your image. It’s a simple but effective photography tool that can transform your results.
The K&F Concept Variable ND2-ND400 ND is our favorite VND filter. It has a wide optical density range. It comes in many sizes (so you can buy one for any lens). And it’s a budget-friendly option for any photographer.
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