VND DONE RIGHT
POLARPRO VARIABLE NEUTRAL DENSITY FILTERS
by Stan SholikNo color shift between ND settings
No loss of sharpness compared to unfiltered capture
Numerical markings to show amount of ND attenuation
High quality of manufacturing
Excellent protection for traveling
More expensive than the competitionPROS & CONS
64COURTESY POLARPROVariable neutral density (VND) filters are
the solution to a range of needs for both
still and video photographers. With con-
trol over the amount of light striking the
digital sensor, still photographers can use
slower shutter speeds to record movement,
blur moving water and clouds, and control
depth of field to isolate a subject against a
blurred background in full sunlight.
For videographers, neutral density (ND)
filters are essential, and a variable neutral
density filter provides exposure control
without the need to change from one ND
filter to another. In video mode, shutter
speed is fixed. By adjusting the amount of
neutral density used in a take, videogra-
phers can select an aperture that produc-
es the desired depth of field and can shoot
in bright conditions that might otherwise
cause overexposure. In addition, a variable
neutral density filter is small, lightweight,
and doesn’t require a matte box.
VND filters comprise a stack of polariz-
ing filters. Closest to the lens is a circular
polarizer that consists of a linear polariz-
ing filter in front of a quarter-wave plate.
This creates the familiar polarization ef-
fect while still allowing the camera to focus
and set exposure automatically. Add a ro-
tating linear polarizing filter in front of theTHE GOODS
PRO REVIEW