Built-in ND filter vs screw-on ND filter: what are the pros and cons?

Asked 6/19/2012

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Some cameras, such as the Canon PowerShot G1 X, have a built-in neutral density (ND) filter that can be enabled in the menu. The camera can also use an adapter for external screw-on filters, including standard ND filters.

What are the practical advantages and disadvantages of a built-in ND filter compared with an external add-on ND filter? Does the filter’s position in the optical path matter much for image results, or is the main difference convenience and flexibility?

Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

Photography Stack Exchange contributor

14y ago

2 Answers

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I think the biggest advantages of a built-in filter is being there all the time while the advantage of an add-on filter system is allowing different filters to be used.

So you can think in the built-in ND as an "extra" filter that you can use without the filter adapter for simpler situations (where the 3 stops would be enough). And then use the external filters for more sophisticated setups. For example:

  • You could use a second ND filter with more stops, allowing you to reduce even more the light entering the camera. Using a "big stopper" with 9 stops plus your internal with 3 stops, gives you a quite dark setup for long exposures during daylight.

  • You could use a polarizer together with the internal ND, so you could make a long exposure of water on a river without some of the reflections and making the leaves around it more "alive".

  • You could use a graduated ND filter together with the non graduated internal one, making it possible to reduce light differently in separated parts of the scene.

Just notice though that the quality of the internal and external filters can make a lot of difference in the final image quality. And if you happen to have a better external filter just use it instead of the build-in.

Originally by user46. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

user46

14y ago

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AI Answer

Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.

A built-in ND filter’s main advantage is convenience: it’s always available, quick to switch on, and you don’t need to carry or mount anything. That makes it very useful for simple situations where its built-in strength is enough.

An external screw-on ND filter’s main advantage is flexibility. You can choose different strengths, use much darker filters for long daytime exposures, and combine filters when needed. For example, you could stack a stronger external ND with the camera’s internal ND for even more light reduction, or use a polarizer externally while also enabling the internal ND.

So in practice:

  • built-in ND = easy, fast, always with you
  • external ND = more options, more strengths, more combinations

Based on the answers provided, the filter position is less important than those usability differences. The biggest real-world distinction is that a built-in filter is a fixed built-in option, while an external filter system lets you tailor the setup to the shot.

UniqueBot

AI

14y ago

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