ND and Polarising Filters

jammy_c

jammy_c

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James
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What differences, in terms of image results, will i see between using a Polarising or ND filter? I'm not sure which to get...
Also, what do the ND grades stand for? (i.e. ND4, ND6, ND8)

Thanks! :thumbs:
 
some people round here complain that theres too many of them already

hope you get sorted though
 
fair enough, it's a good idea.
I bought a cheap CPL filter on my 18-55 and have not taken if off since! it's great. but reading up on ND filters makes me think they are very similar. i'm sure, however, that someone far knowledgeable than myself will correct me. :lol:
 
The basic diferance is that a CPL will enhance blues ect i.e sky and cut down on reflection from water glass ect and ND will slow the shutter down with no colour effect.
 
I want to use it on my 300mm f4.5-5.6 for wildlife and motorsports, so a fast shutter speed it fairly helpful to me. I like the tone that my CPL gives, so maybe it's best to go down that route?
 
jammy_c said:
What differences, in terms of image results, will i see between using a Polarising or ND filter? I'm not sure which to get...
Also, what do the ND grades stand for? (i.e. ND4, ND6, ND8)

Thanks! :thumbs:
Click to expand...

Ok. A polarizing filter will reduce reflections on water and reflective surfaces and work best when the sun is at 90 degrees to them, they will also make the sky bluer. There are 2 types of be filters straight be filters that reduce the amount of light across the whole filter by the same amount. Grad nd filters are used to balance the exposure say between the sky and forground and the amount of light let through changes between the top and bottom of the filter over a graduation. So the top of the filter let's through say 1 2 or 3 stops less light than the bottom.

Nd4 let's through 1 stop less light.
Nd6 let's through 2 stops less light.
Nd8 let's through 3 stops less light.

Hope that helps.

And by the way polarizing filters reduce overall light by 1.5-2 stops.
 
Excellent! Cheers for that, Dave.

I think that's made my mind up. what's the generally opinion on Hama filters? and the best place to buy them?
 
jammy_c said:
I want to use it on my 300mm f4.5-5.6 for wildlife and motorsports, so a fast shutter speed it fairly helpful to me. I like the tone that my CPL gives, so maybe it's best to go down that route?
Click to expand...

Sorry should have sai the CPL also reduces shutter speed, for the stuff you are doing I would not use either, as you say you need the shutter speed.
 
mrgas said:
I asked a question re filters and it was suggested I read a book on the subject
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It's a great pity you got such a negative reply MrGas. I'm not overly keen on those type of replies, I think it's a bit rude. Still you don't seem too disheartened by it so no foul I suppose.
I'm a total noob myself, but as far as I have been able to work out a ND filter is designed to reduce the amount of light entering the lens. (handy for long exposures during daylight or reducint the chance of skies being over-exposed) A polarising filter on the other hand is used to cut down reflections. (great for water shots or reducing glare from light surfaces)

In terms of books, you can do a lot worse than buying Scott Kelby's Digital Photography Book.

Edit: Beaten to the punch.
 
Cheers, Taz! thanks for the nice comments, i'll have to check out Kelby's Book.
 
jammy_c said:
What differences, in terms of image results, will i see between using a Polarising or ND filter? I'm not sure which to get...
Also, what do the ND grades stand for? (i.e. ND4, ND6, ND8)

Thanks! :thumbs:
Click to expand...

I'll give a similar message to you as I did to MrGas which he took offence at.

If you do not know what the difference is between them why are you considering buying either of them?

Search the forums, have a read of a book (I even offered to send MrGas a copy of my filter book!), then when you have some basic understanding come and ask questions for clarification or asking specific situations that may not be covered in a book.

The reason that some people are getting fed up is there are currently 5 other filter threads in the first 40 from Talk Equipment (1 page of threads) and a search of 'filter' in the Thread Title from the Talk Equipment section has 25 threads less than a month old
 
Some info regarding filters in this months Photo plus(canon) May be help to you if you know someone who will let you have a read of it
Bob:thumbs:
 
Uneducated_Rick said:
I'll give a similar message to you as I did to MrGas which he took offence at.

If you do not know what the difference is between them why are you considering buying either of them?

Search the forums, have a read of a book (I even offered to send MrGas a copy of my filter book!), then when you have some basic understanding come and ask questions for clarification or asking specific situations that may not be covered in a book.

The reason that some people are getting fed up is there are currently 5 other filter threads in the first 40 from Talk Equipment (1 page of threads) and a search of 'filter' in the Thread Title from the Talk Equipment section has 25 threads less than a month old
Click to expand...

I was going to say more or less the same myself! There are indeed several live threads on this subject under Talk Equipment, and I've contibuted to most of them.

Unfortunately mrgas got short shrift from one or two people on here when he posted yet another repeat question, and doesn't seem to be able to let it go.

There are several books available on using filters, several current threads here, and no doubt huge amounts of stuff on the internet. All will help you with regard to using ND grads and polarisers.

Good luck in your search.
 
Tazmaniandevil said:
It's a great pity you got such a negative reply MrGas. I'm not overly keen on those type of replies, I think it's a bit rude. Still you don't seem too disheartened by it so no foul I suppose.
I'm a total noob myself, but as far as I have been able to work out a ND filter is designed to reduce the amount of light entering the lens. (handy for long exposures during daylight or reducint the chance of skies being over-exposed) A polarising filter on the other hand is used to cut down reflections. (great for water shots or reducing glare from light surfaces)

In terms of books, you can do a lot worse than buying Scott Kelby's Digital Photography Book.

Edit: Beaten to the punch.
Click to expand...


not disheartened at all , i'm finding this a very friendly and informative forum

I've also got a shortlist of books to order when funds permit , it was only the fact I wanted a question answering fairly quickly that i posted my question the way i did, sadly not everyone saw it for what was ,
 
not disheartened at all , i'm finding this a very friendly and informative forum
Click to expand...
Some people just get out the wrong side of bed I think, mate.
The majority of us are here to learn or to help others after all, arn't we?
 
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