ND Filter

lucky_13

lucky_13

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Hi I'm after an ND filter but not sure what to go for so I'm asking some advice and a few recommendations
What's the most used one ND2 ND4 or ND8? 72mm thread. I don't want those 3 packs that u can get an eBay for a tenner I want something half deacent like a Hoya or something, and is a poliriser a good investment or not really necessary?
 
Depends what you want it for.
You cant really say one is best, because they all do the same thing, but for different lighting.

If its super bright and you want a shallow depth of field, then the ND8 will be better. If its overcast and you want a slightly longer shutter speed, but not into minutes, then the ND2 would be better.. Its horses for courses, each has its use.

As for a polariser, yes they are necessary if you want to achieve the effect they give, as it cant be replicated in software. If you dont, then no they arent.

Again, depends if you want that effect or not.
 
TCR4x4 said:
Depends what you want it for.
You cant really say one is best, because they all do the same thing, but for different lighting.

If its super bright and you want a shallow depth of field, then the ND8 will be better. If its overcast and you want a slightly longer shutter speed, but not into minutes, then the ND2 would be better.. Its horses for courses, each has its use.

As for a polariser, yes they are necessary if you want to achieve the effect they give, as it cant be replicated in software. If you dont, then no they arent.

Again, depends if you want that effect or not.
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Thank u for ur response I know nothing about polarisers so not sure what they do or what I would use it for :-(
 
Then I doubt you need one!
No point having something if you dont know what it does.

They reduce reflections and glare in water/glass, they darken blue skies, increase contrast in clouds and reduce the shutter speed up to 2 stops, depending on the polarisation dialed in and angle to the light source.
 
lucky_13 said:
Hi I'm after an ND filter but not sure what to go for so I'm asking some advice and a few recommendations
What's the most used one ND2 ND4 or ND8? 72mm thread. I don't want those 3 packs that u can get an eBay for a tenner I want something half deacent like a Hoya or something, and is a poliriser a good investment or not really necessary?
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A polarising filter is useful for landscape photography. They work by reducing glare reflecting off of reflective surfaces (ie water, metal & glass).and by enhancing colours (ie blue skies and green grass etc). They also aid contrast.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polarizing_filter_(photography)


But as already pointed out there's no point in buying something if you don't know if you even need it because you could be throwing money away needlessly.
 
TCR4x4 said:
Then I doubt you need one!
No point having something if you dont know what it does.

They reduce reflections and glare in water/glass, they darken blue skies, increase contrast in clouds and reduce the shutter speed up to 2 stops, depending on the polarisation dialed in and angle to the light source.
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I wanted something to darken the sky as sometime the sky ends up overexposed so would a poliriser or an ND take care of that? Just want something for general use to screw on in front of the lens and leave it there while out n about so I don't end up with overexposed sky's
 
You havn't said what you want an ND filter for yet.

There's a lot of confusion over ND filters, ten stop NDs for blurring water etc, and ND x8 that is actually only three stops, ND grads that are used for darkening skies, and polarisers that can sometimes do the same thing.
 
lucky_13 said:
I wanted something to darken the sky as sometime the sky ends up overexposed so would a poliriser or an ND take care of that? Just want something for general use to screw on in front of the lens and leave it there while out n about so I don't end up with overexposed sky's
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Ah right, crossed post with this. You want an ND grad, and a polariser as well would be a good idea.

I would say ND4 hard-cut as a good starting point. Cokin, Kood, Formatt etc in a P-system mount, or Lee if you're feeling flush.
 
Lee is the way to go.

I would opt for a soft edged 0.9 (3 stop/ND8) if you are shooting interupted horizons (cityscapes, landscapes) or a hard 0.6 (2 stop/ND4) if you are shooting flat horizons (seascapes).

Regards
 
Thank you for ur help and advice, I've been reading on the net about the poliriser and it looks like that is what I need, so I'll be getting one of those, any brand I should aim for that dosn't cost an arm and a leg.?
 
Is anyone here that uses Hoya HD CIR circular polariser? I was thinking of getting one, any others I should consider?
 
lucky_13 said:
Is anyone here that uses Hoya HD CIR circular polariser? I was thinking of getting one, any others I should consider?
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Yes. And no. Hoya HD is the best on the market IMHO.
 
lucky_13 said:
How does the hoya pro1 compare with the HD?
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It uses the darker type of polarising material (Pro-1 +1.7 stops, HD +1.2 stops) and the coating isn't water resistant. Good filter though.
 
gridlock said:
What does that mean in real life?
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It means that your exposure is reduced slightly less, like half a stop, which may be handy. And it means that if the filter gets wet, and you don't wipe it before it dries on, it might leave a mark on the Pro1. No difference image wise, both v high quality, though TBH most are.
 
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HoppyUK said:
I have the HD.
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One review I read said some times the HD gives a rainbow hase from some surfaces. Have u experienced this at all?
 
lucky_13 said:
One review I read said some times the HD gives a rainbow hase from some surfaces. Have u experienced this at all?
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I've never heard that, or experienced it.
 
Have you purchased your filter yet? I did quite a bit of research before getting mine, I opted for the B+W ND filter, it seems to be slightly better quality than the Hoya filters.
 
Mani Gill said:
Have you purchased your filter yet? I did quite a bit of research before getting mine, I opted for the B+W ND filter, it seems to be slightly better quality than the Hoya filters.
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Hoya HD is a polariser, not ND ;)

Though the Hoya X400 is also a very good extreme ND filter, B+W probably has the slight edge on that one, especially the new multi-coated version.
 
Yes I bought it last night and just got an email to say its shipped, I got the Hoya HD polariser not HD. Thank u for all ur comments and help.
 
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