NiSi Filters PRO Nano Variable ND x5 - 9 Stops-
NiSi Filters PRO Nano Variable ND x5 - 9 Stops-
NiSi Filters PRO Nano Variable ND x5 - 9 Stops-
NiSi Filters PRO Nano Variable ND x5 - 9 Stops-

NiSi Filters PRO Nano Variable ND x5 - 9 Stops

Regular price R 2,499.00 Sale price R 1,150.00
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Tax included.
3 in stock

Size

This filter has been discontinued – these are the very last sizes. It has been replaced by the new Swift system which is much faster to use and features better optics. The Swift VND kit has the standard 1-5 True Colour VND and the 4-Stop FSND which connects to the front to give you 5-9. If you already have the 1-5 True Colour VND, you can purchase the 4-stop separately


While somewhat useful to stills photographers, variable ND filters are an indispensable tool for filmmakers. This filter allows quick and easy manipulation of the exposure in order to achieve the desired aperture and shutter speed when there is too much light. 

Variable ND filters are made by mounting two polarisers facing each other and when turned, they progressively cut out more and more light. This can achieve an exposure reduction ranging from 1 – 10 stops, so why is this filter limited to a 5-9 stops range? The problem with the double-polariser approach is that beyond a certain range, the darkening becomes very uneven across the frame, resulting in what is known as the x-effect. This is why most commercial film productions still make use of conventional ND filter sets. 

A Variable ND filter does however still have a great place in the world if used within the limits of the x-effect, which is why NiSi have limited their offering to a 1.5 - 5 stop version and 5 - 9 stop version. The 5-9 stop is a 1.5 - 5 stop combined with an ND16 film, which achieves the darker densities without allowing any x-effect. Compared to a conventional cinema ND filter set and matte box with filter trays, this filter costs about 5% of the price. It also offers instant manipulation of the exposure reduction by simply turning the filter and thanks to its compact size it is much more friendly to DSLR and mirrorless filmmakers.

This filter features NiSi's renowned scratch-resistant and hydrophobic nano-coating, which ensures that it lasts and makes it quick and easy to clean. It also features a pin on the side that makes it easy to rotate from behind the camera. 

Is there any X-effect at 9 stops? 

If you set out to look for it, you will encounter a hint of the X-effect at 9 stops... if you use an ultra-wide lens and you shoot against a clean background. Our staff have used this filter for countless video productions and we have been selling it for a year, without noticing the X-effect in any of our videos or receiving one complaint about it from a customer. So while you might find it if you really look for it, it simply doesn't show up in practical use. 

Is the pin on the side removable?

This pin acts as an easy handle for turning the filter quickly, but not everyone likes it. The good news is that it is simply screwed in and secured with threadlock. You’ll struggle to get it out with your fingers, but a soft turn with pliers gets it out. If you want to reattach it, just dip the thread in threadlock and screw it back in. (Threadlock is available at any hardware store for about R20-50. Usually a tiny blue bottle)

Do you have the item in stock? 

Products are either in stock, out of stock (sold out) or special order. 

  • In stock: We have stock at our local warehouse. You can see how many we have in stock, add these products to your cart and check out. 
  • Sold out: We usually carry stock of this item but it has sold out. Please get in touch to get an ETA and reserve and incoming product. Or use the "Email me when available" button to get an email when new stock arrives. 
  • Special order: We don't carry local stock of this item. Get in touch to confirm stock availability and ETA to place an order. 

Delivery options and what they cost

We pride ourselves on lightning fast shipping, FREE on all orders over R1000. For orders under R1000 a courier fee of R120 will apply. Apart from large f-stop gear orders and large tripods, most of our items ship overnight and the daily cutoff is 13:00. You can read more on the deliveries page

Can I collect my parcel? 

Yes, you can collect your order from our warehouse in Saxenburg Park, Blackheath (08:00 - 14:00). Just choose the collection option at checkout- we'll follow up with the specifics. Please note that we are very strict about payment if collecting. We will not release any goods if we are not 100% comfortable about payment. We accept the following as payment confirmation in order to release the goods. 

  • Payfast Card Payment (any customers, new or returning)
  • EFT from FNB to FNB, pending fund clearance (any customers, new or returning)
  • Normal EFT from other banks to FNB (return customers only)
  • Instant EFT from other banks to FNB, pending fund clearance (Any customers, new or returning) 
  • Cash (any customers, new or returning)

What payment options are available?  

  • EFT
  • EFT via Payfast
  • Credit card: VISA & Mastercard
  • Payflex
  • Float

What is your policy on returns and or exchanges?

We are more than happy to exchange any product for something else or a full refund* if you feel that the item you chose isn’t quite right for you. See our Return Policy page for more. 

*If paying with any card, 4.5% of the transaction value goes to the credit card payment facilitation company. "Full Refund" means that we will return the full amount we received after the credit card service fees. If you are at all unsure that what you're buying is ideal for you, rather opt for EFT payment to be safe. 

Where is my order? How can I track my order?

You will receive an email with your tracking number once your order has been collected by our couriers. You can also find tracking number for your orders under "My account" 

You can also shop NiSi Filters at the following retailers & dealers. 
Orms Cape Town
Shop 5 Roeland Square, Cnr Roeland and, Upper Canterbury St, Cape Town
0214653573
Orms Bellville
Victorian Towers, 2 Palm St, Bellville, Cape Town
Fritz, 0219101380
FilmFlow (Cinema Specialist)
Boskruin, Randburg
Deon Truter, 0823148308
Kameraz
Rosebank Mall, 50 Bath Avenue, Rosebank, Johannesburg
Martin Wright, 0118802885
Photoquip
28 Pearce St, Berea, East London
043 726 2200
Lime Photo
Kloof, Durban
Emil, 0844849959
 
You can also shop Leofoto Tripods at the following retailers & dealers. 
Orms Cape Town
Shop 5 Roeland Square, Cnr Roeland and, Upper Canterbury St, Cape Town
0214653573
Orms Bellville
Victorian Towers, 2 Palm St, Bellville, Cape Town
Fritz, 021 910 1380
Lime Photo
Kloof, Durban
Emil, 0844849959
3% Tactical
Durbanville
Bernard Kotze - 0727156743
Ivan Fourie - 0825290593
Pretoria Arms
1032 Silvergrass St, Montana, Pretoria, 0182
Wayne Lesch – 0798834407

Damien Bradshaw 
Eastern Cape (Hunting Products Only)
0835749134

Approved Arms
Pretoria
Dirk Pio  – 0730556726
 

We have a no-nonsense approach. If a product breaks due to a manufacturer defect, we will replace it without asking any questions. If we have any reason to believe that the product was put through unreasonably heavy usage, we will have to follow the manufacturer's standard warranty procedure. 

Find more info on proper care and use for each brand below. 

NiSi Care & Use

F-stop Care & Use

Leofoto

The manufacturer offers a 10-year limited warranty on all products and we extend that warranty to our customers. Please read the below very carefully, so you understand your position when something breaks or doesn’t work ideally anymore.

It is critical to understand that this warranty only applies to factory faults and not to standard wear and tear. Tripods are subject to a lot of gray areas in this regard as tripods used outdoors, particularly in sand and sea water, are subjected to extreme wear and tear. We will e.g. replace the affected part of your tripod if a carbon tube snaps or cracks without much pressure applied to it or if the apex breaks. We will not replace your tripod or the affected part if e.g. a joint locks up due to sand or salt build up or if a hinge becomes corroded or stiff/floppy and unserviceable due to corrosion or salt build up. 

In sum, if we see that you took good care of your tripod and something went wrong, we will go out of our way to fix or replace it for you. If we see that you dragged it through the mud (literally or metaphorically), then we are unlikely to fix/replace it for you. How you handle your tripod and take care of it, is all the difference between 3- or 20 years of service. 

The best of tripods will not last longer than 2/3 years if used regularly in the sea, INCORRECTLY, and never serviced. Always make sure to extend the lowest leg section first, so you keep the joints out of the water/sand. Always rinse with freshwater after use in the sea, wipe down with a wet cloth, leave extended to dry and ENSURE YOU KEEP THE HEAD AND APEX DRY. If your tripod’s joints start feeling sandy/gritty, open them up, give them a proper clean and lubrication and fine-tune the tension on the joints.

If travelling on dirt roads, ensure that your tripod is in its carry-bag when not in use.

Your tripod will not take care of itself – it is up to you to do so. All our tripods ship with an info-sheet on taking care of your tripod. We also offer a full tripod disassembly and service for R1000, including shipping both ways.

NiSi Swift vs Square Systems

Emil von Maltitz of Lime Photo does a comprehensive comparison of the two systems for photography. Not sure where to start? This is it!

CHOOSING NISI

Circular or Square?

This is the first question to ask yourself when choosing a filter system to invest in. Each one has its pros and cons and while most now prefer the Swift circular system system for its economy, portability and modularity, the square system still hold a place for using graduated NDs.

1. Economy - Circular filters win hands down when it comes to economy. An 82mm Swift Fixed ND (FSND) Kit with 3, 6 and 10-stop filters costs just R5 999 compared to R9 897 for its 100mm square counterpart. Circular filters don't require a filter holder, which will cost another R5 499.

2. Portability - Circular filters also win hands down when it comes to size and portability. They are smaller, lighter and take up very little space compared to the equivalent square system.

3. Versatility - While square filters used to dominate this area, NiSi's new state of the art Swift System has set a new standard with stacked circular filters which added or removed in seconds. This change saw a massive shift in square filter users shifting to circular filters, so when are square filters still superior?

4. Graduated Filters - While circular grads do exist, they are flawed from the drawing board as the graduation can only be in the middle of the frame, which forces you to compose the horizon in the middle. A square system allows the graduation to be positioned at any height in the frame.

If you shoot video, the Swift Variable ND System is the best fit for you.

If you shoot photo, the Swift Fixed ND (FSND) System is the best fit for you..

If grads form an essential part of your kit, go for a square system.

CHOOSING NISI

I choose square, but which system size?

This is determined by the thread size of the primary lens you want to use the filters on. For landscape photography this is usually your wide angle lens.

As NiSi's circular filters technology has become the new industry standard, many square filter systems are fading to the background. We now only stock the V7 System for 100mm. For any other system/size, get in touch.

1. For thread sizes of 67mm and smaller, the 75mm system is ideal.

2. For thread sizes of 62mm - 82mm, the 100mm system is ideal.

3. If you have an ultra-wide lens with a bulbous front element and no thread, the 150mm system is your only choice.

4. If you have the Canon 11-24mm, the 180mm system is your only choice.

Custom filter holders/kits are available for the for Fujifilm X100 and Nikon Z 14-24mm.

CHOOSING NISI

Solid Neutral Density Filters

Solid neutral density filters lengthen exposure by cutting out a specific amount of light. This is very useful for creative purposes, whether you want to blur a wave, waterfall, leopard or a street scene.

They are available in many different densities, ranging from 2 to 20 stops, but the most popular are 3-, 6- and 10-stops.

3-Stop | 0.9 - This filter is used to add a slight blur to water before the sun has set or after it has risen. At f/16 and ISO100, it is impossible to achieve a slow enough shutterspeed to get the ideal amount of blur in the waves while the sun is up. Three stops of darkening will normally allow a shutterspeed of 1/10s to 1/2s during this golden sunlight phase, producing soft lines in the waves.

6-Stop | 1.8 - This filter serves the same purpose as the 10-stop, but it is better suited for sunset and sunrise. When the sun is close to setting or rising, a 10-stop ND will require a very long shutterspeed at f/11-16 and ISO100 to produce the correct exposure - often as much as 5-10 minutes. A 6-stop ND is thus much more suited for capturing long exposures of 30-60s around sunset and sunrise.

10-Stop | 3.0 - This filter is used primarily for blurring the sea to a flat mist and for blurring clouds into abstract lines. It can also be used to remove traffic and people from urban scenes by blurring the moving elements. At f/11-16 and ISO100, it usually produces a shutterspeed of 20-30s in early morning or late afternoon with strong sunlight.

15-Stop | 4.5 - This filter is serious long exposure territory and will produce exposures times of 1-4 minutes in peak daylight and 5-30 minutes during golden hour.

CHOOSING NISI

Graduated Neutral Density Filters

Landscape photographers use graduated neutral density filters because the sky is usually brighter than the land – especially in dramatic sunset light. Graduated ND filters are dark on the top half and transparent on the bottom half.

When the dark part is positioned over the sky of an image, it ‘reduces’ the amount of light allowed through that part of the frame and this results in a darkened exposure of the sky. On the left side of the image it shows the result without any filter and on the right it shows the result with the filter. Graduated Filters have two variables - the graduation type and the density. Read below to find out more.

CHOOSING NISI

Graduation Type

This determines how the filter changes from transparent to dark. No two landscapes are the same and thus there are different grads for different situations.

These filters are typically for scenes with a very dynamic horizon, like landscapes with trees or high mountains. Soft grads are the most forgiving and easiest for beginners to use.

Hard Grad - These filters are typically for scenes with a straight and uniform horizon, like the sea. If a hard grad is not positioned perfectly, it will be clearly noticeable in the image as a dark line below the horizon or a bright line above it. We advise that beginners stick to soft and medium grads.

Medium Grad – Medium grads are a newer product that most manufacturers only released in 2016/2017. Many photographers often found hard grads too hard and soft grads too soft and thus it was obvious that something in between was necessary. It is also the perfect solution for photographers that don’t want to commit to a hard or soft grad. Not everyone can afford to buy the full range of these filters and the medium grads are an excellent new compromise.

Reverse Grad – These filters serve a very niche, but useful purpose. When shooting into a bright sunset/sunrise, the brightest area is right on the horizon and then the sky darkens towards the top. When using a normal graduated ND, it will result in a correctly exposed horizon, but the top part of the sky will be far too dark. A Reverse Grad also has a clear lower half, but it is darkest in the middle and then gets lighter towards the top. This allows one to more accurately balance those exposures that are brightest on the horizon.

Focal Length Factor - A longer focal length softens the graduation as the image is captured through a smaller portion of the filter. If you shoot a lot of landscapes with your 24-70 or 70-200, then you'll need hard grads.

CHOOSING NISI

Graduation Density

All the different types of grads are available in different densities, because light is dynamic and different scenes require a different amount of ‘darkening’ of the sky. We stock a variety of 0.3, 0.6, 0.9 and 1.2 (0.3 = 1 stop) in NiSi's various size ranges.

The most popular densities are 0.6 and 0.9, but a 1.2 is becoming increasingly popular.

1. 0.3 (1-stop) is for experienced shooters, usually to be combined with a 0.6 or 0.9.

2. 0.6 (2-stop) is the most popular filter as a 2-stop difference between land and sky is most common. If you shoot a sunset/sunrise the 0.6 will be the all-rounder that best balances exposure between land and sky in most directions.

3. 0.9 (3-stop) is the ideal if you like shooting into the sunset as the 0.6 isn’t always dark enough for into-the-sun shots. The issue with the 0.9 is that it will be too dark if shooting 90-degrees from the sun or with the sun at your back.

4. 1.2 (4-stop) is for shooting directly into a very bright sunset/sunrise.

CHOOSING NISI

Local ambassadors

See how local NiSi ambassador Kyle Goetsch is putting his filters to work. Photo by Kyle Goetsch taken with the NiSi 6-stop ND.