What does an "ND filter" do on my camcorder?

What does an "ND filter" do on my camcorder?

Tim Smith (Camcorder Training Specialist) gives expert video advice on: How do I record on my camcorder?; What is the "iris" of a camcorder?; How do I adjust my camcorder's white balance? and more...

One of the options you'll have on your camcorder is to either purchase a neutral density filter that screws in in front of the lens or use a neutral density filters that may or may not be built in. Neutral density filters, or "ND filters", cut the amount of light that's passing through the lens to the chip. So, if you find yourself in some very bright situations, and you can't get the settings that you want, added image density might give you a little bit more flexibility in how your exposure's created.