Neutral density camera filter B&W 803 MASTER 86 mm, Multi Resistant Coating (MRC)

B&W 803 MASTER 86 mm is a neutral density (ND) camera filter with Multi Resistant Coating (MRC) designed to reduce incoming light by three f-stops. The filter enables longer exposures and the use of wider apertures in bright conditions, helping to control exposure, motion blur and depth of field. It is supplied as a single screw-in filter compatible with lenses that accept 86 mm filters and is suitable for both stills and video work where light reduction or smoothing of moving water and motion trails is required.

Advantages

The finely ground and polished special optical glass provides high optical quality without degrading the resolving power of high-grade lenses. The thin-film coating technology combines a uniform neutral density effect with a multi-layer anti-reflective system to minimize reflections across the visible spectrum and maintain color neutrality. An outer dirt- and water-repellent layer improves resistance to contaminants and simplifies cleaning and maintenance.

Suitable for

• Landscape photography with long exposures (smoothing water, cloud motion)
• Architecture photography to control exposure and movement in bright conditions
• Portrait photography when a shallow depth of field is required in bright light
• Video recording when aperture cannot be closed enough and specific depth of field is needed
• Creative effects such as wipe effects and continuous light trails

Key specifications

• Filter type: Neutral Density (ND), 0.9 (reduces light by 3 f-stops)
• Diameter: 86 mm (screw-in)
• Optical glass: finely ground and polished special glass
• Coating: Multi Resistant Coating (MRC) with multi-layer anti-reflective system (7 layers per side) plus outer dirt- and water-repellent layer
• Light attenuation: uniform across visible spectrum, designed for color-neutral results
• Delivered: single filter

How to use

Screw the B&W 803 MASTER 86 mm filter onto the front thread of an 86 mm compatible lens, ensuring the threads are clean and free of debris. Compose and meter the scene as usual, then adjust exposure settings to account for the three-stop light reduction: for manual exposure increase exposure time or open aperture accordingly, or use exposure compensation / manual mode on cameras. For video, set shutter speed and aperture while monitoring exposure to maintain correct motion blur. Use a tripod for long exposures to avoid camera shake and achieve sharp static elements while smoothing moving subjects.

Usage recommendations

For long-exposure landscape shots, use low ISO and a sturdy tripod; bracket exposures if precise exposure is critical. When shooting portraits in bright light to achieve shallow depth of field, check autofocus performance with the filter attached and consider manual focus if necessary. Clean the outer coating with a soft microfibre cloth and a suitable lens-cleaning solution to maintain the dirt- and water-repellent properties.