bigfatlamer
New Member
like to ask pro here is variable ND filter good for landscape photo?
variable ND Filter
- Thread starter bigfatlamer
- Start date
I haven't tried variable NDs yet but if you ever want to use them, I'd suggest getting the best (Singh-Ray). Reason being bad filters can seriously screw up your image quality. Variable NDs are already hard to make (compared to NDs) so at the same cost, they should degrade image quality more than normal NDs. If you get a crap one, lagi worse.
For landscapes, usually if I want to smooth the water or the skies, I'd use the max I can get (which is 10 stops). The vari ND filter has more advantages for portrait work. For landscapes it can help if you don't want to waste time taking out the filter every time you change composition. Just turn it to 2 stops, check your framing, then turn it back to 8. With a 10 stops filter it's impossible to check your framing with the filter on unless you are shooting in the brightest conditions.
For landscapes, usually if I want to smooth the water or the skies, I'd use the max I can get (which is 10 stops). The vari ND filter has more advantages for portrait work. For landscapes it can help if you don't want to waste time taking out the filter every time you change composition. Just turn it to 2 stops, check your framing, then turn it back to 8. With a 10 stops filter it's impossible to check your framing with the filter on unless you are shooting in the brightest conditions.
Have you read the filter guide? A vary ND is just a technically different form of ND. Whether it is good .. two aspects: resulting effects and colour accuracy come in here. If any ND does the trick then a vary ND is just more flexible. Colour accuracy can vary (since vary ND is a combination of two CPL filters) - you may want to shoot RAW to correct colour casts.
bigfatlamer
New Member
Thanks from the info.
rhino123
Senior Member
One thing you have to take note was that when using UWA lenses when fitted on with Vari-ND filter, you might get a 'X' effect at some point.
An In-Depth Comparison of Two Variable Neutral Density Filters
So far my vari-ND filter can only give me up to (at the most) 5 stop before the 'X' effect came in... and so in the end, I gave up and buy myself a Hoya ND400 and thats it.
An In-Depth Comparison of Two Variable Neutral Density Filters
So far my vari-ND filter can only give me up to (at the most) 5 stop before the 'X' effect came in... and so in the end, I gave up and buy myself a Hoya ND400 and thats it.
I believed the x symptom referred here is mentioned in http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/readflat.asp?forum=1018&message=39519665&changemode=1
I just realised this issue this morning by boat quay when stopping down max and at my tamron widest focus length 17mm. Of cos I was using a 3rd party mic filter as I am not into landscape.
I believed too though investing a more branded or expensive var nd filter too will suffer e same but with more tolerance right?
This is saving me the time and convenience of adjusting but a fixed nd filter Is the best option?
I just realised this issue this morning by boat quay when stopping down max and at my tamron widest focus length 17mm. Of cos I was using a 3rd party mic filter as I am not into landscape.
I believed too though investing a more branded or expensive var nd filter too will suffer e same but with more tolerance right?
This is saving me the time and convenience of adjusting but a fixed nd filter Is the best option?
There are 2 other very good ones worth looking at, the Tiffen Vari-ND and the Heliopan Variable ND.
Personally, I am not impressed with the LCW.
Yes.. but the Heliopan also max out at 6.6 stops.
I also nearly bought a variable ND filter, until I read up all the potential image quality issues.
I know they are not recommended, but just curious if anyone has tried lower end brands? I saw this one called iLens from MS Color.
If wanting to go 8 stops, I guess a fixed ND filter is the best.
I personally can probably live with having to make slight adjustment changes to the aperature, shutter speed and maybe even ISO if I want to go a more precise 7 or 6 stops.. but has anyone any experience with this?
It's just not practical to bring along a full set of ND filters of varying stops.
I know they are not recommended, but just curious if anyone has tried lower end brands? I saw this one called iLens from MS Color.
If wanting to go 8 stops, I guess a fixed ND filter is the best.
I personally can probably live with having to make slight adjustment changes to the aperature, shutter speed and maybe even ISO if I want to go a more precise 7 or 6 stops.. but has anyone any experience with this?
It's just not practical to bring along a full set of ND filters of varying stops.
Yep, I have the Ilens filter.... got it sometimes back, impulse buy, never use so far., only test shot...
My test: this ilens can down to 5 stops - still OK (based on my quality acceptance std) ... after that, 'banding' comes....
BUT surprising the color cast is better than the HOYA fixed ND filter..... I also have the BW and Hoya ND filter...... Hoya ND give a bluish/greenish tint....
Qualified my comment a little: I did not 'pixel peep' the resulting image.... so that quality i do not know....
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I have been looking into variable ND filters for quite some time now. Mostly to use it to capture motion and use bigger aperture for videos during sunny weather. Only problem is price since the good ones like Singh Ray is expensive. Then I came across Camdiox brand from Tagotech for $30. Enticing for its price. Anyone tried it? Any other cheaper but good alternative variable ND filters under $50? the reason why I dont want to get the expensive ones is because I want to experiment with it first and dropping a large amount then not using it as much might be a waste of money.
All those cheap ones you mentioned are not worth your time and money. If you really want one, you have to pay for quality. There are no cheap and good ones.
giantcanopy
Senior Member
How about getting a good ND filter instead of a high end Vari ND.
If you are looking to long exposures anyway, you can always get a 10 stop Lee for instance, and it will still be cheaper than a Heliopan or SR or Schneider True Match variable NDs.
Ryan
If you are looking to long exposures anyway, you can always get a 10 stop Lee for instance, and it will still be cheaper than a Heliopan or SR or Schneider True Match variable NDs.
Ryan
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