RosiArt

Any recommendations for ND filter sets, for Canon 5D Mk.III primarily with 77mm lenses. I'm concerned about vignetting that I've
read about on wider lens. I think I prefer screw on type. Also, obviously concerned about price points.

rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

I've used the Tiffen set without issue:

https://www.amazon.com/Tiffen-Digital-Neutral-Density-Filter/dp/B004NROQCY/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1467214906&sr=8-2&keywords=tiffen+nd+filter+77mm

RosiArt

Thank you, Rgrenader

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

The only filters I'd recommend are B+W. A bit pricey, but well worth every penny.
--Bob

Rob Almeda Loc: Gaithersburg, Maryland

You might want to take a look at Breakthrough Photography X4 ND Filters. I have one (6 stop) and the outcome are excellent.

kymarto Loc: Portland OR and Milan Italy

B&W are overkill. Any decent Japanese brand such as Kenko or Hoya will give you results which are indistinguishable from B&W. I speak from experience. Tiffen are also fine. I would be wary about the Chinese off brands, however, especially in the darker filters, as you can get undesirable color shifts.

ejrmaine Loc: South Carolina

I'd encourage you to try the 100 mm square filters with a filter holder. They are convenient and offer a range of densities. I've been using VU filters and holder and I'm very pleased.

http://www.vufilters.com

kymarto Loc: Portland OR and Milan Italy

Why would one want to use square filters in plastic which are huge and fragile when one can buy screw-on filters that are multicoated and much more convenient?

Carl D Loc: Albemarle, NC.

I find the 100mm square to be more convenient than screw-in types and better in wide angle situations. After you buy the holder and filters you only have to buy the adapter rings for the holder. I know your going to say just buy a large filter and use step-down rings, and that works too. I guess it's personal preference, I just happen to like the 100mm type. When it comes to graduated ND's, I believe the 100's have it hands down.

lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA

Question: Do they make Round Screw-On graduated ND's that rotate? Say for landscape use (mountain-sky exposure differences). Not everyone photographs water to look like milk.

kymarto Loc: Portland OR and Milan Italy

If you are still using the obsolete technology of grads, and you want even a minimum of flexibility, you'll need rectangular filters, not square, so that you can choose the position of the edge. A MUCH better solution is masking together two layers in PS and making any shape or feathered edge with a non-destructive layer mask.

Col J

Great camera so don't try to compromise. Check out the Lee filter site. Allows you to buy a basic kit & build on it as yr interest grows.
I went from basic to Big stopper then Little stopper. Now have some grads and hard filters
Cheers

Carl D Loc: Albemarle, NC.

Ditto that!!!

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

Are you shooting video or stills?

If shooting video, a set of various strength NDs may be needed. That's because with video you have limited exposure controls.

If you'll only be shooting stills with them, most likely you only need one or two NDs, because additional exposure controls can be used in conjunction with the filter. All you need the filter to do is "shift" your range of exposure, so a single 6, 8 or 10 stop might be all you need. With still photography you generally don't need the weaker NDs, used to fine-tune exposure. Videographers might want those.

So, unless you plan to use them for video, I'd recommend instead just get a single, high quality filter... such as the high end, multi-coated B+W, Hoya, Marumi, etc.

There is generally not much problem with vignetting with the fixed strength filters. Maybe some with ultrawide lenses, although you'd likely have seen that occurring anyway, regradless whether you were using the filter or not (i.e., the filter isn't causing it). In fact, some ultrawide lenses required a "center spot" ND filter to correct for inherent optical vignetting.

The biggest vignetting issue is occurs with Variable ND.... which essentially are a pair of polarizing filters. Like polarizers, they can cause an uneven effect, particularly with ultrawide lenses. But with the Vari ND, the uneven effect is doubled... some call it an "iron cross", since it looks a little like the German WWII medal of that name. A lot of the more affordable Vari ND also have issues with color tints, often are not multi-coated and might use lower quality glass (many layers of it), effecting image quality noticeably. Higher quality Vari ND do better in most respects, though they only partially resolve the vignetting issue... and are VERY expensive. Vari ND are not really needed for still photography... sort of overkill for that purpose. Might be needed for video.



Yes, they make them. They are essentially worthless, unless you plan to place the horizon line the exact same place in every image you take. The only "rotation" with a screw-in Grad ND is when you screw them in. There's no change in strength the way there is with Vari ND.

If you are planning to use Graduated NDs... forget the round screw-in type. Instead get the oversize, rectangular that slide into a filter holder. Those can be rotated as needed and better positioned for different image compositions. (Or, instead... see other threads here on UHH... discussing how it's even better done in Photoshop, using layers and masks).

kymarto Loc: Portland OR and Milan Italy

For video a variable ND is the perfect answer. Because it is desirable to have a fixed shutter speed and ISO (if you're serious), a VND allows you to choose your aperture, and smoothly vary the exposure as the light changes. Much better than a fixed ND unless you have a cine lens with manual aperture control.