Variable ND Filter mini-review

[donoreo]

I fully admit, I got this just to play with. It is a 58 mm screw on variable ND filter that says it goes from 2 stop to 400 stop (?!? yeah, right). It does not go that high, would that not be pretty much solid? I mean you can barely see through a 10 stop so it seems to peak at around that point.



This is what is looks like. You turn part of it just like a circular polarizer to adjust how many stops. Unfortunately, this is guess work, it is not labelled to give you any guideline other than it is safe to assume that "min" is 2 stops.

I did a test yesterday to see how well it works. I shot the photos in RAW. Here is my no ND shot:



It was getting cloudy, dark and windy when I was doing this.

Here is the ND filter on and set at about 3/4 to max:



The first thing I noticed: no colour cast. I was quite amazed actually. I fully expected some sort of colour cast.

I did process the photos in Lightroom 4 and sync'd the settings so they are processed with exactly the same settings. I can do photos that are just converted from RAW with nothing else if anyone wants to see.

Here is one of the best parts, the cost. It was $21 CDN from Amazon. The link goes to Amazon Canada. The filter is made by a company called Neewer.

[wotcars]

Hi don

I got one from light craft for xmass a year ago the only trouble i found is that its like a polarise filter need to be at least 90 degrees to the sun the other thing i found with my one is when you take it up to the 300 to 400 mark i get a funny cricle line runing through the left or right hand side depending where the sun is to me again no colour cast and agree the 400 i wouldnt say is a 10 stop either but at 21$ looks like a barging

[Markulous]

Originally Posted by donoreo

I fully admit, I got this just to play with. It is a 58 mm screw on variable ND filter that says it goes from 2 stop to 400 stop (?!? yeah, right).

Think you'll find it's ND4 to ND400 which equates to approximately 2 to 8 stops

I too bought the Light Craft ND Fader which gives 2-8 stops when I got my Canon G11 (as it fits both that and my 15-85) and have found it excellent for blending a 3 shot image to maximise movement without losing detail or horrible blurring of cloud. Here's a 3 shot blend from my G11:

[donoreo]

Oh yes, if I do the math that makes more sense, 4 to 8

On that photo, did you take three shots at different ND settings?

[Markulous]

Originally Posted by donoreo

On that photo, did you take three shots at different ND settings?

Effectively, yes (as I chose different shutter speeds and set the Fader to give those exposures)