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TIFFEN FILTER FACTS NEUTRAL DENSITY FILTERS
 

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TIFFEN FILTER FACTS

NEUTRAL DENSITY FILTERS

"Holding Back the Light"

  • Neutral Density filters reduce the amount of light passing through the camera lens without changing the color of the scene.
  • Especially useful in bright light conditions to help prevent overexposure and achieve a balanced exposure.
  • Allows exposure at large apertures despite bright lighting conditions, which normally require small shooting apertures.
  • Neutral Density filters allow more control over apertures for selective depth of field shooting.
  • Popular Neutral Density filters are ND 0.3, 0.6, and 0.9. (ND 0.6 is most popular.) They hold back 1, 2, and 3 f:stops of light respectively.
  • The above-mentioned ND filters are also referred to as 2X (ND 0.3 - 1 f:stop), 4X (ND 0.6 - 2 f:stops) and 8X (ND 0.9 - 3 f:stops)

ND
FILTER

% LIGHT
TRANSMISSION

f:stop
REDUCTION
0.1
80
1/2
0.2
63
3/4
0.3
50
1
0.4
40
1 1/4
0.5
32
1 3/4
0.6
25
2
0.7
20
2 1/4
0.8
16
2 3/4
0.9
13
3
1.0
10
3 1/4
1.2
6.3
3 3/4
1.5
3.2
1/4


COLOR GRADUATED NEUTRAL DENSITY FILTERS

  • Neutral Density filters are also available in Color Grad combinations, consisting of half clear glass graduated to half neutral density. This allows for smooth blending of the scene and properly balanced exposure in uneven lighting situations.
  • Color Grad Neutral Density filters are available in ND 0.3 (1), ND 0.6 (2), and ND 0.9 (3). You must specify graduated effects in "Hard Edge" or "Soft Edge" and "Horizontal" or "Vertical" format.
  • Tiffen also offers the unique Neutral Density CentriClear filters featuring an ND 0.6 or ND 0.9 with clear circular or elliptical centers in four different sizes. Ideal for highlighting a central object in a scene.


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