Ice 10 Stop Neutral Density ND1000 Filter Review

You get what you pay for is a commonly heard adage in the photography world and when it comes to camera gear, occasionally you get quite a bit less than what you pay for, and it’s even more infrequent an occurrence to get more than you pay for. When I saw a circular 10 Stop Neutral Density filter on Amazon about a year ago priced at only around $30 manufactured by a brand called “Ice,” I was a little skeptical. At that point in time, the filter had no reviews, but I love to test new gear so I took the plunge and ordered it.

The packaging gave no additional clues about the seemingly obscure manufacturer, Ice, but I was pleased to find that the filter is in fact made of glass, and not resin like many inexpensive ND filters. The filter is double threaded, so lens caps and other filters can be screwed on to it, and the construction quality is surprisingly good, comparable to much more expensive Neutral Density filters.

The 10 Stop ND 1000 filter I received produces incredible results, with no discernable color cast — something that not even all of the more expensive ND filters can claim. ND filters are typically expensive pieces of gear, but with such an inexpensive ND filter like the Ice 10 Stop ND, you don’t need to worry as much about babying it. The Ice ND filter has become one of my favorite filters to bring along on trips, and while square/rectangular filters certainly have their place in a gear bag, especially when it comes to graduated ND filters, I find that I’m much more likely to use a circular ND filter since it’s so easy and quick to screw on and off a lens.

As for the durability of the Ice ND 1000 10 Stop filter, it’s survived in some pretty tough places and come through without any damage during a few (actually, several) accidental falls. While shooting long exposures on the Oregon coast, I accidentally dropped this filter from about four feet onto jagged rocks, watching as it bounced and rolled its way down toward a precipice, coming to a stop just inches before it tumbled into a frothy sea. I expected some damage — at least a scratch or two, but the optical glass was pristine. Even after very heavy usage, I’ve found that this 10 stop ND filter is very scratch resistant, making it the ideal filter to bring along on a trip without worrying too much about it getting damaged.

There’s something to be said for purchasing your camera equipment and filters from well known and trusted brands, particularly for the warranty and company quality guarantee that frequently accompanies high end products. That said, for photographers who are starting to explore the magic of long exposure photography but don’t want to spend hundreds of dollars buying even more gear and those who want a high quality filter that they don’t have to worry as much about for traveling, the Ice 10 Stop ND 1000 Filter is a true bargain that delivers results way above its price point. With great build quality, a screw-thread that attaches easily to lenses and other filters, dark optical glass with no color cast, and sharp results, this Neutral Density filter really earns a rare perfect score.

It comes in several filter thread sizes (and even a rectangular Cokin P format), linked to below, so it’s important to always check on what size of filter your lens is compatible with. If you have several lenses, but only want to purchase one filter, your best bet is to purchase a filter that will fit your largest lens, and then use inexpensive step-up rings to attach it to your other lenses. You can use a smaller filter on a larger lens by using step-down rings, but this will usually cause serious vignetting at the edge of your photos so it’s not a recommended strategy.