AzPicLady Loc: Behind the camera!

I have a set of GNDs that I've never used. Finally figured out how to put them on the camera! I normally have a polarizing filter already on my landscape lens. Is it OK to leave it on while using the GND? Or should I switch to the UV filter when I put on the GND?

edgorm Loc: Rockaway, New York

It's never a good idea to put too much glass in front of the lens. I suggest that you choose wether you want polarization or GND and use one or the other. For my own use, I would go with the polarizer and add any graduations in post. Piling on too much glass will only degrade your image. Hope this helped.

EstherP

I have never used ND filters of any kind, but considering they serve a different purpose than a polarizing filter, I think you should remove the polarizing filter before putting on the GND filter.
For both filters (polarizing or GND), remove the UV filter altogether. The more layers of glass in front of your lens, the more layers of air, the more chance of distortions or other undesired effects.

Also, considering a GND filter in front of a polarizing filter, you want to have the graduation in a certain location: perfectly horizontal for sky/ground situations, maybe at a 60 degree angle for bright sun/deep shadow situations - what happens then when you adjust the polarizing filter? Will the GND filter also turn?

Like I said, I have never used ND filters of any kind, so I may completely miss the point here.
On the other hand, I have used circular polarizing filters, but "sparingly" - because of the loss of light, they are not a "constant companion" to my lenses. I sometimes even like a photo with all the reflections they are designed to remove. And certainly for general landscape work (where there are few, if any reflections at all), I do not leave the cpf on all the time. In fact, most of the time all I have on the front of the camera is the lenshood.
Just my thoughts...
EstherP

Sheila Loc: Arizona or New York

I would not use the polarizing filter with a GND filter. While it is correct that you can run into problems with layers of filters, you did not say which type of GND filters you have. Are you using something like the Cokin system of rectangular filters or are you using a set that screws onto the lens? If you are using Cokin or something similar you don't even have to attach. You can hand hold and adjust position in front of your lens. A uv filter is acceptable if you are also using a GND.

The purpose of the GND is to cut the exposure to only part of your shot, usually the sky but some people reverse and use the dark part of the filter to control the exposure on the lower part of the shot in certain situations.

I almost always have a uv filter on my lens in AZ. A scratched filter is much cheaper than a problem with the glass on a lens. With dust and wind problems and things that have happened on hiking trails, I have concluded that if something will go wrong it will happen to me so do what you can to avoid a problem.

AzPicLady Loc: Behind the camera!

These are the square ones that you put into a holder.

Thanks for your input.

Bruce with a Canon Loc: Islip

I do a lot of slow exposure on water, I use ND4 or ND8 on one lens and a VND on the other. I never use a UV or clear filter in conjunction with anything.
I would recommend keeping your lens in the "sweet spot" for the best image quality ( in my case f 5.6 to f 11)
Yours may vary. try different apertures til you get the best results.
One additional thought. if you use too long a shutter speed, you can produce color shift. vary your exposure settings for your personal liking.

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

I have stacked ND filters before, but only in circumstances, where I thought it really was necessary, (GND filters stacked in different directions to cover up too bright parts of an image.

AzPicLady Loc: Behind the camera!

Thanks, everyone. I'm really looking forward to the opportunity to use these!

unclebe1 Loc: NYC & Wellington, FL

Not to put too fine of a point on this topic, but I think the controlling factor/policy should be....."if you need 'em, use 'em". For example, if you are shooting landscapes and the sky is blown out, the NDs are important....use them! If at the same time, you have water or glass in the shot with some unappealing glare...add the polarizer! Does the extra glass affect the photo? YES, it improves it! Unless you didn't need the filter in the first place. In which case the effect will be virtually unnoticeable. (See the UHH thread regarding scratched lenses!) ENJOY!! This is supposed to be fun, not gut wrenching. :lol: Experiment!