Best ND Filters for Sony ZV-E1 (2026): Full-Frame Vlog, No eND, 4K120 License
The Sony ZV-E1 is a 12.1-megapixel full-frame vlog camera with the same sensor class as the a7S III and no electronic ND. The FX3 in that family has eND. This ZV does not. Cinematic Vlog Setting and S-Log3 still want 1/50 at 24p. The 2026 first buy is the PolarPro Peter McKinnon Edition II Variable ND 6–9 Stop in 82 mm — not the kit 28–60’s 40.5 mm thread, and not the ZV-E10 II’s 67 mm APS-C kit.
Our Top Picks at a Glance
Updated September 2026 · ZV-E1 · 12.1MP FF · ISO 80–102400 · 4K60 full-width · 4K120 license · no eND · no HDMI RAW · 82 mm · 6–9 first
75-1020 / 82-1020. Same 12MP class as a7S III, no eND, no HDMI RAW. 4K120 is a license, ~10% crop.
Check Price at Amazonat AmazonRead full review ↓NIR-TCVND1.8-2.7-82. True Color when Cinematic Vlog / imported LUTs sit on the flip screen.
Check Price at Amazonat AmazonRead full review ↓KF01.1856. Same Nano-X 6–9 SKU as the a7S III budget line. Not the ZV-E10 II 67 mm KF01.1802V1.
Check Price at Amazonat AmazonRead 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
| Filter | Range | Thread | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PolarPro 6–9 Stop 82mm | 6–9 stops | 82 mm | S-Log3 / Cinematic Vlog in daylight | Check Price |
| NiSi True Color 6–9 82mm | 6–9 stops | 82 mm | LUT preview + Fine Tuning | Check Price |
| K&F Nano-X ND64–512 82mm | 6–9 stops (ND64–512) | 82 mm | First S-Log3 6–9 on a ZV | Check Price |
How We Picked
Three official facts decide the glass. Everything else is a pairing.
- No built-in ND, no HDMI RAW. ZV-E1 is a full-frame vlog ILCE/ZV body. DPReview lists no built-in ND and no RAW output. The FX3 has eND; the a7S III has HDMI RAW. This body has neither. (DPReview ZV-E1 preview)
- 12.1MP, ISO 80–102400, 4K60 full-width. Sony: full-pixel readout 4K, 10-bit 4:2:2, 15+ stops of latitude. S-Log3 sits well above ISO 80. That is a 6–9 daylight problem. (Sony ZV-E1 product page)
- 4K120 is a Creators’ Cloud license, ~10% crop. Sony documents 4K120 as an upgrade license, not a Cine EI mode. The crop is not ND. 120 fps still wants ~1/250. (Sony: ZV-E1 4K/120p upgrade)
Detailed Reviews
PolarPro Peter McKinnon Edition II Variable ND 6–9 Stop (82mm) View on Amazon View on B&H
| Range | 6–9 stops |
|---|---|
| Thread | 82 mm |
| Best for | S-Log3 / Cinematic Vlog in daylight |
A full-frame ZV with no eND. S-Log3 daylight is a 6–9 job. The a7S III article is the sibling; this one is the vlog body without HDMI RAW.
Sony’s ZV-E1 page: 12.1MP full-frame Exmor R, ISO 80–102400 (stills expanded 40–409600; movies 80–409600), 15+ stops of latitude, 4K with full-pixel readout, 10-bit 4:2:2, Dynamic Active / Framing Stabilizer, 3-capsule mic. DPReview’s preview: no mechanical shutter, no built-in ND, no RAW output, micro-HDMI, one SD slot, about 483 g. 4K120 and 1080/240 arrive as a Creators’ Cloud license, not as a Cinema Line Cine EI menu.
S-Log3 on this sensor is commonly used well above ISO 80 (production charts often cite ~640 / ~12800). Noon at 1/50 and f/2.8 runs past five stops. The ZV-E10 II article starts on 2–5 because that body is APS-C ISO 100 vlog. This body is full-frame Log. Different camera, different first ring.
4K60 is full-width. 4K120 (license) uses about a 10% crop and wants ~1/250 — still not internal ND. Kit 28–60 is 40.5 mm. The lenses that make a 12MP full-frame vlog look like a vlog — 16–35 GM II, 24–70 GM II — are 82 mm. 20–70 F4 G is 67 mm; that is Layer 2, not Overall.
- 6–9 matches S-Log3 / Cinematic Vlog daylight on the 12MP FF sensor
- Same 82 mm Edition II SKU as the a7S III — one ring if both bodies travel
- Hard stops on a gimbal with no EVF hunting
- Too dark for S-Cinetone / Product Showcase interiors — 2–5 is Layer 2
- Wrong first buy if the only lens is the 28–60 kit
Check Price on Amazon US, UK, CA, DE → Check Price on B&H
NiSi True Color ND-VARIO 6–9 Stop (82mm) View on Amazon View on B&H
| Range | 6–9 stops |
|---|---|
| Thread | 82 mm |
| Best for | LUT preview + Fine Tuning |
True Color 6–9 for a vlog body that shows LUTs on the screen, without FX3 eND to hide a yellow ring.
The ZV-E1 imports LUTs and sells Cinematic Vlog Setting. A yellow VND shows up on the flip screen before it shows up in Resolve. NiSi’s 6–9 True Color is the Value alternative in the same stop range and 82 mm thread. Fine Tuning marks 1/50 and 1/240 (4K120 license).
- True Color for LUT / Cinematic Vlog
- Fine Tuning
- 82 mm GM zooms
- Lever vs a compact cage
- Still need 2–5 for S-Cinetone interiors
Check Price on Amazon US, UK, CA, DE → Check Price on B&H
K&F Concept Nano-X Variable ND64–512 (82mm) View on Amazon View on B&H
| Range | 6–9 stops (ND64–512) |
|---|---|
| Thread | 82 mm |
| Best for | First S-Log3 6–9 on a ZV |
Cheap 6–9 in 82 mm. Confirm KF01.1856. A 67 mm ZV-E10 II filter is the wrong crop of the catalog.
KF01.1856 is the 82 mm Nano-X 6–9. Do not grab the ZV-E10 II article’s 67 mm ND2–32 because both cameras say ZV. This one is full-frame Log. Stay off the last ½ stop. Dynamic Active is stabilization with a crop — not ND.
- Correct 82 mm 6–9 SKU
- S-Log3 daylight range
- No hard stops on a gimbal
- Easy to mix with 67 mm ZV-E10 II listings
Check Price on Amazon US, UK, CA, DE → Check Price on B&H
If You Need Something Else
PolarPro Edition II 2–5 Stop 82 mm (75-1018) View on Amazon View on B&H
S-Cinetone, Product Showcase, ISO 80 interiors. Second filter on a Log-capable ZV.
Check Price on Amazon US, UK, CA, DE → Check Price on B&H
67 mm PolarPro 2–5 (75-1016) View on Amazon View on B&H
FE 20–70 F4 G / 24–50 F2.8 G as a walkaround. Not the GM default.
Check Price on Amazon US, UK, CA, DE → Check Price on B&H
40.5 mm ND2–32 View on Amazon View on B&H
kit 28–60 only. Fine for a one-lens talking-head kit; not this article’s Overall.
Check Price on Amazon US, UK, CA, DE → Check Price on B&H
Dynamic Active / Framing Stabilizer View on Amazon View on B&H
extra crop, not stops of ND.
Check Price on Amazon US, UK, CA, DE → Check Price on B&H
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the ZV-E1 have the FX3’s electronic ND?
No. eND is an FX3 feature. The ZV-E1 needs glass, same as the a7S III.
Does the ZV-E1 output HDMI RAW like the a7S III?
No. Micro-HDMI 4K, no 16-bit RAW. ND still has to be on the lens.
Is this the same article as ZV-E10 II?
No. ZV-E10 II is APS-C, ISO 100, 67 mm, 2–5 first. ZV-E1 is full-frame 12MP, Log, 82 mm, 6–9 first.
Is 4K120 built in?
4K120 is a Creators’ Cloud license upgrade (free in many regions). It uses about a 10% crop. It does not add ND.
2–5 or 6–9 first?
6–9 for S-Log3 / Cinematic Vlog daylight. 2–5 for S-Cinetone and Product Showcase.
Will an a7S III 82 mm PolarPro 6–9 fit?
Yes. Same thread. The ZV-E1-specific facts are no HDMI RAW, the vlog mic / Cinematic Vlog menu, Dynamic Active, and the 4K120 license.
Final Verdict
The ZV-E1 is a 12.1MP full-frame vlog body with 4K60, an optional 4K120 license, no eND, and no HDMI RAW. Start with the PolarPro 6–9 82 mm. Use NiSi 6–9 for LUT / True Color. Use K&F KF01.1856 as the cheap 6–9. Add a 2–5 for S-Cinetone. Do not copy the ZV-E10 II 67 mm kit or the FX3 eND workflow.