ND Filters

m5ex9oqjawdg2i

Hi all,

Just looking for some advice on ND Filters. I am trying to take some long exposures of moving water but I am unable to do so due to the intake of light. I want to reduce this with an ND filter but I really don't know what to look out for.

I understand that there are two types glass and non glass (Also round and square). I was investigating and told that non screw in filters would be best as it's easier to take off to check if you are focused or not. Just wondering if anybody has any experience with these filters and what would you recommend.

I am looking to take pictures of moving water mainly.

Cheers

secman

Don't have one myself, but legend has it that the leader for that jobby is the Lee Big Stopper...don't come cheap though............

Secman

pixbyjohn

I use Lee ND filters and also the Lee BIG stopper. The big stopper is a square filter 100mm x 100mm. I have a set of Lee ND soft grad filters which are 100mm x 150mm. If you buy the adapter ring and filter holder it allows you to use up to 3 filters together if you wish. Barkers in Cork supplied mine, http://www.barkerphotographic.ie/index.php?route=product/manufacturer/info&manufacturer_id=193
but other places supply them also.
So what you require is a lens adapter and a filter holder, then a filter whether it be the big stopper for long exposures or graduated ND filters for landscapes.
Have a look here>>>http://www.leefilters.com/
There are other makes of filters which are cheaper, Cokin etc.

samhail

I would suggest that you go onto eBay and search for nd filter and get a cheap one to start. I got a variable nd filter so you can rotate it from 2 nd up to 400 nd for 20 Euro delivered.
The higher the nd, the less light you will let into the camera.
Obviously if you spend 20e on a filter the quality won't be anywhere near if you spend 150+ but for the photos I wanted to the at the time it was more than sufficient.

pixbyjohn

As samhail says start off with a cheap set.
Here is a full set on Ebay to get you going.>> http://www.ebay.ie/itm/Complete-ND-2-4-8-16-Filter-Kit-for-Cokin-P-Square-Filter-Holder-Adapter-Hood-/200979459491?pt=Camera_Filters&hash=item2ecb4f2da3

adox

As always youtube is a great resource for learning. There's loads of vids on there explaining various filters and their effects in real time.

D.S.

adox wrote: »

As always youtube is a great resource for learning. There's loads of vids on there explaining various filters and their effects in real time.

I have just got into this type of photography and am finding that you get what you pay for. Cheap filters that I have used at times can create colour casts and artefacts. I am looking at the lee system later this year.

Also - not sure what gear you have but I have been advised you particularly want to avoid putting cheap glass on good glass if you wish to maintain image quality. That (supposedly) applies to UV filters, polarisers on to grad NDs.