Formatt graduated neutral density filters allow the photographer 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 light intensity between different parts of a scene. This is particularly true in situations where you do not have complete control over lighting, such as in high-contrast landscapes. An exposure for the foreground will produce a washed-out, overexposed sky, whilst an exposure for the sky will leave the foreground dark and underexposed. This filter allows you to maintain correctly exposed cloud detail 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 such filters. Choose the filter density that adjusts the lighting to remain within the exposure latitude (greatest difference between light/dark values) that still shows detail in the digital or film medium used.

Generally, the 2-stop value (ND 0.6 - the clear part of the filter passes 4 times more light than the darkest part) effectively compensates for average bright sky situations relative to the foreground, and the soft transition is more often applicable 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 state-of-the-art production technology, have resulted in a level of optical excellence unmatched elsewhere.

Soft/hard indicates the degree of transition.

Note! A standard ND set 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 with Schott Water White optical glass which is precisely polished and ground to ensure absolute optical flatness and optimum performance

- Optically consistent from one filter to another


Neutral density filters have four main uses

- To allow the use of slow shutter speeds, particularly with fast films, to record motion of subjects such as waterfalls, clouds or cars
- To decrease depth of field by allowing the use of wider apertures, which helps to separate subjects from their background
- To decrease the effective ISO of fast films (above ISO 400) 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 which 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 smooth transition to maximum density. Generally used with wide-angle to medium focal length lenses
- Hard edge - Half clear, half coloured with a sharper and less subtle transition. For use with long focal length lenses
- Attenuator - Like hard edge but with a solid transition line for photographing building corners, sharp horizons or when a very marked transition is required
- Progressive graduated - The graduated line is positioned on one edge of the filter, so that the colour change occurs from top to bottom. Perfect for irregular objects and horizon lines