ND Filters

[ChefRobLeeds]

Does anyone have any experience of using variable ND filters? Are they generally OK (assuming i get a decent brand), or am I better off getting a set of stackable x1, x2, x4 filters

 

[HoppyUK]

Welcome to TP

Don't recommend them, especially if you use a wide-angle lens - a dark cross appears over the image at higher densities. All the same, even the most expensive versions, frankly useless IMHO. The cheaper ones also cause sharpness and flare issues.

Stacking filters is not a good idea either, best is to get one for each specific need.

 

[Lyonspride]

If your not sure what you need, why not just use exposure bracketing (though you'll have to do it manually on the D3100) and then get the same effect in PP afterwards by blending/combining the images.
That way you haven't got to worry about filter quality and you can save your money for bigger and better things (like shiny new lenses ).

 

[markmullen]

If your not sure what you need, why not just use exposure bracketing (though you'll have to do it manually on the D3100) and then get the same effect in PP afterwards by blending/combining the images.
That way you haven't got to worry about filter quality and you can save your money for bigger and better things (like shiny new lenses ).

I'd be interested to hear how you could use exposure bracketing instead of an ND filter? Overexposure is overexposure.

Unless you're thinking of grads?

 

[stupar]

If your not sure what you need, why not just use exposure bracketing (though you'll have to do it manually on the D3100) and then get the same effect in PP afterwards by blending/combining the images.
That way you haven't got to worry about filter quality and you can save your money for bigger and better things (like shiny new lenses ).

I think he is referring to variable ND's (e.g. a filter than does 2x, 4x, 8x etc) rather than ND grads which your thinking of

 

[Lyonspride]

I'd be interested to hear how you could use exposure bracketing instead of an ND filter? Overexposure is overexposure.

Unless you're thinking of grads?

Yeah, ooops.... Had grad NDs on the brain today

But as for variables, they have their uses, but very poor performance at max ND.
You could get by with a variable and 10 a stopper.
The variables also have variable quality, mine had to be disassembled to clean Chinese finger prints from the inside of the filter.

 

[ChefRobLeeds]

Hoping to use them for longer exposures during daytime, Thanks for the input guys!