Kenko 82mm RealPro MC ND500 Filter

Neutral Density filters are the most commonly used along with C-PL and UV filters. These filters, instead of the ones that protect the lens from damage or UV pollution, were created to decrease the volume of the light entering the lens. True ND filters decrease light equally to achieve the same density through the all visual spectrum giving no changes in color balance of the image. That is why the called Neutral Density.

Why ND filter is important

We have already entered the era of super high sensitivity, super high resolution photographic equipment. Obviously, the power of this huge sensor can easily be affected by lenses and other optical accessories that are located right on the path of the light entering the camera. In other words, the filter quality serves as the front “gate” for the light to enter and is of the utmost importance.
In particular, ND filters have become a must for high sensitivity cameras with ISO settings that starts from 200 or 100. This is the reason that ND filters currently garner a high level of attention and have strict quality requirements. Professional photographers requires ND filters that decrease light volume in the most natural and harmless way.

When to use ND 500/1000 filters

Kenko REALPRO ND500/1000 present the highest quality of Neutral Density filters designed to use with latest DSLR high-sensitive cameras that will allow photographer to realize photos of moving objects with big amount of blur motion. That will create a scene that cannot be seen by human eyes. Kenko REALPRO ND500/1000 filters are recommended to use in landscapes, city snaps, video and nature genres to create an unreal, fantasy world, although your choice of ND filter depends of your personal purposes and work goals.

To choose ND filter with suitable density, use the spread-sheet below:

Nikon D7200 11mm, F8 4sec REALPRO ND1000

The example shows the natural steaming of water flows under the sleeping volcano. Using REALPRO ND1000 one can express the unseen wild nature of the volcanos during the day time creating blur motion of the steam coming out from the holes. This effect can be hardly achieve without ND filter. More to say it will take a lot of time to reproduce it by software.

Other examples of blur motion scenarios when REALPRO ND filters can be used. 

ND Vacuum Deposition Technology

To achieve the best neutrality in the world Kenko REALPRO ND500/1000 filters adopts ND Vacuum Deposition Technology. According to this technology, neutral density is realized by ND substance that coated in the steam oven equally spreading over the filter glass surface.

As a result, compared with other brand ND filters, all Kenko REALPRO ND filters perform excellent neutrality through all visual light spectrum ensuring stable color balance of the image (ND4 as example).

As a result, compared with other brand ND filters, all Kenko REALPRO ND filters perform excellent neutrality through all visual light spectrum ensuring stable color balance of the image as seen in the light transmission graph of REALPRO ND500 below.

Here we see the example of color shift occurred when used ND filter made without Vacuum Deposition Technology opposite to Kenko REALPRO ND1000. Bad quality ND filters may drastically change the whole impression of the image.

Non Vacuum Deposition ND1000 filter F8 20sec.

IR pollution

These two shots show the example of IR contamination when black objects like black suit and socks obtain brown reddish tint while leaves and trees became yellowish.

* ISO is deliberately set to 3400 in order to make shutter speed shorter and avoid motion blur of the person.   

Anti-Reflection multi coating

Usually sensors of digital cameras are more sensitive than film. That’s why highlights can affect the image, creating unwanted effects due to light refraction in the lens. Filters, as they are also optical elements, can make the situation even worse. That is why filters need anti-reflective coating. Kenko ND500/1000 filters adopts anti-reflective multi coating to eliminate even small chance of unwanted flares and ghosts in the image.

Basic features

Kenko REALPRO ND500/1000 filters has also the following additional features that will help photographer to achieve the best results.

Black Almite Frame

To reduce to minimum any unwanted reflections Kenko REALRO ND adopts black aluminum satin finish almite frame. Satin finish will increase friction between fingers and frame for quick operation and satin black frame will minimize internal reflections.

UV Protected Case

Kenko REALRO ND filters comes with durable plastic case with UV-Cut function.

Sample Photos