This was legitimately the best explanation of how ND filters work. I feel like most channels that discuss this topic only ever go so far as to say something along the lines of “bro, you need an ND filter” without touching on the nuances that can separate which one to get... as well as the situations in which they would be applied.
Thank you for saying that, Clifton! When I teach filmmaking workshops, I get the sense most people haven't used NDs, so there's a lot of confusion about why they're needed, and which ones to buy. I was hoping to solve some of that with this video.
Moruanyi Ntsimane: Same here, mate! I had two windows open on my PC [this video, and Amazon], and was about to order a VERY EXPENSIVE nd & cpl combination filter before this video saved me 😉🎊🎉🎈. I decided to go with a kit combination instead (8stop, 64stop, and a CPL), and I bought a 10stop separately, and still all together they were waaaaaay less than what I was about to spend for 1. Isn't UA-cam and this UA-camr great!!!
I've wondered if there is a slightly different way to figure out what ND filter to use: 1. Set your camera to manual mode 2. Enter your desired settings 3. Your light meter telling you how far you are over exposed is the filter to use. If it says your exposure is 6 stops over exposed, then use a 6 stop filter.
Maybe that's a common knowledge, but no one ever explained how to count stops and how to manipulate it properly on the camera. You are the best I have ever seen. Good stuff!
Sir, Your educational skills are impressive! And having seen hundreds of videos of filming /photo tips here on UA-cam, this is the first time I've had the feeling of suddenly having a 3D screen on my phone watching your video. Thanks! Crisp and clear 👌🏻
I am just getting into film making and cameras and this has been the clearest expaination of an ND filter that I have gotten yet! I also really apreshiate the fact you mentioned the filters you use, gives me a nice guideline which I am very greatful for
03:47 Determining which ND Filter to use is what I have been looking for, for quite a while. Thank you Griffin for making this easy to understand. With a quick test I kept coming up with a 5 to 6 stop ND Filter requirement for my Leica 10-25 on my G9 at F1.7, 200 ISO, and pretty much the highest shutter speeds required for a very Sunny afternoon. Interesting new learning curve results for my first try, but I think I understand how to find what ND filters I need; and it sounds like a 5+ stop variable ND Filter is where I will be landing eventually. Bummer that I will have to obstruct light coming into the lens for any reason for Ocean landscape photography and video in Summertime.
I can't thank you enough! Your video is succinct and abundantly informative. So far NO ONE has met that bar! I have burned through far too much time to arrive at an abysmally persistent lack of clarity. SUBSCRIBED! 😆
My first camera a Sony NXCam came with inbuilt ND filters and the smarts to indicate which ND level to switch on, ND 1, 2 or 3 when shooting in bright conditions. It taught me the value of ND filters. So straightaway I bought a variable ND, for my GH5. Make sure you buy one with its own lens cap!
Griffin, you have produced the best evidence and clear conclusions regarding the useful strengths of ND for large sensor video. Thanks for helping save people from needlessly buying useless ND filters and repeating experiments that you've already settled.
Griffin, great video! I have been using ND filters for about a year. I originally bought a really cheap 3-pack online...didn't want to spend too much $ on something that I might not use very often. Ironically enough, I use them all of the time. I'm so glad I found this video. What a great explanation/education. I'll be upgrading to the Hoya filter you recommend. Thank you for the testing/results, and recommendation.
Well done Griffin! Best understanding and explanation of how an ND Filter works I've watched!! You helped take the guesswork and made it easy math. Nice to see you startup Indy Mogul again. Thx 🍻
You did a better job explaining this than most of the guys that work at camera stores I've been to. So simple. I think I might get fixed filters instead of a variable. Not sure if you agree, but I mostly shoot on my kit lens (with a diameter of 58mm & my Canon 50mm STM with a 49). I personally love using my prime lens since it's my highest quality lens right now. A mix of Photography & Filmmaking.
Get to know the calculations, know your powers of 2, logs, exponents and roots. To get the the needed optical density (0.9, 1.8, 3.0), take the number of stops you need to adjust and multiply by the log of 2 and get the closest to that number. d=n×log(2) eg. Need to adjust by 3 stops? d=3×log (2)≈0.903 round to 0.9. 5 stops? d=5×log(2)≈1.505. If you want to approximate it based on your iris values, use d=2×log(a÷b), where a is the f/stop for correct exposure and b is the f/stop you will use. eg. d=2×log(4÷1.4)≈0.912. This works better if you know the precise iris value in √2^n.
4:15 - but what's the point of setting iso to 400? I can set iso higher when I want to pull out more details and I don't mind a little lose of quality(or my gear is so good that I wont have any lose of quality) - but when u have too much light and u'r considering reducing it - so why don't decrease iso first?
Hey! Found your channel quite by accident an was so impressed with the ease of your explanations, accompanied by visual demos, that I'm subscribing right off! Thanks for the great work! Looking forward to learning more!
Great video and tutorial. I just started my photography course and this helped a lot :) keep it up. Looking forward to dive in into other video's of yours!
very informative video! and you have skill to explain in a very clean way Mr. Griffin. Big fan of yours. one day i would like meet you in person. Big love from India!
I can't change the lens aperture on DJI Osmo Action Camera; therefore, it's a must to have these ND filters on a bright and sunny day. Thanks for the information. :)
I ordered this hoya filter for 39$ (wich is very reasonable) after watching both of of your reviews. The things is, I could only find 3 stop filters in the link on discription and purchased it but I also wanted 6 stop as well but it's not available
Great video! So it comes down to testing to determine which filter density to use? I have some filters coming for my gopro and determining which to use is confusing me some; there will be 8, 16 and 32 which I believe as the standards for this.
Thank you for taking the time! I'm a complete beginer at this filter business and this was the most practically informative piece on the subject that I found ! I do have one question - which you may already be covering in another video (?) in order to control the image when filming indoors, under standard lighting intensity - would you say that aND2 filter is a good idea ? as an ND8 seems like it may be a bit much to overcome with lighting? Thanks in advance for your reply if you get this, otherwise, may this just be to say thanks ;)
I am a beginner in some ways. I can take good photos and video because I understand the concepts very well and have some experience. My first camera was a canon AE-1 film antique. I took some amazing photos with it. One set of photos was in Thailand. I took some in a temple where no flashes were allowed and had to shoot at 1/4 second handheld. I leaned on a wall and held my breath. A bunch of the shots came out perfectly. I was never so proud of myself. Anyway the point is that I now use a m50 as my camera to return to this great hobby and I am learning about things like ND filters and other filter types. Your video is very easy to understand, low on fluff and bull and enjoyable. Thanks a lot and I will subscribe and like and go get some ND filters. My question is should I get a bunch of nd filters or sone variable ones? I am not rich but I am not very poor. So I have to be careful about spending but not that careful. Is that confusing enough? Now you know absolutely nothing about what I can afford.
A variable ND would be a good idea, if you don't yet know exactly which exposure reductions you'll rely on. I personally use ND4, ND8 and ND64 for much of my shooting (that is, 2-stop, 3-stop and 6-stop filters). But that's what I find I need for my specific lens choices and lighting conditions. You may need something completely different, depending on your creative choices.
Thanks for the video. Trying to decide on a filter for an f2 22mm lens and deciding how many stops I'll need. I live in the southwest aka basically desert haha
Good video. I know I need to get an ND filter. When you were going darker to expose for the light outside the windows, your interior obviously went too dark. In that situation, could you get the best of both the exterior and interior? If so, how - add some lighting?
What frame rate and shutter speed, etc., do you use here?The video and your motions are so ridiculously smooth, like it looks like I'm there beside you. Meanwhile, I watch videos of people talking about how to get the right frame rate and their movement is choppy.
Good question, Óren! I've often worked in U.S. television, so I'm a big fan of filming in 29.97p frames per second. Movement looks smoother in 29.97p than compared to cinematic 24p / 23.98p. Whatever framerate you choose, the shutter speed also creates smoothness or choppiness. "Normal" shutter follows the 180° rule, which means shutter should be twice as fast as your framerate. I set my shutter to 180° or to 1/60s, which is twice as fast as my 29.97p framerate. This is precisely why ND filters are so handy. Without them, you're forced to use faster shutter speeds to set exposure properly, which means choppy movement.
Really informative for a beginner learner like me! Question, please: In videography how does shutter speed come into existence? Since we are shooting continuous video, and shutter is always open..right? I saw 1/60s in your setting, hence this question.
The best video on how to choose the right ND filter I have ever watched! Actually I am deciding what ND filter solution I should by, variable or not, and I think I would buy a ND 8-64-1000 package considering that I have a 18-105 F4 lens, though I find the ND8 pretty much never needed because it's too bright.
This was legitimately the best explanation of how ND filters work. I feel like most channels that discuss this topic only ever go so far as to say something along the lines of “bro, you need an ND filter” without touching on the nuances that can separate which one to get... as well as the situations in which they would be applied.
Thank you for saying that, Clifton! When I teach filmmaking workshops, I get the sense most people haven't used NDs, so there's a lot of confusion about why they're needed, and which ones to buy. I was hoping to solve some of that with this video.
Can't agree more!!
I have been looking for someone to explain this as eloquently and easy to understand as you did. Thank you very much.
I'm glad you found it useful!
and THAT'S how you do a walkthrough video. adjusting the f stops and putting the filter while recording. Epic.
Cancelled an Amazon order halfway through this video! you saved so much money and so much agony! Thank you! Great content
I'm glad I could help!
Moruanyi Ntsimane: Same here, mate! I had two windows open on my PC [this video, and Amazon], and was about to order a VERY EXPENSIVE nd & cpl combination filter before this video saved me 😉🎊🎉🎈. I decided to go with a kit combination instead (8stop, 64stop, and a CPL), and I bought a 10stop separately, and still all together they were waaaaaay less than what I was about to spend for 1. Isn't UA-cam and this UA-camr great!!!
My man, this was one hell of a straight-to-the-point no bullsh!t upfront explanation on the subject. Thanks a million!
Thank you! Glad I could help!
I've wondered if there is a slightly different way to figure out what ND filter to use:
1. Set your camera to manual mode
2. Enter your desired settings
3. Your light meter telling you how far you are over exposed is the filter to use.
If it says your exposure is 6 stops over exposed, then use a 6 stop filter.
But usually your camera will stop at 3 stops showing you the overexposure (not all of them) so this would not work.
The explanation is so clear, thank you
I appreciate you saying that!
This was the best explainer I've seen for ND Filters. Great job Griffin!
SB Lake Show Thank you!
Maybe that's a common knowledge, but no one ever explained how to count stops and how to manipulate it properly on the camera. You are the best I have ever seen. Good stuff!
Sir,
Your educational skills are impressive! And having seen hundreds of videos of filming /photo tips here on UA-cam, this is the first time I've had the feeling of suddenly having a 3D screen on my phone watching your video.
Thanks! Crisp and clear 👌🏻
The last few minutes of this vid was exactly what I was looking for
Perfect!
Straight to the bam bam!
No need of a collegial cursus with water and mesh explanations!
All we need is
Numbers means what and situations!
I am just getting into film making and cameras and this has been the clearest expaination of an ND filter that I have gotten yet! I also really apreshiate the fact you mentioned the filters you use, gives me a nice guideline which I am very greatful for
Thank you so much! I'm happy to found it helpful.
Short and concise - much appreciated summary for someone with no prior knowledge!
03:47 Determining which ND Filter to use is what I have been looking for, for quite a while. Thank you Griffin for making this easy to understand. With a quick test I kept coming up with a 5 to 6 stop ND Filter requirement for my Leica 10-25 on my G9 at F1.7, 200 ISO, and pretty much the highest shutter speeds required for a very Sunny afternoon. Interesting new learning curve results for my first try, but I think I understand how to find what ND filters I need; and it sounds like a 5+ stop variable ND Filter is where I will be landing eventually. Bummer that I will have to obstruct light coming into the lens for any reason for Ocean landscape photography and video in Summertime.
I can't thank you enough! Your video is succinct and abundantly informative. So far NO ONE has met that bar! I have burned through far too much time to arrive at an abysmally persistent lack of clarity. SUBSCRIBED! 😆
Danielle, I'm so happy to hear that! Good luck in your filmmaking journey.
Really helpful. As a beginner I really understand the stop calculation
Thank you! Been trying to figure out what Nd filter I’ll need! This helps a lot, very good simple explanation
Got a recommendation between an ND2-32 and an ND8-128? Ideally for a f1.4 both indoors and outdoors
My first camera a Sony NXCam came with inbuilt ND filters and the smarts to indicate which ND level to switch on, ND 1, 2 or 3 when shooting in bright conditions. It taught me the value of ND filters. So straightaway I bought a variable ND, for my GH5. Make sure you buy one with its own lens cap!
one of the best and simplest videos to understand! thank you
2:40 for the walk-through of the three filters to have for shooting video (ND8, ND64, ND1000)
Griffin, you have produced the best evidence and clear conclusions regarding the useful strengths of ND for large sensor video. Thanks for helping save people from needlessly buying useless ND filters and repeating experiments that you've already settled.
Griffin, great video! I have been using ND filters for about a year. I originally bought a really cheap 3-pack online...didn't want to spend too much $ on something that I might not use very often. Ironically enough, I use them all of the time. I'm so glad I found this video. What a great explanation/education. I'll be upgrading to the Hoya filter you recommend.
Thank you for the testing/results, and recommendation.
Don't get variable ND filter， they are all horrible.
The recommended Hoya NDX8 filter is still available on B&H with a ton of 5-star ratings. Thanks.
Video starts at 2:40
This is the best explained video I have found on the subject. Thank you for sharing!
Dude, thank you. I finally understood everything about exposure in general, including how the F-Stop numbers affect exposure mathematically
Well done Griffin! Best understanding and explanation of how an ND Filter works I've watched!! You helped take the guesswork and made it easy math. Nice to see you startup Indy Mogul again.
Thx 🍻
INSANELY helpful wow. subbed because of this lol
Glad to hear it, Kevin!
You may also reduce ISO to 200 or 100, with a better image quality. Just booked a variable 5 stops filter (ie: ND2-ND32).
Best explanation out there for nd filters….omgggg
The Yashica filter reminds me of when I put welding glass in front of my camera. Probably was made of the same glass.
Man, this was exactly what I needed. Thank you.
Glad I could help!
Hoya, Hama, Sigma did great 👍 filters for mirror back in the day
That was extremely helpful dude thank you. Great video! Awesome simple way of explaining this for a noob like me
Thank you for a very good and simple explanation of ND filters.
You did a better job explaining this than most of the guys that work at camera stores I've been to. So simple. I think I might get fixed filters instead of a variable. Not sure if you agree, but I mostly shoot on my kit lens (with a diameter of 58mm & my Canon 50mm STM with a 49). I personally love using my prime lens since it's my highest quality lens right now. A mix of Photography & Filmmaking.
Thank you so much! Shooting on primes is so much fun, and I like working with fixed NDs, even though it requires more forethought into each shot.
i been having trouble with f stops and i came across your video. this was really helpful . thank you.
This video was so well produced and extremely useful.
Griffin, thank you for such a concise, informative and visually pleasing tutorial on ND Filters - I hit subscribe about two minutes in!
So glad I've found this tutorial, great help!
Oh, wow everything I needed to know in 5 minutes.
You don't know how useful this video was thank you 🙏
quick n to the point thank you!
Best explanation video I have ever came across!! Thank you Griffin. I am subscribing for more videos like this.
Brilliant , best video on ND filters I have seen.
Thank you!
Griffin! New Panasonic Lumix GH series are coming! Hope you're a part of it! Can't wait! May 25th!!!
By far the best explanation
Thanks mate
Subscribed because of how to-the-point AND well-explained this was with a live example. Perfect! Thank you!!
Thank you, A J!
This video is great! Exactly what I needed to hear!
Thanks man! Good stuff. Thanks for keeping it simple. Great explanation.
4:28 no freakin way that was planned and it went SOO smoooth!
Ha ha, it's usually effective to cut during motion. (I bet I DID plan for that edit, but probably meant to do it with the same hand!)
My absolute favorite camera gear-do. Thank you very much!
Get to know the calculations, know your powers of 2, logs, exponents and roots. To get the the needed optical density (0.9, 1.8, 3.0), take the number of stops you need to adjust and multiply by the log of 2 and get the closest to that number. d=n×log(2) eg. Need to adjust by 3 stops? d=3×log (2)≈0.903 round to 0.9. 5 stops? d=5×log(2)≈1.505.
If you want to approximate it based on your iris values, use d=2×log(a÷b), where a is the f/stop for correct exposure and b is the f/stop you will use. eg. d=2×log(4÷1.4)≈0.912. This works better if you know the precise iris value in √2^n.
4:15 - but what's the point of setting iso to 400? I can set iso higher when I want to pull out more details and I don't mind a little lose of quality(or my gear is so good that I wont have any lose of quality) - but when u have too much light and u'r considering reducing it - so why don't decrease iso first?
Hey! Found your channel quite by accident an was so impressed with the ease of your explanations, accompanied by visual demos, that I'm subscribing right off! Thanks for the great work! Looking forward to learning more!
Thank you!
Very useful - thank you for all your help through the years!
Great video and tutorial. I just started my photography course and this helped a lot :) keep it up. Looking forward to dive in into other video's of yours!
very informative video! and you have skill to explain in a very clean way Mr. Griffin. Big fan of yours. one day i would like meet you in person. Big love from India!
Great video. Why does 1.4-2 equal 1 stop of light and 2-2.8 equal another?
This video needs more views and likes! Good info! You earned a subscriber!
Joe Lee Thank you!
Which nd filter is best for reducing rolling shutter?
This video was extremely useful! Thank you
I appreciate you saying that, Maurice!
I can't change the lens aperture on DJI Osmo Action Camera; therefore, it's a must to have these ND filters on a bright and sunny day. Thanks for the information. :)
Thanks, that was very helpful explanation and explained simply.
I ordered this hoya filter for 39$ (wich is very reasonable) after watching both of of your reviews. The things is, I could only find 3 stop filters in the link on discription and purchased it but I also wanted 6 stop as well but it's not available
Awesome video! Thanks!
Great video! So it comes down to testing to determine which filter density to use? I have some filters coming for my gopro and determining which to use is confusing me some; there will be 8, 16 and 32 which I believe as the standards for this.
Thank you so much for this, I just found out I bought a 10 stop😮💨🙄
Nice shot of big cottonwood canyon
That was simple and very useful. Thanks.
Thank you so much for this. Incredibly useful and well put together. You now have a new subscriber 😁
I need a recommendation for water blur in landscapes in the daytime...
finally someone explained that great! thx xoxo!
holy shit, i watched too much vids and yours helped. only yours
Excellent video. How would one transfer over this neat trick to mobile photography/videography on iphone
Wow so legit and based on science not by feeling like others lol
Thank you so much
Thank you for taking the time! I'm a complete beginer at this filter business and this was the most practically informative piece on the subject that I found ! I do have one question - which you may already be covering in another video (?) in order to control the image when filming indoors, under standard lighting intensity - would you say that aND2 filter is a good idea ? as an ND8 seems like it may be a bit much to overcome with lighting?
Thanks in advance for your reply if you get this, otherwise, may this just be to say thanks ;)
What's the best ND filter for desert photography that highlights the texture of sand and mountains or enhances the sky?
Thank you so much!!!!! I love your work keep it up!!!!
Brother 🎈, so nice video. You did awesome job in explaining. Thanks
Amazing video as usual, keep it up griffin!
Great explanation, thanks!
Are there common sets? And how do we adjust for different lens sizes? I would hate to buy them multiple times for sizes.
Love the vid, it's explained pretty well, thank you.🥰😇
Awesomely explained 👍👌
I am a beginner in some ways. I can take good photos and video because I understand the concepts very well and have some experience. My first camera was a canon AE-1 film antique. I took some amazing photos with it. One set of photos was in Thailand. I took some in a temple where no flashes were allowed and had to shoot at 1/4 second handheld. I leaned on a wall and held my breath. A bunch of the shots came out perfectly. I was never so proud of myself. Anyway the point is that I now use a m50 as my camera to return to this great hobby and I am learning about things like ND filters and other filter types. Your video is very easy to understand, low on fluff and bull and enjoyable. Thanks a lot and I will subscribe and like and go get some ND filters. My question is should I get a bunch of nd filters or sone variable ones? I am not rich but I am not very poor. So I have to be careful about spending but not that careful. Is that confusing enough? Now you know absolutely nothing about what I can afford.
A variable ND would be a good idea, if you don't yet know exactly which exposure reductions you'll rely on. I personally use ND4, ND8 and ND64 for much of my shooting (that is, 2-stop, 3-stop and 6-stop filters). But that's what I find I need for my specific lens choices and lighting conditions. You may need something completely different, depending on your creative choices.
@@GriffinHammond i got the skyreat 6 pack with CPL, UV, ND8, ND16, ND32, ND64
Hoya is an awesome company. Most of my filters and lens covers are by Hoya.
best explained video on nd filters. keep doing the good work :)
Very helpful guidr thank you. I am choosing the nd 64
Thanks for the video. Trying to decide on a filter for an f2 22mm lens and deciding how many stops I'll need. I live in the southwest aka basically desert haha
Nice video! Do you also use IRND filters? Are those good for shooting indoors? Thanks!
plain and easy explanation, thank you!
Good video. I know I need to get an ND filter. When you were going darker to expose for the light outside the windows, your interior obviously went too dark. In that situation, could you get the best of both the exterior and interior? If so, how - add some lighting?
SB Hopper, Yes-just add lighting.
That's it, I'm getting the Yashica
What frame rate and shutter speed, etc., do you use here?The video and your motions are so ridiculously smooth, like it looks like I'm there beside you. Meanwhile, I watch videos of people talking about how to get the right frame rate and their movement is choppy.
Good question, Óren! I've often worked in U.S. television, so I'm a big fan of filming in 29.97p frames per second. Movement looks smoother in 29.97p than compared to cinematic 24p / 23.98p.
Whatever framerate you choose, the shutter speed also creates smoothness or choppiness. "Normal" shutter follows the 180° rule, which means shutter should be twice as fast as your framerate. I set my shutter to 180° or to 1/60s, which is twice as fast as my 29.97p framerate.
This is precisely why ND filters are so handy. Without them, you're forced to use faster shutter speeds to set exposure properly, which means choppy movement.
Really informative for a beginner learner like me! Question, please:
In videography how does shutter speed come into existence? Since we are shooting continuous video, and shutter is always open..right? I saw 1/60s in your setting, hence this question.
The best video on how to choose the right ND filter I have ever watched! Actually I am deciding what ND filter solution I should by, variable or not, and I think I would buy a ND 8-64-1000 package considering that I have a 18-105 F4 lens, though I find the ND8 pretty much never needed because it's too bright.
Great explanation! Could you tell me please, is there any difference between 2x8 ND and one 64?
You're correct. Stacking two 3-stop (8x) NDs is the same effect as using one 6-stop (64x) ND.