Hoya Y5ND4072 72mm 4X ND Multi Coated Filter — main product image

Hoya Y5ND4072 72mm 4X ND Multi Coated Filter

Hoya

Hoya Y5ND4072 72mm 4X ND Multi Coated Filter

Name: Hoya Y5ND4072 72mm 4X ND Multi Coated Filter
Brand: Hoya
SKU: Y5ND4072

★★★★★4.4 (25 reviews)

Two stops of light reduction on your 72mm lens — shoot wide open at noon or stretch shutter speeds for silky water and motion blur in bright conditions.

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Overview

The Hoya 72mm ND4 Multi Coated Filter is the answer to one of outdoor photography's persistent problems: there's too much light to shoot the way you want. With two stops of neutral density reduction, it gives you back the exposure latitude that bright conditions take away — whether that means opening your aperture for subject separation in harsh noon sunlight, slowing the shutter to blur moving water in a landscape, or balancing a flash exposure against a bright ambient background. The neutral density formulation keeps color rendering accurate across the spectrum, and the multi-coating on both glass surfaces reduces the surface reflections and ghosting that degrade images when a filter introduces a new air-to-glass interface in the optical path.

At 72mm, this filter threads directly onto a wide range of telephoto primes and mid-range zoom lenses without an adapter ring. The glass quality is consistent with Hoya's reputation for reliable, optically neutral filter production — resolution is not meaningfully affected, and exposure reduction across the frame is even. For photographers who primarily work in controlled studio or golden-hour conditions, this filter covers most needs. For those who frequently shoot in direct sun or need motion blur effects in high-brightness environments, this ND4 is a useful addition to an ND kit alongside a higher-density option. Multi-coating makes it a cleaner performer than uncoated alternatives at this price point.

Key Features

Eliminates overly bright, washed-out images.

Balances exposures.

Increases control of depth of field.

Equally effective in color or black and white photography.

Multi Coated for flare prevention.

Specifications

Brand

Hoya

Model

Y5ND4072

Filter Type

Neutral Density (ND4)

Density

4X (0.6) — 2 stops

Diameter

72mm

Coating

Multi Coated

Application

Photography and videography

Pros & Cons

👍 Pros

Two stops of light reduction opens creative options in bright conditions that would otherwise force you into small apertures — shooting a portrait at f/2.8 in direct afternoon sun becomes possible.
Multi-coating reduces the surface reflections and lens flare that plain glass ND filters introduce when shooting toward light sources, preserving contrast in the final image.
The 72mm thread size screws directly onto compatible lens front elements, with no adapter required for matching lenses — quick to attach and remove between shots.
Equally effective for color and black-and-white photography — the neutral density effect doesn't shift the tonal relationships that make monochrome compositions work.
Clean glass quality produces consistent, predictable exposure reduction without the color casts or uneven density of lower-quality ND filters.

👎 Cons

Two stops of reduction is relatively modest — for serious long-exposure landscape work or shooting video in bright sunlight, a denser ND8, ND16, or variable ND provides more creative range.
The filter's thickness may cause vignetting at the extreme wide end of ultra-wide zoom lenses where the front element is large relative to the filter diameter.
Attaching or stacking multiple filters increases the risk of cross-thread damage to the lens filter thread — the ND4's filter thread requires careful, square-on installation.
Standard multi-coating, while effective, is less resistant to flare and ghosting than Hoya's premium HD or Pro1D coating tiers under direct sunlight conditions.
No protective case included — storing the filter loose in a bag risks scratches to the coating, requiring a separate case purchase for safe transport.

Frequently Asked Questions

What exposure effect does a 4X (ND4 / 0.6) filter actually produce in the field?

An ND4 reduces incoming light by 2 stops. In practical terms, if your metered exposure is 1/500s at f/5.6, attaching the ND4 allows you to slow to 1/125s — or open up to f/2.8 while maintaining the same shutter. For silky waterfall effects, two stops is a useful starting point. For complete motion blur in bright midday light, you'll want a denser ND8 or ND16.

Does the Hoya ND4 shift color balance when attached?

Neutral density filters are designed to reduce light without affecting color rendition. The Hoya ND4 with multi-coating performs well in this regard — color shift is minimal under most lighting conditions. Some slight warming can occur at the extreme edges of the exposure range, but for the vast majority of shoots it's undetectable without side-by-side comparison.

Will this filter cause vignetting on wide-angle lenses?

Vignetting risk increases with filter diameter and decreases with longer focal lengths. At 72mm on a standard zoom (e.g., a 24-70mm or 16-35mm), very wide angles may show corner darkening, particularly if stacking this ND with a polarizer or UV filter. On telephoto lenses 50mm and longer, vignetting is generally not a concern.

Is the multi-coating on this filter the same as Hoya's HD (high-definition) or Pro1D coating?

This is Hoya's standard multi-coating, not their higher-tier HD or Pro1D formulations. The multi-coating provides meaningful flare and ghost reduction over uncoated glass and performs reliably for most outdoor and studio work. Photographers shooting directly into light sources or requiring maximum flare suppression may find the HD-series coating more resistant under those specific conditions.

How should I clean the ND4 filter to avoid scratching the coating?

Use a blower brush first to remove loose particles, then a clean microfiber cloth with lens cleaning solution applied to the cloth — never directly to the glass. Avoid paper tissues or shirt fabric, which can micro-scratch the coating over time. The filter's multi-coating is durable but not impervious to abrasive contact.