Luminous Landscape Forum

Equipment & Techniques => Cameras, Lenses and Shooting gear => Topic started by: Neil Williams on June 28, 2015, 11:05:25 pm

Title: variable ND filters
Post by: Neil Williams on June 28, 2015, 11:05:25 pm
Guys
What if any variable ND filters are you using......Singh Ray, B+W ??? For both landscape and outside portraiture.
Title: Re: variable ND filters
Post by: Otto Phocus on June 29, 2015, 08:12:14 am
I have a Marumi Variable ND filter and I am very happy with it.  Good quality at a good price.
Title: Re: variable ND filters
Post by: albertknappmd on July 01, 2015, 11:01:07 am
B+W. very satisfied.
Title: Re: variable ND filters
Post by: dwswager on July 03, 2015, 12:44:48 pm
Quote from: ndwgolf on June 28, 2015, 11:05:25 pm
Guys
What if any variable ND filters are you using......Singh Ray, B+W ??? For both landscape and outside portraiture.

I have used a Schneider Vari True Match (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/851445-REG/Schneider_68_031177_77mm_True_Match_Vari_ND_Filter.html) and I liked it well enough.  My problem with the variable ones is still the limited range considering you must stay a couple stops down from full strength.  The flexibility of infinite variability is nice, but no longer as big an issue now with better sensors.

I carry a 2 stop, 4 stop and 10 stop ND all in 77mm round.  Now shooting the D810, I would almost go to 3, 5 and 10 because the dynamic range and clean shadows.  I just find the individual ones give me the flexibility I need. 
Title: Re: variable ND filters
Post by: leuallen on July 03, 2015, 03:11:20 pm
Quote
I have a Marumi Variable ND filter and I am very happy with it.  Good quality at a good price.

You are lucky. I have one and it is unusable due to the terrible loss of sharpness.

Larry
Title: Re: variable ND filters
Post by: Graham Clark on July 05, 2015, 08:10:06 pm
Singh-Ray, love it.

Useless at 24mm and wider, like all other VNDs, but longer than 30 it's great.

Graham
Title: Re: variable ND filters
Post by: Otto Phocus on July 06, 2015, 07:31:56 am
Quote from: leuallen on July 03, 2015, 03:11:20 pm
You are lucky. I have one and it is unusable due to the terrible loss of sharpness.

Larry

That is interesting.  All my new filters are Marumi and I have not experienced any issues with them.

To each his/her own.  :)
Title: Re: variable ND filters
Post by: leuallen on July 06, 2015, 11:25:06 am
Not knocking Marumi as I use a couple of their CP filters and find them fine. That is why I was surprised with the results from this one. Maybe it is just bad sample variation.

Larry
Title: Re: variable ND filters
Post by: Alan Klein on July 06, 2015, 03:58:08 pm
Do filters add problems to high resolution cameras like 24mb and 36mb?  With all the discussions on having better menses with these cameras, I haven't noticed any discussion about the effect filters have on these cameras.
Title: Re: variable ND filters
Post by: MattBurt on July 14, 2015, 05:21:57 pm
I wrote a review on the LightCraft RapidND (http://www.pentaxforums.com/articles/review-news/lightcraft-rapid-nd-review.html?src=all) variable filter last summer and was pleasantly surprised with the results.
Title: Re: variable ND filters
Post by: Bob_B on July 15, 2015, 09:29:10 am
Quote from: Graham Clark on July 05, 2015, 08:10:06 pm
Singh-Ray, love it.

Useless at 24mm and wider, like all other VNDs, but longer than 30 it's great.

Graham

+1, although these days I use my S-R variable far less than my fixed 8-stop ND filter.