Best Budget Variable ND Filter for Video: K&F, Urth, NiSi

Shooting video in daylight runs into a simple problem: you want a slow shutter for natural motion and a wide aperture for shallow focus, and the sun gives you far too much light for both. A variable ND filter fixes that with one twist of a ring, which is why it's often the first filter people buy for video.

Cheap ones have a reputation, though. Push them too far and a dark X appears across the frame, colors drift, or the image goes soft, and the lowest prices are where those problems tend to live.

The picks below run from the widest range to the cleanest image, all at budget money, with the trade each one makes.

The K&F ND2-400 is the range pick, the ND2-32 is the no-X pick, the ND8-128 is the video range, and the Urth Plus is the premium-budget tier. One owner has called it the coolest filter they've ever bought, and that kind of praise shows up again and again in budget ND reviews. The image shows the K&F fader.

The Range Pick: K&F ND2-400

This filter is arguably the coolest piece of gear I have ever bought because it feels like magic when you need to control light in very bright, outdoor settings. It offers a huge range of how it cuts light that lets you capture smooth motion without changing your shutter speed constantly.

It's made from AGC optical glass with 8 multi-layer coatings that reduce flare, and that spec is what's behind the claim. The natural look is the whole point: ND work is exposure control, not a filter look, and one owner's filter has held up well over 2 years, the durability answer the cheap tier never gives. TechRadar's filter guides cover the same glass from the consumer side.

One owner has been very impressed with it for about two years and has called it a durable design at a very affordable price.

Others have called it good quality for a fraction of the price. You don't need to spend a lot because it works, since the glass is built to last. One buyer has noted that the ring doesn't have a stopping point, but you can still learn to find the spot.

This specific model fits perfectly on my ZV-E10 kit lens, which makes it a great way to go for creators who want to upgrade their basic camera gear. A reviewer in Italy said it works well for talking because it doesn't distort the image at all anymore. You'll find that the range helps you, especially when you move from shadows into bright sunlight.

The No-X Pick: K&F ND2-32

This filter features a matte aluminum rim that feels solid, yet it avoids the annoying X mark that often ruins cheap filters when you push them far.

One buyer returned a competing Neewer model because it felt poor, but this stays clear in high-contrast scenes. One owner has used it for a 30-second exposure at maximum ND, and another has said it works as described, with no X mark. While it shows some slight vignetting on a Tamron 24-70 at wide angles, you can just crop that part out in post.

You should be careful when you screw the glass on, because one user has reported it made noise and even left a scratch on the threads of their lens during a typical setup. It works well.

A buyer has found it a little tricky to fit with the lens hood, and their trick is to put the hood on first, drop the filter down inside it, and then screw it on

The Video-Range Pick: K&F ND8-128

You might find this filter offers the perfect range for shooting outdoors in sunlight, which helps you keep your exposure right while you're working on a very bright day.

An owner in Spain noted that it doesn't cause an X effect or any shift in color, which is a big win

A buyer has called the darker version indispensable for log video, where the camera forces a high ISO and you want to open up a fast lens

The Premium-Budget: Urth Plus

The Urth Plus is the quality step in the budget field, and one owner has said it does a great job of keeping sunlight in the background from blowing out the whole shot.

You'll find that the markings line up pretty decently, matching the actual points where the light really drops. It comes in a nice metal case, which helps keep the glass safe while you travel with your gear. One buyer has noted some white specks on the glass, but they couldn't wipe them off easily.

An owner has called it a good quality VND with no noticeable X pattern or color cast and has said they'd buy it again, and another has noticed no color shift or vignetting

Frequently Asked Questions

What variable ND filter range is best for video?

The K&F ND8-128 provides a perfect range for shooting outdoors in bright sunlight without losing control of your exposure settings during the shoot. You might find the ND2-32 useful for video even though it shows some vignetting at wide angles.

Do these filters cause X-cross patterns?

Many filters suffer from shading but the ND2-32 and the ND8-128 won't produce that annoying dark X-cross effect on your footage. The Urth Plus model also avoids this issue while keeping your images clear and natural without any artifacts.

Is magnetic better than threaded ND filters?

Using a magnetic filter means you don't have to worry about tightening threads too much on your expensive lens glass every time. The magnetic grab isn't always strong enough to be reliable during fast camera moves or travel, and one unhappy buyer has worried about a filter dropping off and getting left behind without anyone noticing.

Can I use step-up rings with these?

You can use the Urth filter on a step-up ring to fit different lenses on your camera setup very easily. This method makes the gear easier to manage across your entire kit without buying more.

Do the rings have a stopping point?

The K&F ND2-400 lacks a physical stopping point when you turn the ring to select a specific density for your shot. This might make it tricky to hit the exact exposure you need while filming in changing light.

One 3-star ND2-400 owner has pointed out that the ring has no stopping point when you turn it to pick a stop, because continuous rotation is the design and repeatable stops are the trade.

The ND filter tier covers the fixed-filter side, the iPhone ND page is the phone-side answer, the mavic filter page is the drone-side cousin, and the polar-pro cinema tier is the name-brand step up, and PetaPixel's filter coverage reads the same glass from the photo side. Check B&H's variable ND stock for the tiers.