Hoya PROND EX 8 Neutral Density Filter 77mm

Neutral Density Filter Overview

Neutral density (ND) filters are essential photographic tools that allow precise control over the amount of light entering the lens, enabling greater creative control of exposure. For video creators, ND filters help maintain appropriate shutter speeds to match frame rates while preserving depth of field.

ND Filter Categories

• Light density filters (ND2 – ND8): Reduce shutter speed in bright conditions, allowing wider apertures for softer bokeh and reduced depth of field.
• Middle density filters (ND16 – ND200): Enable motion blur effects in lighting conditions that normally restrict shutter speed adjustments.
• Deep density filters (ND500 – ND1000 / ND100000): Facilitate extremely slow shutter speeds for creative, surreal imagery beyond human visual perception.

Light Density Filters Application

Light density filters like ND8 are ideal for shooting with fast lenses (e.g., f/1.4 or f/1.2) wide open in bright light, producing softer and more aesthetically pleasing bokeh.

Hoya PROND EX Series Features

Hoya's PROND EX series offers a wide range of ND filters designed for photographers and filmmakers. These filters use clear optical glass mounted in a lightweight, precision-crafted aluminum frame with front filter threads for additional filter stacking or lens cap attachment.

ACCU-ND Technology

Hoya's exclusive ACCU-ND technology ensures equal reduction of visible and infrared light, preventing color shifts common in lower-quality ND filters caused by poor materials, manufacturing, or infrared leakage. This technology guarantees consistent color fidelity across various shooting conditions.

Use in Video Production

ND filters are indispensable in video shooting, especially with cameras like Sony in S-Log mode where ISO cannot be set below 800. To achieve natural motion blur, shutter speed should match the frame rate. PROND EX filters such as ND8, ND64, ND1000, or their combinations (e.g., ND8 + ND64) help achieve cinematic quality footage during daylight.

Filter Combinations

Photographers can combine PROND EX filters to achieve desired effects beyond single filter capabilities. For example:

• PROND EX 8 + PROND EX 64 equals ND500, ideal for surreal, fantasy-like images.
• PROND EX 8 + PROND EX 1000 equals ND8000, enabling capture of the Sun's surface with solid color and visible sunspots without overexposure.

Technical Specifications

• Filter Type: Neutral Density (ND) Filter
• Series: Hoya PROND EX
• Light Reduction: ND8 (3 stops)
• Filter Thread Size: 77 mm
• Material: Clear optical glass with ACCU-ND coating
• Frame: Lightweight, precision aluminum with front threads