Best ND Filters for iPhone 17 Pro Max
The iPhone 17 Pro Max is a locked ƒ/1.78 Fusion Main, Apple Log 2, and 4K/24–4K/120 on that same lens. Aperture does not move. The Camera app just shortens the shutter until 24 fps looks like a slideshow. Apple does not sell ND. The 2026 kit that actually covers this camera island — Pro Max case, not the 6.3-inch Pro — is the PolarPro LiteChaser 17 Pro Max Filmmaker Kit. It is not a 16 Pro Max, and it is not a spring clip on Ceramic Shield.
Our Top Picks at a Glance
Updated September 2026 · iPhone 17 Pro Max · 48MP Fusion · ƒ/1.78 main · Apple Log 2 · 4K120 · no official ND · case + VND
LCP17-PROMAX-FLM-KIT. Pro Max case, grip, BT shutter, VND 2–5. Slide-lock. 15/16/17 filters reuse.
Check Price at Amazon Read full review ↓310-344. ND4–ND128, hard stops, Schott. Needs the 17 Pro Max Moment case — not a 16 filter.
Check Price at Amazon Read full review ↓KF15.0020. Island magnet + ND2–32. No filmmaker case. K&F: not for a running shake.
Check Price at Amazon Read full review ↓Disclosure: This page contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate affiliate, we earn a small commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
Comparison Table
| Product | Stops | On a 17 Pro Max | Mount | Price | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PolarPro Filmmaker Kit | VND 2–5 | Case + grip + glass | Slide-lock · Pro Max case | ~$150 | Check |
| Moment VND 2–7 | ND4–ND128 | Extra two stops | QuickLock · case separate | ~$85 + case | Check |
| K&F KF15.0020 | ND2–32 (1–5) | No filmmaker case | Island magnet + 58mm | ~$43 | Check |
| Freewell Basic Kit | VND 1–5 | Sherpa 17mm — Layer 2 | MagSafe case · 64 g | ~$150 | Check |
| Generic clip-on ND | Usually one density | Wrong island — skip | Spring clip | ~$15 | Check |
Street prices move. PolarPro and Freewell both list complete kits around $150. Moment’s VND is ~$85–$90; the 17 Pro Max case is a second SKU. 180-degree shutter is ≈ 2× fps: ~1/48 at 24, ~1/60 at 30, ~1/120 at 60, ~1/240 at 4K/120. The Fusion Main is ƒ/1.78 — that is why five stops is the PolarPro default and seven is the Moment upsell. Ultra Wide is ƒ/2.2; tetraprism tele is ƒ/2.8. A filter that only covers the main will vignette or miss the 13 mm. Apple ProRes at 4K/60 and 4K/120 wants an external USB-C disk (220 MB/s / 440 MB/s per Apple). ND does not replace that SSD.
How We Picked These Filters
- What Apple published for this body: iPhone 17 Pro Max spec sheet: 48MP Pro Fusion. Fusion Main 24 mm, ƒ/1.78, second-generation sensor-shift OIS, 100% Focus Pixels, 24/48MP stills; also 12MP optical-quality 2× at 48 mm, ƒ/1.78. Fusion Ultra Wide 13 mm, ƒ/2.2, 120° FOV, 48MP. Fusion Telephoto 100 mm (4×), ƒ/2.8, tetraprism, 3D sensor-shift OIS + AF; also 12MP optical-quality 8× at 200 mm, ƒ/2.8. Front: 18MP Center Stage, ƒ/1.9. Body 163.4 × 78 × 8.75 mm, 231 g. 6.9-inch OLED, 2868×1320, 460 ppi. Aluminium unibody, Ceramic Shield 2 front, Ceramic Shield back. IP68, 6 m / 30 min (IEC 60529) — liquid damage not covered. Camera Control. USB-C. Video: 4K Dolby Vision at 24/25/30/60 plus 100/120 on Fusion Main; Action mode 2.8K/60; Cinematic 4K/30; Spatial 1080p/30; Dual Capture 4K/30; slo-mo 4K DV to 120 (main) and 1080p to 240. Apple Log 2. ACES. ProRes and ProRes RAW. Genlock. ProRes up to 4K/120 with external recording. Apple’s ProRes table: 256 GB+ internal does 4K/24–30; 4K/60 ProRes needs ≥220 MB/s USB-C; 4K/120 ProRes needs ≥440 MB/s, exFAT, ≤4.5 W. Files up to ~30× HEVC. No Apple ND accessory.
- Why ƒ/1.78 still needs glass: Aperture is fixed on all three rear cameras. 4K/24 at 1/48 and 4K/30 at 1/60 in noon sun will not hold on the Main without ND — the Camera app just raises shutter. Apple Log 2 (17 Pro and later, not 16) will show a cheap color cast. Blackmagic Camera and Final Cut Camera can lock shutter; that is where a VND earns the island. 4K/120 Dolby Vision on the Main is the other reason five to seven stops exist. A clip that covers one lens leaves Ultra Wide and 4× tele naked.
- The case is the mount: PolarPro LiteChaser 17 Pro Max case is Pro Max only; LiteChaser 15/16/17 filters slide onto that case; 13/14 need an adapter; 67 mm is a separate adapter. Moment QuickLock filters are model-specific and not cross-compatible — 16 Pro Max glass will not lock on a 17 Pro Max case. Moment case SKUs are 17 Pro Max specific (e.g. 310-310 Indigo, 310-313 Tan). Freewell Filmmaker Basic SKU FW-17SH17PROM-BSC: 64 g Pro Max case + 40 g VND 1–5, 17 mm Sherpa. K&F KF15.0020 is a magnetic island plate + 58 mm VND; K&F: avoid running or violent shaking. Skip any listing that says “fits all iPhone 17” without Pro Max in the case cutout.
Best ND Filters for iPhone 17 Pro Max: Detailed Reviews
PolarPro LiteChaser 17 Pro Max Filmmaker Kit View on Amazon View on B&H
| SKU | LCP17-PROMAX-FLM-KIT. Box: LiteChaser 17 Pro Max case, Pro Max grip, removable Bluetooth shutter (CR37, PolarPro: ~2000 h), LiteChaser 15/16/17 VND 2–5. Street ~$150. |
|---|---|
| On 17 Pro Max | PolarPro: case and grip are iPhone 17 Pro Max only. Filters: any LiteChaser 15, 16, or 17 glass slides on natively. MagSafe charging and mounts stay. Optional 67 mm adapter. |
| SKU trap | LiteChaser 17 Pro (non-Max) Filmmaker Kit. Director’s Kit (adds CineGold / ShortStache — not more ND). A 16 Pro Max LiteChaser case. |
Why it fits the 17 Pro Max. Apple does not sell ND. This is the pairing that puts CinemaSeries-style VND on the actual Pro Max island and keeps last year’s LiteChaser filters in the bag. Two to five stops covers 4K/24–60 on ƒ/1.78 for most daylight. The grip is why this kit wins over a $150 Freewell box that is only case + glass. If noon 4K/24 still looks hot at five stops, that is Moment’s seventh stop — not a second PolarPro VND stacked. Do not buy the 17 Pro (non-Max) case and force it onto 163.4 mm of phone.
Skip this if you already own a 17 Pro Max Moment case — buy 310-344. Skip if you need seven stops on day one.
- Pro Max-cut case + VND + grip in one SKU
- 15/16/17 LiteChaser filters reuse
- MagSafe stays
- Stops at 5 — no ND64/ND128 equivalent
- Easy to order the 17 Pro (non-Max) twin
Check Price on Amazon US, UK, CA, DE → Check Price on B&H
Moment VND 2–7 QuickLock (iPhone 17 Pro Max) View on Amazon View on B&H
| SKU | Moment VND (2–7 Stop) QuickLock, model 310-344. Retailers list Schott B270, 16-layer coat, AeroFrame, 70.6 × 47.6 × 8.6 mm, 16 g. Street ~$85–$90. Requires a 17 Pro Max Moment Camera Case (e.g. 310-310 Indigo, 310-313 Tan). |
|---|---|
| On 17 Pro Max | Moment: QuickLock filters are model-specific and not cross-compatible. Press-and-lock over the built-in cameras. Hard stops exist to limit cross-polarization. T-Series lenses are a separate SmartAlign mount on the same case. |
| SKU trap | 15/16 Pro Max QuickLock VND. 67 mm QuickLock mount (310-series, $40) with no VND in the box. iPhone 17 / 17 Air cases — Moment: QuickLock is Pro / Pro Max only. |
Why it is Value, not Overall. Seven stops is the reason this glass exists: PolarPro’s kit ends at five. You pay a second SKU for the case and you give up the included grip. If the bag already has a 17 Pro Max Moment case, this is the first filter to buy. If the bag is empty, PolarPro’s one-box Filmmaker Kit is still Overall. Do not put a 16 Pro Max QuickLock on this phone and call it locked.
Skip this if you want case + grip + glass in one invoice — PolarPro. Skip a “Moment VND” listing that does not say 17 Pro Max.
- 2–7 stops with printed hard stops
- Schott, 16 g, island-sized
- Case is a second cart
- Zero cross-gen filter reuse
Check Price on Amazon US, UK, CA, DE → Check Price on B&H
K&F Concept 17 Pro Max Mag Mount + 58mm VND View on Amazon View on B&H
| SKU | KF15.0020: magnetic mount + 58 mm variable ND2–32 (1–5 stops), AGC glass, 18-layer coat. Street ~$43. Mount-only sibling: KF15.0022. CPL sibling: KF15.0021. Pick the 17 Pro Max cutout, not 17 Pro. |
|---|---|
| On 17 Pro Max | K&F: triangular lens + deco cutout for this island; N52 magnets; works bare or on MagSafe cases. Also: avoid running or violent shaking. A thick camera-bump case can cock the plate. |
| SKU trap | 6.1-inch / 17 Pro plate. Generic 58 mm VND with no 17 Pro Max mount. Spring-clip “iPhone ND” that never names 17 Pro Max. |
Why it is Budget. One magnet and a real 58 mm VND is the cheap path when PolarPro / Moment / Freewell are $150 kits. You give up slide-lock, QuickLock, and a designed-for-film case. If the plate walks on a bike mount, that is the K&F warning, not a surprise. Step up when Log 2 and a locked 1/48 are the job every week.
Skip this if the phone lives in a closed-bump case or on a scooter. Skip any clip that names “all iPhones.”
- Named 17 Pro Max island plate
- 58 mm lets you swap a denser ND later
- Magnet, not a locked filmmaker case
- Stops at 5, same as PolarPro, with less of a seat
Check Price on Amazon US, UK, CA, DE → Check Price on B&H
If You Need Something Else
These two are not cheaper versions of the Top 3. One is Freewell’s Sherpa 17 mm case if you already buy their lenses. One is the spring clip Amazon will try to sell you.
Freewell iPhone Filmmaker Basic Kit View on Amazon View on B&H
| SKU | FW-17SH17PROM-BSC when the phone selector is 17 Pro Max. Box: MagSafe case (Freewell: 64 g), VND 1–5 (40 g, case-only), cap, pouch, cloth. Street ~$150. |
|---|---|
| When it wins | You want Freewell’s 17 mm magnetic lenses and a VND on the same case. Not a reason to pay $150 if you only need ND — PolarPro includes a grip at the same number. |
| SKU trap | 16 / 15 Pro Max Sherpa case. Cinematographer Pro Kit (anamorphic / mist circus). VND 3–7 “for case” add-ons from the bigger kit. |
Freewell’s own copy still talks about 13–16 Pro cases on the same page — confirm the dropdown says iPhone 17 Pro Max before the cart closes.
Skip this if you only need ND and a grip — PolarPro Filmmaker Kit.
Check Price on Amazon US, UK, CA, DE → Check Price on B&H
Generic spring-clip iPhone ND View on Amazon View on B&H
| Why it shows up | Amazon still ranks “iPhone ND filter” as a $15 clip. One density, one lens, metal jaws on Ceramic Shield. |
|---|---|
| On a 17 Pro Max | Three 48MP cameras on one island. A clip that covers the Main leaves 13 mm and 100 mm naked and can rake the back glass. This is not LiteChaser, not QuickLock, not KF15.0020. |
If the camera in the pocket is a 17 Pro Max, the cart says LCP17-PROMAX, 310-344 + 17 Pro Max Moment case, or KF15.0020.
Skip this if the body is a 17 Pro Max. Buy PolarPro, Moment, or K&F’s named plate.
Check Price on Amazon US, UK, CA, DE → Check Price on B&H
Frequently Asked Questions
What ND the 17 Pro Max needs
ƒ/1.78 (Main), ƒ/2.2 (Ultra Wide), and ƒ/2.8 (100 mm / 200 mm tele) do not stop down. 180-degree shutter is ≈ 2× fps: about 1/48 at 24, 1/60 at 30, 1/120 at 60, 1/240 at 4K/120. PolarPro’s kit is 2–5 stops. Moment’s QuickLock is 2–7 (ND4–ND128) with hard stops. Start around 4–5 stops for 4K/30 in sun on the Main; go to 6–7 if 4K/24 is still hot. Do not stack two VNDs.
16 Pro Max filters or case on a 17 Pro Max
Cases: no. PolarPro and Moment cut the 17 Pro Max separately from 16 Pro Max and from 17 Pro. Filters: PolarPro LiteChaser 15/16/17 glass slides onto a LiteChaser 17 Pro Max case. Moment QuickLock is model-specific — a 16 Pro Max VND will not lock. K&F plates are island-specific. Buy the Pro Max case, then the matching glass.
Camera app versus a locked shutter
The native Camera app does not give a cinema 180-degree shutter. Use Blackmagic Camera or Final Cut Camera (Apple Log 2, ProRes, ProRes RAW) when you want 1/48 or 1/60 locked. Camera Control still works for stills. ProRes at 4K/60 and 4K/120 is an external USB-C job per Apple (220 / 440 MB/s, exFAT). ND is for light, not for the SSD.
One filter over all three cameras
That is why these systems are island-sized. A 17 Pro Max LiteChaser / Moment / K&F plate is cut for the triangle. A clip on the Main only is how Ultra Wide vignettes and tele goes unfiltered. Front 18MP ƒ/1.9 is a different story — none of these rear systems are a selfie ND.
Water, IP68, and a filter case
Apple rates the naked 17 Pro Max IP68 at 6 m / 30 min. That is not a license to swim with LiteChaser, Moment, Freewell, or K&F on it. Pull the case and the glass before water. Liquid damage is not covered. After a splash, dry the island before you press a filter back on so grit does not grind Ceramic Shield.
Final Verdict
For most iPhone 17 Pro Max kits, buy the PolarPro LiteChaser 17 Pro Max Filmmaker Kit, slide the VND to ~4–5 stops, and lock 1/48 (24 fps) or 1/60 (30 fps) in Blackmagic Camera or Final Cut Camera. ƒ/1.78 does not stop down. Apple does not sell ND. Need seven stops? Moment 310-344 plus a 17 Pro Max Moment case. One cheap magnet? KF15.0020. Skip 16 Pro Max cases, skip the 17 Pro (non-Max) LiteChaser, skip spring clips. IP68 is the naked phone. This page is the 17 Pro Max, not the 16 Pro Max.