NiSi Cinema 4x4 Nano IR ND Filters: Stop Guide for Video
By NiSi Filters Australia | Published: 2026-11-01
Category: Buying Guides
Choose between 1, 4, 5 and 7 stop NiSi Cinema 4x4 Nano IR ND filters with practical decision rules for shutter angle, aperture and matte box use.
Quick answer
For most video shoots, start with the 4-stop NiSi Cinema 4x4 Nano IR ND filter as your base, add the 5-stop for bright exteriors, and choose the 1-stop or 7-stop only when your shutter angle and aperture plan clearly calls for them.
Why stop count matters more than filter brand
In video, ND choice is driven by shutter angle first, then aperture. At 180 degrees and 24 fps, you need roughly 4 stops to bring bright daylight down to a workable aperture; at 60 fps the same scene needs about 1.3 stops more. That is why a single 4x4 ND rarely covers a whole shoot day.
The NiSi Cinema 4x4 Nano IR range covers 1, 4, 5 and 7 stops. The gaps are deliberate: 1 stop for slight exposure trim or fast lenses wide open, 4 and 5 stops for standard exterior work, and 7 stops for very bright conditions or when you want a shallow depth of field at a slow shutter.
The trade-off: stacking versus buying the right stop
Stacking a 1-stop and a 4-stop in a matte box gets you 5 stops, but it also adds two glass surfaces, more flare risk and more handling time. If you regularly shoot at 5 stops, the dedicated 5-stop filter is the cleaner choice. The 1-stop is best kept as a trim filter, not as a building block.
The 7-stop is the least flexible of the four. It is excellent in direct sun or on snow and water, but indoors or at dusk it will push you toward wide apertures you may not want. Buy it only if your work regularly includes high-brightness exteriors.
What Nano IR coating and optical glass mean on set
All four filters share NiSi optical glass construction and Nano IR coating, and the catalog lists neutral results with no color cast. That matters for video because IR pollution and color shifts are harder to fix across a moving image than in a single photo. The leatherette pouch is a practical detail for transport between setups, not a reason to choose one stop over another.
Decision rules for choosing your stop
- If you shoot 24 fps at 180 degrees in normal daylight: Choose the 4-stop as your primary filter. It brings typical bright exteriors into a mid-range aperture without forcing you to stack.
- If your scene is direct sun, snow, sand or water: Add the 5-stop. It gives you roughly one more stop of control than the 4-stop and avoids the handling and flare risk of stacking. Keep the 4-stop as your backup for changing light.
- If you need a slight trim or want to shoot wide open: Use the 1-stop. It is a correction filter, not a replacement for a 4- or 5-stop in strong light.
- If you regularly shoot 60 fps or slower shutter in bright light: Choose the 7-stop. Higher frame rates and slow-shutter looks both consume more ND than standard 24 fps work. Test the 7-stop indoors before relying on it for a full day.
- If you are building a first kit: Buy the 4-stop first, then the 5-stop. Add the 1-stop only if you frequently fine-tune exposure, and the 7-stop only if your work demands it.
Product facts at a glance
- NiSi Cinema 4×4” Nano IR Neutral Density 0.3 Filter (1 Stop): 1-stop Nano IR ND in 4x4 size Useful as a fine exposure trim when you want to stay near your base aperture without changing shutter angle.
NiSi Cinema 4×4” Nano IR Neutral Density 0.3 Filter (1 Stop) - NiSi Cinema 4×4” Nano IR Neutral Density 1.2 Filter (4 Stop): 4-stop Nano IR ND in 4x4 size A practical base filter for 24 fps daylight work at a 180-degree shutter.
NiSi Cinema 4×4” Nano IR Neutral Density 1.2 Filter (4 Stop) - NiSi Cinema 4×4” Nano IR Neutral Density 1.5 Filter (5 Stop): 5-stop Nano IR ND in 4x4 size Covers brighter exteriors or higher frame rates without stacking two filters.
- NiSi Cinema 4×4” Nano IR Neutral Density 2.1 Filter (7 Stop): 7-stop Nano IR ND in 4x4 size Best reserved for very bright scenes where you still want a wide aperture or slower shutter.
Who this stop guide is for
Best for
- Video shooters using a 4x4 matte box who need a clear stop plan
- Owner-operators building a first or second cinema ND filter kit
- Shooters working in bright daylight who want to avoid stacking filters
Not for
- Photographers who need circular or 100mm square filters
- Shooters who mainly work indoors or in low light
- Anyone who needs a single filter to cover every lighting condition
