DPChallenge: A Digital Photography Contest You are not logged in. (log in or register
 

DPChallenge Forums >> Tips, Tricks, and Q&A >> What strength ND filter?
Pages:  
Showing posts 1 - 8 of 8, (reverse)
AuthorThread
04/24/2003 03:58:00 PM · #1
I'm in the market for a Neutral Density filter, I'd like to be able to take those wonderful blurry water pictures. What strength filter do you have, and do you have an example of the kind of blurriness you achieved with it?

All tips & advice really appreciated :)
04/24/2003 04:00:20 PM · #2
The amount you need depends on the amount of light present in the scene that you want to filter out...

I would suggest getting a +1 and +2 to start with...


04/24/2003 04:42:18 PM · #3
The ND filter won't cause any blurring though, Franziska.
I use a +1 (mainly to protect the lens).
I found it difficult to discern a difference between 0 and 1.

+3 is a 'marked' change, to my eye.
04/24/2003 04:56:38 PM · #4
I think Franziska is referring to the blurring of water ... i.e. with long exposure photography

Obviously depends on time of day and brightness of light. Try under moonlight - lets you gett really long exposures = more blurring.

I have a reclollection that a .5 second exposure is needed for that effect, but I've no idea where I get that from. I would imagine that at least a +3 would be required.

If you have time - you can buy sheets of ND gel from lighting equipment suppliers (I mean like stage lighting). Pretty cheap too. You could then experiment by doubling and trebling the stuff up to see what strength you need, and then buy your filter.

Ed


04/24/2003 05:01:07 PM · #5
It depends on the situation.

If it's bright sunlight @ F16, i'd guess your shutter speed is about 1/60? And typically dpeending on how fast the water falls, you will have to get it under 1/10 seconds, probably around 1/2 to 1/8...

that's about 3-4 stops lower than @ 1/60 seconds, so you'll need at least a 3 stop filter or they're named ND.9 usually.

However, most waterfalls are in the SHADE, and thus you really don't need them..... and you can choose the time of day to photograph if it's in bright sunlight.

Also, don't stack the filters -- it not only can cause vignetting but it will affect image quality. This is usually a problem in bright sunlight where you would want a polarizer to reduce reflection in the streams but it only cuts about 1.5 stops.... adding a nd filter could affect image quality as you're now stacking them together.
04/24/2003 05:21:43 PM · #6
Mine is an ND8. Used for my waterfall shots as seen here.

OOps, just happened to have the filter with me, it's a Tiffen ND 0.9. I think that is the same as ND9.

Message edited by author 2003-04-24 17:23:12.
04/25/2003 10:01:14 AM · #7
Good suggestions, thanks everyone. I will try and see if I can buy the gelfilters and experiment, otherwise I think I might just go for a ND0.6 or 0.9.

I'll post photos when I have some results :)
04/25/2003 11:05:59 AM · #8
Originally posted by franziska lang:

Good suggestions, thanks everyone. I will try and see if I can buy the gelfilters and experiment, otherwise I think I might just go for a ND0.6 or 0.9.

I'll post photos when I have some results :)


Keep in mind that you can use the ND filter for studio shots also. As I did here and here.
Pages:  
Current Server Time: 08/27/2025 10:07:24 AM

Please log in or register to post to the forums.


Home - Challenges - Community - League - Photos - Cameras - Lenses - Learn - Help - Terms of Use - Privacy - Top ^
DPChallenge, and website content and design, Copyright © 2001-2025 Challenging Technologies, LLC.
All digital photo copyrights belong to the photographers and may not be used without permission.
Current Server Time: 08/27/2025 10:07:24 AM EDT.