I have been having fun with newbie images for years, however there’s one piece of equipment I’ve by no means owned up till this month: a variable ND filter. I can not consider I waited so lengthy to get one–it is fully modified my images capabilities.

What Is a VND (Variable ND) Filter?

For these unfamiliar, a variable ND filter (VND to any extent further) is principally like sun shades on your digital camera. There are customary ND filters that are available mounted ND values, every equating to an publicity cease worth. A variable ND filter will sometimes spin in some type or trend, providing a variable quantity of publicity to cease darkness on your digital camera lens.

VND filters are used very often by panorama photographers. Nevertheless, that is not the one group that makes use of the filters.

One main use of a VND filter is to have the ability to gradual your shutter velocity down with out blowing a picture out. Take a waterfall, as an illustration. With out the VND, I used to be capable of go as gradual as 1/13 of a second for my shutter velocity with out blowing out the waterfall. As soon as I put the VND on my lens, I used to be capable of successfully go as gradual as I needed. For the kind of shot I needed, I actually solely went as much as 2.5 seconds, however that is nonetheless fairly gradual for a noon shoot.

Why Didn’t I Purchase One Sooner?

That is the place I kick myself within the butt. I have been doing newbie images for almost a decade. I have been doing panorama (on and off) for about half a decade. And I’ve by no means owned a VND filter earlier than. I did not even purchase those I’ve now, the truth is. They got here with my A7 III once I purchased it from somebody who used it.

The factor is, it is a comparatively low-cost piece of equipment that is fully modified my capabilities as a panorama photographer. I hadn’t purchased one beforehand as a result of I assumed I would not use it a lot, and I assumed they have been costly.

Whereas costly VNDs do exist, there are reasonably priced ones that may simply get the job accomplished simply the identical. For instance, Ok&F Idea has a VND filter that goes from ND2 to ND400 (one to 9 stops), and it is simply $25 on Amazon for a 67mm (lens thread dimension). Completely different thread sizes price completely different quantities, so you will want to choose the one on your particular lens.

However, on the finish of the day, the VND is not almost as costly as I assumed it will be to purchase, and it’s very modified what I can seize. I can not consider I waited so lengthy to get one.

I Now Have Two VND Filters, so I Can At all times Have One With Me

The A7 III I purchased truly got here with two VND filters. One is the K&F Concept Nano-X ND2 to ND32 (one to 5 stops) with a built-in CPL (round polarizing filter). That is my major VND that I hold in my major digital camera bag that I take with me nearly anyplace I’m going.

I even have a Platinum MC VND ND2 to ND400 (one to 9 stops) from Finest Purchase that is not offered. This one will get fairly a bit darker than the Ok&F Idea, nevertheless it would not have the CPL inbuilt, and I really feel just like the optics aren’t fairly as clear because the Ok&F as properly. So, the Platinum stays in my backup, small digital camera bag in case I overlook to seize the Ok&F when strolling out the door.

Having a VND with me in all places means I can simply take the shot I need, not the shot I am compelled to take. Just like the waterfall footage above, with out the VND, the waterfall seemed considerably smoothed, nevertheless it wasn’t anyplace close to as clear as the two.5-second publicity. And, with out the VND, I may by no means have taken the two.5-second publicity.

So, a VND has develop into a everlasting a part of my images toolkit. I can not consider it is taken me so lengthy to get one and that I needed to get it as a part of a bundle. However I’ve one now, and that is all that issues. It is best to go choose one up, too. I do not assume you will remorse it one bit.