B+W 10 Stop ND Filter - Your Help

TurnipFarmer

TurnipFarmer

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Aaron
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I am wanting to try my hand at some long exposure ND filter photos.

Which one should I get? I have heard the B+W filters are the best for this, I have a Sony A200, can I get decent shots doing long ND shots with this camera? I will prob use the kit lens which is 55mm, any idea where I can get one from?
 
Woh patience! Everybody is out taking photographs if they have any sense!

So for long exposures... It really depends what effect you are trying to do and what time of day you are trying to do it.

B+W make a 10 stop filter. This one screws into your lens much like a U/V or Polariser might. The B+W is expensive.

The other 10 stop option is the Lee 'Big Stopper'. This is designed to be used with the Lee filter holder system. Again this is also an expensive option as you have to buy into the Lee system and purchase the filter adaptor and holder.

The other option is just to get some less dark ND filters. Cokin, Hitech and Lee (in order of expense) are some of the systems available. These are all using a filter hold that screws into the lens and then you slot a piece of glass, plastic or resin into the holder to reduce the light reaching the camera.

You are buying into a system so you may want to have a think about what you're really trying to achieve. Do you really want a 10 stop effect? It's results can be a bit hit and miss. You need practice and patience. Perhaps going for some 2-3 stop NDs to start with may be the way to go...

Just my 2pth ;) HTH
 
Yeah that was the one I want.

Freester thanks for the advise, I want to try and take photos with moving skylines and moving water, I have seen some really interesting shots on here and flickr which I would like to have a go at.

I am really struggling to find a place that actually sells them, anybody know where I can buy one?

nikonuser said:
I have read a few comments over the past 4 months on ND filters and many people recommend the B+W ND 10 stop.
http://www.speedgraphic.co.uk/prod.asp?i=16388&1=B+W+ND3.0+(10+stops)+110
I think it would be the one I choose when it comes down to it.
Dave
Click to expand...
 
It does say "Next Stock Due Early August" but directly below that it also says "Availability: In stock."

Possibly due to their type of online shop setup they always show their stock delivery dates for items that can often go in and out of stock, even when they are still in stock. But to me it would say 'availability: out of stock' if they were out of stock. Maybe give them a quick call if you want to double check.

Did you try & buy it? It adds to cart fine.

Direct link to B+W 110 (3.0) SH NDx1000 55mm Neutral Density Filter
 
You wont regret the purchase :). As for tips I have a few, may seem obvious but I didnt know lol.

1. You cant see a blooming thing through the veiw finder so compose your shot before you put the filter on.

2. Make sure you cover the view finder when metering your shot (if not using manual) as the light that gets in through it sends the metering all over the shop.

3. If you have live view it can be used to compose wen the filter is on...... you can just about make out the areas of extreme light, i.e the sky

4. When you are attaching the filter hold yor hand below incase of an accident, it would be an exspensive one :)

Ummm thats about it, good luck.
 
Here's roughly how I do it

1) Fix camera on tripod (set to manual - no filter attached)
2) Compose using viewfinder
3) ISO 100
4) Aperture around f/8 or f/11*
5) Set shutter speed to Expose correctly (I expose to the right using my histogram)
6) Focus using center focus point (and recompose if necessary)
7) Switch lens Auto focus off
8) Switch on mirror lockup
9) Attach 10 stop filter
10) Change the shutter speed by 10 stops. I turn the wheel through 30 clicks as i use 1/3 stop increments**
11) Using a remote with a 2 second delay I take the photo.
12) check histogram and adjust shutter speed if necessary to expose correctly.

*depends on the depth of field you want and the length of time you want to expose for. you may need to go down to f/22 (or further if your lens allows it) to get exposures lasting minutes if its too bright.

** when you reach 30 secs/bulb just double your time for each stop you have left.
for example,
If you are at 25 secs and have changed your shutter speed by 7 stops but cant turn the wheel past 30sec then switch to bulb and work out the last 3 stops doubling the time each time.
7 stops = 25 secs
8 stops = 50 secs
9 stops = 100 secs
10 stops = 200 secs

Then I watch the timer in bulb mode and make sure I clicked the remote to finish the exposure at the correct time.

Have a play with longer exposures to see the changes in the clouds/water to get the effect you want. I usually change my aperture with the filter still on to get longer/shorter exposures then if there is one I really want I will take the filter off and check my focus is ok with my new aperture and re-take the photo.

I also usually take a photo of my x-rite colour passport to get the colours correct in post.

As Ian said be careful putting the filter off & on as its easily dropped.
 
clicki wiki

I see you have a sony slr which I am not familiar with, but look up mirror lockup on your manual and it should explain howto switch it on and off.
 
rowla said:
Here's roughly how I do it
Click to expand...

Is there a reason you prefer to manually set the time, rather than just letting the camera figure it out with the filter attached?

Just curious, no experience at all of these types of filter.

Graham
 
blue max said:
Is there a reason you prefer to manually set the time, rather than just letting the camera figure it out with the filter attached?

Just curious, no experience at all of these types of filter.

Graham
Click to expand...

At a guess most exposures with a 10 stop filter attached would require a shutter of longer than 30 seconds, hence manually configuring the length of time the shutter is open.

To the OP, Digital Photo did a test of the three most popular big stop lens filters last month. Check out their website. Or try google.
 
blue max said:
Is there a reason you prefer to manually set the time, rather than just letting the camera figure it out with the filter attached?

Just curious, no experience at all of these types of filter.

Graham
Click to expand...


Canonite said:
At a guess most exposures with a 10 stop filter attached would require a shutter of longer than 30 seconds, hence manually configuring the length of time the shutter is open.
Click to expand...

As Canonite said, anything longer than 30 secs (which it the longest shutter speed setting before bulb) and I have to switch to bulb mode, work out the exposure time & make sure I click the shutter release/remote when the shutter needs to close again.

The times have been posted on another 10 stop filter thread
 
Gotcha, thanks for the answers guys. Guess I have yet to explore the limitations of my camera's exposure ;)

Graham
 
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