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Round vs. Square ND filters for long exposures
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Dec 25, 2018 14:07:20   #
kymarto Loc: Portland OR and Milan Italy
 
Square filters that you wouldn't need to reposition over the lens (and the only one that comes to mind would be a GND, if you are still using that old technology) are a big pain in the neck and a total waste of time and money. In addition most square filters are resin, so are much more prone to damage. Why anyone would use a square ND filter is totally beyond me.

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Dec 25, 2018 15:10:02   #
karno Loc: Chico ,California
 
My 2 cents
I have both, screw ons for my 95mm thread size because squares will not fit.
Square lee filters are nice because anything above 6 stops is difficult to see through on a dslr, lately my favorites are the 15 stop during daylight.

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Dec 25, 2018 15:14:06   #
MT Shooter Loc: Montana
 
kymarto wrote:
Square filters that you wouldn't need to reposition over the lens (and the only one that comes to mind would be a GND, if you are still using that old technology) are a big pain in the neck and a total waste of time and money. In addition most square filters are resin, so are much more prone to damage. Why anyone would use a square ND filter is totally beyond me.


Because round ND filters over 82mm are rare and expensive. I use 150mm square GLASS filters, I would never buy plastic (resin) filters of any kind. And yes I also use 150x170mm GND filters ofyen as there is no viable substitute that works nearly as well.

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Dec 25, 2018 20:26:24   #
amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA
 
cathy.nordstrom wrote:
Hi, I am a new member and am learning so much from this forum! Now, I want to improve my long exposure skills. I own the square Lee mounting system and have a Big Stopper (10 stops). I am planning on getting a 6 stop next. It is a lot of work to set up the camera with the Lee system and I am now wondering if just using a normal round filter is a better way to go. Any thoughts on this?


Personally I prefer round, screw-in filters.

For one, round filters are glass instead of plastic. Also, the good ones are multi-coated, while most of the square/rectangular are not.

I know there are also glass square filters (including the Lee), but they tend to be more expensive than the round ones. For example, an uncoated 10-stop 100x100 Lee costs $129 plus $82 for a Lee filter holder plus another $50 for an adapter ring. A 10-stop Lee 150x150 costs $180, plus $200 for the filter holder and another $50 for the adapter ring. It's between $200 and $400 by the time you get it all together.

In comparison a top quality, multi-coated round B+W 10-stop ND F-Pro costs $99 in 77mm or $160 in 82mm size and nothing else is needed to fit them.

There are also multi-coated square filters (not the Lee), but they're often even more expensive!

The round filters also typically fit closer to the front element of the lens, so dust and such may be less of an issue with wide angle lenses and small apertures.

But the most important reason, for me, is that the round ones can be fitted inside the standard, matched lens hood. The square type are difficult to shade well. I used an adjustable Lee "accordian" type lens hood with mine, when I still used the square/rectangular filters. But that was hard to fit effectively without vignetting issues. I don't know if Lee is still making those hoods.... plus it was yet another additional cost.

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Dec 25, 2018 21:39:55   #
User ID
 
kymarto wrote:
Square filters that you wouldn't need to reposition over the lens (and the only one that comes to mind would be a GND, if you are still using that old technology) are a big pain in the neck and a total waste of time and money. In addition most square filters are resin, so are much more prone to damage. Why anyone would use a square ND filter is totally beyond me.


Waaaaay too much common sense .......
You aint from around these parts, are ya ?

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Dec 25, 2018 21:49:14   #
karno Loc: Chico ,California
 
kymarto wrote:
Square filters that you wouldn't need to reposition over the lens (and the only one that comes to mind would be a GND, if you are still using that old technology) are a big pain in the neck and a total waste of time and money. In addition most square filters are resin, so are much more prone to damage. Why anyone would use a square ND filter is totally beyond me.


So you can see to compose

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Dec 25, 2018 22:50:33   #
kymarto Loc: Portland OR and Milan Italy
 
MT Shooter wrote:
Because round ND filters over 82mm are rare and expensive. I use 150mm square GLASS filters, I would never buy plastic (resin) filters of any kind. And yes I also use 150x170mm GND filters ofyen as there is no viable substitute that works nearly as well.


Over 82mm I well understand using square filters. As to GNDs, they are now totally obsolete, as what they were intended for can now be achieved digitally with infinitely more control, unless you are shooting video.

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Dec 26, 2018 01:11:38   #
User ID
 
I use round GNDs, cuz after quitting film to go
digital, a merely approximate positioning of the
transition "line" is more than good enuf. I do a
final tweaking in post. When using chrome film
the transition HAD to be accurately placed.

I only use GND with a shift lens. If you've ever
used a shift lens, you understand what for.

.

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Dec 26, 2018 20:49:08   #
rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA
 
Haydon wrote:
Again, the color cast on the Little Stopper is barely noticeable compared to the Big Stopper. I didn't opt for the Lee Circular Polarizer. Dreadfully overpriced. I'm using a B+W CPL on front and then stacking a Big/Little Stopper with the Lee GND's. I realize many love Breakthrough but I'm apprehensive with any of their products after the fiasco I saw on Canon Rumors with customer service. CS according to several there was between abysmal and nonexistent.


I had an issue with Breakthrough's X100 filter holder, the locking pin fell out somewhere in my camera bag. A quick email exchange saw the replacement parts in the mail at no cost for a product that I had for 2 years.

I found the post on Canon Rumors from one individual who was impatient with the speed of releasing a product that was funded on Kickstarter.

https://www.canonrumors.com/forum/index.php?threads/x4-circular-polarizer-breakthroughphotography-my-experience-bad.28835/

I have waited for almost 1 year for products being funded from a Kickstarter campaign. The CR poster was obviously impatient and a bit of a dick, if you ask me.

So, in my experience I think you are mistaken.

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Dec 26, 2018 20:55:58   #
Haydon
 
rgrenaderphoto wrote:
I had an issue with Breakthrough's X100 filter holder, the locking pin fell out somewhere in my camera bag. A quick email exchange saw the replacement parts in the mail at no cost for a product that I had for 2 years. So, in my experience I think you are mistaken.


It's not a case of being mistaken, it's a case where things were treated differently than yours in a negative and unprofessional way.

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Dec 26, 2018 22:55:18   #
karno Loc: Chico ,California
 
Haydon wrote:
It's not a case of being mistaken, it's a case where things were treated differently than yours in a negative and unprofessional way.


I had a horrible experience with breakthrough also!

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Dec 27, 2018 02:18:06   #
kymarto Loc: Portland OR and Milan Italy
 
karno wrote:
So you can see to compose


See what to compose what? If you are talking about 10 stop NDs, it take a few seconds to unscrew a round filter, compose, and replace the filter.

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Dec 27, 2018 03:52:00   #
karno Loc: Chico ,California
 
kymarto wrote:
See what to compose what? If you are talking about 10 stop NDs, it take a few seconds to unscrew a round filter, compose, and replace the filter.


And that can be a pain.

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Dec 27, 2018 03:56:15   #
Haydon
 
karno wrote:
And that can be a pain.



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Dec 27, 2018 14:38:32   #
kymarto Loc: Portland OR and Milan Italy
 
karno wrote:
And that can be a pain.


If a few seconds are worth the extra expense, cost and storage space in a bag, minus the multicoating, then so be it. Different strokes...

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