{"id":9707,"date":"2026-09-02T02:40:00","date_gmt":"2026-09-02T02:40:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cameraegg.org\/camerareview\/best-nd-filters-for-sony-fx3\/"},"modified":"2026-09-16T08:38:35","modified_gmt":"2026-09-16T08:38:35","slug":"best-nd-filters-for-sony-fx3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cameraegg.org\/camerareview\/best-nd-filters-for-sony-fx3\/","title":{"rendered":"Best ND Filters for Sony FX3"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"gagen-article gagen-v2\"><div class=\"article-intro\">\n  <p>The Sony FX3 is a full-frame Exmor R cinema body with no internal ND. Cine EI sits at ISO 800 and ISO 12800. S-Log3 at 24p \/ 180\u00b0 and f\/2.8 in noon sun is eight or nine stops over \u2014 the camera just shortens shutter until motion looks like a slideshow. Sony does not sell an FX3 ND. The 2026 filter that matches this body is the PolarPro Peter McKinnon Signature Edition II 82mm 6\u20139 stop. It is not the FX6\u2019s electronic ND, and it is not a no-hard-stop 1\u201310 ring.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"quick-picks-box\">\n  <div class=\"qp-header\">\n  <h2>Our Top Picks at a Glance<\/h2>\n  <p class=\"qp-sub\">Updated September 2026 \u00b7 FX3 \u00b7 ILME-FX3 \u00b7 full-frame \u00b7 no internal ND \u00b7 Cine EI 800 \/ 12800 \u00b7 4K120 Super 35 \u00b7 XAVC S-I 600 Mbps \u00b7 82mm first<\/p>\n  <\/div>\n  <div class=\"qp-cards\">\n  <div class=\"qp-card qp-card--gold\">\n  <span class=\"qp-num\">01<\/span>\n  <span class=\"qp-badge\">\ud83c\udfc6 Best Overall<\/span>\n  <strong class=\"qp-name\">PolarPro PM Edition II 6\u20139<\/strong>\n  <div class=\"qp-rating\">\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605 <span class=\"qp-score\">4.7 \/ 5.0<\/span> <span class=\"qp-reviews\">\u00b7 2026 pick<\/span><\/div>\n  <p class=\"qp-why\">82-6\/9-VND-ED2. Hard-stop 6\u20139. PolarPro: LOG \/ ISO over 400. Zero vignette to 16 mm.<\/p>\n  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/s?k=PolarPro+Peter+McKinnon+82mm+6-9&#038;tag=e6890-20&#038;linkCode=osi\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"qp-btn\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Check Price at Amazon<\/a>\n  <a href=\"#best-overall\" class=\"qp-jump\">Read full review \u2193<\/a>\n  <\/div>\n  <div class=\"qp-card qp-card--green\">\n  <span class=\"qp-num\">02<\/span>\n  <span class=\"qp-badge\">\ud83d\udc8e Best Value<\/span>\n  <strong class=\"qp-name\">NiSi True Color VND 1\u20135<\/strong>\n  <div class=\"qp-rating\">\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2606 <span class=\"qp-score\">4.6 \/ 5.0<\/span> <span class=\"qp-reviews\">\u00b7 2026 pick<\/span><\/div>\n  <p class=\"qp-why\">NIR-TCVND0.3-1.5-82. True Color, hard stops. Swift ND16 expands to 5\u20139.<\/p>\n  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/s?k=NiSi+True+Color+VND+82mm&#038;tag=e6890-20&#038;linkCode=osi\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"qp-btn\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Check Price at Amazon<\/a>\n  <a href=\"#best-value\" class=\"qp-jump\">Read full review \u2193<\/a>\n  <\/div>\n  <div class=\"qp-card qp-card--blue\">\n  <span class=\"qp-num\">03<\/span>\n  <span class=\"qp-badge\">\ud83d\udcb0 Budget Pick<\/span>\n  <strong class=\"qp-name\">K&#038;F Nano-X ND2\u201332<\/strong>\n  <div class=\"qp-rating\">\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2606 <span class=\"qp-score\">4.4 \/ 5.0<\/span> <span class=\"qp-reviews\">\u00b7 2026 pick<\/span><\/div>\n  <p class=\"qp-why\">KF01.1805V1. 82 mm, 1\u20135 stops, no-X claim. Not the ND2\u2013400.<\/p>\n  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/s?k=K%26F+Nano-X+ND2-32+82mm&#038;tag=e6890-20&#038;linkCode=osi\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"qp-btn\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Check Price at Amazon<\/a>\n  <a href=\"#budget-pick\" class=\"qp-jump\">Read full review \u2193<\/a>\n  <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"affiliate-disclosure\"><p><em>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.<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"info-module buying-guide\" id=\"who-should-buy\">\n  <h3>Who should buy what<\/h3>\n  <ul>\n  <li><strong>Default FX3 (S-Log3 \/ Cine EI 800, 24p\u201360p in daylight, 16\u201335 or 24\u201370 GM glass):<\/strong> <a href=\"#best-overall\">PolarPro Peter McKinnon Edition II 82 mm 6\u20139<\/a> \u2014 PolarPro\u2019s own line is 6\u20139 for LOG and ISO over 400. Hard stops. Printed zero vignetting to 16 mm. Buy 82 mm and step-up rings for 77 \/ 72 \/ 67.<\/li>\n  <li><strong>S-Cinetone, overcast, interiors, or a True Color ring you can expand later:<\/strong> <a href=\"#best-value\">NiSi True Color 1\u20135 (NIR-TCVND0.3-1.5-82)<\/a> \u2014 press on the Swift ND16 when noon needs 5\u20139.<\/li>\n  <li><strong>Same 1\u20135 hard-stop idea, cheaper cart:<\/strong> <a href=\"#budget-pick\">K&#038;F Nano-X ND2\u201332 KF01.1805V1<\/a> \u2014 not ND2\u2013400. Noon at ISO 800 \/ f\/2.8 still wants more stops; stop down or add a fixed ND.<\/li>\n  <li><strong>The other PolarPro range (windows, shade, S-Cinetone at ISO 80\u2013400):<\/strong> <a href=\"#polarpro-25\">PolarPro Edition II 82 mm 2\u20135<\/a> \u2014 PolarPro: 2\u20135 is the general \/ non-LOG ring. Not a substitute for 6\u20139 on a sunny S-Log3 day.<\/li>\n  <li><strong>Skip:<\/strong> No-hard-stop ND2\u2013400 \/ \u201c1\u201310 stop\u201d VNDs (X-pattern). Stacking two variable NDs. A 67 mm filter as the only size when the kit lens is 24\u201370 GM II (82 mm). FX6 electronic ND (1\/4\u20131\/128) \u2014 that is a different body. Drone snap-on glass. This URL is the FX3, not the FX30 and not the FX6.<\/li>\n  <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n<h2>Comparison Table<\/h2>\n<div class=\"comparison-module\">\n  <table class=\"comparison-table\">\n  <thead><tr><th>Product<\/th><th>Stops<\/th><th>On an FX3<\/th><th>Thread \/ note<\/th><th>Price<\/th><th>Buy<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>\n  <tbody>\n  <tr class=\"highlight-row\"><td><strong>PolarPro PM II 6\u20139<\/strong><\/td><td>6\u20139 (ND64\u2013ND512)<\/td><td>Default daylight S-Log3<\/td><td>82 mm \u00b7 hard stops \u00b7 to 16 mm<\/td><td>~$250<\/td><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/s?k=PolarPro+Peter+McKinnon+82mm+6-9&#038;tag=e6890-20&#038;linkCode=osi\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"table-price-btn\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Check<\/a><\/td><\/tr>\n  <tr><td><strong>NiSi True Color 1\u20135<\/strong><\/td><td>1\u20135 (+ Swift ND16 = 5\u20139)<\/td><td>True Color; expand for noon<\/td><td>82 mm \u00b7 86 mm front<\/td><td>~$180\u2013$220<\/td><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/s?k=NiSi+True+Color+VND+82mm&#038;tag=e6890-20&#038;linkCode=osi\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"table-price-btn\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Check<\/a><\/td><\/tr>\n  <tr><td><strong>K&#038;F Nano-X ND2\u201332<\/strong><\/td><td>1\u20135<\/td><td>Budget hard-stop 1\u20135<\/td><td>KF01.1805V1 \u00b7 82 mm<\/td><td>~$70\u2013$90<\/td><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/s?k=K%26F+Nano-X+ND2-32+82mm&#038;tag=e6890-20&#038;linkCode=osi\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"table-price-btn\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Check<\/a><\/td><\/tr>\n  <tr><td><strong>PolarPro PM II 2\u20135<\/strong><\/td><td>2\u20135 (ND4\u2013ND32)<\/td><td>Shade \/ S-Cinetone \u2014 Layer 2<\/td><td>82-2\/5-VND-ED2 \u00b7 to 16 mm<\/td><td>~$250<\/td><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/s?k=PolarPro+Peter+McKinnon+82mm+2-5&#038;tag=e6890-20&#038;linkCode=osi\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"table-price-btn\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Check<\/a><\/td><\/tr>\n  <tr><td><strong>ND2\u2013400 \/ 1\u201310 VND<\/strong><\/td><td>~1\u20138.6, no hard stop<\/td><td>X-pattern \u2014 skip<\/td><td>Wide-range two-polarizer junk<\/td><td>~$30\u2013$50<\/td><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/s?k=K%26F+ND2-400+82mm+Variable+ND&#038;tag=e6890-20&#038;linkCode=osi\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"table-price-btn\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Check<\/a><\/td><\/tr>\n  <\/tbody>\n  <\/table>\n<\/div>\n<p>Street prices move. PolarPro\u2019s 82 mm Edition II often sits around $250; NiSi True Color 1\u20135 around $180\u2013$220; K&#038;F Nano-X ND2\u201332 around $70\u2013$90. ND4 is 2 stops, ND32 is 5, ND64 is 6, ND512 is 9. 180-degree shutter is \u2248 2\u00d7 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\u20139 ring, not the 2\u20135. Sony does not sell a circular ND for this body. Buy 82 mm first (FE 24\u201370 mm GM II and FE 16\u201335 mm GM II are 82 mm); step-up rings cover 77 \/ 72 \/ 67. XAVC S-I 4K 59.94p is 600 Mbps \u2014 that is a CFexpress Type A problem, not an ND problem. Do not stack two variable NDs.<\/p>\n\n<h2>How We Picked These Filters<\/h2>\n<ul>\n  <li><strong>What Sony published for this body:<\/strong> ILME-FX3 spec sheet: E-mount. 35.6 \u00d7 23.8 mm Exmor R CMOS. Approx. 10.3 MP effective for movies, 12.1 MP for stills, 12.9 MP total. Movie ISO 80\u2013102400 equivalent, expandable to 409600. Latitude 15+ stops in S-Log3. Picture profiles include S-Cinetone, S-Log3, HLG. Cine EI Base ISO (Sony Help Guide): ISO 800 or ISO 12800. Shutter (movie): 1\/8000 to 1\/4. 10-bit 4:2:2 internal. XAVC S-I 4K 59.94p 600 Mbps \/ 50p 500 Mbps \/ 29.97p 300 Mbps \/ 23.98p 240 Mbps. XAVC S-I DCI 4K (firmware 3.00+) 4096\u00d72160 at the same bitrates. XAVC HS 4K 119.88p\/100p up to 280 Mbps 4:2:2 10-bit. 4K\/120 is Super 35 \/ APS-C crop, not full-frame. HDMI RAW: 4264 \u00d7 2408, 16-bit, to 59.94p. Dual CFexpress Type A \/ SD. Weight: approx. 715 g with battery and card, 630 g body only; 1.015 kg with the XLR handle. Body 129.7 \u00d7 77.8 \u00d7 84.5 mm. 5-axis IBIS. NP-FZ100. No electronic viewfinder. No internal ND. Firmware 7.00 adds MENU \u2192 Exposure\/Color \u2192 Exposure \u2192 ND Filter: register optical density \u2212 \/ 0.3 \/ 0.6 \/ 0.9 \/ 1.2 \/ 1.5 \/ 1.8 \/ 2.1 \/ 2.4 for the home screen and Catalyst metadata \u2014 Sony: it is manual and may not match the glass on the lens. Sony does not sell an FX3 ND set.<\/li>\n  <li><strong>Why ISO 800 still needs 6\u20139 stops:<\/strong> 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 lower base ISO to 80 to \u201csave\u201d you \u2014 that is S-Cinetone \/ Flexible ISO territory. PolarPro prints 6\u20139 for LOG and for ISO above 400 at f\/1.4\u2013f\/2.8; 2\u20135 is their general \/ non-LOG ring. 4K\/120 still wants ~1\/240 and still has no iris inside the body. A no-hard-stop 1\u201310 VND is two polarizers that draw an X at the top of the range. Fixed ND is cleaner for a locked setup; it is slower when the FX3 is walking from shade to sun. IBIS \/ Active Mode does not replace ND.<\/li>\n  <li><strong>82 mm, the FX6 trap, and the cheap-VND trap:<\/strong> Standardize on 82 mm: FE 24\u201370 mm F2.8 GM II and FE 16\u201335 mm F2.8 GM II are 82 mm. FE 24\u2013105 mm G and FE 70\u2013200 mm GM II are 77 mm \u2014 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\u20135 uses an 86 mm front thread and a Swift ND16 press-on for 5\u20139. K&#038;F\u2019s hard-stop 1\u20135 is KF01.1805V1; KF01.1393V1 \/ Nano-Klear ND2\u2013400 is the wide-range skip. The FX6\u2019s built-in electronic ND (1\/4 to 1\/128) is not on this camera. FX30 is APS-C. ILME-FX3A keeps the same E-mount hole and the same missing internal ND \u2014 this page is still the FX3 thread size, not a new mount.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<h2>Best ND Filters for Sony FX3: Detailed Reviews<\/h2>\n\n<div class=\"top-recommendation\" id=\"best-overall\" data-badge=\"best-overall\">\n  <div class=\"top-badge badge-best-overall\">\ud83c\udfc6 Best Overall<\/div>\n  <h3>PolarPro Peter McKinnon Signature Edition II 82mm 6\u20139 Stop <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/s?k=PolarPro+Peter+McKinnon+82mm+6-9&#038;tag=e6890-20&#038;linkCode=osi\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"title-amazon-btn\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">View on Amazon<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bhphotovideo.com\/c\/search?Ntt=PolarPro+Peter+McKinnon+82mm+6-9&#038;BI=8941&#038;KBID=10361&#038;SID=12345&#038;DFF=d50\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"title-bh-btn\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">View on B&#038;H<\/a><\/h3>\n  <div class=\"product-highlights\">\n  <div class=\"highlight-item\"><span class=\"highlight-label\">Best For:<\/span> Daylight S-Log3 \/ Cine EI 800 on the FX3 that has no internal ND \u2014 PolarPro\u2019s LOG ring, including 16\u201335 at 16 mm<\/div>\n  <div class=\"highlight-item\"><span class=\"highlight-label\">Key Feature:<\/span> 82-6\/9-VND-ED2 \u00b7 6\u20139 stops \u00b7 hard stops \u00b7 CinemaSeries \u00b7 to 16 mm<\/div>\n  <div class=\"highlight-item\"><span class=\"highlight-label\">Rating:<\/span> <span class=\"star-rating\">4.7 \/ 5.0 \u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605<\/span><\/div>\n  <\/div>\n  <table class=\"spec-table\">\n  <tr><th>SKU<\/th><td>MFR 82-6\/9-VND-ED2 \u00b7 PolarPro SG-EDll-82-6\/9 \u00b7 UPC 817465026038. 82 mm rear thread. Density 1.8\u20132.7 (ND64\u2013ND512). CinemaSeries \/ fused quartz. Haptic clicks. Defender360 case. Street ~$250.<\/td><\/tr>\n  <tr><th>On FX3<\/th><td>PolarPro: 6\u20139 for LOG and for ISO exceeding 400 at f\/1.4\u2013f\/2.8. Printed zero vignetting to 16 mm \u2014 that is the 16\u201335 GM II wide end. Front is unthreaded; do not plan to stack a second screw-in.<\/td><\/tr>\n  <tr><th>Sony ND menu<\/th><td>Firmware 7.00: register 1.8 \/ 2.1 \/ 2.4 (6 \/ 7 \/ 8 stops). Menu tops out at 2.4 \u2014 9 stops (2.7) has no slot. Sony: the value is typed in, not read off the glass.<\/td><\/tr>\n  <tr><th>SKU trap<\/th><td>Edition II 2\u20135 (same $250, wrong range for noon S-Log3). Helix MagLock 6\u20139 (different system). 77 mm when the kit zoom is 82 mm. Peter McKinnon Edition I.<\/td><\/tr>\n  <\/table>\n  <p><strong>Why it fits the FX3.<\/strong> This body has no iris ND. Cine EI 800 in sun at a cinematic shutter is a 6\u20139-stop problem, and PolarPro built this ring for that sentence. Hard stops are why it is Overall and a $40 ND2\u2013400 is not. Buy 82 mm once; step-up the 77 mm and 67 mm primes. Buy NiSi first if the week is S-Cinetone and you want a True Color 1\u20135 you can Swift-expand. 600 Mbps XAVC S-I is a card choice, not a reason to skip ND.<\/p>\n  <p><strong>Skip this if<\/strong> the week is interiors and S-Cinetone at ISO 80\u2013400 \u2014 PolarPro 2\u20135 or NiSi 1\u20135. Skip a 77 mm copy when the 24\u201370 GM II is 82 mm.<\/p>\n  <div class=\"pros-cons\">\n  <ul class=\"pros\">\n  <li>Hard-stop 6\u20139 matches Cine EI 800 daylight<\/li>\n  <li>PolarPro prints zero vignette to 16 mm<\/li>\n  <li>Haptic stops; Defender360<\/li>\n  <\/ul>\n  <ul class=\"cons\">\n  <li>Front unthreaded \u2014 no screw-in stack<\/li>\n  <li>2\u20135 is a second $250 if you also live in shade<\/li>\n  <\/ul>\n  <\/div>\n  <p class=\"purchase-links\"><span class=\"amazon-region-btn\">Check Price on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/s?k=PolarPro+Peter+McKinnon+82mm+6-9&#038;tag=e6890-20&#038;linkCode=osi\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Amazon US<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.co.uk\/s?k=PolarPro+Peter+McKinnon+82mm+6-9&#038;tag=pctest07-21&#038;linkCode=osi\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">UK<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.ca\/s?k=PolarPro+Peter+McKinnon+82mm+6-9&#038;tag=pctestt-20&#038;linkCode=osi\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">CA<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.de\/s?k=PolarPro+Peter+McKinnon+82mm+6-9&#038;tag=67990-21&#038;linkCode=osi\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">DE<\/a> \u2192<\/span> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bhphotovideo.com\/c\/search?Ntt=PolarPro+Peter+McKinnon+82mm+6-9&#038;BI=8941&#038;KBID=10361&#038;SID=12345&#038;DFF=d50\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"purchase-link-bh\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Check Price on B&#038;H<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"top-recommendation\" id=\"best-value\" data-badge=\"best-value\">\n  <div class=\"top-badge badge-best-value\">\ud83d\udc8e Best Value<\/div>\n  <h3>NiSi True Color ND-VARIO Pro Nano 1\u20135 Stop 82mm <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/s?k=NiSi+True+Color+VND+82mm&#038;tag=e6890-20&#038;linkCode=osi\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"title-amazon-btn\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">View on Amazon<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bhphotovideo.com\/c\/search?Ntt=NiSi+True+Color+VND+82mm&#038;BI=8941&#038;KBID=10361&#038;SID=12345&#038;DFF=d50\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"title-bh-btn\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">View on B&#038;H<\/a><\/h3>\n  <div class=\"product-highlights\">\n  <div class=\"highlight-item\"><span class=\"highlight-label\">Best For:<\/span> True Color 1\u20135 with a press-on path to 5\u20139 \u2014 S-Cinetone, shade, then Swift ND16 when the sun comes out<\/div>\n  <div class=\"highlight-item\"><span class=\"highlight-label\">Key Feature:<\/span> NIR-TCVND0.3-1.5-82 \u00b7 hard stops \u00b7 86 mm front \u00b7 Swift ND16 optional<\/div>\n  <div class=\"highlight-item\"><span class=\"highlight-label\">Rating:<\/span> <span class=\"star-rating\">4.6 \/ 5.0 \u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2606<\/span><\/div>\n  <\/div>\n  <table class=\"spec-table\">\n  <tr><th>SKU<\/th><td>NIR-TCVND0.3-1.5-82 \u00b7 EAN 6972949372941. 1\u20135 stops (0.3\u20131.5). Nano coat. Removable lever. 86 mm front thread. Street ~$180\u2013$220. Swift 1\u20139 kit is NIR-TCVNDSWIFT-KIT0.3-2.7-82 (~$309\u2013$339) if you want the ND16 in the same box.<\/td><\/tr>\n  <tr><th>On FX3<\/th><td>Hard stops, True Color claim, useful from interiors to open shade. Five stops is short for Cine EI 800 \/ f\/2.8 \/ 1\/48 in hard sun \u2014 that is the Swift ND16 (4 stops) press-on, which NiSi says turns this ring into 5\u20139 without an X.<\/td><\/tr>\n  <tr><th>Wide glass<\/th><td>NiSi \/ B&#038;H language on this 1\u20135 is conservative on ultra-wide. PolarPro is the ring that prints 16 mm. On a 16\u201335 GM II at 16 mm, treat PolarPro 6\u20139 as the safer wide claim.<\/td><\/tr>\n  <tr><th>SKU trap<\/th><td>Older NiSi ND-VARIO 5\u20139 Enhanced (NIR-VND1.5-2.7-82) \u2014 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.<\/td><\/tr>\n  <\/table>\n  <p><strong>Why it is Value, not Overall.<\/strong> It is the cheaper True Color hard-stop VND, and the Swift ND16 is a real 5\u20139 path. It is not the one-ring daylight S-Log3 default PolarPro already cut as 6\u20139. Buy this if S-Cinetone \/ mixed 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\u201335 stays at 16 mm.<\/p>\n  <p><strong>Skip this if<\/strong> every setup is noon S-Log3 and you do not want a second piece of glass \u2014 PolarPro 6\u20139.<\/p>\n  <div class=\"pros-cons\">\n  <ul class=\"pros\">\n  <li>True Color + hard stops under PolarPro money<\/li>\n  <li>Swift ND16 expands to 5\u20139<\/li>\n  <li>86 mm front thread if you must stack a fixed<\/li>\n  <\/ul>\n  <ul class=\"cons\">\n  <li>1\u20135 alone is short for Cine EI 800 noon<\/li>\n  <li>16 mm claim is PolarPro\u2019s, not this page\u2019s<\/li>\n  <\/ul>\n  <\/div>\n  <p class=\"purchase-links\"><span class=\"amazon-region-btn\">Check Price on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/s?k=NiSi+True+Color+VND+82mm&#038;tag=e6890-20&#038;linkCode=osi\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Amazon US<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.co.uk\/s?k=NiSi+True+Color+VND+82mm&#038;tag=pctest07-21&#038;linkCode=osi\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">UK<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.ca\/s?k=NiSi+True+Color+VND+82mm&#038;tag=pctestt-20&#038;linkCode=osi\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">CA<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.de\/s?k=NiSi+True+Color+VND+82mm&#038;tag=67990-21&#038;linkCode=osi\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">DE<\/a> \u2192<\/span> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bhphotovideo.com\/c\/search?Ntt=NiSi+True+Color+VND+82mm&#038;BI=8941&#038;KBID=10361&#038;SID=12345&#038;DFF=d50\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"purchase-link-bh\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Check Price on B&#038;H<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"top-recommendation\" id=\"budget-pick\" data-badge=\"budget-pick\">\n  <div class=\"top-badge badge-budget\">\ud83d\udcb0 Budget Pick<\/div>\n  <h3>K&#038;F Concept Nano-X ND2\u201332 Variable ND 82mm <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/s?k=K%26F+Nano-X+ND2-32+82mm&#038;tag=e6890-20&#038;linkCode=osi\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"title-amazon-btn\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">View on Amazon<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bhphotovideo.com\/c\/search?Ntt=K%26F+Nano-X+ND2-32+82mm&#038;BI=8941&#038;KBID=10361&#038;SID=12345&#038;DFF=d50\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"title-bh-btn\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">View on B&#038;H<\/a><\/h3>\n  <div class=\"product-highlights\">\n  <div class=\"highlight-item\"><span class=\"highlight-label\">Best For:<\/span> A named 1\u20135 hard-stop VND when the invoice cannot be PolarPro or NiSi<\/div>\n  <div class=\"highlight-item\"><span class=\"highlight-label\">Key Feature:<\/span> KF01.1805V1 \u00b7 ND2\u201332 \u00b7 82 mm \u00b7 not ND2\u2013400<\/div>\n  <div class=\"highlight-item\"><span class=\"highlight-label\">Rating:<\/span> <span class=\"star-rating\">4.4 \/ 5.0 \u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2606<\/span><\/div>\n  <\/div>\n  <table class=\"spec-table\">\n  <tr><th>SKU<\/th><td>K&#038;F CONCEPT Nano-X \/ Nano-Xcel ND2\u201332 82 mm KF01.1805V1. 1\u20135 stops (0.3\u20131.5). Japanese AGC glass, 28-layer coat, ~7.3 mm ring. K&#038;F: no X-cross in this range. Street ~$70\u2013$90. Use an 86 mm cap.<\/td><\/tr>\n  <tr><th>On FX3<\/th><td>Same 1\u20135 math as NiSi without the True Color \/ Swift sentence. Fine for S-Cinetone and overcast. Cine EI 800 \/ f\/2.8 \/ 1\/48 in sun still needs more \u2014 stop down, raise frame rate, or add a fixed ND64, do not buy ND2\u2013400 to \u201cget nine stops.\u201d<\/td><\/tr>\n  <tr><th>SKU trap<\/th><td>KF01.1393V1 \/ SKU.0887V1 ND2\u2013400 (1\u20139-ish, no hard stop). KF01.1466 1\u20139 Nano-X. ND2\u201332 + Black Mist \/ CPL 2-in-1 as the first FX3 ND. 77 mm on an 82 mm zoom.<\/td><\/tr>\n  <\/table>\n  <p><strong>Why it is Budget.<\/strong> Hard-stop 1\u20135, 82 mm, one cheap invoice, a printed SKU. You give up CinemaSeries, True Color branding, and the 6\u20139 daylight range. The only way this pick fails is Amazon merging it with ND2\u2013400. If the week is S-Log3 parking-lot noon, spend the extra on PolarPro 6\u20139.<\/p>\n  <p><strong>Skip this if<\/strong> the listing says ND2\u2013400, 1\u20139, or 1\u201310 with no hard stops.<\/p>\n  <div class=\"pros-cons\">\n  <ul class=\"pros\">\n  <li>Named 1\u20135 SKU under $90<\/li>\n  <li>K&#038;F no-X claim in the ND2\u201332 range<\/li>\n  <\/ul>\n  <ul class=\"cons\">\n  <li>Not enough for noon Cine EI 800 at f\/2.8<\/li>\n  <li>Amazon will also show ND2\u2013400<\/li>\n  <\/ul>\n  <\/div>\n  <p class=\"purchase-links\"><span class=\"amazon-region-btn\">Check Price on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/s?k=K%26F+Nano-X+ND2-32+82mm&#038;tag=e6890-20&#038;linkCode=osi\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Amazon US<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.co.uk\/s?k=K%26F+Nano-X+ND2-32+82mm&#038;tag=pctest07-21&#038;linkCode=osi\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">UK<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.ca\/s?k=K%26F+Nano-X+ND2-32+82mm&#038;tag=pctestt-20&#038;linkCode=osi\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">CA<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.de\/s?k=K%26F+Nano-X+ND2-32+82mm&#038;tag=67990-21&#038;linkCode=osi\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">DE<\/a> \u2192<\/span> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bhphotovideo.com\/c\/search?Ntt=K%26F+Nano-X+ND2-32+82mm&#038;BI=8941&#038;KBID=10361&#038;SID=12345&#038;DFF=d50\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"purchase-link-bh\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Check Price on B&#038;H<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<h2>If You Need Something Else<\/h2>\n<p>These two are not cheaper versions of the Top 3. One is PolarPro\u2019s other hard-stop range. One is the wide-range VND Amazon will try to sell next to the Nano-X.<\/p>\n\n<div class=\"top-recommendation\" id=\"polarpro-25\" data-badge=\"also-great\">\n  <div class=\"top-badge badge-also-great\">\ud83c\udf24 2\u20135 \/ non-LOG<\/div>\n  <h3>PolarPro Peter McKinnon Signature Edition II 82mm 2\u20135 Stop <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/s?k=PolarPro+Peter+McKinnon+82mm+2-5&#038;tag=e6890-20&#038;linkCode=osi\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"title-amazon-btn\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">View on Amazon<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bhphotovideo.com\/c\/search?Ntt=PolarPro+Peter+McKinnon+82mm+2-5&#038;BI=8941&#038;KBID=10361&#038;SID=12345&#038;DFF=d50\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"title-bh-btn\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">View on B&#038;H<\/a><\/h3>\n  <table class=\"spec-table\">\n  <tr><th>What it is<\/th><td>MFR 82-2\/5-VND-ED2 \u00b7 SG-EDll-82-2\/5 \u00b7 UPC 817465026007. 2\u20135 stops (ND4\u2013ND32, 0.6\u20131.5). Same CinemaSeries, haptic, Defender360, 16 mm claim, unthreaded front, ~56 g, ~$250 as the 6\u20139.<\/td><\/tr>\n  <tr><th>When it wins<\/th><td>PolarPro: 2\u20135 is the general photo \/ video ring. S-Cinetone, windowed interiors, overcast 24p. Pair with the 6\u20139 if the FX3 does both parking lots and offices. Not the first buy if the job is S-Log3 in sun.<\/td><\/tr>\n  <tr><th>Helix sibling<\/th><td>PolarPro Helix MagLock 6\u20139 stays off the Top 3 \u2014 different base rings, more money. Freewell FW-82-MAGVND (~$400) is a 2\u20135 + 6\u20139 magnetic kit, not this page\u2019s Value row.<\/td><\/tr>\n  <\/table>\n  <p>Buy this after 6\u20139 is already in the pouch, or when ISO 80\u2013400 S-Cinetone is the look. Do not buy it as a substitute for nine stops of noon.<\/p>\n  <p><strong>Skip this if<\/strong> the week is Cine EI 800 daylight \u2014 PolarPro 6\u20139.<\/p>\n  <p class=\"purchase-links\"><span class=\"amazon-region-btn\">Check Price on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/s?k=PolarPro+Peter+McKinnon+82mm+2-5&#038;tag=e6890-20&#038;linkCode=osi\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Amazon US<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.co.uk\/s?k=PolarPro+Peter+McKinnon+82mm+2-5&#038;tag=pctest07-21&#038;linkCode=osi\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">UK<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.ca\/s?k=PolarPro+Peter+McKinnon+82mm+2-5&#038;tag=pctestt-20&#038;linkCode=osi\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">CA<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.de\/s?k=PolarPro+Peter+McKinnon+82mm+2-5&#038;tag=67990-21&#038;linkCode=osi\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">DE<\/a> \u2192<\/span> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bhphotovideo.com\/c\/search?Ntt=PolarPro+Peter+McKinnon+82mm+2-5&#038;BI=8941&#038;KBID=10361&#038;SID=12345&#038;DFF=d50\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"purchase-link-bh\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Check Price on B&#038;H<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"top-recommendation\" id=\"skip-nd400\" data-badge=\"premium\">\n  <div class=\"top-badge badge-premium\">\ud83d\udeab Skip as default<\/div>\n  <h3>ND2\u2013400 \/ \u201c1\u201310 stop\u201d variable NDs <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/s?k=K%26F+ND2-400+82mm+Variable+ND&#038;tag=e6890-20&#038;linkCode=osi\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"title-amazon-btn\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">View on Amazon<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bhphotovideo.com\/c\/search?Ntt=K%26F+ND2-400+82mm+Variable+ND&#038;BI=8941&#038;KBID=10361&#038;SID=12345&#038;DFF=d50\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"title-bh-btn\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">View on B&#038;H<\/a><\/h3>\n  <table class=\"spec-table\">\n  <tr><th>Why it shows up<\/th><td>Amazon titles say \u201c82mm Variable ND\u201d next to the Nano-X. K&#038;F Nano-Klear \/ Nano-Basic ND2\u2013400 is KF01.1393V1 \/ SKU.0887V1, about $30\u2013$50. One ring claims ~1\u20139 stops. There are no hard stops at 5 or 6. That is where the X-pattern lives \u2014 worst on a 16\u201335 at 16 mm, which is exactly the FX3 run-and-gun wide end.<\/td><\/tr>\n  <tr><th>On FX3<\/th><td>S-Log3 will show the color cast and the X. Buy KF01.1805V1 (1\u20135) or PolarPro 6\u20139. Same skip: generic 1\u201310 VNDs, stacking two variables, a 67 mm filter as the only size on a 24\u201370 GM II kit, and any listing that implies the FX3 has built-in ND like the FX6.<\/td><\/tr>\n  <\/table>\n  <p>A $40 1\u201310 is not a 6\u20139 with haptic clicks. If the camera in the cage is an FX3, the cart says 82-6\/9-VND-ED2, NIR-TCVND0.3-1.5-82, or KF01.1805V1.<\/p>\n  <p><strong>Skip this if<\/strong> the body is an FX3 and the lens is wider than 35 mm. Buy PolarPro 6\u20139, NiSi True Color 1\u20135, or K&#038;F ND2\u201332.<\/p>\n  <p class=\"purchase-links\"><span class=\"amazon-region-btn\">Check Price on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/s?k=K%26F+ND2-400+82mm+Variable+ND&#038;tag=e6890-20&#038;linkCode=osi\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Amazon US<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.co.uk\/s?k=K%26F+ND2-400+82mm+Variable+ND&#038;tag=pctest07-21&#038;linkCode=osi\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">UK<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.ca\/s?k=K%26F+ND2-400+82mm+Variable+ND&#038;tag=pctestt-20&#038;linkCode=osi\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">CA<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.de\/s?k=K%26F+ND2-400+82mm+Variable+ND&#038;tag=67990-21&#038;linkCode=osi\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">DE<\/a> \u2192<\/span> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bhphotovideo.com\/c\/search?Ntt=K%26F+ND2-400+82mm+Variable+ND&#038;BI=8941&#038;KBID=10361&#038;SID=12345&#038;DFF=d50\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"purchase-link-bh\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Check Price on B&#038;H<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<h2>Frequently Asked Questions<\/h2>\n<div class=\"faq-module\">\n  <div class=\"faq-item\"><h3>What ND strength the FX3 needs<\/h3><p>There is no internal ND. Cine EI base ISO is 800 or 12800. 180-degree shutter is \u2248 2\u00d7 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\u20139 (or NiSi 1\u20135 plus Swift ND16). S-Cinetone at ISO 80\u2013400 in shade is 2\u20135. f\/1.4 in the same sun wants more than nine stops \u2014 stop down, do not stack two VNDs. Sony\u2019s ND Filter menu (firmware 7.00) only registers density; it does not add glass.<\/p><\/div>\n  <div class=\"faq-item\"><h3>Variable ND vs a fixed ND on this body<\/h3><p>A hard-stop VND is the FX3 first buy because the body is run-and-gun and the lens thread changes. PolarPro 6\u20139 and NiSi 1\u20135 use limited ranges so the X-pattern stays off the frame. A fixed ND64 \/ ND128 (Breakthrough X4, B+W, or a 4\u00d75.65 in a matte box) is cleaner for a locked cinema setup and for cine primes with no front thread. It is slower when the camera walks from garage to street. Do not start on a 1\u201310 VND.<\/p><\/div>\n  <div class=\"faq-item\"><h3>82 mm vs buying one filter per lens<\/h3><p>Buy 82 mm first. FE 24\u201370 mm F2.8 GM II and FE 16\u201335 mm F2.8 GM II are 82 mm. Step-up rings take 77 mm (24\u2013105 G, 70\u2013200 GM II) and 67 mm (35 \/ 50 GM) up to that one VND. A 67 mm filter will not mount on the 24\u201370. PolarPro Edition II\u2019s front is unthreaded; NiSi True Color 1\u20135 has an 86 mm front if a cap or a second filter matters.<\/p><\/div>\n  <div class=\"faq-item\"><h3>FX3 vs the FX6\u2019s built-in ND<\/h3><p>FX6 has electronic variable ND from 1\/4 to 1\/128. FX3 does not. That is a reason people step up bodies, not a firmware unlock. Filters on this page are screw-in 82 mm glass for ILME-FX3 (and the same E-mount hole on ILME-FX3A). FX30 is APS-C. Do not buy FX6-only accessories and expect them to put ND inside an FX3.<\/p><\/div>\n  <div class=\"faq-item\"><h3>The 600 Mbps codec and ND<\/h3><p>XAVC S-I 4K 59.94p is 600 Mbps; 23.98p is 240 Mbps. Dual slots take CFexpress Type A or SD. That does not change f\/2.8 or ISO 800. 4K\/120 (XAVC HS up to 280 Mbps, Super 35 crop) still needs ~1\/240. ND is for shutter. The card is for the bitrate. Register ND density in the v7 menu if the edit is going through Catalyst \u2014 it is a label, not a filter.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<h2>Final Verdict<\/h2>\n<div class=\"conclusion-module verdict-box\">\n  <div class=\"verdict-picks\">\n  <div class=\"verdict-item\">\n  <span class=\"verdict-label\">\ud83c\udfc6 Best Overall:<\/span>\n  <div class=\"verdict-product\"><strong>PolarPro PM Edition II 6\u20139<\/strong> <span class=\"verdict-reason\">\u2013 82-6\/9-VND-ED2, hard-stop 6\u20139, 16 mm claim.<\/span><\/div>\n  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/s?k=PolarPro+Peter+McKinnon+82mm+6-9&#038;tag=e6890-20&#038;linkCode=osi\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"verdict-btn\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Buy Now<\/a>\n  <\/div>\n  <div class=\"verdict-item\">\n  <span class=\"verdict-label\">\ud83d\udc8e Best Value:<\/span>\n  <div class=\"verdict-product\"><strong>NiSi True Color VND 1\u20135<\/strong> <span class=\"verdict-reason\">\u2013 NIR-TCVND0.3-1.5-82. Swift ND16 for 5\u20139.<\/span><\/div>\n  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/s?k=NiSi+True+Color+VND+82mm&#038;tag=e6890-20&#038;linkCode=osi\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"verdict-btn\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Buy Now<\/a>\n  <\/div>\n  <div class=\"verdict-item\">\n  <span class=\"verdict-label\">\ud83d\udcb0 Budget Pick:<\/span>\n  <div class=\"verdict-product\"><strong>K&#038;F Nano-X ND2\u201332<\/strong> <span class=\"verdict-reason\">\u2013 KF01.1805V1, 1\u20135. Not ND2\u2013400.<\/span><\/div>\n  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/s?k=K%26F+Nano-X+ND2-32+82mm&#038;tag=e6890-20&#038;linkCode=osi\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"verdict-btn\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Buy Now<\/a>\n  <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n  <p class=\"verdict-summary\">For most Sony FX3 kits, buy PolarPro 82-6\/9-VND-ED2, shoot 82 mm with step-up rings, and keep 180\u00b0 shutter at Cine EI 800 without raising ISO. There is no internal ND. S-Log3 in noon sun is a 6\u20139-stop job, not a 2\u20135. S-Cinetone or shade? NiSi True Color 1\u20135 (Swift ND16 when it gets hot). Same 1\u20135 cheaper, hard-stop only? K&#038;F KF01.1805V1. Skip ND2\u2013400, skip stacking two VNDs, skip the FX6 electronic-ND assumption. 600 Mbps is a card. This page is the FX3, not the FX6 or the FX30.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Sony FX3 has no internal ND. Cine EI sits at ISO 800 and 12800. The 2026 default is the PolarPro Peter McKinnon Signature Edition II 82mm 6\u20139 stop.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[188,8],"tags":[371,945,605,1218,1456,13,445],"class_list":["post-9707","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-filter","category-sony","tag-lens-filter","tag-nd-filter","tag-nd-filters","tag-nisi","tag-polarpro","tag-sony-fx3","tag-variable-nd"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cameraegg.org\/camerareview\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9707","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cameraegg.org\/camerareview\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cameraegg.org\/camerareview\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cameraegg.org\/camerareview\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cameraegg.org\/camerareview\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9707"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.cameraegg.org\/camerareview\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9707\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9896,"href":"https:\/\/www.cameraegg.org\/camerareview\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9707\/revisions\/9896"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cameraegg.org\/camerareview\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9707"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cameraegg.org\/camerareview\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9707"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cameraegg.org\/camerareview\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9707"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}