Why do cameras still need ND filters?

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Obviously it was a thing for film cameras, but now that everything is digital, something like “just make the picture darker” seems extremely easy to do with software

quick edit, I know what ND filters are for and how to use them, no need to explain. it just seems to me that it could be engineered in a way that doesn’t require them, which is what I’m asking about

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Anonymous 0 Comments

Ooooooof I love this type of question. But, can I make it ELI5? That’s going to be harder.

So, do you know how you first wake up and EVERYTHING is so super wayyyyyyy to bright? Well an ND filter can drop that by removing a bunch of light so it doesn’t hurt your eyes- like a camera sensor.

Camera sensors have gotten REALLY good- REALLY REALLY good. In fact, with the introduction of the Canon 10D I’d say they finally started to surpass film in terms of sensitivity for a given viewing distance* (beyond ELI5)

All of that… ND filters ‘knock down’ the amount of light coming into the sensor, so the sensor can put it in a range that the software that makes the pretty photos on the screen look good can work with.

….

When it comes to HVS and variety of sensors and whatnot, there are hundreds of tricks that have been used / played/ that digital is finally realizing, including ‘over bright’ (+130%) illumination highlights to give things certain looks, that just can’t be captured on a screen.

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