Camera Sensor Neutral Density Filter // STC Optics ND better than HSS for Flash Photography?

In this video I take a look at a product that represents the end of HSS in my workflow.
High speed sync has been a great tool for effortlessly getting past the sync speed limitation of my cameras. I've been using it for roughly 4 years now, and Hypersync before that. Removing the sync speed limitation gives you control of your aperture again outdoors, which is so important to creating the image you have in your head. But, HSS comes with a hefty price, power output. HSS will always be less efficient than standard sync, because HSS utilizes multiple pulses of light to hit the entire sensor during the narrow window of a fast shutter speed. In short, when using HSS your flash will be less bright, which is the last thing you need when you're trying to balance flash in a bright outdoor situation.
To get over this loss in power, most photographers utilize a strobe that is far more powerful than they would otherwise need. In my instance, I regularly use an AD400 Pro or AD600 Pro, just so I can compensate for the efficiency lost when using in HSS. Otherwise, I never need the output of these beastly strobes.
An alternative is using an ND filter on your lens. I never liked this, because when I was first interested in combining shallow depth of field (wide aperture / low f/stop) in bright outdoor situations, I was still using a dSLR. Putting a 6 stop ND filter on a dSLR makes it very difficult to focus. When your subjects are moving, and you as a photographer are moving, and you're chasing a shallow depth of field, reducing the quality of your autofocus may as well stop the session.
But, by switching to mirrorless the visual effect and focusing woes of using an ND filter are gone. The EVF compensates once you adjust your settings, and you see as if you have no ND filter on at all. Still, the idea of buying ND filters for all of my lenses sounds tedious and expensive.
I first saw the STC ND filter on a channel covering a photography expo. I instantly recognized that this was the best of both worlds. Now, I could have a single (or maybe 2) filters in my bag that would work with any of my lenses. Better still, they would be compatible with Ultra Wide Angle lenses that otherwise have no/poor filter options (like my Sony 12-24). And of course, I would finally be able to ditch HSS and get back to smaller flashes, which just makes my working life way easier.
I'm happy to report that the image quality and autoperformance is still fantastic even with this filter directly over your sensor. I see no difference in sharpness, minor differences in color, all while unleashing the full potential of my flash in some of the most challenging photography conditions.

For dSLR users. You can still use it, you just have to install it on while the mirror is flipped up (put it in live view)

My entire kit of gear : https://kit.co/robhallphoto STC Filters: https://stcoptics.com/en/clip_filter/ (I use ND64 6 stop but they have many more)
Godox AD600 Pro http://bit.ly/RHX600P
Godox AD200 http://bit.ly/RHX600P
EZ Lock Octa Softbox http://bit.ly/rhezocta
C Stand http://bit.ly/RHCStand
Sony A7R3 http://bit.ly/SA7R3RH
85mm 1.4 GM http://bit.ly/RH85mm14

Shout out to Francisco of FJHPhotography for hosting me in South Texas and helping with these videos!
Check out his YouTube channel :    / fjhphoto  





Product Description : Made for the Canon (Full-Frame DSLR / APS-C DSLR), Nikon (Full-Frame DSLR), SONY (α7 series, α9 / E-mount APS-C MILC), Fujifilm (X-series APS-C MILC) and PENTAX (APS-C DSLR) camera bodies.

Specially designed Clip-shaped structure could be easily imbedded and firmly stabilized while attaching the lens on camera body. Therefore, the paralleled focal plane could ensure focusing performance clearly. The color shift issue that may occur due to the wide angle SLR lens in peripheral areas of the image also can be solved.

The material of Clip Filter is black anodized 304 stainless steel which is virtually non-magnetic and less brittle at low temperature. Various kinds of glasses can be replaced in the sophisticated frame, including Astro filter, infrared filter UV-IR CUT filter and ND filter. More creative images can be discovered by your photographer’s eye.