ND Filters Advice Please

When using ND's to reduce the shutter speed I liked the screw on ones better than using a filter holder system as they're less bulky and less attention grabbing and of course you can stack them by simply screwing on another. I just find the whole filter holder and square slot in filter experience too much of a faff on.
 
Well unlike Alan (@woof woof) above I regularly use filters when I am shooting seascapes/landscapes etc :D wouldn't do to all be the same. I agree with his "new toy danger" comment though, it happens :)

As you ahev already worked out yur lenses have a 77mm and 82mm filter thread. You will definitely need an uwa adapter for your 16-35 otherwise you will get vignetting at the wider focal lengths. You may get away with a standard adapter for ypur 24-70, but tbh it is a realtively small one off cost and I'd get an uwa adapter for that too.

I've used a company called Speed Graphic a few times and they always seem reasonable, but worth shopping around too. Also there are often filter bits in the classifieds here, and sometimes for a decent price too!

So, the 77mm & 82mm adapter rinsg I'd suggest is this or equivalent https://www.speedgraphic.co.uk/holders__adapters/lee_100mm_adapter_ring_wideangle/12306_p.html - you need to choose the size from the selection drop down.

These screw onto the front of the lens, and the holder then clips to this.

This is the holder you need https://www.speedgraphic.co.uk/holders__adapters/lee_100mm_foundation_kit/6831_p.html (hint - there are two for sale in the classifieds now - not mine though :) )

In the Lee system you have 3 choices of ND filter starting with the most expensive (and imo the best) and these are the pro glass filters https://www.speedgraphic.co.uk/neutral_density/lee_100mm_proglass_ir_nd_2_stops/27417_p.html (eyewateringly expensive though) - next are the resin filters https://www.speedgraphic.co.uk/neutral_density/lee_100mm_neutral_density_resin/12342_p.html (very good and still not cheap) or the polyester based filters https://www.speedgraphic.co.uk/neut...tral_density_filter_set_polyester/6890_p.html (I have never tried these so cannot comment on usability, be aware they will damage easily but they are cheap and you get a set of 3 for less than a resin filter).

After tha it is up to you if you want/need a polariser (oneof my most used filters, particularly for lakes/waterfalls/wooded scenes). Be warned you may need a second mortgage for the Lee ones :D you would need the ring and then the polariser which is this https://www.speedgraphic.co.uk/polarising/lee_100mm_landscape_polariser__adapter_ring/26154_p.html

If you are ever in north Devon, let me know and I'll happily take you out and show you the ropes with these.

There are other brands available, but I have little experience with them, but look at cokin, formatt-hitech and progrey (I think the latter may be more expensive than Lee but ...) - so may be worth doing a bit of research. At least you should have the basis for a comparison now :)

And remember, check the classifieds here :)
 
woof woof said:
I can't bring myself to take a silky water shot. Sorry :D
Click to expand...
you would get on well with my wife, she HATES silky water shots but i like them and since it's my camera my normal answer is just :p.

in terms of the OP i recently had the same dilemma, my nd grad kit is lee but their big stopper is renowned for it's colour cast and i hate having to correct things like that in post if i can help it so i went for the hitech firecrest 10 stop in the end. Much closer to neutral than the lee is and very similar in price. Lee have now also brought out the pro stop filters which from my brief research on them (too expensive for me so i didn't read up in depth with them) seem to be much more neutral but are about 80 quid a filter more than the hitech. The two lower density filters is quite a sensible approach too as it offers more flexibility, i may do something similar in future myself or just add a 6 stop.
 
I'd take a look at NISI. The v5 kit is extremely good value - far cheaper than the Lee kit and build quality is excellent. Plus the polariser mounts directly into the holder meaning a) there's less risk of flare from glass being further from the lens and b) you can use the polariser without attaching the filter holder.

Note that whatever 100mm system you get, you can mix and match filters...I had the Haida 10 stop before I moved to a mirrorless system, and I didn't notice much of a colour cast at all, highly reccomended!
 
keeweeman said:
you would get on well with my wife, she HATES silky water shots but i like them and since it's my camera my normal answer is just :p.

in terms of the OP i recently had the same dilemma, my nd grad kit is lee but their big stopper is renowned for it's colour cast and i hate having to correct things like that in post if i can help it so i went for the hitech firecrest 10 stop in the end. Much closer to neutral than the lee is and very similar in price. Lee have now also brought out the pro stop filters which from my brief research on them (too expensive for me so i didn't read up in depth with them) seem to be much more neutral but are about 80 quid a filter more than the hitech. The two lower density filters is quite a sensible approach too as it offers more flexibility, i may do something similar in future myself or just add a 6 stop.
Click to expand...

I think it's something that's been done to death but as you say... :p

Personally I like to see a bit of movement. OK it's a still picture but I still think that capturing the moment makes for a more involving and for me more evocative picture rather than what I see as a rather otherworldly and detached from reality silky water shot.
 
2nd the Nisi filters, I use them and find them excellent, no colour cast either.
 
I'm pretty certain (but happy to be corrected) that you can mix & match products as long as they are obviously all 85mm or, in your case, 100mm.

I have heard people recommend "The Filter Dude" for copy Lee adaptors etc but obviously now you have Nisi & a few others too which I have no experience of.

Also obviously the bigger you go 85mm > 100mm > 150mm then the price increases accordingly & the same for filter quality. Certainly look at the bigger picture & price up everything that you might need in the future including the front mounted CPL.

If I were you, I'd get separate lens adaptors & one holder.

Wide angle adaptor rings $15 ea - http://www.thefilterdude.com/wide-angle-adapter-ring-bargain/
Lee compatable holder $25 - http://www.thefilterdude.com/lee-compatible-filter-holder/
Caps to cover the adaptors to save removing all the time $9 - http://www.thefilterdude.com/adaptercap-3-pack/
Accessory CPL ring $30 - http://www.thefilterdude.com/105mm-accessory-ring/

$95 plus free shipping ;) Then just add your filters you require :)

Or, buy used ;)
 
All, thanks so very much for all of your replies, advice and in-depth detailing of what i'm after. That's why i'm loving this forum!

I'm off to check everything out now and start pricing up my latest crazy equipment fetish :ty:
 
woof woof said:
I think it's something that's been done to death but as you say... :p

Personally I like to see a bit of movement. OK it's a still picture but I still think that capturing the moment makes for a more involving and for me more evocative picture rather than what I see as a rather otherworldly and detached from reality silky water shot.
Click to expand...

I sort of agree that it's been done to death but its one of those that i think still has a place, what i wouldn't do though is use it all the time because aside from that being about as creative as a wet fart it just seems like a cop out rather than assessing a scene and deciding that is the best type of shot at the time etc.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top