Excellent CHEAP 10-stop.

Stuart, many thanks, I've used your link and ordered one just now. I don't know why it didn't show up when I went on their site earlier, just found their own ones. Anyway, can't wait to try it when it arrives!
 
Yep I couldnt find them either on their site but googled it and up it popped! lol..Strange! Enjoy it
 
Just read the posts and just a suggestion that I saw on a tutorial about LE. If you have different lenses with different filter sizes buy the largest filter and the step down rings, ie I have a 77mm lens and 72mm, bought the 77mm filter and a step down ring which cost a few pounds.
 
Postie just delivered one to me this morning, from SRB via Amazon, just in time for some weekend fun in the sun. Sadly, the case had clearly been opened, and the filter was covered in dust and with a scratch! :( :mad:
 
Stuart, many thanks, I've used your link and ordered one just now. I don't know why it didn't show up when I went on their site earlier, just found their own ones. Anyway, can't wait to try it when it arrives!

Arrived safely yesterday although the packaging was open when the postie delivered it the filter and box seem to be fine. Maybe SRB need to look at their packaging if Magirus had a similar problem. Must get out with it this weekend!
 
That's not good...take photos of it before use, have some fun then send it back! :)
Arrived safely yesterday although the packaging was open when the postie delivered it the filter and box seem to be fine. Maybe SRB need to look at their packaging if Magirus had a similar problem. Must get out with it this weekend!

The packaging was fine, it was the case that had been opened.The lid was slightly bent and wont shut properly, and the insert as creased and bent. Also, with the scratch and grubby condition of the filter I get the distinct impression that I've had a previous return sent out to me. Not a problem, just filed a return with Amazon and need to think of something else to do with the camera over the weekend! How a complaint is dealt with is always a good test of a company IMHO.
 
I would do as Phil says and just use it anyway at the weekend then send it back.
 
The packaging was fine, it was the case that had been opened.The lid was slightly bent and wont shut properly, and the insert as creased and bent. Also, with the scratch and grubby condition of the filter I get the distinct impression that I've had a previous return sent out to me. Not a problem, just filed a return with Amazon and need to think of something else to do with the camera over the weekend! How a complaint is dealt with is always a good test of a company IMHO.

SRB got back to me PDQ and are sending out a replacement today, before I have returned the original. They are covering the cost of returning the damaged filter, and were very sorry to learn of the problem. All good in my book.
 
Nice one..Cant go wrong for the money!As I say cant wait to get a tripod to use instead of my monopod.
 
Here we are: SOOC:

1964960_10153975008630305_444791318_n.jpg
 
First time out with my 10 stopper. 8 minute exposure with the Camdiox (Sigma 35mm 1.4), unfortunately was just a bit too late to catch the last bit of light/colour in the sky...


London March 2014
by Harry_S, on Flickr

and a one minute exposure whilst it was still light...


London March 2014
by Harry_S, on Flickr
 
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Lol Stu... are you still wedged in there? :D

Chris, love your waterfall shot, feels very vibrant with a good range of tones.

Chris (although your flickr says Harry_S??) I love those two shots too. The wheel is ace and i like the detail in the sky of London.

Had a go with mine today too, quite pleased although the cloud in the sky was appalling. :(


Pleasley Pit
by David Raynham, on Flickr

Pleasley Pit
by David Raynham, on Flickr

And a mono conversion of the above.


Pleasley Pit Mono
by David Raynham, on Flickr

Cheers.
 
Chris (although your flickr says Harry_S??) I love those two shots too. The wheel is ace and i like the detail in the sky of London.

My nickname is Harry :)

Both were taken using a Gorillapod SLR, the 5D MkII and Sigma 35mm are a little too heavy for it really, but it held up well. Considering the wind was gusting and one was 8 minutes long it just proves you don't have to have a solid tripod to use these things!
 
8 minutes????? Was it the middle of the night? :LOL:

8pm...and I only got it down to that by bumping up to ISO400 and opening up to f4. On my usual night settings (ISO100, f8ish) my App calculated it at 64 minutes! It needed another few minutes I think but I had a train to catch...
 
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Can someone advise me what is the best iPhone app for calulating exposure times please?
 
look for one called long time, its free.

The problem with that is that it assumes no change in ISO or aperture. Just changing the shutter speed is just too simple a calculation to bother with an app, especially with a 10-stopper.

10 stops changes the exposure by a factor of 1000 (close enough). So, if you need a shutter speed of 1/500 without the filter then it's 1000/500 (2s) with. 1/30 without is 1000/30, or 100/3 (30s close enough) with the filter. Most people should be able to do those calculations in their head faster than getting a phone out of their pocket.
 
I use trial and error !!! - but the great thing with the XE-1 is that you can still use the rear display to compose with the filter fitted and use manual focus/peaking too.

I will upload a colour one I took last night to show how with a little WB altering in the RAW to JPG conversion you can get great looking colour images too....
 
For exposure calc, the problem with this type of extreme ND filter is that very few of them are exactly ten stops. I've tested a lot of them and they range from 8.5 to over 11 stops, and they're also prone to slight batch variation. There can also be some other slight variables according to the available light - basically infrared content. So the first thing is to test your filter, in good light, and find out what you've actually got.

Two easy ways to calculate exposure. Say your filter is exactly ten stops, then that's 30 clicks on the shutter speed dial (camera set to default 1/3rd stop increments) or also a total of 30 clicks of shutter speed, aperture and ISO combined. This works well up to the camera's 30secs maximum. Or, write down the key shutter speeds you're likely to use, and stick that to a label or card in to the filter box, or inside the lens cap - you'll only need a few numbers, less than ten.

In practise, the final exposure may well vary from the calculated one, even when you've got all the sums right. Handy tip - some cameras, like all Canons I think, when set to 'B' the frame counter will count the seconds, so no need for a watch.
 
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