Using CPL and ND grads Question

snerkler

snerkler

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Toby
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I'm currently trying to find a set up to be able to combine the usage of a CPL and grad filters but so far I've come up with nothing (without spending silly money on the Lee System) :( I was recommended one of these to use with my p-series (85mm) system but if used with the wide angle holder it blocks the slot for the ND filter, and if you use the standard filter you can see the filter holder on the edges of the frame at 18mm on FF, and I don't mean just vignetting, you can actually visibly see the holder in shot. I've seen cokin and zomei do a wider filter set (100mm as opposed to 85mm) but I've not found a CPL that can be used in combination with this :facepalm: Has anyone found a solution for the more budget minded folk as Lee systems are just too pricey for me? Ideally I don't want to use circular ND grad filters as they're a bit limiting.

Cheers
 
I may be misunderstanding your problem, but could you not use a screw in CPL and then put your P series adapter on that? Sorry if i've got this wrong.
Cheers
 
Silver pixels said:
I may be misunderstanding your problem, but could you not use a screw in CPL and then put your P series adapter on that? Sorry if i've got this wrong.
Cheers
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None of my CPL's have ever had thread on the front so didn't know this was possible? If it is though wouldn't screwing in the filter holder move the polariser round so it would be very difficult to set the right amount of polarisation as every time you rotated the polariser it would move the holder? Unless I'm missing something of course ;)
 
OK, i now understand. I've never used a CPL but i now realise that it would have to revolve. Sorry.
 
So does nobody have a solution to this? :(
 
Graham W said:
Set up your shot with the polariser in place, and just hold the grad in place manually. (I'm assuming the camera's on a tripod.)
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Yeah, I thought of that but I wasn't sure if my hand would be steady enough and I don't know if any movement of the filter would cause issues. I guess I could try it and see ;) Thanks :)
 
I agree with Graham. I regularly use a ND grad/polariser combination and have never bothered with a filter holder. Placing the ND grad is not that critical usually. It should be relatively easy if you're using a tripod but I find it's pretty much OK without as well. It's usually possible to see the effect of the grad in the viewfinder especially if you're using a wide-ish lens.

If you find that you'd like to progress further with this combo but really can't manage without a holder, that would be the time to go for it.

There was a time once where I was trying to use a 10 stop ND as well (screw-in) but that really was silly. It just didn't work....!
 
jerry12953 said:
I agree with Graham. I regularly use a ND grad/polariser combination and have never bothered with a filter holder. Placing the ND grad is not that critical usually. It should be relatively easy if you're using a tripod but I find it's pretty much OK without as well. It's usually possible to see the effect of the grad in the viewfinder especially if you're using a wide-ish lens.

If you find that you'd like to progress further with this combo but really can't manage without a holder, that would be the time to go for it.

There was a time once where I was trying to use a 10 stop ND as well (screw-in) but that really was silly. It just didn't work....!
Click to expand...
Thanks for the info, I'm definitely going to give this a go. It wasn't so much the mm change in filter placement I was worried about, I just didn't know if in some weird optical way it would blur/soften the image. I'm going to try that too now, moving the filter quite a lot during exposure. I really ned to get a life don't I :oops: :$:LOL:
 
I scratched my first grad ND to bits handholding it in front of the lens! Only a cheapo but I couldn't use it on any smaller lenses.
Don't grad filter holders all allow rotation too? Otherwise you wouldn't be able to align with canted horizons - my crappy cokin one did.
If you can screw the holder onto the cpl you'd position the cpl as wanted with the grad filter holder outside - then slide in and adjust the grad while holding the cpl in place.
Bit of a juggling act though!
 
Yes but it's very difficult to keep the CPL 'aligned'. Plus the extra distance from the lens means the holder can be seen at 18mm on FF.
 
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