ND filters.. Hello! I am a new photographer here and I have run into what was unbeknownst to me until now, the dreaded X-effect. I was really disappointed to run into this and after...

MissMegan

Hello! I am a new photographer here and I have run into what was unbeknownst to me until now, the dreaded X-effect. I was really disappointed to run into this and after doing some digging around through the internet I have decided to just go ahead and ask you all what your preferred method of ND filtering is. I don't want to spend a crazy amount of money on a filter and I already spent $120 on the variable ND filter I tried using this weekend. Basically I am just looking for the best solution at a reasonable price. Thanks in advance!

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

That is typical of "variable' ND filters. Simply buy some ND filters that are not variable. I have a 10 stop filter that I probably use the most for nice effects of water at the beach and other places where it's crowded with people. Then I've got a 3 and 2 stop filter and I have a graduated 3 stop ND with a hard grad.

MissMegan

jeep_daddy wrote:

That is typical of "variable' ND filters. Simply buy some ND filters that are not variable. I have a 10 stop filter that I probably use the most for nice effects of water at the beach and other places where it's crowded with people. Then I've got a 3 and 2 stop filter and I have a graduated 3 stop ND with a hard grad.

Beach photos are exactly what I was going for. I just looked for 10 stop filters on Amazon and there is a huge price variable all with seemingly good reviews. Should I go for the $30.00 10 stop with 5 star reviews? Seems like a no brainer but them why would there be filters going for 5 times that? what is the trade-off here? Thanks.

Bill P

For a good filter, $30 is bargain basement. Or below.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

Megan, unfortunately, an expense is part of any filter you should use. Consider this. Once installed on your lens, the filter becomes part of your optical (lens) system. You most surely didn't skimp on how much you paid for your lens. Don't skimp on your filters either. Sure one can find filters for $30 or less. But, what is the optical quality of those filters? My personal choice is B+W.

BTW, in a discussion with a B+W optical engineer some couple of years ago, I asked about the VND filter they produced. She advised against it for exactly the same reason you found yours objectionable. Thus, the purchase of the filters I currently use. No, they aren't cheap, but then neither was my lenses.
--Bob

MissMegan wrote:

Hello! I am a new photographer here and I have run... (show quote)

LWW Loc: Banana Republic of America

Optical glass is optical glass, avoid plastic ‘glass’ and you should do OK.

The differences in real glass filters is:

Plastic vs metal frames.

Thickness of glass.

Optical coatings level.

Brand reputation.

The best built filters IMHO are B&W ... but they are expensive, heavy and built like a tank.

Most all of my filters are either NIKON, HOYA, TIFFEN or B&W.

Optical filters are also often seldom used and available very reasonably priced on eBay.

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

MissMegan wrote:

Beach photos are exactly what I was going for. I just looked for 10 stop filters on Amazon and there is a huge price variable all with seemingly good reviews. Should I go for the $30.00 10 stop with 5 star reviews? Seems like a no brainer but them why would there be filters going for 5 times that? what is the trade-off here? Thanks.

NO, I don't think you'll get any filter for $30 that is worth a hill of beans. I've tried Hoya and Tiffen and they seem to be just ok; the Tiffen has quite a bit of a green cast to it. I use Lee filters now. It is made up of square filters with a special filter holder. If anything, the Big Stopper, as Lee calls it, has a bit of a blue cast to it. I find it to be pleasing since I use it mostly at the beach and if the sky takes on some blue or the water takes on some blue, that's fine with me. But green is unacceptable to me. Even though I shoot in raw, if the pics have a green cast to them I have always been able to fix them in post with a slight W/B correction. To get my Tiffen to nine or ten stops I had to stack 3 filters. Since they are round, when you choose to buy one you must choose a size. You can always buy larger filters for your lenses, and then use a step down ring to make them fit. I wouldn't buy any round filters unless they are at least 82mm so that they can be used on my 77mm and smaller lenses.

I like the Lee filter system, but it is pricey.

MissMegan

Thanks for all the great advice, I will stay away from the cheaper filters. I liked the eBay suggestion. I will try that out and see if I can get any good deals. Thinking about going for a square filter or a large round with step down rings... square filters are non stackable, correct? maybe round is a more flexible route to go...

juan_uy Loc: Uruguay

MissMegan wrote:

Thanks for all the great advice, I will stay away from the cheaper filters. I liked the eBay suggestion. I will try that out and see if I can get any good deals. Thinking about going for a square filter or a large round with step down rings... square filters are non stackable, correct? maybe round is a more flexible route to go...

Square filters are stackable also. Usually the holders can carry 2 or 3 filters, or they have additional pieces that you can screw to support 2 or 3 filters.

For ND, I wanted a 10 stop one and after following a similar path of yours, I ended up with a Breakthrough one (choose them after reading and seeing tons of reviews). I am happy with it, but far from being pro, I am just a newbie.

LWW Loc: Banana Republic of America

MissMegan wrote:

Thanks for all the great advice, I will stay away from the cheaper filters. I liked the eBay suggestion. I will try that out and see if I can get any good deals. Thinking about going for a square filter or a large round with step down rings... square filters are non stackable, correct? maybe round is a more flexible route to go...

Just remember there is a difference between cheap and inexpensive ... and, FWIW, I recently bout a 2 stop HOYA ND 77mm NOS filter for $11.95.

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

MissMegan wrote:

Thanks for all the great advice, I will stay away from the cheaper filters. I liked the eBay suggestion. I will try that out and see if I can get any good deals. Thinking about going for a square filter or a large round with step down rings... square filters are non stackable, correct? maybe round is a more flexible route to go...

Yes, they can be stacked. Mine can stack 3 at one time.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/87108-REG/LEE_Filters_FK_Foundation_Kit_Standard_4x4.html

Another tip for you Megan, click on the "Quote Reply" when you reply to something someone else has said. If you make a comment to everyone, then just Reply is used. See how this reply has what you said up top? This lets you know that I'm replying to what you said, especially about "stackable" filters.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

MissMegan wrote:

Hello! I am a new photographer here and I have run... (show quote)

Tiffen makes really good ND filters for the price, they are available in a variety of filter sizes. I always buy the largest filter size and then get step up rings to fit all of my lenses.
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/674665-REG/Tiffen_77NDK3_77mm_Digital_Neutral_Density.html

Bipod

MissMegan wrote:

Hello! I am a new photographer here and I have run... (show quote)

The purpose of an optical coating is to increase the amount of transmitted light.

The purpose of an ND filter is to decrease the amount of transmitted light.

THINK, Megan, then draw your own conclusions.

But know this: any flat filter is a superior optical system to any lens.
A flat filter has none of the five aberrations of Seidel, and no geometrical (Petzval) distortion.
That is a fact of optical engineering.

Do not spent a lot of money on a ND filter---unless it buys you better mechanical construction:
more robust ring, better threads, better mositure reistance, better scratch resistance.

Or unless you just like spending a lot of money.

mizzee Loc: Boston,Ma

I had very bad luck with variable ND filters where I got moisture condensation between the elements. I returned it and opted for a 10 stop and a 6 stop.

LWW Loc: Banana Republic of America

mizzee wrote:

I had very bad luck with variable ND filters where I got moisture condensation between the elements. I returned it and opted for a 10 stop and a 6 stop.

Dual glass plate filters are notorious for that.