Your thoughts on ND filters

[EJC]

Hi folks

Sun sets and moving water are my favorite subjects. I went into a photography store yesterday to look at ND filters but the owner didn't have much selection. He told me this was because everything a filter can do can be done in PP. I'm not sure I agree when it comes to ND & ND grads for my favorite shots. In the interest of traveling light and compact are the Cokin P series ND and ND grad filters worth getting or will a screw-in round ND and Photoshop (for grad situations) yield the same results.

cheers
EJC

[jjeling]

Your store owner is a fool. Sometimes, when taking landscape images, you need that filter to tone the sky down so it is not blown out. Once an image is blown out, you will never be able to get anything out of it. You can take a series of images and then convert them into an HDR image, but that is not what you want I'm assuming. I do not have much experience with them, but for moving water, I have found that circular polarizers work pretty well. Would not even worry about what he has to say, clearly he needs to spend more time in the field.

[Mad Aussie]

I'm another Circular Polariser user. I've thought about Graduating filters but so far have found my CP sufficient and often a better choice due to being able to adjust the darkness 360 degrees.

If I had the choice I'd go the CP before ND Grad every time personally. If I had more money to toss away I'd have both and about 3 different ND Grads I think.

[AcadieLibre]

I use CP on bright sunny days, and that not all the time either, a lot depends what outcome I want.

[dmagick]

I'm another Circular Polariser user. I've thought about Graduating filters but so far have found my CP sufficient and often a better choice due to being able to adjust the darkness 360 degrees.

If I had the choice I'd go the CP before ND Grad every time personally. If I had more money to toss away I'd have both and about 3 different ND Grads I think.

Using a CP affects the whole image, using a ND Grad filter affects the part of the pic you want.

This was taken with a ND Grad - if I used a CP the foreground would be darker as well (which I didn't want) so I'd lose some detail in the rock.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3392/3222547766_c16a0b606e.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/dmagick/3222547766/)

They have quite different uses.

I got 3 Cokin ND grad's (with the adapter for the lens) for under $100 AUS, they aren't that expensive.

[jjeling]

It all depends on what you want to do. I have heard of people using polarizers and nd filters simultaneously. Since you can be selective with each one, you will just need a longer exposure time, and a tripod of course. This is not something I have experience with, but sometimes I will try at some point.

[tirediron]

It all depends on what you want to do. I have heard of people using polarizers and nd filters simultaneously. Since you can be selective with each one, you will just need a longer exposure time, and a tripod of course. This is not something I have experience with, but sometimes I will try at some point.

Something I do frequently; in fact, I've gone so far as to use a CPOL, G-ND and ND at the same time. You can do a lot in post, but there's NO substitute for getting it right in the camera!

[EJC]

Thanks for the responses everyone! I think I'll go with the Cokin system as I think along the same lines as Tirediron and try to limit PP work.

Aussie do you find you use one in particular more than others for landscapes. Perhaps a mid ND or mid ND grad as opposed to the darker ones?

Cheers
EJC

[Mad Aussie]

Thanks for the responses everyone! I think I'll go with the Cokin system as I think along the same lines as Tirediron and try to limit PP work.

Aussie do you find you use one in particular more than others for landscapes. Perhaps a mid ND or mid ND grad as opposed to the darker ones?

Cheers
EJC
I only have a circular polariser ... would love the cokin system

[EJC]

opps! Sorry Aussie I lost track of who said what. I should have asked dmagick.

How aboutit dmagick? If you only had 1 filter which would you pick?

cheers
EJC

[kat]

The only thing I have is a UV Filter..lol..as I lower my head in shame.

I really want to get some but don't know where to start...

[dmagick]

Hi,


opps! Sorry Aussie I lost track of who said what. I should have asked dmagick.

How aboutit dmagick? If you only had 1 filter which would you pick?

cheers
EJC

Go for the mid-nd grad. You can tone the sky down a bit but leave the foreground lighter.

[tirediron]

I would recommend investing a little more in your filters than one. Ideally, as a start, look to a 1 stop and a 2 stop graduated neutral-density and the same in straight neutral density. This will give you a lot more flexibility and creativity.