GBP

Camera Filters

Camera Lens Filters: UV, ND, Variable ND, GND and CPL Filters Explained

Lens filters change the light that reaches the camera sensor. Some protect the lens, while others control brightness, reflections and contrast in ways that are difficult or impossible to replicate in editing. This category covers UV, ND, variable ND, graduated ND and other filters for camera lenses.

Types of filters

UV and clear filters: protect the front lens element from dust, scratches and splashes. On digital cameras, their main role is protection.
ND (neutral density) filters: reduce light evenly, allowing longer exposures or wider apertures in bright light. Used for smooth water, motion blur and video.
Variable ND filters: adjust strength by rotating the front ring, convenient for video in changing light.
GND (graduated ND) filters: darker on top, clear on the bottom, to balance a bright sky with a darker foreground in landscape photography.
CPL (circular polariser) filters: reduce reflections on water and glass, deepen blue skies and increase colour saturation.

Choosing the right size

Screw-on filters must match the lens filter thread diameter, printed on the lens or inside the lens cap, such as 58 mm, 67 mm or 77 mm. Step-up rings allow one large filter to fit several lenses with smaller threads.

ND filter strengths

ND filters are rated by how much light they block, such as ND8 (3 stops), ND64 (6 stops) and ND1000 (10 stops). Strong ND filters allow very long exposures, such as smoothing waves and clouds in daylight.

Quality matters

Low-quality filters can reduce sharpness, cause colour casts and create flare. Multi-coated filters reduce reflections and maintain image quality. Variable ND filters can cause an X-shaped dark pattern at their strongest settings, especially on wide-angle lenses.