Luminous Landscape Forum

Equipment & Techniques => Cameras, Lenses and Shooting gear => Topic started by: Brian Hirschfeld on February 02, 2012, 11:04:20 am

Title: What ND's and Grad ND's to get
Post by: Brian Hirschfeld on February 02, 2012, 11:04:20 am
Hi, I want to get a comprehensive set of ND's and Grad ND's (Hard and Soft) to use when I play with my camera in landscape situations, I have the Lee medium wide angle filter holder which accepts two 4x4 2mm's. I was looking around and I am interested in Lee's resin filters, since it doesn't seem they make 2mm thick glass filters...thanks,
Title: Re: What ND's and Grad ND's to get
Post by: Bart_van_der_Wolf on February 02, 2012, 11:42:55 am
Hi, I want to get a comprehensive set of ND's and Grad ND's (Hard and Soft) to use when I play with my camera in landscape situations, I have the Lee medium wide angle filter holder which accepts two 4x4 2mm's. I was looking around and I am interested in Lee's resin filters, since it doesn't seem they make 2mm thick glass filters...thanks,

Hi Brian,

I don't know how meticulous you are in your work, but if I'm not mistaken you do have the equipment quality that derseves like optical components. Depending on the density of the ND's you need, I'd certainly go for the Lee ProGlass ND (http://www.leefilters.com/index.php/camera-directory#camera-directory/camera-dir-list/category/proglass-neutral-density-standards) ones.

The problem with resin ones, besides that they can scratch easier, is that the dyes used are relatively transparent to IR, and despite filtering you digital back (unlike film) is still somewhat sensitive to IR. So as you increase the density of the filter, the light loses some spectral balance, and IR starts affecting all channels of the sensor (because the Bayer CFA is also transparent to IR). The metallic coating of the ProGlass series reaches from UV to IR, so colors stay much better intact.

Personally I'm not fond of grads, their use is quickly spotted by the linear division which only works with straight horizons. For most subject matter there are much better solutions available to manage high contrast situations by using bracketed exposures.

Cheers,
Bart
Title: Re: What ND's and Grad ND's to get
Post by: Brian Hirschfeld on February 02, 2012, 11:48:57 am
Hi Brian,

I don't know how meticulous you are in your work, but if I'm not mistaken you do have the equipment quality that derseves like optical components. Depending on the density of the ND's you need, I'd certainly go for the Lee ProGlass ND (http://www.leefilters.com/index.php/camera-directory#camera-directory/camera-dir-list/category/proglass-neutral-density-standards) ones.

The problem with resin ones, besides that they can scratch easier, is that the dyes used are relatively transparent to IR, and despite filtering you digital back (unlike film) is still somewhat sensitive to IR. So as you increase the density of the filter, the light loses some spectral balance, and IR starts affecting all channels of the sensor (because the Bayer CFA is also transparent to IR). The metallic coating of the ProGlass series reaches from UV to IR, so colors stay much better intact.

Personally I'm not fond of grads, their use is quickly spotted by the linear division which only works with straight horizons. For most subject matter there are much better solutions available to manage high contrast situations by using bracketed exposures.

Cheers,
Bart

I don't like bracketing exposures that often because, while I am not averse to the concept and have used it (http://www.flickr.com/photos/brianhirschfeldphotography/6802375757/in/photostream) I don't really like doing it that much, will those filters fit in my filter holder thats attached to the medium wide angle lens hood, or do I have to buy another holder / hood system.... I don't really care if I have to or not, its just, that it seems like almost none of this stuff is in stock anywhere...

I was thinking get 2x .3 2x .6 1x .9 so I could get a nice range of control for neutral densities, and then I wasn't sure if grad nd's are offered in the same ranges / where I can find them.
Title: Re: What ND's and Grad ND's to get
Post by: Scott O. on February 04, 2012, 11:04:12 am
Singh-Ray makes the Galen Rowell series of grads.  Galen was one of the first (if not the first) to come up with this idea.  I personally do not use grads, feeling I can do the same or better in software and having trouble seeing in the field.  Singh-Ray also makes a variable neutral density filter which is fabulous (2-8 stops ND as I recall).  They also make a variable neutral density with a built in polarizer.  Singh-Ray is very high quality with a price to match.
Title: Re: What ND's and Grad ND's to get
Post by: Brian Hirschfeld on February 04, 2012, 03:12:27 pm
Thank you i will look at those, I found a Wide-angle adapter in NJ today and also the resin started set of hard ND's so I got the .3 .6 and .9 resins, but want to get glass ones, I think I am set on the Lee's once I find those in stock somewhere, but I will take a look at those.
Title: Re: What ND's and Grad ND's to get
Post by: TheApprentice on February 04, 2012, 04:32:27 pm
Hi,

I have been researching the Lee filters, and if I remember correctly, the GND's are only made of resin...
The most popular GND's are the 0.6 and 0.9 in both hard and soft...

I hope this helps...