Can't afford a 10 stop filter so.....

blondie606

blondie606

Messages
8,398
Name
Lynne
Edit My Images
Yes
Hi all

a 10 stop filter is out of my budget currently so what I'm trying to find out is :

If I stack a CPL with 2stop & 8stop ND filters will I be able to get similar results on long exposures.....? or is that just a plain daft idea ?

I use the square filter system so the plan would be , get focus right then add the filters & shoot . Not everyone's cup of tea but really want to shoot some soft milky water sea scapes etc

Thanks for any advice in advance

Lynne :)
 
Have you tried with just the ND8 ?? that may should get you some good results.

Daz
 
Unless your CPL, ND2 and ND8 are exceptionally good quality wouldn't a single piece of welding glass be better than 4 pieces of filter glass?
 
Brian is right a single piece of welding glass will be better than CPL + ND2 + ND8 filter. I'm afraid a ND2 filter plus ND8 filter plus a CPL will not have the 'stopping power' of an 10 stop filter. In other words a one 10 stop will filter out much much much more light.

An example with the maths would be:
No filter shutter speed: 1/20
with ND2 = 1/10 seconds
with ND2+ND8 = 0.8 seconds
with ND2+ND8+CPL = 2.4 seconds (approx)

with only 1 10 stop filter and no other filters = 51.2 seconds

So hopefully I have done my maths correct but simply put a 10 stop blocks out much more light, however welding glass will achieve the same effect (you will get a VERY green image but that should be 100% correctable in post processing providing you shoot RAW).

Also stacking filters as filters would leave probably a strong cast. I hope this helps :)

Oh and the welding glass trick I think should cost less than £5!
 
Last edited:
Welding glass can be picked up quite cheaply on eBay (about £2-3). Watch the edges they are usually very sharp. I found the best way to use it was holding it in place with elastic bands, it doesn't look great but it works. It can fit into a Colin filter but you would need to block the gap between the glass and the holder otherwise you get a refection of lens on the glass. To be honest it needed a little force to get in the filter holder and you could easily cut your hand open so I wouldn't recommend trying.

The welding glass I had worked out to be about a 12-13 stop filter. You can always convert the green images to b&w. For the low cost it's worth trying out.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top