ND filter - is my thinking correct?

[tommo]

I like to shoot landscapes and am after an ND filter. I know that it reduces light meaning a longer shutter speed is required, but does this mean it will help to expose brightly lit skies and the ground more evenly? :thinking:

[Uneducated_Rick]

No, an ND grad matches exposure for sky and foreground

[matt_wright]

Nope, your after a ND Grad, do a quick search on here, there is lots of threads which should answer most questions you should have! These are what i have just purchased after wanting to do exactly what you just said!!

Matt

[tommo]

Ah, I'll read up on these, thanks for the replies!

[tommo]

A grad filter is defo what I need, but do you go for full graduation over the whole filter, or partial from the middle up?

Also, I think I'll just get the Cokin filter first and see if I get on with it before buying the adapter/holder. Good idea or not?

[Uneducated_Rick]

Most grads are graduated over only half of the filter.

If you spread over the whole filter you have to have some colour over all of the shot or have the edge of your filter in the shot

[towershot]

If you get the grad without the holder you will have to bluetack it in place and cant move it about ,might as well get the holder as well imho.

[pauld]

My recent experience with Cokin would suggest that it is best to save and by the best you can ...Lee appear to be the best bet or Tiffin if you can get them...get a two stop grad to begin with..and you do need a holder

[jerry12953]

If you get the grad without the holder you will have to bluetack it in place and cant move it about ,might as well get the holder as well imho.

You don't need bluetac. You can just hold it in place. Easy on a tripod, and you do use a tripod, don't you.....?

[lazaroonie]

so, if you have a ND filter set, could you not just use the ND filter over half of the lens to mimic the action of grad filter?

[Steve Smith]

Most grads are graduated over only half of the filter.

They are not really graduated. The bottom is clear and the top is the required density. e.g. 1, 2 or 3 stops. The graduated bit is the small area where it changes from clear to dark.

These filters are described according to the change from light to dark e.g. soft grad, hard grad.

A soft grad has a gradual transition whereas the hard grad's transition is more abrupt.


Steve

[Uneducated_Rick]

You don't need bluetac. You can just hold it in place. Easy on a tripod, and you do use a tripod, don't you.....?

So use a tripod, and presumably a release cable or remote, to reduce shake but then hold a filter up against the lens :thinking:



They are not really graduated. The bottom is clear and the top is the required density. e.g. 1, 2 or 3 stops. The graduated bit is the small area where it changes from clear to dark.

These filters are described according to the change from light to dark e.g. soft grad, hard grad.

A soft grad has a gradual transition whereas the hard grad's transition is more abrupt.


Steve

I know thank you :thumbs:

Was trying to say that there is only pigment over half of the filter rather than graduation

[Steve Smith]

There is a good article about ND grads in this week's Amateur Photographer.


Steve.

[InkZ]

hitech filters are good if you want some cheap filters to get started with. I get mine from teamworkphoto.

Next decision is whether to get hard grads or soft grads :P

Hard grads better where horizon is flat like seascapes and soft grads for things sticking up like hills.

I've ended up with a set of 3 hard grads, 3 softgrads and 3 full nd all Hitech :)

As for a holder, buy a cheapo one for £3.50 from ebay. Works fine.