NDFilterglasses

Fixed ND filters come in a range of densities to meet the needs of the photographer and the conditions they might be shooting in. A lighter density filter, like a 3-stop, will allow the photographer to select a shutter speed 3 stops slower:

Color shift is amplified by low-quality materials, poor manufacturing, and ignoring the infrared band of the light spectrum.

A denser filter, like a 6-stop or 10-stop will allow the photographer to select even slower shutter speeds for increased motion blur:

Variable NDFilter

Variable ND filters are essentially two polarizers placed together with one plane preventing a fixed amount of light and the other rotating to prevent incremental amounts of light from entering the camera.

Fixed ND filters, also referred to as solid ND filters, have coating(s) evenly distributed across the frame of the filter. The density of the filter is predetermined.

NDfilterchart

Almost all ND filters have some sort of color shift. When an image is produced that has a green color cast, it is often the result of a poorly designed filter. On the other hand, when infrared (IR) light penetrates the camera sensor, the resulting image can have a magenta cast.

There are several variables including weather, time of day, ambient light, etc... that will determine which neutral density filter is appropriate for the occasion. It is up to the photographer to select the right shutter speed and corresponding filter to make an otherwise ordinary shot something more powerful.

Neutral Density (ND) filters reduce the intensity of all wavelengths, or colors, of light equally from entering the camera, in measured amounts. This allows the photographer more control in selecting shutter speed and aperture combinations in a variety of conditions.

NDFilterfor Mobile

Variable ND filters can be advantageous to the photographer on the go. Carrying a set of fixed ND filters and constantly changing fixed filters can be cumbersome and time-consuming. With a variable ND, the photographer can just rotate the filter like a polarizer to get the desired effect.

Vignetting is determined by the amount of light fall off toward the outer edges of your lens. The wider the lens you choose and the longer the exposure time you have, the more vignetting can occur. Poorly designed and manufactured filters will increase the amount of unwanted vignetting. A quality filter will either have no color shift at all, or, at the very least, have predictable results.