Filter choice.

[mondmagu]

Hi all,I am thinking of purchasing some filters for my EOS450D 18-55 and 70-300mm lenses.I'm not sure if I should buy a polariser or graduated filter.The polariser filter gives richer colour to the skies(I think), the graduated I am not too sure of.Most articles you read in the magazines talk about a 2 stop or 6 stop nd grad etc, but presume that you know what the filters do and the effect they have on camera settings.
I haven't even thought of cost yet as I want to decide which to buy and then look around.
I mainly take landscape,macro and the some family photos.
I would appreciate any opinions.

Des

[chris-p]

OK, firstly you use a circular polariser for a couple of different things. It can boost colour by helping stop too much sunlight from washing out the shot (glare reduction) but you can also use it to add and remove reflections from non-metallic surfaces.

ND grads come in a range. You get different densities (measured in stops) and you get different transitions. Soft edge ND grads fade the ND portion into the clear portion gently, hard edge grads have quite an abrupt change in density.
The most common use for ND grads is to balance sky and landscape. If the sky is too bright, exposing the sky correctly means underexposing the foreground. Or exposing the foreground correctly means overexposing the sky. Using an ND grad allows you to cover the sky with a filter which blocks out some of the light (without changing the colour - hence neutral density) so you can correctly expose the sky and the foreground.

Most people would have a range of densities (perhaps an ND2, and ND4 to start with). You can stack them as well so using and ND2 and an ND4 is the same as an ND8.

[mondmagu]

Thanks for the reply Chris,at least now I have an idea of the difference.Ideally I will be buying both types then.One last question,is there a range of densities for the polariser like there is with the ND grads?

Thanks
Des

[chris-p]

No, circular polarisers don't come in different densities.

Be aware though that, if you're going to buy square format ND grads, you'll need a filter holder and adaptor ring. I'd avoid the screw in ND grads as you can't adjust them without moving the camera...

[mondmagu]

Thanks Chris I will keep that in mind.
As usual you give solid info.

Des

[Photographerseye]

Is it posible to use an nd grad filter to shot images of bride groom etc to create more dramatic skies?

[ap4a]

You'd have to be careful about how the bride was positioned within the frame in order to make sure there wasn't a noticeable juxtaposition of light and dark areas cutting across her, which would emphasised by the white of her dress.

[ianpinion]

Originally Posted by Photographerseye

Is it posible to use an nd grad filter to shot images of bride groom etc to create more dramatic skies?

It's easier to take two shots of the one with the sky correctly exposed and the other with your subject correctly exposed and then combine the two images in Photoshop.

[mondmagu]

Purchased a Hoya Circular Polariser for 52 euros here in Dublin.A good price and good quality.

Des