ND Filters

[Andrewbot]

I recently have been looking at getting a set of neutral density filters for my DSLR (Canon 7D), and have come up with some questions for those who might have them:

 

a) Which lens to buy them for: Should I look at buying a set for the 50mm 1.4 or 28-135mm 3.5-5.6 lens? I think it makes more sense to go with the zoom lens, but any feedback is appreciated.

 

b) Who to buy from: I have read a lot of good things about B+W, but what about Dolica?

 

c) Which one(s) to buy: 3-Filter set For $45 this seems to be a decent set of filters, and I get that having only 1 ND filter won't be able to accomplish all the effects one might want.

 

Any feedback is appreciated!

[The Guru]

I think there are lens fitters that you can buy so you can use your filters on any of your lenses. But if you don't want to spend extra money on that I suggest you get it for a wide angle lens or a telezoom, like you suggested.

[rhyn]

Personally I'd get them for the 50mm 1.4 as it's a far better lens but that's just me. I don't use anything past 50mm all that often, especially not long exposures.

[Mark]

As the real use for an ND filter is to allow you to slow down the shutter speed for fancy effects on bright days, I'd suggest using it on the zoom lens as it's the slower lens anyway. Surely it's a conflict of interest deliberately slowing down the speed for a lens that's designed to be fast? I guess the number one question would be what lens do you use the most? I guess if the 50mm prime is a lot sharper at the apertures you tend to use and you use that lens the most, maybe this may be a better bet, but I'm assuming the 28-135 is your walk around lens so adding the versatility here may be the superior choice.

 

To be honest, do you often find that shooting at ISO100 on a bright day doesn't allow you to get the shutter speeds and/or apertures you wish to use with your current setup? I was thinking of buying a set of ND filters recently but figured that the lenses I have are good enough at smaller apertures that I didn't really need one. Having said that, I've not had the chance to use it on a very bright sunny summers day yet. But as an example it can still shoot some alright water shots even on sunny days:

 

 

Maybe a tad blown on the top left but looking back at it I had it on too high an ISO. D'oh, user error.

 

That may change next summer or when I go skiing in January. May pick one up then. Instead I plumbed for a polarising filter cause I love the effect it adds to skies etc:

 

 

As for manufacturers, I've seen Hoya filters recommended by quite a few, but I've not researched their ND filters.

 

http://www.hoyafilter.com/products/hoya/oef-05.html

[rhyn]

Hoya filters are great. I have two of their U.V filters, one on my digital's kit lense and one on my 35mm's 50mm prime lens and they are never taken off.

[customkingpimp]

I have a hoya polarizing filter and i love it, often does not leave my camera. but i dont know about their ND filters, but i bet they are just as good.

[uzer]

Surely it's a conflict of interest deliberately slowing down the speed for a lens that's designed to be fast? I guess the number one question would be what lens do you use the most?

Not in the least bit. A ND filter will allow you to use a slower shutter speed with the faster aperture without sacrificing your desired depth of field. Moreover, all lenses experience some distortion near f/18 or so and the effect worsens at F/22 and beyond; a ND filter allows you to avoid this.

 

 

I'm planning to purchase a singh-ray variable ND filter once I get my tax refund in a couple weeks. Sadly this isn't really an option for you since they are only made in 77/82mm.

[Mark]

Good point, hadn't thought of that .

[kamikaze goth]

there's a 3 stop and a 10 stop ND filter. A 10 stop filter will only do 10 stops, nothing else.

 

As you've found, you can get different strengths and as someone else said you can stack them. I wouldn't go more than 2-3 stacked together though as particularly on a wide angle lens you'll start to see the filter edges in the corner of the image

Edited December 11, 2010 by kamikaze goth