Best ND Filters for Sony FX5
The Sony FX5 is a July 2026 Cinema Line body with no internal ND. Cine EI sits at ISO 800, ISO 4000, and ISO 12800. Dual Gain is a second sensor readout — Sony Help: ISO 800(Dual Gain) in log, Low(Dual Gain) in Custom — not glass. S-Log3 at 24p / 180° and f/2.8 in noon sun is still eight or nine stops over. Sony does not sell an FX5 ND. The 2026 filter that matches this body is the PolarPro Peter McKinnon Signature Edition II 82mm 6–9 stop. It is not the FX6’s electronic ND, and it is not a no-hard-stop 1–10 ring.
Our Top Picks at a Glance
Updated September 2026 · FX5 · ILME-FX5 / ILME-FX5B · 16.6 MP stacked FF · video-only · no internal ND · Cine EI 800 / 4000 / 12800 · Dual Gain ≠ ND · 5K Open Gate · internal X-OCN · 82mm first
82-6/9-VND-ED2. Hard-stop 6–9. PolarPro: LOG / ISO over 400. Zero vignette to 16 mm.
Check Price at Amazon Read full review ↓NIR-TCVND0.3-1.5-82. True Color, hard stops. Swift ND16 expands to 5–9.
Check Price at Amazon Read full review ↓KF01.1805V1. 82 mm, 1–5 stops, no-X claim. Not the ND2–400.
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 an FX5 | Thread / note | Price | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PolarPro PM II 6–9 | 6–9 (ND64–ND512) | Default daylight Cine EI 800 | 82 mm · hard stops · to 16 mm | ~$250 | Check |
| NiSi True Color 1–5 | 1–5 (+ Swift ND16 = 5–9) | True Color; expand for noon | 82 mm · 86 mm front | ~$180–$220 | Check |
| K&F Nano-X ND2–32 | 1–5 | Budget hard-stop 1–5 | KF01.1805V1 · 82 mm | ~$70–$90 | Check |
| PolarPro PM II 2–5 | 2–5 (ND4–ND32) | ISO 4000 interiors — Layer 2 | 82-2/5-VND-ED2 · to 16 mm | ~$250 | Check |
| ND2–400 / 1–10 VND | ~1–8.6, no hard stop | X-pattern — skip | Wide-range two-polarizer junk | ~$30–$50 | Check |
Street prices move. PolarPro’s 82 mm Edition II often sits around $250; NiSi True Color 1–5 around $180–$220; K&F Nano-X ND2–32 around $70–$90. ND4 is 2 stops, ND32 is 5, ND64 is 6, ND512 is 9. 180-degree shutter is ≈ 2× fps: ~1/48 at 24, ~1/50 at 25, ~1/60 at 30, ~1/120 at 60, ~1/240 at 120. Cine EI 800 in hard sun at f/2.8 wants the 6–9 ring, not the 2–5. ISO 4000 in the same sun is brighter on the sensor, not darker — stop down or keep 6–9, do not “save” stops by raising base ISO. Dual Gain does not replace a filter. Sony does not sell a circular ND for this body. Buy 82 mm first (FE 24–70 mm GM II and FE 16–35 mm GM II are 82 mm); step-up rings cover 77 / 72 / 67. Internal X-OCN is a CFexpress Type A / VPG400 problem, not an ND problem. Do not stack two variable NDs.
How We Picked These Filters
- What Sony published for this body: ILME-FX5 / ILME-FX5B (announced 22 July 2026). E-mount. 35.9 × 24.0 mm full-frame fully stacked Exmor RS CMOS. Approx. 16.6 MP effective, 18.2 MP total. Video-only — no stills mode. Latitude 15+ stops in S-Log3. Three base ISOs in Cine EI / Flexible ISO: ISO 800, ISO 4000, ISO 12800 (Sony Help: Base ISO menu; Cine EI Quick links base to EI). Dual Gain: Custom → Base Sensitivity Low(Dual Gain); log → Base ISO ISO 800(Dual Gain). Sony: Dual Gain expands dark-area latitude, raises power draw, and is only available in some imager / format combinations (Help: “Imager mode and recording formats”). Sony CA: Dual Gain frame rates up to 30 fps for FF 5K 3:2 and up to 60 fps for FF 5K 16:9/17:9. ISO 320–409600 equivalent. Shutter (movies): 64 F to 1/8000 s. Launch recording: 5K to 60 fps, 4K to 120 fps, FHD to 240 fps. Internal 16-bit X-OCN (LT / C1 / C2) plus XAVC HS / XAVC S. Open Gate 3:2 full-pixel readout (X-OCN at launch). Also 17:9, 16:9, Super 35 scan modes. HDMI RAW listed. Dual CFexpress Type A / SD. 5-axis IBIS (Dynamic Active / Active / Standard / Off). NP-SA100. Weight: approx. 643 g body only, 734 g with battery and card. Body 132.2 × 79.0 × 87.0 mm. 3.5-type 2.76M-dot LCD. Optional DVF-EL1 OLED EVF; XLR-H2 handle (32-bit float). No internal ND. No SDI. Sony does not sell an FX5 circular ND set. Firmware 2.0 (planned 2027) adds higher-rate Open Gate / 4K 240p — that is not an ND.
- Why ISO 800 still needs 6–9 stops — and why ISO 4000 is not a shortcut: Sunny-16 at ISO 800, f/2.8, and ~1/48 is about eight to nine stops over a clear noon. S-Log3 / Cine EI does not drop base ISO to 80 to “save” you. PolarPro prints 6–9 for LOG and for ISO above 400 at f/1.4–f/2.8; 2–5 is their general / non-LOG ring. The FX5’s extra base at ISO 4000 is for mixed interiors and documentary walk-ins — it is not a reason to buy a 2–5 as the daylight default. Stay at 4000 in hard sun and the sensor sees more light, so the 6–9 still earns the cart. Dual Gain is a double readout at ISO 800; it is not FX6 electronic ND (1/4–1/128). A no-hard-stop 1–10 VND is two polarizers that draw an X at the top of the range — worse on 5K Open Gate and 16-bit X-OCN than on an 8-bit proxy. IBIS / Dynamic Active does not replace ND.
- 82 mm, the FX6 trap, the old FX5 name, and the cheap-VND trap: Standardize on 82 mm: FE 24–70 mm F2.8 GM II and FE 16–35 mm F2.8 GM II are 82 mm. FE 24–105 mm G and FE 70–200 mm GM II are 77 mm — use a step-up ring, not a second 77 mm VND as the default. PolarPro Edition II claims zero vignetting to 16 mm and uses hard stops; the front is unthreaded. NiSi True Color 1–5 uses an 86 mm front thread and a Swift ND16 press-on for 5–9. K&F’s hard-stop 1–5 is KF01.1805V1; KF01.1393V1 / Nano-Klear ND2–400 is the wide-range skip. The FX6’s built-in electronic ND is not on this camera. The FX3 is a different body (Cine EI 800 / 12800, no Open Gate, no internal X-OCN). This page is the 2026 full-frame stacked ILME-FX5 / ILME-FX5B, not the 2021 Super 35 camera that also used the FX5 name.
Best ND Filters for Sony FX5: Detailed Reviews
PolarPro Peter McKinnon Signature Edition II 82mm 6–9 Stop View on Amazon View on B&H
| SKU | MFR 82-6/9-VND-ED2 · PolarPro SG-EDll-82-6/9 · UPC 817465026038. 82 mm rear thread. Density 1.8–2.7 (ND64–ND512). CinemaSeries / fused quartz. Haptic clicks. Defender360 case. Street ~$250. |
|---|---|
| On FX5 | PolarPro: 6–9 for LOG and for ISO exceeding 400 at f/1.4–f/2.8. Printed zero vignetting to 16 mm — that is the 16–35 GM II wide end on a 5K Open Gate frame. Front is unthreaded; do not plan to stack a second screw-in. ISO 4000 does not retire this ring for parking-lot noon. |
| Not Dual Gain | Sony Help: Dual Gain is ISO 800(Dual Gain) / Low(Dual Gain). It is a second readout, slower in some 5K modes, hungrier on the NP-SA100. It does not sit in the optical path. The FX6’s 1/4–1/128 electronic ND is a different camera. |
| SKU trap | Edition II 2–5 (same $250, wrong range for noon Cine EI 800). Helix MagLock 6–9 (different system). 77 mm when the kit zoom is 82 mm. Peter McKinnon Edition I. |
Why it fits the FX5. This body has no iris ND and no stills mode. Cine EI 800 in sun at a cinematic shutter is a 6–9-stop problem, and PolarPro built this ring for that sentence. Hard stops are why it is Overall and a $40 ND2–400 is not — 16-bit X-OCN will show an X that an 8-bit proxy hid. Buy 82 mm once; step-up the 77 mm and 67 mm primes. Buy NiSi first if the week is ISO 4000 interiors and you want a True Color 1–5 you can Swift-expand. X-OCN C1 / C2 is a card choice, not a reason to skip ND.
Skip this if the week is interiors at ISO 4000 or Custom Mid — PolarPro 2–5 or NiSi 1–5. Skip a 77 mm copy when the 24–70 GM II is 82 mm.
- Hard-stop 6–9 matches Cine EI 800 daylight
- PolarPro prints zero vignette to 16 mm
- Haptic stops; Defender360
- Front unthreaded — no screw-in stack
- 2–5 is a second $250 if you also live at ISO 4000 indoors
Check Price on Amazon US, UK, CA, DE → Check Price on B&H
NiSi True Color ND-VARIO Pro Nano 1–5 Stop 82mm View on Amazon View on B&H
| SKU | NIR-TCVND0.3-1.5-82 · EAN 6972949372941. 1–5 stops (0.3–1.5). Nano coat. Removable lever. 86 mm front thread. Street ~$180–$220. Swift 1–9 kit is NIR-TCVNDSWIFT-KIT0.3-2.7-82 (~$309–$339) if you want the ND16 in the same box. |
|---|---|
| On FX5 | Hard stops, True Color claim, useful from ISO 4000 walk-ins to open shade. Five stops is short for Cine EI 800 / f/2.8 / 1/48 in hard sun — that is the Swift ND16 (4 stops) press-on, which NiSi says turns this ring into 5–9 without an X. Dual Gain does not add those missing stops. |
| Wide glass | NiSi / B&H language on this 1–5 is conservative on ultra-wide. PolarPro is the ring that prints 16 mm. On a 16–35 GM II at 16 mm in Open Gate, treat PolarPro 6–9 as the safer wide claim. |
| SKU trap | Older NiSi ND-VARIO 5–9 Enhanced (NIR-VND1.5-2.7-82) — not True Color, and NiSi recommended 35 mm+. Swift add-on kits that are Black Mist only. 77 mm when the zoom is 82 mm. |
Why it is Value, not Overall. It is the cheaper True Color hard-stop VND, and the Swift ND16 is a real 5–9 path. It is not the one-ring daylight S-Log3 default PolarPro already cut as 6–9. Buy this if ISO 4000 / Custom interiors are the week and noon is the exception you expand for. Buy PolarPro if the job starts in sun at ISO 800 and the 16–35 stays at 16 mm.
Skip this if every setup is noon S-Log3 and you do not want a second piece of glass — PolarPro 6–9.
- True Color + hard stops under PolarPro money
- Swift ND16 expands to 5–9
- 86 mm front thread if you must stack a fixed
- 1–5 alone is short for Cine EI 800 noon
- 16 mm claim is PolarPro’s, not this page’s
Check Price on Amazon US, UK, CA, DE → Check Price on B&H
K&F Concept Nano-X ND2–32 Variable ND 82mm View on Amazon View on B&H
| SKU | K&F CONCEPT Nano-X / Nano-Xcel ND2–32 82 mm KF01.1805V1. 1–5 stops (0.3–1.5). Japanese AGC glass, 28-layer coat, ~7.3 mm ring. K&F: no X-cross in this range. Street ~$70–$90. Use an 86 mm cap. |
|---|---|
| On FX5 | Same 1–5 math as NiSi without the True Color / Swift sentence. Fine for Custom and overcast. Cine EI 800 / f/2.8 / 1/48 in sun still needs more — stop down, raise frame rate, or add a fixed ND64, do not buy ND2–400 to “get nine stops” on a 16-bit Open Gate file. |
| SKU trap | KF01.1393V1 / SKU.0887V1 ND2–400 (1–9-ish, no hard stop). KF01.1466 1–9 Nano-X. ND2–32 + Black Mist / CPL 2-in-1 as the first FX5 ND. 77 mm on an 82 mm zoom. |
Why it is Budget. Hard-stop 1–5, 82 mm, one cheap invoice, a printed SKU. You give up CinemaSeries, True Color branding, and the 6–9 daylight range. The only way this pick fails is Amazon merging it with ND2–400. If the week is S-Log3 parking-lot noon, spend the extra on PolarPro 6–9.
Skip this if the listing says ND2–400, 1–9, or 1–10 with no hard stops.
- Named 1–5 SKU under $90
- K&F no-X claim in the ND2–32 range
- Not enough for noon Cine EI 800 at f/2.8
- Amazon will also show ND2–400
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 PolarPro’s other hard-stop range — more useful on this body than on an FX3 because ISO 4000 exists. One is the wide-range VND Amazon will try to sell next to the Nano-X.
PolarPro Peter McKinnon Signature Edition II 82mm 2–5 Stop View on Amazon View on B&H
| What it is | MFR 82-2/5-VND-ED2 · SG-EDll-82-2/5 · UPC 817465026007. 2–5 stops (ND4–ND32, 0.6–1.5). Same CinemaSeries, haptic, Defender360, 16 mm claim, unthreaded front, ~56 g, ~$250 as the 6–9. |
|---|---|
| When it wins | PolarPro: 2–5 is the general photo / video ring. ISO 4000 interiors, Custom Mid, windowed rooms, overcast 24p. Pair with the 6–9 if the FX5 walks parking lot to lobby without changing base ISO. Not the first buy if the job is Cine EI 800 in sun. Staying at 4000 in noon sun still wants the 6–9 (or a stop-down), not this ring alone. |
| Helix sibling | PolarPro Helix MagLock 6–9 stays off the Top 3 — different base rings, more money. Freewell FW-82-MAGVND (~$400) is a 2–5 + 6–9 magnetic kit, not this page’s Value row. |
Buy this after 6–9 is already in the pouch, or when ISO 4000 / Custom is the look. Do not buy it as a substitute for nine stops of noon.
Skip this if the week is Cine EI 800 daylight — PolarPro 6–9.
Check Price on Amazon US, UK, CA, DE → Check Price on B&H
ND2–400 / “1–10 stop” variable NDs View on Amazon View on B&H
| Why it shows up | Amazon titles say “82mm Variable ND” next to the Nano-X. K&F Nano-Klear / Nano-Basic ND2–400 is KF01.1393V1 / SKU.0887V1, about $30–$50. One ring claims ~1–9 stops. There are no hard stops at 5 or 6. That is where the X-pattern lives — worst on a 16–35 at 16 mm in 5K Open Gate, which is exactly the FX5 run-and-gun wide end. |
|---|---|
| On FX5 | 16-bit X-OCN will show the color cast and the X. Buy KF01.1805V1 (1–5) or PolarPro 6–9. Same skip: generic 1–10 VNDs, stacking two variables, a 67 mm filter as the only size on a 24–70 GM II kit, Dual Gain as a substitute for glass, and any listing that implies the FX5 has built-in ND like the FX6. |
A $40 1–10 is not a 6–9 with haptic clicks. If the camera in the cage is a 2026 FX5, the cart says 82-6/9-VND-ED2, NIR-TCVND0.3-1.5-82, or KF01.1805V1.
Skip this if the body is an FX5 and the lens is wider than 35 mm. Buy PolarPro 6–9, NiSi True Color 1–5, or K&F ND2–32.
Check Price on Amazon US, UK, CA, DE → Check Price on B&H
Frequently Asked Questions
What ND strength the FX5 needs
There is no internal ND. Cine EI base ISO is 800, 4000, or 12800. 180-degree shutter is ≈ 2× fps: about 1/48 at 24p, 1/50 at 25p, 1/60 at 30p, 1/120 at 60p, 1/240 at 4K/120. Sunny-16 at ISO 800, f/2.8, and 1/48 is roughly eight to nine stops over. That is PolarPro 6–9 (or NiSi 1–5 plus Swift ND16). ISO 4000 interiors and Custom / shade are 2–5. Stay at ISO 4000 in the same noon and the math gets harder, not easier. f/1.4 in hard sun wants more than nine stops — stop down, do not stack two VNDs. Dual Gain is not a stop of glass.
Dual Gain instead of an ND
No. Sony Help: Dual Gain expands dark-area gradation. In log, set Base ISO to ISO 800(Dual Gain). In Custom, set Base Sensitivity to Low(Dual Gain). It raises power draw and is blocked in some imager / format combinations. Sony CA: up to 30 fps in FF 5K 3:2, up to 60 fps in FF 5K 16:9/17:9. It is not the FX6 electronic ND (1/4–1/128) and it does not sit in front of the 16.6 MP sensor. Keep the PolarPro on the lens; turn Dual Gain on when the grade wants cleaner shadows at ISO 800.
82 mm vs buying one filter per lens
Buy 82 mm first. FE 24–70 mm F2.8 GM II and FE 16–35 mm F2.8 GM II are 82 mm. Step-up rings take 77 mm (24–105 G, 70–200 GM II) and 67 mm (35 / 50 GM) up to that one VND. A 67 mm filter will not mount on the 24–70. PolarPro Edition II’s front is unthreaded; NiSi True Color 1–5 has an 86 mm front if a cap or a second filter matters.
FX5 vs FX3 vs FX6 glass
FX6 has electronic variable ND from 1/4 to 1/128. FX5 and FX3 do not. The 2026 FX5 adds ISO 4000, 5K Open Gate, and internal X-OCN; the FX3 stays on Cine EI 800 / 12800 with HDMI RAW only. Same E-mount hole, same 82 mm first buy, same missing iris ND. Filters on this page are screw-in 82 mm glass for ILME-FX5 / ILME-FX5B. Do not buy FX6-only accessories and expect them to put ND inside an FX5. This is not the 2021 Super 35 FX5.
X-OCN, 5K Open Gate, and ND
Internal 16-bit X-OCN (LT / C1 / C2) and 5K 3:2 Open Gate are why a cheap 1–10 VND is a worse idea here than on an 8-bit 4K proxy — the X and the color cast stay in the negative. Sony guarantees X-OCN on current CFexpress Type A VPG400 cards. That does not change f/2.8 or ISO 800. 4K/120 still needs ~1/240. ND is for shutter. The card is for the bitrate. Firmware 2.0 (2027) adding 5K/120 Open Gate or 4K/240 does not add glass.
Final Verdict
For most Sony FX5 kits, buy PolarPro 82-6/9-VND-ED2, shoot 82 mm with step-up rings, and keep 180° shutter at Cine EI 800 without raising ISO. There is no internal ND. Dual Gain is not glass. S-Log3 in noon sun is a 6–9-stop job, not a 2–5, and ISO 4000 does not retire the 6–9 for daylight. ISO 4000 interiors or Custom? NiSi True Color 1–5 (Swift ND16 when it gets hot). Same 1–5 cheaper, hard-stop only? K&F KF01.1805V1. Skip ND2–400, skip stacking two VNDs, skip the FX6 electronic-ND assumption. X-OCN is a card. This page is the July 2026 ILME-FX5 / ILME-FX5B, not the FX6, not the FX3, and not the 2021 Super 35 FX5.