N D Filters: Received a 100MM filter holder and a couple of adapters for different lenses. Thinking of starting out with a 6 stop ND filter. I used to use some cokin filters in my film...

portcragin Loc: Kirkland, WA

Received a 100MM filter holder and a couple of adapters for different lenses. Thinking of starting out with a 6 stop ND filter. I used to use some cokin filters in my film days and thought I try some it on digital. Anybody out there crazy about filters? Ideas????

Good shooting

EnglishBrenda Loc: Kent, England

I like long exposure seascapes with some fast moving clouds.

portcragin Loc: Kirkland, WA

That's what I'm going for. Clouds, streams, water falls, landscapes etc. I'm sure I'll get sucked into this one. Don't you love it?

Good shooting

wolfman

portcragin wrote:

Received a 100MM filter holder and a couple of adapters for different lenses. Thinking of starting out with a 6 stop ND filter. I used to use some cokin filters in my film days and thought I try some it on digital. Anybody out there crazy about filters? Ideas????

Good shooting

If you're going to more of your shooting in bright daylight, I would recommend a 10 stop ND filter.
I have an image posted in the Long Exposure Forum (Winter Waterfall), taken with a 10 stop.

wayne-03 Loc: Minnesota

portcragin wrote:

Received a 100MM filter holder and a couple of adapters for different lenses. Thinking of starting out with a 6 stop ND filter. I used to use some cokin filters in my film days and thought I try some it on digital. Anybody out there crazy about filters? Ideas????

Good shooting

I always carry a 2X, 4X and an 8X ND filter in my kit. I use them mostly for portraits to control the aperture. 2X equals 1 stop, 4X equals 2 stops and the 8X equals 3 stops. The accompanying portrait metered at ISO = 200, shutter speed = 1/100 and aperture = f/8, I set my off camera flash to f/8 and applied the 8X ND filter to my lens and changed the aperture to f/2.8 and the background burred out nicely.

(Download)

Armadillo Loc: Ventura, CA

portcragin wrote:

Received a 100MM filter holder and a couple of adapters for different lenses. Thinking of starting out with a 6 stop ND filter. I used to use some cokin filters in my film days and thought I try some it on digital. Anybody out there crazy about filters? Ideas????

Good shooting

portcragin,

I, too, had a bag of Coking filters with my OM-4T camera, now with my Canon EOS I only use the ND and a CPL filter. All else can be done in Post Processing.

Your solid ND filter should work well on your digital body, I suggest you look at a CPL filter to add to the stack. The CPL will add 2 stops to your exposure compensation, so you can calculate that into your ND stacking for exposure results. Why the CPL? So you can control reflections, windows, water, and skylight.

Michael G

portcragin Loc: Kirkland, WA

Thanks for the comebacks. Really appreciate the comebacks. Very interesting replies. Good info.

Good shooting

rjaywallace Loc: Wisconsin

Portcragin - My recent experience: although they are significantly more expensive, I may opt for a "variable" neutral density filter after shooting recent images using a high quality 4x ND filter outdoors under a bright sky after a recent snowfall. The images turned out much darker/muddier than expected. I now think the "variable" style would definitely give me valuable exposure options.

portcragin Loc: Kirkland, WA

Very nice picture. Beautiful young lady

Good shooting

portcragin Loc: Kirkland, WA

I was going for a variable ND filter but I want to be able to use the filter on different lenses.

Good shooting

portcragin Loc: Kirkland, WA

Armadillo wrote:

portcragin, br br I, too, had a bag of Coking fil... (show quote)

I have a CPL Filter. I will keep that in mind.....

Thx,

Good shooting

Armadillo Loc: Ventura, CA

rjaywallace wrote:

Portcragin - My recent experience: although they are significantly more expensive, I may opt for a "variable" neutral density filter after shooting recent images using a high quality 4x ND filter outdoors under a bright sky after a recent snowfall. The images turned out much darker/muddier than expected. I now think the "variable" style would definitely give me valuable exposure options.

Ralph,

You might want to give second thought on the variable ND filter for a digital camera. Many have found the exposure metering and auto focus fail to perform with the variable filter on the lens. It has to do with the exact positioning of the transitioning from light to dark, it seems to confuse the camera computer.

Michael G

portcragin Loc: Kirkland, WA

Armadillo wrote:

Ralph,

You might want to give second thought on the variable ND filter for a digital camera. Many have found the exposure metering and auto focus fail to perform with the variable filter on the lens. It has to do with the exact positioning of the transitioning from light to dark, it seems to confuse the camera computer.

Michael G

There are some good online videos covering techniques for setting up for a picture using filters. I shoot with a D7000 and D7100. I don't anticipate any issues with these bodies. It should give me good aperture control and the ability for long exposures.

Good shooting

rmm0605 Loc: Atlanta GA

wayne-03 wrote:

I always carry a 2X, 4X and an 8X ND filter in my kit. I use them mostly for portraits to control the aperture. 2X equals 1 stop, 4X equals 2 stops and the 8X equals 3 stops. The accompanying portrait metered at ISO = 200, shutter speed = 1/100 and aperture = f/8, I set my off camera flash to f/8 and applied the 8X ND filter to my lens and changed the aperture to f/2.8 and the background burred out nicely.

Very nice shot!!

steveg48

I hava several nd filters, all from HiTech-Formatt (4,10 and 16 stop). I like them because they don't introduce color casts. I also have a Lee CPL that I can put in the front of my (Lee) holder. I suggest avoiding variable ND filters. There are two issues. Unless you get a very expensive one they will introduce color casts. Even if you convert to black and white there is still a problem because the effect is uneven. The other disadvantage is that they are not calibrated so you don't know how may stops you have set. This is an issue if you want to calculate the rxposure duration in advance. If you are using a wide angle lens, you can purchase a wide angle adapter for your holder. This is thinner than a regular adapter and helps to prevent vignetting.