ND64 vs ND8 Filter for Bright Light Scenes
By Urth USA | Published: 2026-10-21
Category: Comparisons
Compare the 3-stop ND8 and 6-stop ND64 filters for bright light photography and video. Learn which strength suits your creative goals, from shallow depth of field to long exposures.
Quick answer
For bright daylight scenes, choose the ND8 (3 stops) when you want a shallow depth of field or a cinematic shutter angle at wide apertures, and the ND64 (6 stops) when you need long exposures or smooth motion blur in full sun.
What the stop difference means in practice
The ND8 reduces light by 3 stops, which is enough to shoot at f/2.8 or f/1.4 in bright sunlight while keeping your shutter speed at 1/50s or 1/60s for video. That’s the sweet spot for a cinematic look without overexposing.
The ND64 cuts 6 stops of light, letting you drop shutter speed to 1/15s or slower even under midday sun. That opens up motion blur in waterfalls, clouds, or traffic — effects the ND8 simply can’t deliver in the same conditions.
Trade-off between speed and flexibility
The magnetic mount system on both filters makes swapping quick, but if you shoot mostly video at wide apertures, the ND8 is often all you need. You avoid carrying extra glass and the risk of vignetting on ultra-wide lenses.
For stills photographers chasing silky water or streaky skies, the ND64 is the better tool. The trade-off is that you’ll need a tripod and a remote shutter — handheld long exposures rarely work.
How to choose between ND8 and ND64
- Your main use is video: If you shoot at 24-30 fps and want a 180° shutter (1/48s to 1/60s), the ND8 gives you enough light reduction to shoot wide open in bright daylight. The ND64 would force your shutter too slow for standard video.
- You want long exposure effects: For waterfalls, clouds, or traffic trails, the ND64’s 6-stop reduction is the minimum you need to get multi-second exposures in full sun. The ND8 will only give you about 1/15s — not enough for smooth blur. Pair the ND64 with a tripod and remote shutter for best results.
- You shoot both stills and video: If you can only carry one filter, the ND8 is more versatile for handheld video and shallow depth-of-field portraits. The ND64 is better for creative long exposures but limits your video shutter speed options.
Filters compared
- Magnetic ND8 Filter Plus: Seamless daylight control. Sharper, smoother results. The Urth Magnetic ND8 Plus balances exposure by 3 stops for crisp stills and cinematic motion in bright daylight — with the speed and ease of our magnetic mount system. 3 stops is the ideal reduction for shooting video at f/2.8 in full sun without needing a tripod.
Magnetic ND8 Filter Plus - ND64 Filter Pro: The Urth ND64 Pro cuts 6 stops of light — ideal for long exposures, smooth motion effects, balanced highlights and cinematic control in bright conditions. 6 stops let you achieve shutter speeds of 1-4 seconds in midday light, enabling motion blur effects that a 3-stop filter cannot.
ND64 Filter Pro
Which filter fits your style?
Best for
- Videographers who need a cinematic shutter at wide apertures in daylight
- Photographers who want shallow depth of field without a tripod
Not ideal for
- Long exposure enthusiasts who need multi-second motion blur in bright sun
- Landscape shooters who want silky water or streaky clouds in midday light
