Formatt graduated neutral density filters allow photographers to adjust exposure without affecting colour balance. Exposure can be increased by 1, 2, 3 or 4 stops depending on the situation.

It is often necessary or desirable to balance the light intensity between different parts of a scene. This is particularly true in situations where you do not have complete control over the lighting, such as in highly contrasted landscapes. An exposure for the foreground will produce a washed-out and overexposed sky, whilst an exposure for the sky will leave the foreground dark and underexposed. This filter allows properly exposed cloud detail to be retained in the image.

Determining which graduated neutral density filter will give ideal results for a given lighting situation requires knowledge, experience and a collection of these filters. Choose the filter density that adjusts the lighting to remain within the exposure latitude (greatest difference between light/dark values) whilst preserving detail in the digital or film medium being used.

Generally, the 2-stop value (ND 0.6 – the clear part of the filter lets through 4 times more light than the darkest part) effectively compensates for average bright sky/foreground situations, and the soft transition applies more often to a scene than the hard transition.

Formatt, a company with three generations of experience in professional filter manufacturing, produces each filter to the highest technical standards. The finest materials, combined with cutting-edge production technology, have resulted in a level of optical excellence unmatched elsewhere.

Soft/hard indicates the degree of transition.

Note! A standard set of ND filters includes 0.3, 0.6, 0.9 and 1.2. This represents 1 to 4 stops of light reduction


Benefits

- All Formatt filters are manufactured from Schott Water White optical glass, precision ground and polished to ensure absolute optical flatness and optimum performance

- Optically consistent from one filter to another


Neutral density filters have four main uses

- To enable the use of slow shutter speeds, particularly with fast films, to record movement in subjects such as waterfalls, clouds or cars
- To decrease depth of field by allowing wider apertures to be used, which helps separate subjects from their background
- To decrease the effective ISO sensitivity of fast films (above 400 ISO) and allow their use outdoors in bright situations
- To allow cine and video cameras (which have fixed shutter speeds) to film subjects such as snow, sand or other bright scenes that could cause overexposure


Neutral density factors

- ND.3 (exposure adjustment = 1 stop, reduces ISO by 1/2)
- ND.6 (exposure adjustment = 2 stops, reduces ISO by 1/4)
- ND.9 (exposure adjustment = 3 stops, reduces ISO by 1/8)
- ND1.2 (exposure adjustment = 4 stops, reduces ISO by 1/16)


Formatt graduated filters are available in four types

- Soft edge – Half clear, half coloured with a soft transition to maximum density. Generally used with wide-angle to medium-focal-length lenses
- Hard edge – Half clear, half coloured with a defined, less subtle transition. For use with long-focal-length lenses
- Attenuator edge – Like hard edge but with a solid transition line for photographing building corners, sharp horizons or when a very marked transition is needed
- Graduated – The graduation line is located on one edge of the filter, so that the colour change occurs from top to bottom. Perfect for irregular objects and horizon lines