Hoya 62mm Variable Density II Filter

Where professional photography and videography meet, the 62mm Variable Density II Filter by HOYA stands out as a high-quality, durable, and versatile tool. This filter offers an adjustable density range from 1.5 to 9 f-stops (ND3-400), providing photographers and videographers with unparalleled control over their exposure settings.

The Variable Density II Filter is an upgrade from its predecessor, featuring a newly designed rotatable frame equipped with a convenient knob for enhanced operation. This feature makes it an efficient tool for managing light intake, allowing for a wider range of aperture and shutter speed settings in varying lighting conditions.

Variable density filters are essential for both still photography and video shooting. They can replace a set of solid ND filters by offering an adjustable range of density, tailored to your desired exposure settings. In still photography, these filters can lower the shutter speed according to the photographer's intentions when camera limits prevent a lower shutter speed. They can also increase the amount of bokeh when shooting in over-lit conditions, thus preventing image overexposure.

In video shooting, maintaining the correct shutter speed to fit the frame rate setting is crucial. An excessively fast shutter speed can create a jarring effect and produce afterimages that detract from the final video quality. The Variable Density II Filter allows for the shutter speed to be adjusted to the proper value, ensuring natural and smooth motion in video footage.

The HOYA Variable Density II Filter incorporates an exclusive rotatable frame construction, consisting of a fixed frame and a rotatable frame. The rotatable frame is wider than the fixed frame to minimize the risk of vignetting when used on wide-angle lenses. However, please be mindful of the risk of vignetting with APS-C size wide-angle lenses at focal lengths less than 13mm and full-frame wide-angle lenses at focal lengths less than 24mm.

Due to the specific structure of the filter frame, the HOYA Variable Density II can accommodate a lens cap one size larger than the filter itself. For instance, a 77mm HOYA Variable Density II can take an 82mm lens cap.

The HOYA Variable Density II Filter provides the freedom to change the shutter speed according to the desired effect, without altering the aperture. This is particularly effective for motion blurring effects like waterfalls, cars, or blurred panning movement, making the subject stand out from the background. It also allows for wider apertures in over-lit conditions to decrease depth-of-field, focusing more attention on the subject. Even with a shutter speed of 1/8000 seconds, a large aperture of f/1.4 or f/1.2 can cause overexposure. With the HOYA Variable Density II filter, overexposure issues can be avoided by adjusting the light intake.

For video bloggers and professional video content creators, the Variable Density II Filter is a must-have tool. It allows cine/video cameras to set the appropriate exposures in bright lighting conditions, helping to achieve a cinematic look. This filter is a testament to HOYA's commitment to providing professional, efficient, and versatile equipment for all your photography and videography needs.