Tiffen 55mm ND 0.3 Filter for Video: When & How to Use It

Quick answer

Use the Tiffen 55mm ND 0.3 filter when you need to reduce exposure by one stop in bright conditions, allowing you to keep a wider aperture or slower shutter speed for cinematic motion blur without changing your scene's color.

How to use the Tiffen 55mm ND 0.3 filter for video

1. 1. Set your target shutter speed: For 30 fps video, set shutter speed to 1/60 (double the frame rate). For 24 fps, use 1/48 or 1/50. This is the 180-degree rule for natural motion blur. Common mistake: using a shutter speed that is too fast (e.g., 1/250) makes video look stuttery and jarring.
2. 2. Measure the ambient light without the filter: Point your camera at the scene and check the exposure meter. Note the aperture and ISO that give a proper exposure at your target shutter speed. If the aperture is too small (e.g., f/16) or ISO is too low, you need the filter. Checkpoint: If the meter shows you are already at base ISO and your smallest aperture, the 0.3 ND may not be enough — consider a stronger ND.
3. 3. Screw on the Tiffen 55mm ND 0.3 filter: Thread it onto your 55mm lens. The filter is thin enough to avoid vignetting on most lenses. Recheck the exposure — you should see the meter drop by one stop. Common mistake: not checking for vignetting with wide-angle lenses. If you see dark corners, remove any other stacked filters.
4. 4. Adjust aperture or ISO to regain correct exposure: Open your aperture one stop (e.g., from f/8 to f/5.6) or raise ISO one stop to bring the meter back to center. This gives you shallower depth of field or lower noise while keeping the correct shutter speed. Checkpoint: If the image becomes too bright after adjusting, the filter is not needed — remove it and try a different aperture or ND strength.
5. 5. Record a test clip and review: Record 10-15 seconds of footage and check for motion blur, exposure, and color. The ND 0.3 should not shift color — if you see a color cast, it may be from other factors like white balance. Common mistake: forgetting to reset white balance after adding the filter. Always set a custom white balance or use a gray card.

Product facts

• Tiffen 55mm Neutral Density 0.3 Lens Filter: The Tiffen 55mm Neutral Density 0.3 Lens Filter eliminates overly bright, washed-out images and balances exposure without changing the color of the scene. This means you can maintain accurate skin tones and white balance while controlling exposure for video, avoiding the flat look of overexposed highlights.