Neutral Density (ND) Filter advice needed...

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II

09/18/2006 10:57:36 AM · #1

Hey everyone,

I'm looking to get an ND filter (or two), and I need some advice. I have a circular polarizer filter already, but I'm finding that I need more control when shooting in sunlight and I know ND filters will help greatly. I guess my main question is, for all around usefulness, what stregths do you recommend (I'll probably get 2, so what 2 would be best)? 0.3, 0.6, 0.9--what do you find the most useful? Brand recommendations are okay if you want to throw them in as well (Tiffen? Hoya?). Thanks!

-Don

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

09/18/2006 11:03:11 AM · #2

I use the Cokin 'P' system which has a generic holder and then slot in filters. I generally pick them up off eBay and have been fairly lucky in the quality.

I find the ND Gradients (NDGrad) the most useful to even out the sky/foreground. I have all 3 0.3,0.6 and 0.9, but I guess the 0.6 and 0.9 are most useful.

I then have 2 full strength 0.9 ND filters so I can really get slow shutter speeds in brightish light. Together with a 0.6 and a 0.3.

Its quite rare for me to use the 0.3, but then I like the extreme slow shutter speeds when doing water shots.

Hope that helps.

Mick

Canon EOS-5D

09/18/2006 11:06:26 AM · #3

IMHO, Cokin is the only way to go. They're very inexpensive, so you can have several filters to match a wide range of conditions. They're delicate and scratch easily though, so you need to be careful how you handle and store them.

Oops, Falc beat me to it.

Message edited by author 2006-09-18 11:07:26.

glad2badad

Apple iPhone 16 Pro

Lensbaby Sweet 35 Optic

09/18/2006 11:07:18 AM · #4

I have a few ND filters, some graduated, some full. The full I've used the most for slowing shutter speed and "smoothing" water flows. The graduated have been handy for images with a fairly identifiable horizon with a darker foreground that you want to bring out.

I've not seen them in the levels you mention. For a full ND I have a +2 and +4. My setup involves Cokin brand filters (square filters in lens mounted holder that allows stacking).

kirbic

Canon EOS R5

Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8 L IS

09/18/2006 11:09:36 AM · #5

In most situations where I'd resort to an ND filter, I find that I want at least three stops reduction in light; anything less is really an insignificant difference. A really strong ND filter (10 stops or so) is on my list, for those situations where I'd like to get really long shutter speeds in bright light.
If you go with two filters, get them so that one is about half the strength of the other. For instance if you got two- and four-stop filters, you could use them alone and in combination to get 2, 4, and 6 stops of reduction.

Telehubbie

Canon EOS-40D

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

09/18/2006 11:10:16 AM · #6

Don't know how deep your pockets are, but here's one for all your ND needs: Singh-Ray Vari-ND

Pixlmaker

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II

09/18/2006 11:34:05 AM · #7

Originally posted by Telehubbie:

Don't know how deep your pockets are, but here's one for all your ND needs: Singh-Ray Vari-ND

Those look awesome, but unfortunately my pockets are NOT that deep. :o(

So, the Cokin looks like it might be a winner, but I have a question for those. Obviously a lot of situations where you would need an ND filter you would also want to have your lens hood on. Since the Cokin system needs a bracket to fit on the lens, how could you use the bracket AND a lens hood? I would mainly need these for my 24-105 and my 70-200 lenses, so I need a 77mm thread. Let me know if you have used Cokin square filters with a lens hood--does it work okay? Thanks.

glad2badad

Apple iPhone 16 Pro

Lensbaby Sweet 35 Optic

09/18/2006 11:36:48 AM · #8

Originally posted by Pixl Mastr WannaB:

... Let me know if you have used Cokin square filters with a lens hood--does it work okay? Thanks.

They make a "hood" that attaches to the side of the filter holder. I have one, but rarely use it because it's a pain to attach and I question it's usefullness as it doesn't seem to block light as well as a dedicated lens hood. Certainly this is one negative (for me) regarding the Cokin filter system.

09/18/2006 11:39:19 AM · #9

Originally posted by Pixl Mastr WannaB:

Originally posted by Telehubbie:
Don't know how deep your pockets are, but here's one for all your ND needs: Singh-Ray Vari-ND

Those look awesome, but unfortunately my pockets are NOT that deep. :o(

So, the Cokin looks like it might be a winner, but I have a question for those. Obviously a lot of situations where you would need an ND filter you would also want to have your lens hood on. Since the Cokin system needs a bracket to fit on the lens, how could you use the bracket AND a lens hood? I would mainly need these for my 24-105 and my 70-200 lenses, so I need a 77mm thread. Let me know if you have used Cokin square filters with a lens hood--does it work okay? Thanks.

Cokin do a small hood which drops in like an ordinary filter, but to be honest I never used it as they are not that deep. You could alway modify a spare hood to fit the slots on the cokin holder.

I also find cokin vignettes slightly with my 16-35 lens, but I have a full frame sensor . You shouldn't get that problem with a 350D

btw - if you are looking at 77mm threads then you will need to go for the cokin 'P' range, they are bigger than the normal 'A' series

Message edited by author 2006-09-18 11:42:03.

hahn23

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS II USM Lens

09/18/2006 11:39:28 AM · #10

I live in the Colorado mountains. Lots of harsh light and little atmosphere for dispersion. My soft graduated neutral density filters are a very important part of my landscape photography. I have the Lee 0.6 & 0.9 filters, lens adapting rings and filter holder. A very fine system which allows me much control. Yes, I will often use both the 2 stopa and 3 stop filters together. The filter holder holds both and can rotate if dealing with a sloping mountain ridge. The lens adapter rings come in sizes to fit your lenses. Highly recommend the wide angle version for wide angle lenses... keeps the apparatus out of the view.

//www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=87382&is=REG&addedTroughType=search 0.9 Lee 4x6 Resin filter

//www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=87380&is=REG&addedTroughType=search 0.6 Lee 4x6 Resin filter

//www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=87147&is=REG&addedTroughType=search Wide angle 77mm. lens adapter ring

//www.leefilters.com/CPTS.asp?PageID=130 Lee System Filter holder

Yes, I know this can be done with bracketed exposures and blending in PS, or HDR techniques in PS CS2. But, the outcome is not always natural using the digital techniques. Sometimes the dynamic range is too great. The best solution to high dynamic range scenes might be a combo of nd filters, bracketed exposures and hdr techniques in CS2.

Message edited by author 2006-09-18 12:00:12.

Mick

Canon EOS-5D

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

09/18/2006 11:39:43 AM · #11

Originally posted by Pixl Mastr WannaB:

Cokin makes a couple of hoods. One is a large bellows contraption (expensive), and the other is a simple plastic hood.

Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS

09/18/2006 11:44:21 AM · #12

Originally posted by hahn23:

I live in the Colorado mountains. Lots of harsh light and little atmosphere for dispersion. My soft graduated neutral density filters are a very important part of my landscape photography. I have the Lee 0.6 & 0.9 filters, lens adapting rings and filter holder. A very fine system which allows me much control. Yes, I will often use both the 2 stopa and 3 stop filters together. The filter holder holds both and can rotate if dealing with a sloping mountain ridge. The lens adapter rings come in sizes to fit your lenses. Highly recommend the wide angle version for wide angle lenses... keeps the apparatus out of the view.

0.9 Lee 4x6 Resin filter
0.6 Lee 4x6 Resin filter
Wide angle 77mm. lens adapter ring
Lee System Filter holder

Yes, I know this can be done with bracketed exposures and blending in PS, or HDR techniques in PS CS2. But, the outcome is not always natural using the digital techniques. Sometimes the dynamic range is too great. The best solution to high dynamic range scenes might be a combo of nd filters, bracketed exposures and hdr techniques in CS2.

I've been thinking of moving to Lee Filters, because of the vignette I get on the cokin with wide angle. To be honest the cost of a Lee set just scares the hell out of me.

AlexSaberi

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

09/18/2006 11:46:01 AM · #13

I have the cokin P range too. One thing to note is that the neutral isnt really neutral. it is grey. This means that your photos will have a grey tint to them.

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 16-85 f/3.5-5.6G ED VR

09/18/2006 11:51:58 AM · #14

Originally posted by alexsaberi:

I have the cokin P range too. One thing to note is that the neutral isnt really neutral. it is grey. This means that your photos will have a grey tint to them.

True, but can be easily fixed in PP

talmy

Nikon D300s

09/18/2006 12:12:02 PM · #15

Concerning vignetting with the Cokin filters, I cut off the outer two filter slots from the holder to fix the problem.

Lately though I'm concluding that the graduated ND never seems to work as well as I would like and I now bracket exposures and use Photomatix. (Of course, this is "no go" for DPChallenge contests!)

I have a couple of ND8s, and my camera will do multiple exposures which gives an effective additional three stops. With this arsenal I can do smooth blurred beach shots in the midday sun.

Pixlmaker

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II

09/18/2006 12:15:48 PM · #16

Okay, sorry to waffle here, as your advice so far has been great. However, I'm looking on amazon (I have $50 in gift certificates to burn), and the Tiffen filters look pretty good too. They are priced reasonably, and it looks like I can get them for $38.30 each. So, for $115 I could get a .3, .6, and .9, and NOT have to deal with a square bracket setup. Can anyone chime in on Tiffen filters in general?