Variable ND filter vs fixed
Feb 21, 2012 18:24:39 #
Does anyone have any thoughts or experience with the variable ND filter?
It seems to me this would be a great benifit by being able to dial in the exact amont needed and elimenate the need to stack multiple filters.
On the other hand, with fixed filters you know exactly how much light the reduction factor is.
It seems to me this would be a great benifit by being able to dial in the exact amont needed and elimenate the need to stack multiple filters.
On the other hand, with fixed filters you know exactly how much light the reduction factor is.
Feb 21, 2012 19:13:47 #
I've read that a Variable ND is nothing more than two CPLs merged together. Not sure if that's true or not.
I have a Vari ND that I haven't had the opportunity to use just yet but Plan To Real Soon. I think, like all filtering, that 1) you get what you pay for, and 2) You must use them correctly, and be aware of their shortcomings.
To tell the truth, when I shove a ND in front of my lens, I don't think, "ok, that's a 4, that means my light is reduced by .75 percent and I need to adjust the aperture by 1/2 and decrease the ISO by 150", I just look through the viewfinder. If it's not enough, I shove on another. If it's too much, I take it off.
I have a Vari ND that I haven't had the opportunity to use just yet but Plan To Real Soon. I think, like all filtering, that 1) you get what you pay for, and 2) You must use them correctly, and be aware of their shortcomings.
To tell the truth, when I shove a ND in front of my lens, I don't think, "ok, that's a 4, that means my light is reduced by .75 percent and I need to adjust the aperture by 1/2 and decrease the ISO by 150", I just look through the viewfinder. If it's not enough, I shove on another. If it's too much, I take it off.
Feb 22, 2012 09:48:31 #
I no longer used a fixed neutral density filter but use a variable whenever I need to slow the shutter speed significantly. I could never "guess" which fixed filter to use. The variable makes shooting waterfalls a dream.
Feb 22, 2012 11:55:12 #
papakatz45 wrote:
Does anyone have any thoughts or experience with the variable ND filter?
It seems to me this would be a great benifit by being able to dial in the exact amont needed and elimenate the need to stack multiple filters.
On the other hand, with fixed filters you know exactly how much light the reduction factor is.
It seems to me this would be a great benifit by being able to dial in the exact amont needed and elimenate the need to stack multiple filters.
On the other hand, with fixed filters you know exactly how much light the reduction factor is.
I think you use them in different situations. You might use the fixed where you wanted to reduce the light over the full scene.
This might be a water falls where you wanted softness in the water flow. The variable you might want to use where you had a very bright sky and a dark foreground. You would use it to lighten the foreground and bring out detail. This is how I would use the filters.
Feb 22, 2012 12:26:48 #
I think you are referring to a gradient ND filter which is useful for landscapes. The variable ND is a different animal that offers variable densities to fit a bright lighting condition.
Feb 22, 2012 12:30:45 #
I use a LightCraft Variable Fader ND filter, it works, gets good reviews and it's multicoated glass and not plastic.
a good 65.00 investment.
a good 65.00 investment.
Feb 22, 2012 12:37:04 #
To me the vriable helps make your shooting more enjoyable. Just one less filter you have to keep up with.
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