Dale Fiorillo Loc: Seattle

1. I have no experience with either the circular or square formats. I would prefer the circular, knowing that my composition could be compromised with the fixed line of effect. My thinking is if I zoom back a few mm's and take in more of the scene I can crop to the desired composition. The idea of hand holding the square filters just seems awkward.
2. What density? Please don't advise all 3, they are expensive.
What say, oh learned exposers?

chapjohn Loc: Tigard, Oregon

Hello Dale,
I am confused by your title and your description. In your title you aksing about graduated ND filters and in your description are you asking about ND's?

GND's come in different densities, the most common being 4. Since that is the middle, that should meet most of your needs.

If we are talking ND's then the questions become what is your intended use? What result are looking to create?

nikonshooter Loc: Spartanburg, South Carolina

As far as what kind, circular or square:

They serve different lens. A circular filter is designed to fit one size lens as they screw on. The square can adapt to any mm lens. Also, you don't have to hold....there are adapters that fit your lens that allows you to slip your filter in for "hands free" shooting. Also, some lens will not take a circular filter, wide angle and fish eye for example....so a circular would not work in that case.


As far as density, buy a graduated neutral density filter....you can dial away Fstops.

As far as brand, seek out a B+W

If you choose not to buy a graduated filter then these are the filter factors for B+W.

FStops........ Filter Name
1................ ND2, ND2X
2................ ND4, ND4X
3................ ND8, ND8X
4................ 1/16,ND16,
5................ 1/32,ND32,
6................ 1/64,ND64

For example, a ND4 will have the same as keeping 2 stops of light from the sensor. 1/64 or ND64 will limit light by 6 stops.

If you check out Coken filters you will find the square filters with adapters. I am not a fan of their glass.....I am not a fan of or Tiffen either.

BTW, each manufacturer has different names for their filters...so ND4 for B+W is called a 6ND for Lee and Tiffen and a 4X for Leica.

pigpen

My ND filters are B+W. The only brand I use. I don't have square graduated ND, I have Singh Ray 4x6. Gives you more room to work with. I own the B+W graduated ND and NEVER use it. The 4x6 are so much more versatile. The adapter you buy screws into your filter threads. You can "spin" them like the circular, but the 4x6 can be adjusted up and down, depending on your needs. To get the circular where you want it, you usually have to recompose your shot. I do a lot of waterfalls. When your down in the water, there can be very little light compared to the sun above the trees. I use a circular to slow shutter speed in general, then add a 4x6 to take care of the bright sun. Yes, they are expensive. I started with one, and slowly bought the others. Don't forget, Santa is coming! My 4x6 are a 2 stop and a 3 stop. In extreme condition, you can stack them. You can also slide them both up and down seperately to get even more control. You can also buy another adapter that allows you to spin them seperately, one left and the other right.

One more thing to consider, these graduated ND come in soft edge and hard edge. And if you want to get really crazy, Singh Ray makes a REVERSE graduated soft edge ND. It starts dark in the middle, and gets lighter towards the top. It is for sunsets and sunrises, where the horizon is much brighter than the sky.

steve40 Loc: Asheville/Canton, NC, USA

This is what you want its 2 stops, that is the most popular. I have one and it works well, you do know they rotate like a polarizer. This is so you can place the effect, more or less where you need it. The price varies with size needed.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/10453-REG/B_W_65063816_58mm_Graduated_Neutral_Density.html

tommyest Loc: N. Hollywood, CA

A straight ND filter will reduce exposure all over the frame, you should get one to fit the largest lens that you have and then buy step down rings to fit your other lenses, this will save you a lot of money.

A graduated ND filter is designed to reduce exposure on PART of the frame, usually to bring down a too bright sky. These are almost always square so you can slide them up and down to choose the line where you want the blend to start. You can buy holders so you can position the filter on the lens exactly where you want it. Again, you can buy the larger filters along with the filter holder and then get mounting rings that will fit all of your various size lenses. You can choose the density of the top part of the filter, with the bottom of the filter clear.

Dale Fiorillo Loc: Seattle

Thanks everyone. Really appreciate the valuable advise. I think a77mm B+W titanium circular will float my boat. I'm compromising for portability.

JimH Loc: Western South Jersey, USA

I have that for my 100-400mm and 10-22mm lenses - it is a fine quality piece of work. I think you'll be happy.

Big Daddy Loc: Near Cleveland

I looked at this and it appears to me its working as a polarizer? Does it work as a polarizer? I thought it just cut out light.. this picture appaers to show it darkening the sky and bringing out the blue and the clouds..

JimH Loc: Western South Jersey, USA

I just looked at this - I think that's just a poor picture to use as a demonstration image. The darkening of the sky is just due to the ND, not any polarizing effect, IMO. I know that polarizers have a ND-effect in terms of losing stops, but I don't think that ND's have any polarization qualities - that would mean, in effect, that they aren't "neutral" any more.

steve40 Loc: Asheville/Canton, NC, USA

"Correct".

A GND filter just makes the area of density, 2 stops lower than the rest of the exposure. In other words the reason for bluer skies, and more prominent clouds, is the same as if you under exposed from the meter reading, by 2 stops.

But if you haven't notice by now, the OP was not even asking about a ND filter, but a polarizer. I do wish people knew enough about what they are doing, to at least ask the right questions. :roll:

JimH Loc: Western South Jersey, USA

You're exactly right - his TITLE conflicted with his question, so I think that's what started people off in either the wrong direction, or a different direction...

Edit : I just went and re-read the original question again. Three times. I now think he is indeed asking about a Grad ND filter. It was another response that thought he was talking polarizers. I think. Not sure any more.

steve40 Loc: Asheville/Canton, NC, USA

Reply:

http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm80/steve40/Crazy.png

Dale Fiorillo Loc: Seattle

JimH, you are right. I never mentioned polarization effects, just graduated neutral density filters. I don't see where my title and questions conflict because I got the appropriate advise from many of you. I sure didn't mean for there to be any misunderstanding, but one of the mfrs websites says the filters effects are altered with rotation of the filter. Now that would imply the effects of a polarizer, what they meant was the angular position of the horizon line. Does that clear everything up?

Big Daddy Loc: Near Cleveland

I completely understood the original question.. I aimed my question about the polarizer filters at Steve40 because of the link he posted which was confusing... I was just asking a question of him though the thread...