Singh-Ray's Vari-ND

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Steveo_Hants

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Anyone either used or got one of these variable ND filters? What's the quality like? Seems like a good idea to me.

Link
 
You seen the price....:eek:
 
Yeah, but if its good quality it works out cheaper then buying 3 separate Lee filters!
 
Singh Ray items tend to be very high quality and reflected in the asking price of almost $400. Agreed, it's a great idea but I guess most people will go the for 5 stop B+W filter which doesn't give you the variable nature of adjustment the Singh Ray does, but is around $280 cheaper.
 
Jas said:
Singh Ray items tend to be very high quality and reflected in the asking price of almost $400. Agreed, it's a great idea but I guess most people will go the for 5 stop B+W filter which doesn't give you the variable nature of adjustment the Singh Ray does, but is around $280 cheaper.
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I can't find a 5 stop B+W filter anywhere! I can see 6 stop, which is close enough but was just curious to why I can't find a 5 stop.
 
If your looking to spend that sort of money, I'd recommend a filter system such as lee filters. Then, you wont need a different filter per lens. Singh-ray are a very good make. I personally want one of their reverse grad filters.
 
I looked at Lee's but it was going to be a lot more then this sort of money, Maybe I'll take a closer look at the B+W ones. Only seem to use my 10-20mm and 70-200mm now and they are both 77mm thread size, so no problems there.
 
cheaper alternative is two stacked polarisers. can give anything from a 1st to total blackout if set at right angles to each other.
 
Chillimonster said:
cheaper alternative is two stacked polarisers. can give anything from a 1st to total blackout if set at right angles to each other.
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Surely that will give serious IQ problems? Unless you use 2 very high quality (expensive) polarisers.
 
I can't find a 5 stop B+W filter anywhere! I can see 6 stop, which is close enough but was just curious to why I can't find a 5 stop.
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Sorry Steve,

I meant the 6 stop :shake:
 
No UK dealers - you have to deal direct. A good company to do business with. Still trying to sell body parts for this one though.
 
ShawWellPete said:
Strobist, This week in photography podcast and Photofocus. They've all been talking about them.

Seems like a cool piece of kit, not exactly a "need" though is it? I was wondering how much they would be here...
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No doubt just swap the $ for £ :bang:

IIRC JasonRS bought one after one of the Strobist seminars, so he'd be the man to ask though....
 
It doesn't work. See note 2 on the Singh-Ray site http://www.singh-ray.com/varind.html Even with moderate wide angle you get a cross pattern as the two polarising filters (that's what it is) approach max density. The uneven density occurs with all lenses, but it's less visible with longer focal lengths. You can use cross polarisers for dimming lights, but not on the lens.

It's similar to the new Light Craft Fader 2-8 stops Vari-ND that caused a lot of disappointment when that was launched recently. Tim Dodd posted some pics. Mine were exactly the same :( Basically, don't. However, the Light Craft ND500 9-stops ND is excellent, better than the B+W.

Lots about the Vari-ND here, and stuff on the ND500, but I think Tim's pics are no longer hosted. You don't want to see them though, they were horrendous, unusable http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=225702
 
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