ND Grad Filters
 

Hi people

I have never used a forum before so not sure how this works!!

I have a Nikon D5000 with 18-55mm kit lens, 35mm prime, Tamron 70-300mm and about to get a 10-24mm Nikon wide angle lens. I'm VERY new to photography and looking to invest in some ND filters but have absolutely no idea what I'm looking for!! Any help/ advice with brands types etc much appreciated!!

Thank you :)

Cozit83,
I mean this in a completely no offensive way, but if you do not know about ND filters, what to look for, or what they do, why are you looking to invest in them?

Why not first do a search on the web to understand what they are and how they work, and identify any previous situations where you think this might have come in handy in the past, before you decide to bother spending money on something that might just sit there collecting dust.

Well I do a lot of seascapes and have had problems in the past with my skies and got told that filters may help. I understand the principal of what they do there are just quite a few different brands out there all of varying costs and I was just after a bit of advice on what the types were like, which are worth an investment and which aren't.

Lou

ND filters are quite cheap so I would take the recommendation from your local photographic shop. I have a ND4 and ND8 made by Kood 58mm with a stepper ring to 67mm to cover both my lenses

I would also buy a [B]polarising[/B] filter which changes depths of colour. Again not very expensive so jump in and enjoy testing !!

cozit83, from your previous post you take a lot of seascapes and are having trouble with exposure. Exposing for the foreground in this situation will likely leave the sky over exposed, exposing for the sky will likely leave the foreground under exposed. The traditional way to correct for this is to use a Graduated ND. Check out this link for an explanation of what they do and how to use them [URL]http://www.amateurphotographer.co.uk/how-to/tech-explained/529599/graduated-neutral-density-filters[/URL]

There are several reputable brands to choose from, it really comes down to your budget. The square type filter with associated filter holders are the best system, as these allow you to position the filter accuratly to get the effect you desire. Brands such as Kood, Cokin and Lee all manufacture this type of filter, to suit a variety of budgets. IMHO Lee are the best but they are expensive. I've also used Cokin in the past and they are much more affordable.

I spent over £400 on a set of Lee filters to fit my Nikkor 14-24mm f/2.8 lens (which has no filter thread) but, to be perfectly honest - on my D800 - I cannot discern any quality difference between them and the £5 Chinese cheapies that I bought on eBay and use with all my other lenses.

You should be able to find a set of three or four ND grads (maybe 0.6 and 0.9 hard and soft) with a holder and adapter ring to fit your main lens for about £12 on eBay. Play about with them and experiment - that is the beauty of digital; you don't have film and processing costs for every exposure you make. Have fun.

I used Cokin's which were okay but got a terrible magenta colour cast when stacking filters but then that can be corrected in PP.

I tend to bracket shots now, i.e. on a tripod take a shot exposed for the land, then another for the sky and combine them in photoshop using a mask layer and the gradient tool, this is the same effect as a gradient filter but you can deal with objects on the horizon better.

[QUOTE=changing;88071]I spent over £400 on a set of Lee filters to fit my Nikkor 14-24mm f/2.8 lens (which has no filter thread) but, to be perfectly honest - on my D800 - I cannot discern any quality difference between them and the £5 Chinese cheapies that I bought on eBay and use with all my other lenses.[/QUOTE]

Are you sure you don't have a filter thread on the 14-24 f2.8? I don't have one of these, but the pictures of them seem to show they're complete with filter-thread and it would be a strange Nikon lens indeed if it didn't.
How do you fix your Lee filter holder if there's no thread?

[QUOTE=jet_kit;88520]Are you sure you don't have a filter thread on the 14-24 f2.8? I don't have one of these, but the pictures of them seem to show they're complete with filter-thread and it would be a strange Nikon lens indeed if it didn't.
How do you fix your Lee filter holder if there's no thread?[/QUOTE]

Absolutely sure. The front element of the lens is so convex that a normal filter thread would not be possible. The Lee holder uses a three-part collar arrangement that screws on from behind the dismounted lens. The filter holder, using 170x150mm filters, then clips on to the collar. A pair of baffles can then be added behind the holder to prevent light leaking in to the assembly from the rear.

I also enjoy seascapes so i purchased a B&W filter from Amazon.

[url]http://www.amazon.co.uk/77mm-Neutral-Density-Filter-Stops/dp/B003ZDHP7U/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1365011029&sr=8-1[/url]

I also use a polarizing filter again from Amazon..

This is a shot i took with the ND filter, if this is the effect your after i would definitely invest in one

This was shot using the 18-55mm Nikon lens on my d5100

[IMG]http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss330/trayok_2009/betwsycoed.jpg[/IMG]


Archie