sjbegres Loc: Pittsburgh, PA

I went on line to buy a ND filter, but the range of price is from $10 to $120. What exactly should I look for?

Sherrill

Adubin Loc: Indialantic, Florida

A good screw on ND filter, should be made of glass and not plastic. The f-stop reduction you buy is critical depending on the lighting conditions and what you want this ND filter to accomplish for you. If you are trying to get a silky water falls you may want one that will give you a -8 f-stops. Also you may consider buying a graduated ND filter that will darken the sky. I hope this helps, Arnold

chapjohn Loc: Tigard, Oregon

I would suggest looking at the variable ND filters, it seems that you will get more for your money. I think if add together the cost of a 2, 4, and 8 ND filters you will find that is the same or less for the VND.
Look for multicoated, and consider getting it one size bigger than you largest lens, then get step rings for all you lenses. This will save you money instead of buying ND's for each size lens you have. It will also reduce any vignetting that might occur because adding filters.
There are two ways of thinking about filters. There is the flat rectangle ones that require a bracket to hold them or the screw in type already suggested. I have only used the screw in type and find them to very good.

nikonshooter Loc: Spartanburg, South Carolina

I use Heliopan filters for both ND and Polarizing. I can't remember the price but I use a 1 - 6.6 grey filter. You can dial in or stop up to 6.6 stops of light. This is a good range. I also have a 10 stop Heliopan (fun to use). Heliopan and B+W are hard to beat. I would not spend money on Hoya or Tiffen filters, IMHO, been disappointed with their products in every case.

http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=heliopan+nd+filter&hl=en&client=firefox-a&hs=WTL&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&prmd=imvns&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.,cf.osb&biw=2007&bih=1013&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=shop&cid=5632276028698259561&sa=X&ei=wD_STpKBH4aUtwe_z7iuDQ&ved=0CG4Q8wIwAA

Look at it this way, the Aperture settings at one stop increments are 1.4 2.0 2.8 4 5.6 8 11 16 22
the shutter settings at one stop increments are 8 seconds 4 seconds 2 seconds 1 second 1/2 second 1/4 1/8 1/15 1/30 1/60 1/125 1/250 1/500 1/1000 1/2000 1/4000 - .....and both aperture and shutter speeds can vary beyond these common ranges. If you put on a 6 stop ND filter, it is the same as allowing either your shutter, or aperture or a combination of both to be changed by 6.6 stops of light, this light is kept from hitting the sensor/film. Soooooooo you absolutely want the light that does hit the sensor to be the most accurate possible. This requires a good filter. It floors me how many folks spend several thousand dollars for a lens and put a low end filter on it.

sjbegres Loc: Pittsburgh, PA

Thanks to Arnold, Chapjohn, and Nikonshooter for all your help.