The best graduated ND filter is a must-have accessory for aspiring landscape photographers. It eliminates blown-out skies or dingy foregrounds, giving you perfectly even exposures. A graduated ND (neutral density) filter is a small piece of gear that makes a world of difference.
The K&F Concept Soft Graduated Neutral Density Filter is our top ND filter. The optical quality of the filter is excellent, so you lose no image quality. It has glass coatings to prevent flare. And it’s available in many sizes. If that’s not the ND grad filter for you, keep reading to see more.
What Is the Best Graduated ND Filter?
Achieving a perfect exposure in every section of your image can be difficult with landscape photography. Skies are often far brighter than the land below. And foregrounds can be shades more than the other areas of the image. The best graduated, neutral density (ND) filter balances your landscape exposures perfectly.
An ND filter blocks some light from getting to the camera sensor via the lens. A graduated ND filter only has a light-blocking coating over one section. This is so the filter only blocks light in certain areas of your photo (e.g., the sky or foreground).
There are two types of graduated ND filters. You have circular filters that screw directly onto your lens. These are the most common filters and dominate our list. And you must always check the filter thread size of your lens before you buy.
You also have square or rectangular filters. These are positioned in front of your camera lens. And you often need other pieces of equipment to keep them in position. These can be more fiddly, so circular filters are more popular. But these stand-alone filters give you a wide optical density range.
Here’s a quick rundown of the best graduated ND filters. We look at each filter in more detail in the next section. And we have a FAQ section at the end with more information on neutral density filters.
We list the strength of the ND filter by the “ND factor” that measures optical density. You can learn how the ND factor is determined in our FAQ section.
- Nanometer coating on both sides for improved quality
- Water-resistant lens coating
- Optical density of 0.3 (ND 8)
- Lightweight aluminum outer ring
- Multi-layer nano-coating for quality and protection
- Water-repellent for use in wet weather
- ND factor of 8 (3 stops) with soft filter transition
- Strong aluminun outer frame
- 20-layer nano coating on both sides
- Made with German SCHOTT glass
- ND factor of ND 8 with very soft filter gradient
- Strong filter with an aluminun frame
- Japanese AGC glass with a 28-layer nano coating
- Scratch-, smudge-, and water-resistant glass
- Filter strength of 0.9 (ND 8) with soft gradient
- Complete with case, holder, and filter adapters
- Spectacularly transforms dull sunrises or sunsets
- Balances light intensity for sky-foreground exposure
- Features a smooth transition from color to clear
- Ideal for both color and black-and-white imaging
- Ideal for experimenting with landscape photography
- Set includes grey, blue, orange, and red filters
- Optical density of 0.6 (ND 4)
- Available in many different thread sizes
- Fantastic optical quality
- Lightweight and ultra-slim (2 mm)
- Optical density of 0.9 (ND 8) with soft filter transition
- Protective clamshell hard case included
7 Best Graduated ND Filters
Now, we look at all the best neutral density filters in more detail. We have circular and square filter options. And we have filters of all sizes.
All these filters will help you take your landscape photography to the next level. Just be sure to confirm the correct filter size for your camera lens before you buy one.
1. K&F Concept Soft Graduated ND Filter
| Brand |
Brand
K&F Concept
|
| Filter Size |
Filter Size
77mm
|
| Other Available Sizes |
Other Available Sizes
49mm, 52mm, 55mm, 58mm, 62mm, 67mm, 72mm, 82mm
|
| ND Factor |
ND Factor
ND 8
|
| Other Key Features |
Other Key Features
Lightweight aluminum ring, water-resistant surface, nanometer coating
|
| Best For |
Best For
All landscape photographers
|
The K&F Concept Soft Graduated ND Filter is the best of its kind. It’s a high-quality piece of kit with a strong yet lightweight aluminum ring. It has excellent optical quality. And it has a reasonable price tag.
There’s no dip in image quality when using this ND filter. The plain glass is crystal clear, and both sides have a nanometer coating that protects the lens. It prevents scratches, smudges, and deterioration from water contact.
It has an ND factor of 8 (optical density of 0.9). This means you get three stops of difference between the filtered and unfiltered sections. It’s ideal if you want to avoid blown-out sections in your landscape images.
It’s also a soft ND filter, meaning the transition from unfiltered to filtered glass is gradual. This makes it less obvious that you’ve used a filter in your final images.
As a circular filter, the K&F Concept screws directly onto the end of your lens. The filter in the highlight above has a 77mm filter thread. But don’t worry if that’s not the right size for your landscape lens. They offer this graduated ND filter in any size between 49mm and 82mm.
2. Neewer HD Soft Gradient ND Filter
| Brand |
Brand
NEEWER
|
| Filter Size |
Filter Size
77mm
|
| Other Available Sizes |
Other Available Sizes
49mm, 52mm, 55mm, 58mm, 62mm, 67mm, 72mm, 82mm
|
| ND Factor |
ND Factor
ND 8
|
| Other Key Features |
Other Key Features
Nano coating, water-repellent, Aluminum frame
|
| Best For |
Best For
Photographers who want pristine optical quality
|
The Neewer HD Soft Gradient ND Filter is one of the best-value filters on the market. That’s not to say it’s the cheapest. But the optical quality paired with the reasonable price tag means you get sensation value for your money.
Despite being incredibly lightweight and slim, it’s a well-made, robust little filter. The outer rim is made of a strong aluminum allow, meaning it won’t rust. And the glass has a multi-layer nano-coating that protects against damage. It’s even water-repellent, meaning you can use it in wet weather.
By adding more glass to your lens, you run the risk of more visual problems. But coatings on the filter actually help to improve image quality. They reduce lens flare and ghosting, so you still get clear and sharp images.
It’s a soft-edge graduated ND filter with an ND factor of 8, which is an optical density of 0.9. That means there’s a three-stop difference between the filtered and unfiltered sections.
This Neewer HD filter is available for many different thread sizes. You have everything from 49mm to 82mm, so finding one for your lens is easy.
3. Urth Soft Graduated ND8 Filter
| Brand |
Brand
Urth
|
| Filter Size |
Filter Size
62mm
|
| Other Available Sizes |
Other Available Sizes
37mm, 39mm, 40.5mm, 43mm 46mm, 49mm, 52mm, 55mm, 58mm, 67mm, 72mm, 77mm, 82mm
|
| ND Factor |
ND Factor
ND 8
|
| Other Key Features |
Other Key Features
Nano-coating, water-repellent
|
| Best For |
Best For
Climate-conscious consumers
|
The Urth Soft Graduated ND8 Filter is another fantastic option. It’s a little on the pricey side. But you’re getting a high-quality graduated ND filter. And your money goes on to help combat deforestation. It’s the best option for the climate-conscious consumer.
It’s a filter with an ND factor of 8, meaning the obscured area gives you a three-stop exposure difference. It’s also a super soft filter, so you can barely see the line where the filter begins.
The glass quality is fantastic. It’s German SCHOTT glass, renowned for its clarity. And that’s backed up by a 20-layer nano-coating on both sides. It reduces optical problems like flare and ghosting, giving you clean images. It’s also water-repellent, so there’s no risk in shooting rain.
It’s a double-threaded filter, meaning you can attach another filter to the font. And the Urth Graduated ND8 comes in every size imaginable. No matter what camera lens you’re using, there’s an Urth filter that’s the perfect fit.
4. K&F Concept Soft GND8 Filter Kit
| Brand |
Brand
K&F Concept
|
| Filter Size |
Filter Size
100 x 150mm
|
| Other Available Sizes |
Other Available Sizes
N/A
|
| ND Factor |
ND Factor
ND 8
|
| Other Key Features |
Other Key Features
Metal filter holder, 8 adapter rings, multi-layer coating, water-resistant
|
| Best For |
Best For
Landscape photographers who want a rectangular ND filter
|
Unlike previous filters, the K&F Concept Soft GND8 Filter is rectangular. You need to attach it to the lens using a holder and adapter. But thankfully, this filter kit comes with everything you need.
It’s a 100 x 150 mm pane of Japanese AGC glass, so there’s no question about the quality. And it improves the quality further with a 28-layer nanometer coating. This prevents lens distortion and flare. And it protects against water, grease, and scratches.
With an ND factor of 8, you get a three-stop difference in exposure. It’s also a soft filter, so the optical density increases gradually. You also have large areas of filtered and unfiltered glass. That means you have more freedom with filter positioning than with circular filters.
Using the metal filter holder, you attach this K&F GND8 filter to the lens. It keeps the glass in position in front of your lens. And you have eight metal adapters that let you use other filters at the same time. It’s a fantastic set for photographers with a passion for landscape photography.
5. Tiffen Color Graduated ND 0.6 Filter
| Filter Size |
Filter Size
72mm
|
| Other Available Sizes |
Other Available Sizes
49mm, 52mm, 55mm, 58mm, 62mm, 67mm, 77mm, 82mm
|
| ND Factor |
ND Factor
ND 4
|
| Other Key Features |
Other Key Features
N/A
|
| Best For |
Best For
Anyone looking for a simple, lightweight filter
|
The Tiffen Color Graduated Neutral Density 0.6 filter is ideal if you want something simple. The frame is plastic, which means it’s ultra-lightweight. It also has crystal-clear glass, so there’s no negative effect on image quality.
With an optical density of 0.6 (ND 4), there are two stops of exposure difference between the filtered and unfiltered areas. That’s ideal if you’re shooting with only minor changes in your landscape’s light.
It’s also a medium filter, meaning the transition between the two filter sections is clear but gradual. It doesn’t need to be as soft as other filters because the optical density is only 0.6.
We’ve listed the 77mm Tiffen filter. But it is available in smaller and larger sizes. You can get anything from 49mm to 82mm.
6. Zomei Utlra-Slim Gradual ND Filter Kit
| Brand |
Brand
Zomei
|
| Filter Size |
Filter Size
72mm
|
| Other Available Sizes |
Other Available Sizes
52mm, 55mm, 58mm, 62mm, 67mm, 77mm, 82mm
|
| ND Factor |
ND Factor
ND 4
|
| Other Key Features |
Other Key Features
Set of grey, blue, orange, and red filters
|
| Best For |
Best For
Photographers who want to try color ND filters for different effects
|
The Zomei Utlra-Slim Gradual ND Filter Kit offers something different. Unlike the previous ND filters, this set has colored filters for different visual effects. They are a great way to change the mood or tone of your landscape images.
The grey filter works in the same way as a standard graduated ND filter. It has an ND factor of 4, a two-stop exposure differential. It helps you balance your landscape exposures.
The blue filter helps enrich blues within your scene, like skies and bodies of water. The orange filter deepens yellows, pinks, and oranges. It adds more depth to sunsets and sunrises. And you have the red filter for enhancing earthy tones like your reds, greens, and browns.
You can buy the Zomei Filter Kit in several different sizes. And it has a more-than-reasonable price. It’s a great way to experiment with your landscape photography. They also work well when shooting videos in open spaces.
7. ICE Soft Graduated ND8 Square Filter
| Brand |
Brand
ICE
|
| Filter Size |
Filter Size
100 x 150 mm
|
| Other Available Sizes |
Other Available Sizes
N/A
|
| ND Factor |
ND Factor
ND 8
|
| Other Key Features |
Other Key Features
Protective clamshell case
|
| Best For |
Best For
Photographers looking for a simple rectangular graduated ND filter
|
The ICE Soft Graduated ND8 Square Filter is simple yet highly effective. Despite being only 2 mm thick, it’s a beautiful piece of glass. And thanks to its clamshell hard case, you can keep it protected when not being used. It’s easy to carry in your camera bag.
The filter has a 0.9 maximum optical density (ND factor 8). That’s a three-stop change in exposure settings. Thanks to the large surface area of the glass panel, the transition is very soft and gradual. This means you have more flexibility when positioning the filter for perfect exposures.
The ICE ND8 is a fantastic photography filter at a reasonable price. You need to buy the filter holder separately. But if you already have a holder, this is a great filter for your collection.
Graduated ND Filter FAQs
If you need more information on graduated neutral density filters, here is more information. It’s a complicated topic, so we’ve answered some of the most frequently asked questions on ND filters.
What Is a Neutral Density Filter?
A neutral density filter reduces the light that passes through the lens to the camera sensor. It does this in a neutral way, meaning it doesn’t change colors as light passes through the filter. You still get perfectly rendered and true-to-life colors in your images.
The best ND filters also maintain optimal image quality. As well as no color loss, the overall quality of your photos remains the same. They also add no effects to the image like other filter types. They simply reduce how much light passes through the lens.
You can find ND filters of varying strength. You can buy ND filters that block very little light and others that block a lot.
How Is ND Filter Strength Measured?
The strength of neutral density filters is measured by optical density, and its levels can be defined in three ways. First, you have optical density measurements. The lowest is 0.3, and the scale increases in increments of 0.3.
Each measurement can also be called an optical density “stop.” This is because a filter’s strength is related to your camera’s exposure settings. If an ND filter has a strength of 3 stops, that’s the amount you need to compensate for in your camera settings.
You also have the ND Factor scale. The lowest ND factor is 2, equal to 0.3 on the optical density scale. The ND factor scale doubles the value each time, so the next level is 4, and the one after is 8. The table below gives you a better understanding of optical density.
What Are the Different Types of ND Filters?
There are three main types of neutral density filters.
1. Standard ND Filters
Standard neutral density filters have one optical density strength. The filter coating is also consistent across the filter. There are no gradients or variables.
For example, you can get an ND filter with an optical density of 0.9. It might be labeled a 3-stop or ND8 ND filter. But it blocks a consistent amount of light when attached to your lens and affects the entire image. This means you must compensate with three stops of aperture, shutter speed, or ISO.
The only way to change the strength of the filter is to change the filter itself. If you’re using an ND8 filter, but the scene is still overexposed, you can change to an ND16 or ND 32 filter. You can read our roundup of the best neutral density filters we recommend.
2. Graduated ND filters
Graduated ND filters have inconsistent filter layering. One section of the filter will have a higher optical density, while the rest is plain glass. These are specialist filters for landscape photography.
They help you get a perfectly exposed landscape image when different areas of your scene have different lighting. If the sky is much brighter than the land below, the filter can reduce the light intensity of the sky.
3. Variable ND filters
You also have variable ND filters. These filters allow you to change the optical density. Each filter has a set optical density range, so you can only adjust it within those limits.
But changing the optical density gives you incredible versatility and flexibility. They’re ideal for fluctuating conditions. You can read our roundup of the best variable ND filters we recommend.
Why Use a Graduated Neutral Density Filter?
Graduated ND filters are mainly used in landscape photography. Light strength can vary across a landscape or cityscape. And this makes getting a perfectly exposed image very difficult.
For example, the sky section of the image might be much brighter than the ground. If direct sunlight bounces off clouds, the light will be far more intense than the ground below. That’s where a graduated ND filter comes in handy.
The grad filter allows you to obscure the sky portion while leaving the rest of the image untouched. It reduces the intensity of light coming from the sky. And this gives you a more even exposure.
You can capture the scene so the ground and sky are evenly exposed. You don’t need to make post-production adjustments using photo editing software.
The other way you can use the filter is to obscure the bottom section of the image. If you’re taking cityscape shots, you might get light reflecting up from concrete surfaces. You can position the filter to reduce the light from these areas, giving you a better overall exposure.
What’s the Difference Between Hard, Medium, and Soft Grad Filters?
Hard graduated filters have a clear line between the filtered and unfiltered sections. One section has the optical density coating. The other section does not. There’s nothing in between and no fading from one to the other. It’s a hard line.
Medium filters have a softer but clear, visible line between the filtered and unfiltered glass sections. The line between the two isn’t as sharp or clearly defined. But you can still see where one section ends and the other begins.
Soft filters have a very gradual transition from filtered to unfiltered glass. This means there’s no clear dividing line between the two. The clear glass slowly becomes filtered, eventually achieving the full optical density of the filter.
Landscape photographers most commonly use soft and medium ND filters. The softer line makes detecting that you’ve used a filter harder. You can only really use a hard ND filter when you have a clear dividing line in your scene (e.g., a distinct, straight horizon).
Conclusion: The Best Graduated ND Filter
A graduated ND filter is close to essential for landscape photography. It balances the exposure across the scene for better landscape images. A grad ND filter is a simple accessory that can greatly impact your results!
The K&F Concept Soft Graduated Neutral Density Filter is our top choice. It screws directly onto your camera lens. The optical quality is sensational. And it’s available in a wide range of sizes. It’s well-made and well worth the price tag.
