Hoya Variable Density II

HOYA Variable Density II ND Filter

Adjustable Neutral Density Filter (ND3–400) with Rotating Frame and Enhanced Control

Take total control of your shutter speed, aperture, and exposure with the HOYA Variable Density II, a premium adjustable ND filter offering a wide light reduction range from 1.5 to 9 stops (ND3–400). Whether you're a landscape photographer chasing the perfect long exposure or a filmmaker striving for cinematic motion, this versatile filter replaces multiple solid NDs with a single, finely tunable solution.

Key Features:

• Adjustable ND Range: ND3–400
  Provides seamless light control from 1.5 to 9 stops, making it suitable for long exposures, bright-light portraiture, and professional video production.

• New Rotatable Frame with Control Knob
  An upgraded rotating mechanism with an easy-grip control knob offers precise ND adjustment and smoother operation compared to the original Variable Density model.

• Exclusive Wide-Profile Design
  Features a wider rotating frame than the fixed mount, helping minimise vignetting when used with wide-angle lenses—especially useful for landscape photography and video shooting.

• 4K-Ready Optical Quality
  Engineered for professional results, with high-quality optical glass and coatings that maintain clarity, colour fidelity, and sharpness throughout the density range.

• Anti-Reflection Multi-Coating
  Reduces flare and ghosting, even in challenging backlit scenes.

• 1.25x Filter Cap Compatibility Note
  Due to the wide front ring, the filter requires a lens cap one size larger than the filter thread size (e.g. a 77mm filter needs an 82mm cap).

Ideal For:

Photography

• Long Exposures in Daylight – Blur waterfalls, soften clouds, or capture motion trails without overexposure

• Wider Apertures in Bright Light – Achieve shallow depth-of-field with fast prime lenses in full sunlight

• Exposure Control Without Adjusting Aperture – Maintain desired depth-of-field while adjusting shutter speed for artistic effect

Videography

• Cinematic Shutter Control – Maintain a natural motion blur by keeping shutter speed double the frame rate, especially when shooting in bright outdoor conditions

• Essential for Run-and-Gun Filmmaking – Adjust on the fly without swapping filters or losing momentum

Real-World Benefits:

Cinematic Motion in Video

Still photography can handle fast shutter speeds. Video, however, suffers from “strobing” or unnatural motion if the shutter speed is too high. The HOYA Variable Density II allows precise adjustment to match shutter speed to frame rate (e.g. 1/50s for 25fps), resulting in smooth, natural-looking video footage.

Prevent Overexposure

Shooting at wide apertures like f/1.4 or f/1.2 can easily cause blown highlights in bright conditions—even with shutter speeds as fast as 1/8000 sec. This filter cuts the incoming light, letting you keep your aperture wide open without overexposing.

Creative Long Exposures

Achieve dreamy water effects, blurred crowds, light trails, and soft skies—all by lowering your shutter speed without needing to change your aperture or ISO settings.

Important Usage Notes:

• When used near maximum density, a cross-like dark pattern may appear—this is a known limitation of all variable ND filters and cannot be eliminated.

• Vignetting risk increases with ultra-wide-angle lenses:

  • APS-C: avoid focal lengths below 13mm

  • Full Frame: avoid focal lengths below 24mm

• Lens Cap Sizing: This filter requires a larger lens cap than the filter diameter due to its widened front element. (e.g. a 77mm filter needs an 82mm cap)

HOYA Variable Density II delivers professional-grade exposure control in a single, high-performance filter. Perfect for photographers and filmmakers alike, it offers the flexibility to adapt instantly to changing light—without swapping filters or compromising on quality.

Adjust the light. Shape the scene. Shoot with confidence.