General Query on ND and grad filters....

[boccers_2000]

Hi all. I had placed a thread a few days ago about 10 stop grad filters.

That lead me to have a rethink about using ND Filters plus grad filters for landscape work.

Initially I had wanted a 10 stop scre in filter (77mm thread) so I could take long exposures of landscapes (blurred clouds, surreal feeling, you know the drill etc).

That lead to me realising that i'd also need to take grad filters into account (to balance the sky and foreground).

I currently have the Cokin system (grad filters) but just wanted to know how you guys would go about working a 10 stop with grads?

Basically I am looking for a recommendation to cover using both a 10 stop and grads so I can get that other worldly look but also balance the exposure etc.

Any thought?

What would you guys purchase to achieve this? Obviously if it is compatibale with Cokin P Series thats a bonus as i dont want to have to buy a whole new system but, if I have to, I will.

Cheers

 

[AndyB1976]

Hi Andrew

I began to answer that on the other thread...

I wanted to buy the right thing based on reviews, advice and flexibility of the systems. I opted for the flexibility over the price, as I am going to have this a long time and would have ended up buying this system again no doubt.

Lee Foundation Kit
Lee Wide Angle Adapter 77mm
Lee Big Stopper
Hitech 4stop ND Grad soft.

As you mention, any ND filter can still cause blown skies or loss of shadows depending on your priority. Therefore you still need some form of control of the sky, unless you want to AEB and software blend or HDR. Although I have the hardware I don't rule out using AEB, I often will shoot 3 shots on location - why not?

Here is just an example pic (and not the best example )..of the 4Stop ND Grad infront of the 10Stopper on the 500D & 10-22 and you can see the sky and sculpture are a bit on the limits to me anyway.

RAW with WB adjust and JPG from camera.

 

[boccers_2000]

Hi Andrew

I began to answer that on the other thread...

I wanted to buy the right thing based on reviews, advice and flexibility of the systems. I opted for the flexibility over the price, as I am going to have this a long time and would have ended up buying this system again no doubt.

Lee Foundation Kit
Lee Wide Angle Adapter 77mm
Lee Big Stopper
Hitech 4stop ND Grad soft.

As you mention, any ND filter can still cause blown skies or loss of shadows depending on your priority. Therefore you still need some form of control of the sky, unless you want to AEB and software blend or HDR. Although I have the hardware I don't rule out using AEB, I often will shoot 3 shots on location - why not?

Here is just an example pic (and not the best example )..of the 4Stop ND Grad infront of the 10Stopper on the 500D & 10-22 and you can see the sky and sculpture are a bit on the limits to me anyway.

RAW with WB adjust and JPG from camera.

Thanks for that Andy, really helpful.

Does the Hitech filter fit into the Lee holder? Sorry if that's a daft question it is just listed in your message etc

 

[AndyB1976]

Yes it does, perfect fit. Its 100mm wide by 150mm long (I think lol).

The 4stop might be too extreme for some situations, you might find a 2/3stop is used more often. I don't have any of these yet but just thought I should mention it.

 

[Faldrax]

Yes it does, perfect fit. Its 100mm wide by 150mm long (I think lol).

The 4stop might be too extreme for some situations, you might find a 2/3stop is used more often. I don't have any of these yet but just thought I should mention it.

HiTech do 85, 100 and 100x150 ND Grads - the latter being what you want, but also begin the most expensive. If getting s/h it's worth confirming if any listed as 100 are actually the larger 100x150.

(This is from my trying to figure out what to buy, rather than actually having bought the grads yet)