Variable ND filters

[Livin The Dream]

So I'm thinking about a 3 or 4 stop screw in filter but thought what about the variable ones? How good are they and what's worth looking at?

 

[Kodiak Qc]

How good are they and what's worth looking at?

•

For sure…

I have one and I love it both in studio and out. I needed
quite some time and testing to find the better vario and
found it!

There is always the trade offs between price, colour cast
and performance so it is a bit tricky. The most expensive
ones did not cut it… the less ones neither! I found a very
satisfying solution in the Tiffen… and no regrets!

 

[Livin The Dream]

•

For sure…

I have one and I love it both in studio and out. I needed
quite some time and testing to find the better vario and
found it!

There is always the trade offs between price, colour cast
and performance so it is a bit tricky. The most expensive
ones did not cut it… the less ones neither! I found a very
satisfying solution in the Tiffen… and no regrets!

Thanks Daniel. How badly does a 3 stop affect auto focus in a typical home studio? I''m thinking that a 4 stop would be a bit of a pain.

 

[Kodiak Qc]

How badly does a 3 stop affect auto focus in a typical home studio?

•

The AF works fine on recent Nikons down to ƒ7.2 +/-!
So you start counting down from your brightest
aperture.

I don't work that way… focus is confirmed and set
on manual prior to mounting any filters.

 

[Livin The Dream]

•

The AF works fine on recent Nikons down to ƒ7.2 +/-!
So you start counting down from your brightest
aperture.

I don't work that way… focus is confirmed and set
on manual prior to mounting any filters.

Ok, thanks for that. It can be a bit of pain focussing manually at f/2.8 or wider with an 85mm lens. Not impossible, but makes the whole session a little more awkward. I might just try a 3 stop ND as they're half the price of the variable and any cast will be zapped anyway in the studio with an EZY balance or my color checker passport.

 

[CSB]

Remember that variable ND filters are made up of polarising filters which will have the same effect as using a circular polariser. Not usually something you would want to use in a studio situation with models.