What nd filter to get for shooting video? (on a budget)

[thesalvagator]

I have seen nd filters by K&F concept that are available for around Rs 1.5k-4k for 1-9 or similar stops. The general consensus is to get filters that cover a smaller nd stop range 3-7 or 6-9 stops but wanted an experienced opinion on this topic.

I plan to use a mist filter so being stackable would be welcomed.

A Matte box would make the setup large and would also be out of my budget range (up to Rs 4k-5k at max) and hence is not a desired option.

Any recommendations or input would be highly appreciated.

[Nishit Dave]

Are you talking about a variable ND filter? You need to specify what kind of videography you'll do and what kind of lens you are going to use.

I use an Iris 95mm ND8 filter with my wildlife lens (max aperture f/6.3 at 600mm) to shoot videos in bright daylight to bring the frame rate down to 50/s. I find the performance (in terms of colour cast and loss of sharpness) to be acceptable as these videos are not meant for professional use.

One argument against the use of VNDs is that with wider angle lenses, the colour of the sky might vary across the frame, while it may not matter with longer focal lengths.

However, VNDs will usually produce inferior results as compared to a good quality fixed ND filter, especially if you are going to stack filters. So you can experiment with a VND filter, which is cheaper, and later buy a more expensive but better quality fixed ND filter.