ND Filters for Nikon D700

N

nikonuser

Messages
2,537
Name
Dave
Edit My Images
Yes
I'm looking to purchase a holder and some ND filters for my D700 and 24-70 lens.
I think the Lee filter system is a bit too expensive for my needs so was looking for other suggestions on makes please.
Which filters would I need for landscapes 0.3; 0.75 and would the square or round filters be the better option.
appreciate any help
Thanks
Dave
 
Square filters allow you more flexibility, aligning horizons etc.

If you don't want to spend Lee money then get just the filter holder (foundation kit) from Lee, then Hitech 100mm filters (100x150 if you can run to them), that way if you do decide down the line to upgrade to Lee you can do so in stages.

In terms of which filters to buy, I'd avoid 1 stop (0.3) and get a 2 stop (0.6) and 3 stop (0.9). Lots of people recommend soft edged filters unless you're shooting seascapes but I'm an exception, I'd go for hard edge filters, on a soft you run the risk of blowing the lower sections of sky as the ND effect wears off. It is much easier to selectively dodge an area of foreground which you've filtered than to recover a sky which has blown.

If money is really tight I'd go for a Foundation Kit and 3 stop hard edged grad as a starting point.
 
SRB Griturn they do thier own and supply others!
SRB GRITURN
I use them and This Shot was taken using a 2 stop soft ND Grad on the sky and no white balance correction needed for colour casts as can be the case with some!
Thier own filters are very good in my opinion and have had good reviews in magazines etc!
You can by a set of ND grads from 1 stop to 4 stops that when using a 3 filter holder can be stacked to get above 4 stops which is only really necessary at sunrise/sunset.
In my experience you usually find the the difference between the Sky and Land on a fairly bright day is 2 stops.If the sun isn't in the shot!
In fact I don't usually meter the scene I just stick in the 2 stop take a shot check histogram,9 times out of 10 it's fine!
Sunsets/sunrises you need more as you are usually including the sun in the shot.
You need the rectangular filters as that way you can slide the to position them with the horizon!
At 24mm you should get away with the P size (85mm wide) without vignetting but you can get a wide angle filter holder to get around this or invest in a 100mm wide set from the off!
As to whether you opt for soft or hard Grads that depends on the horizon!
Also with the rectangular filters you can use full ND's along with ND Grads to extend shutter and balance the sky at the same ie using a 10 stopper!
Hi Tech and Cokin also do lower priced filters but in my opinion the SRB Griturn ones are us good and better value!
 
Last edited:
Many Thanks, Mark and Simon some really good information for me to digest and lovely shot, thanks for the links.
Dave
 
cotty332000 said:
SRB Griturn they do thier own and supply others!
SRB GRITURN
I use them and This Shot was taken using a 2 stop soft ND Grad on the sky and no white balance correction needed for colour casts as can be the case with some!
Thier own filters are very good in my opinion and have had good reviews in magazines etc!
You can by a set of ND grads from 1 stop to 4 stops that when using a 3 filter holder can be stacked to get above 4 stops which is only really necessary at sunrise/sunset.
In my experience you usually find the the difference between the Sky and Land on a fairly bright day is 2 stops.If the sun isn't in the shot!
In fact I don't usually meter the scene I just stick in the 2 stop take a shot check histogram,9 times out of 10 it's fine!
Sunsets/sunrises you need more as you are usually including the sun in the shot.
You need the rectangular filters as that way you can slide the to position them with the horizon!
At 24mm you should get away with the P size (85mm wide) without vignetting but you can get a wide angle filter holder to get around this or invest in a 100mm wide set from the off!
As to whether you opt for soft or hard Grads that depends on the horizon!
Also with the rectangular filters you can use full ND's along with ND Grads to extend shutter and balance the sky at the same ie using a 10 stopper!
Hi Tech and Cokin also do lower priced filters but in my opinion the SRB Griturn ones are us good and better value!
Click to expand...

Agree with much of this so I hope it doesn't look like I'm picking it apart but as the OP is using full frame, 24mm is pretty wide. I have the 24-70 with Lee 100mm filter kit and I have to use a wide angle adaptor to avoid vignetting.

Just to add as well to Mark's post, I think it was Mark's advice that I followed when I bought my kit at the time and although I did end up buying a soft grad I have since sold it as I just didn't find it useful. The trouble with a soft grad is that you end up with a gradient in the sky which can look quite odd as the horizon can be blown out with the top of the image dark. I now subscribe to Mark's view and only ever really use a 0.75 (2.5 stop) hard grad, though I'd like maybe a 2 stop as well to stack at sunset/sunrise but I'm managing fine for now.

One last thing to consider is a polariser, well actually maybe it should be the first thing you should consider. I mention it because if you go down the filter holder system route, you will likely end up needing a 105mm CPL and they invariably cost a big chunk of dosh. I'm pretty pleased with my hitech one that cost about £100 but you could easily spend more than double that.
 
Last edited:
gad-westy said:
Agree with much of this so I hope it doesn't look like I'm picking it apart but as the OP is using full frame, 24mm is pretty wide. I have the 24-70 with Lee 100mm filter kit and I have to use a wide angle adaptor to avoid vignetting.
Click to expand...

Not at all!:thumbs:
I only have experience with APS-C and with a 3 filter holder on a P size filter 24mm is about the point that you remove vignetting!
But yes taking into account this is more like 36mm on FF!
Maybe 1 day i will have the funds to go FF and a set of Lee Filters!:sulk:
I think if i was on FF i would go with 100mm Filters!
 
Thanks Graham for your comments and Simon for the feedback.
I should have mentioned that I have a circular polarizer and a B+W circular 110 ND3.0
Dave
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top