Originally posted by domisplanet Hello everyone,
I am planning to get a Filtersystem for ND and ND Graduated Filters.
As I don't have a lot experience with graduated Filters and I cant afford to buy a complete range of Filters, I am wondering wich one or two would be the most versatile Filters to start with?
They will be used for Landscape primarly on Lenses from 49mm to 77mm diameter on full frame.
I was thinking about an 0.9 soft and maybe a 0.6 hard.
Thank you for any opinions or recomendations.
There's a lot of options for ND/ND Grad filters, A good source of what's available as well as pricing is a store like B&H.
So far as filters go there are resin filters and glass filters. The filters will either screw into the front of the lens or fit into a bracket that attaches to the lens with a screw in adaptor.
Screw in filters will provide better light control and therefore probably a better option for ND filters. Screw in filters also allow the use of hoods unless you're using step-up/down rings to reduce costs whilst covering multiple lens filters sizes (eg buying a 58mm filter and attaching it to a lens with step down rings to fit a 49mm filter thread).
The bracket system might be the better cost option as it enables filters to fit a broader range of lens filter thread sizes through buying adapters and/or step up/step down rings instead of actual filters. The adaptors and rings are a lot cheaper than buying screw in filters for multiple thread sizes. This might be the better approach for ND Grads. You can get ND filters for them as well however to get the same light sealing as a screw in filter you will need to purchase a hood if the bracket doesn't come with one.
Soft Grads are more forgiving and easier to use in more scenarios than Hard Grads. Hard Grads are most useful for scenes like seascapes where you have a solid horizon line. Features above the horizon line will also darken so you may need to raise shadows more in post to address this. Doing so may not suit all the subjects you're shooting, however with practice you will find what the best approach is regarding filter use in those circumstances.
Most filters will add to flaring when shooting into a light source, more so when the light enters at an angle / at the edge of the filter and lens etc. The cheaper the filter the worse this is likely to be. When shooting with an ND with the sun behind you make sure you blank the viewfinder.
Filters can scratch easily so treat them like you would a lens. A good quality pouch is the best approach.
ND filters and Grad filters are likely to add a colour cast to your images, this will need to be addressed in post to ensure colours remain natural looking. The type and amount of colour cast varies by brand.
If you're intending to use any filters (screw in or bracket) on an ultra wide angle lens you could experience the filter or bracket appearing in the shot. This is why there are low profile options in both screw in and bracket filter types designed specifically for UWA lenses. This is one I have:
Cokin BPW400 Wide Angle Filter Holder for P Series CBPW400 B&H it's worked fine on my 77mm adaptor for the Sigma 10-20mm when I shot with the K5.
As you're not looking to spend too much just be aware that with filters it's usually the old adage that applies: you get what you pay for. Poor filters are likely to be a waste of money, however my first set were the Cokin P mount three filter set similar to this:
Cokin P Series Hard and Soft-Edge Graduated Neutral CH3HO25 B&H For the money this will get you out there and achieve decent results. There's better out there but you will pay way more to get them. With this kit you just add the relevant adaptors to fit your lens filter size. Please note that the bracket in this kit will be visible on UWA 77mm lenses, hence I had to pick up the wide angle bracket linked above.
If you're comfortable working in PP software another alternative is to bracket images and combine them in post. With the Sony sensor in Pentax cameras it is also worth considering to expose for the sky then raising shadows in post. If you're shooting landscapes you're using low ISO so noise shouldn't be too bad unless you're pushing up more than a couple of stops. Stacking images in some circumstances might also provide better results than using an ND filter.
It's probably worth trying some of the PP options too, hope the above will be of use.
Tas