ND Filters

[daacon]

I am thinking about an ND Filter - I will probably get a 77 as this will fit my DA* 16-50 as well as my Tamron 70-200 so cover a wide range. I have read a little about them and know the general use. For me I think I would primarly use it for the soft water effect.

My question is if I was shooting in prime time (mid day or early afternoon) assuming average sunshine (not overcast) what strength to get ? These things are relatively expensive $50 - $80 a pop so I only wanted to get one.  Is a ND4 enough ? Should I go for an ND8 ? Damn soo many choices. What do others have here ?

thx.........Dave

[JIMBO]

Dave, I have the ND8 and will be buying the 4 soon. I used them in alot of my landscape shots to help bring out the sky which can get overexposed in certain conditions. You right they are not cheap but what is when it comes to camera equipment! Good luck. JIM

[francis lee]

Yo Dave!

The EV effect of a ND4 is almost similar to using a polarizer, ND8 will be a better choice. If I need anything stronger, I add on a polarizer too & will be expecting a light cut of about 4 stops.

francis

[spyglass]

I found a set of new Hoya ND filters on Ebay. I believe I picked the set up for around $100. You can find sets for under $40 (lets face it, for the amount that most will use these filters, do we need the very best? Nd filters are pretty basic. If the tinting of the filter is consistent throughout and it shows no evidence of colouring it will do most people just fine). It is nice to have a set so you can pick 1, 2, or 3 stops (Plus you can stack them for additive effect - more than 2 may cause some vignetting at shorter focal lengths, and auto focus could be an issue)

ND2 = 1 stop
ND4 = 2 stops
ND8 = 3 stops

Spyglass

[daacon]

Thanks for the comments I was thinking ND8 as I do already have several CPL's (for the once I year I actually get to the ocean haha).  I will start scouring Ebay - I bought some general  Kenko Pro1  UV for a chinese distributor and was very pleased (about half price of what I pay here)  however they do no have any ND filter. Anyone have a an reputable ebay source ?

[spyglass]

Try here

[daacon]

I saw those , they are really inexpensive I saw a Hoya set for around $100 - I don't like to cheap out if quality is an issue - have you used these no names ?

[LaRee]

I haven't got a circular polarizer for any of my lenses and I really miss it. I'd like a 77mm for my 12-24. But I have lenses ranging from 62 to 77mm that I would like to cover too. My tamron 28-75 is 67mm, sigma 17-70 is 72mm and my tammy 70-300 is 62mm. I don't *think* I would work well with a slip in type filter system. Do I have to just buck up and buy a separate polarizer for each lens? Could I get away with using a step ring to span at least a couple of these?
Tim, have you used polarizers from the guy you linked to above?

[JIMBO]

Could I get away with using a step ring to span at least a couple of these?

I believe the step rings are sized to your filter size. I like you have so many different sizes that can not buy for all lenses. I have the ND8 for my 12-24 which also fits my Sigma 70-200. For the 16-50 I just hood it over the end of the lens. [Now that cheap!] JIM

[spyglass]

Daacon,  I have used "economical" ND filters in the past without issues or feeling that I was truly paying for not paying. For other filters types I would not offer this same advice.  I would tell you to stick with a name brand and pay the money. (regarding Circular Polarize Filters.... while they will reduce reflection and allow you to see past the waters surface, and past the glass in a vehicle or window, they really get their best kudos for enhancing the contrast of a cloud filled sky.
That big Alberta Sky, with might was so great that it pushed all the mountain west into BC so that it could touch the ground, may be an even better choice, than the ocean that pushed back, to use a Circular Polarize filter.

LaRee step up or step down adapters rings can be great solutions in a pinch (the most common one found in a photographers bag is probably the 52mm to 49mm). People often buy filters for their largest lens and try to step down to small sizes. If you are close in filter sizes you can get away with it. But if you are stacking a number of adapters together to reduce down any significant amount vignetting will become a problem. especially with shorter focal lengths and wide angle applications. I ended up buying the Cokin filter system. That system provide you with a rectangular filter that slips into a holder. You purchase an adapter for each of the filter sizes you require. This can greatly cut down the over all cost of using filters. I also prefer their approach to graduated filter and the flexibility they offer (you can slide the filter up and down to vary the amount and cut off point, as well as 360 deg of rotation). Nowadays you can pick up Cokin A series filters for next to nothing on Ebay. People are selling off complete collection of filters for what I use to pay for 2 or 3 filters. The A series will handle up to a 62mm filter thread. They make larger series (P, ZXPRO, XPRO, etc) that can handle larger filter diameters. COKIN


Spyglass

[daacon]

Thanks Tim - LaRee I agree with Tim about the CPL I use the Kenko Pro 1 D Circular Polarizer Filter which is quite similar to the Hoya Brand. I think the 77mm (Biggest one I have) ran me close to $100 Cdn, you can likley get it cheaper in the US. I also have a 58, 62 and 67 CPL same brands. Those damn lens markers can't be consistent eh   Tim I do use them for the Big Sky country in daylight as well. I also am not a fan of the step down rings (too much glass in front of the lens). I have heard good things about the Conklin filters yet I am already down the invdidual road with CPL so a moot point.

I am not sure what I will do about the ND - I did find a set of 3 Hoya's for about $119 (ND2,ND4 and ND8). I might go that route, as one Kenko Pro ND is about $80 local here- or for about 1/4 of the price might give the no name brands a go.

The nice thing is the 77mm will fit the DA 12-24, DA* 16-50, Tamron 70-200 so I don't mind so much getting a brand name.

Edit: Pulled the plug on the Hoya Filters $119.00 US for 3 - ahhhhhh what the heck you only live once eh  

[spyglass]

That a boy Dave. Reach for the brass ring with both hands - I like it! 

[blackcloudbrew]

I went the Cokin way on the ND filters. I particularly like the gradual ND filters and used them quite a bit in Death Valley this year. It's nice because you have 1 set of filters and then adapter plates to each lens size. The Cokin system opens up more possibilities than are good to know about...FBA can result I own about 9 of them including a fun blue gradient filter, a really difficult to use IR filter, and a 'sunset' filter used for turning any time of the day into sunset. The down side of Cokin stuff is that it's a lot more things to carry, makes your camera a lot bigger (try a Cokin filter on a DA 40mm - you can do it but...why?), and the filters are plastic and can be scratched. The upside is that they can be stacked for even more effects. I got them for the use of the ND filters but have found that the ND gradient filters are the best for me as I can reduce a bright sky with it to good effect.

One other thing about the Cokin system is that they come in four sizes - A, P, Z-pro, X-pro. I have the P size which works with lens up to 84mm dia. As my DA* 16-50 is my biggest at 77mm dia, this works ok for me. You can check them out here: http://www.cokin.com/

I do have glass CPLs for all lens sizes that I own. That's one thing about my old Minota equipment most of their lenses were 55mm so you only needed one set of filters. [sigh]

If you really want to go high end on these the top of the line are the Singh-Ray filters check these out as they are really cool and really expensive. http://www.singh-ray.com/varind.html

Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

Tim

Edit: oops, I just read Spyglass's post on this. Sorry for the duplication of post info.

[daacon]

Thanks Tim I did see the  Singh-Ray brand and thought man Hoya was a bargain ! That was a little to rich for my blood , I am still not sure how much I will use then, so I guess I went middle of the road. I am glad the Conklin filters work for you. If I could have got my hands on some here to at least look at I may have given them a go - however as you mentioned the last thing I need is yet MORE stuff to carry - it's getting ridiculous the amount of gear I now carry 

I have a couple of trips comming up it will be interesting to see what I decide to bring my resonable SlingPro 200 or my 10kg LoweProd Computeker (whcih if I was a betting man this is what I usually take). 

[francis lee]

Just bought a Hoya NDx400. It cut back as much as 9 stops of light!!! Allowing me to practice my favourite style of 'movement' within even in bright daylight.
It cost me Singapore $109 for a diameter 72mm. Can't wait to explore with it.