Which ND filter(s) do you use?

geekette · 06-05-2011, 11:18 AM

Which Neutral Density filter(s) do you use? I need to get 1 or 2.

Thanks.

Ben_Edict · 06-05-2011, 11:31 AM

That depends entirely on what you want to do with the NDs and which lenses you use.

If you need to reduce the light to reduce DOF in bright light, you may need a 0.6 or even 0.9, depending on how much you want to open up the aperture. If you are trying to make very long exposures, for these ghostly flowing water shots, you may need something much more denser. And if you want to balance daylight against flash (and need to get the expsoure time to x-sync), you might need an assortment of densities.

And because I was unsure myself, which density would be best, I bough the 3-pack from HiTech, with densities 0.3, 0.6 and 0.9, which cover all situations I encounter.

Ben

epqwerty · 06-05-2011, 11:37 AM

For myself, I went with Hoya ND filters. I have a 2x and a 8x. I must say though I have them but I've never actually used them. Atleast when I need them I never have them on me. I know I really should bring them along.

joe.penn · 06-05-2011, 11:38 AM

I use an ND8 with my 1.4 85mm, seems to work with what I use it for...

geekette · 06-05-2011, 11:44 AM

Originally posted by joe.penn

I use an ND8 with my 1.4 85mm, seems to work with what I use it for...

Which brand if you don't mind?

DaveHolmes · 06-05-2011, 12:24 PM

I have Cokin P-series ND8... Good for slowing down water... that's about it for me... But I honestly haven't experimented much...

joe.penn · 06-05-2011, 03:52 PM

Originally posted by geekette

Which brand if you don't mind?

Vivitar Series 1 brand - not sure who the manufacturer is though (Vivitar is just the label), although cheaper than most on the market, seems to be of good quality and is made of glass (some filters are plexi, those are the ones you want to stay away from). No complaints with it so far...

twitch · 06-05-2011, 04:11 PM - **1 Like**

I have 2; a 6 stop and a 10 stop. The 6 stop is good for getting 1 or 2second ish exposures in bright daylight, this is great for shots with people in it as it's long enough to blur things that are moving, and short enough for some people to stay still in that time.

10 stop though is no good for people shots as it gives 15-30 second exposures and people move too much in that time, it is good for landscpaes or cityscapes where you want to capture motion, smooth water, or blur clouds.

6 stop ND filter:

10 stop ND filter

geekette · 06-05-2011, 05:14 PM

Twitch, those are really amazing photographs.

twitch · 06-05-2011, 05:43 PM

Originally posted by geekette

Twitch, those are really amazing photographs.

Thanks man, that's the power of using ND's. 99% of people couldn't be bothered, but the 1% that can are able to get unique results. ND's are one of my main tools against capturing just snapshots.

If the light is lower I skip ND's but often still go for slow shutter speeds using ISO100, f/22 for a similair effect. I'm pretty addicited to slow shutter speeds & Tv mode....

geekette · 06-05-2011, 06:06 PM

Twitch, what tripod do you use to get a quick setup in busy area? Or do you use a monopod?

joe.penn · 06-05-2011, 06:08 PM

Originally posted by twitch

Thanks man, that's the power of using ND's. 99% of people couldn't be bothered, but the 1% that can are able to get unique results.

95% of people with cameras are "Picture Takers", the other 5% are "Picture Makers" - twitch is a true "Picture Maker", a rarity these days...

panoguy · 06-05-2011, 06:14 PM

Originally posted by geekette

Which Neutral Density filter(s) do you use? I need to get 1 or 2.

Just get one, but make it variable: Light Craft Workshop - Fader ND mark II

twitch · 06-05-2011, 06:21 PM

Originally posted by joe.penn

95% of people with cameras are "Picture Takers", the other 5% are "Picture Makers" - twitch is a true "Picture Maker", a rarity these days...

Boy, what a compliment, thanks!

Originally posted by geekette

Twitch, what tripod do you use to get a quick setup in busy area? Or do you use a monopod?

I use this little table top tripod (manfrotto 709B), this with a K-x & little prime gives me a very compact setup that I just set down on the ground or on a wall or whatever real quick. Framing is a challenge, I don't look through the view finder or use live view (as ND filter of 6+ stops makes this impossible anyway), but I've gotten better at aiming it correctly and using a 15 or 21 gives me room to crop & straighten.

pop4 · 06-05-2011, 08:18 PM

I use Hitech 85mm ND0.9 and ND1.2 filters, which cut light out by 3 and 4 stops respectively, and fit in Cokin P filter holders. If cost wasn't an issue, I'd probably be using Lee filters.

06-05-2011, 11:18 AM	#1
geekette Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Texas Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 528	Which ND filter(s) do you use? Which Neutral Density filter(s) do you use? I need to get 1 or 2. Thanks.

06-05-2011, 06:14 PM	#13
panoguy Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Washington, D.C. Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,327	Originally posted by geekette Which Neutral Density filter(s) do you use? I need to get 1 or 2. Just get one, but make it variable: Light Craft Workshop - Fader ND mark II Last edited by panoguy; 01-18-2012 at 02:44 PM.

06-05-2011, 06:21 PM	#14
twitch Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 4,571	Originally posted by joe.penn 95% of people with cameras are "Picture Takers", the other 5% are "Picture Makers" - twitch is a true "Picture Maker", a rarity these days... Boy, what a compliment, thanks! Originally posted by geekette Twitch, what tripod do you use to get a quick setup in busy area? Or do you use a monopod? I use this little table top tripod (manfrotto 709B), this with a K-x & little prime gives me a very compact setup that I just set down on the ground or on a wall or whatever real quick. Framing is a challenge, I don't look through the view finder or use live view (as ND filter of 6+ stops makes this impossible anyway), but I've gotten better at aiming it correctly and using a 15 or 21 gives me room to crop & straighten. Last edited by twitch; 06-05-2011 at 06:26 PM.

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06-05-2011, 11:31 AM	#2
Ben_Edict Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: SouthWest "Regio" Photos: Albums Posts: 3,309	That depends entirely on what you want to do with the NDs and which lenses you use. If you need to reduce the light to reduce DOF in bright light, you may need a 0.6 or even 0.9, depending on how much you want to open up the aperture. If you are trying to make very long exposures, for these ghostly flowing water shots, you may need something much more denser. And if you want to balance daylight against flash (and need to get the expsoure time to x-sync), you might need an assortment of densities. And because I was unsure myself, which density would be best, I bough the 3-pack from HiTech, with densities 0.3, 0.6 and 0.9, which cover all situations I encounter. Ben

06-05-2011, 11:37 AM	#3
epqwerty Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Ontario Posts: 550	For myself, I went with Hoya ND filters. I have a 2x and a 8x. I must say though I have them but I've never actually used them. Atleast when I need them I never have them on me. I know I really should bring them along.

06-05-2011, 11:38 AM	#4
joe.penn Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Maryland (Right Outside Washington DC) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,902	I use an ND8 with my 1.4 85mm, seems to work with what I use it for...

06-05-2011, 11:44 AM	#5
geekette Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Texas Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 528 Original Poster	Originally posted by joe.penn I use an ND8 with my 1.4 85mm, seems to work with what I use it for... Which brand if you don't mind?

06-05-2011, 12:24 PM	#6
DaveHolmes Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Yorkshire Posts: 1,501	I have Cokin P-series ND8... Good for slowing down water... that's about it for me... But I honestly haven't experimented much...

06-05-2011, 03:52 PM	#7
joe.penn Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Maryland (Right Outside Washington DC) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,902	Originally posted by geekette Which brand if you don't mind? Vivitar Series 1 brand - not sure who the manufacturer is though (Vivitar is just the label), although cheaper than most on the market, seems to be of good quality and is made of glass (some filters are plexi, those are the ones you want to stay away from). No complaints with it so far...

06-05-2011, 04:11 PM - 1 Like	#8
twitch Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 4,571	I have 2; a 6 stop and a 10 stop. The 6 stop is good for getting 1 or 2second ish exposures in bright daylight, this is great for shots with people in it as it's long enough to blur things that are moving, and short enough for some people to stay still in that time. 10 stop though is no good for people shots as it gives 15-30 second exposures and people move too much in that time, it is good for landscpaes or cityscapes where you want to capture motion, smooth water, or blur clouds. 6 stop ND filter: 10 stop ND filter

06-05-2011, 05:14 PM	#9
geekette Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Texas Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 528 Original Poster	Twitch, those are really amazing photographs.

06-05-2011, 05:43 PM	#10
twitch Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 4,571	Originally posted by geekette Twitch, those are really amazing photographs. Thanks man, that's the power of using ND's. 99% of people couldn't be bothered, but the 1% that can are able to get unique results. ND's are one of my main tools against capturing just snapshots. If the light is lower I skip ND's but often still go for slow shutter speeds using ISO100, f/22 for a similair effect. I'm pretty addicited to slow shutter speeds & Tv mode....

06-05-2011, 06:06 PM	#11
geekette Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Texas Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 528 Original Poster	Twitch, what tripod do you use to get a quick setup in busy area? Or do you use a monopod?

06-05-2011, 06:08 PM	#12
joe.penn Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Maryland (Right Outside Washington DC) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,902	Originally posted by twitch Thanks man, that's the power of using ND's. 99% of people couldn't be bothered, but the 1% that can are able to get unique results. 95% of people with cameras are "Picture Takers", the other 5% are "Picture Makers" - twitch is a true "Picture Maker", a rarity these days...

06-05-2011, 08:18 PM	#15
pop4 Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: YMML Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,879	I use Hitech 85mm ND0.9 and ND1.2 filters, which cut light out by 3 and 4 stops respectively, and fit in Cokin P filter holders. If cost wasn't an issue, I'd probably be using Lee filters.