Filters for Landscape shooting - What do i really need?

Wow, lots of awesome responces to this thread. Sorry for my delay in responding.

So for me it looks like perhaps a .6 and 0.9 nd grads, lee wide angle adaptor ring when using the wide end of my 17-40 on my 5d.

I am wondering how much i will need a circ pol, looking at the Lee 105mm and the adaptor ring that goes with it.

Looking at the following? Anyone any thoughts?

http://www.warehouseexpress.com/buy-lee-digital-slr-starter-kit/p1018206
 
I just got one of them - got the 52mm version though as I am a cheapskate and the lenses I mostly use for landscapes are 52 and 46mm. Can't wait to try it out - off to the Outer Hebrides next week. :)
 
Just a quick note that hitech do a slot in 10 stop for about 30 quid IIRC, I find the slot in ones easier as you don't have to faff around screwing and unscrewing when you want to re compose, if you keep if you slot it in closest to the lens light leak isn't really a big deal, the crazy colour casts can be dealt with in post but as most people have pointed out, you are really better off getting it right in camera.

I generally use a CP screwed on then a lee holder with a slot in grad (usually a soft 0.9) and sometimes the 10 stop slotted. Tripod essential for anything slower than 1/30 really but sometimes you can get it off the tripod to look at compositions, this generally means rolling around on the ground until you find something you are happy with. Then get it on the tripod and put your aperture and ISO back to sensible levels.
 
petebarnes said:
Just a quick note that hitech do a slot in 10 stop for about 30 quid IIRC, I find the slot in ones easier as you don't have to faff around screwing and unscrewing when you want to re compose, if you keep if you slot it in closest to the lens light leak isn't really a big deal, the crazy colour casts can be dealt with in post but as most people have pointed out, you are really better off getting it right in camera.

I generally use a CP screwed on then a lee holder with a slot in grad (usually a soft 0.9) and sometimes the 10 stop slotted. Tripod essential for anything slower than 1/30 really but sometimes you can get it off the tripod to look at compositions, this generally means rolling around on the ground until you find something you are happy with. Then get it on the tripod and put your aperture and ISO back to sensible levels.
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I should have mentioned the Hitech square 10-stopper, though it does have a reputation for strong colour casts and you need some way of sealing it from light leaks around the back which are a problem with such dark filters (you also need to cover the viewfinder when shooting for the same reason).

The other filter worth considering is the Hoya X400 which is nine stops and the only multi-coated dark ND. Hard to get in the UK (special order only) plus it's expensive.

Not to be forgotten is the glass from a welding mask, which is available in a range of densities from about 10-14 stops. A couple of quid off ebay or mine was £3.50 from Machine Mart. I got some pretty good results from mine, but you need a custom white balance to get rid of the green cast, or fix it in post.

There's been lots of stuff on here recently about using these if you search.
 
ND10 & polariser(s). Rest is better done with bracketed shots using photoshop
 
I recently purchased a Hoya X400 from ebay for £25. Admittedly it's only 49mm, but good quality Olympus OM lenses can be had for very reasonable prices, and these can be adapted to Canon very easily using a £5 adapter...

I'm hopefully picking up some Hi-Techs next Friday, including a 2.1 and a 0.9, which I'll stack if bright, but should give some flexibility in the usual murky conditions of the UK!
 
I bet you wish you'd never asked ;)


I have a polariser and some NDs: a 2 stop, 3 stop and some cheapo welding glass ND-substitute. Some ND grads that are scratched and need replacing. Also a few round NDs and an infrared filter that don't fit my current lenses so don't get used.
 
antc said:
Back on topic, what do you guys have in your filter kits for shooting landscapes?
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I have ....

Lee 0.3, 0.6, 0.9 ND
Lee 0.3, 0.6, 0.9 ND soft grads
Lee 0.3, 0.6, 0.9 ND hard grads
Lee circ polariser
Lee sky set (sunset 2, sky blue 3, coral stripe)
 
HiTech 0.3, 0.6, 0.9 ND
HiTech 0.3, 0.6, 0.9 ND soft grads
HiTech 0.3, 0.6, 0.9 ND hard grads
Heliopan circ polariser
B&W 3.0 ND (10 stop)

Not shot a landscape in yonks though :(

But got a day with Joe Cornish this month! :woot:
 
Are most peoples filters the 100x150 or the 100x100? Are the 100x100 limiting in terms of where the line be positioned to avoid the edge of the grad showing when used with 77mm lens or is it marketing hype and 100x100 is perfectly adequate?
 
68lbs said:
HiTech 0.3, 0.6, 0.9 ND
HiTech 0.3, 0.6, 0.9 ND soft grads
HiTech 0.3, 0.6, 0.9 ND hard grads
Heliopan circ polariser
B&W 3.0 ND (10 stop)

Not shot a landscape in yonks though :(

But got a day with Joe Cornish this month! :woot:
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Got quite a collection there then! How do you find the HiTechs? For me its between them and the Lee.

Also im not jealous at all about your day with Sir Cornish!!!!!! :nuts:

Dr_O said:
Are most peoples filters the 100x150 or the 100x100? Are the 100x100 limiting in terms of where the line be positioned to avoid the edge of the grad showing when used with 77mm lens or is it marketing hype and 100x100 is perfectly adequate?
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I think most of the 100mm filters tend to be 100mmx150mm from what i can see, thats certainly true for the cokin z-pro, HiTech and Lee 100mm that i have been checking out.
 
Dr_O said:
Are most peoples filters the 100x150 or the 100x100? Are the 100x100 limiting in terms of where the line be positioned to avoid the edge of the grad showing when used with 77mm lens or is it marketing hype and 100x100 is perfectly adequate?
Click to expand...

For Grads I went for 100x150.
Solid NDs are 100x100.
 
68lbs said:
But got a day with Joe Cornish this month! :woot:
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Tell him he still owes me a pint ;)

Dr_O said:
Are most peoples filters the 100x150 or the 100x100? Are the 100x100 limiting in terms of where the line be positioned to avoid the edge of the grad showing when used with 77mm lens or is it marketing hype and 100x100 is perfectly adequate?
Click to expand...

I use both (Lees are 150x100 and Hitech 100x100), while the 100x100 are no problem even at 17mm on a FF body, the 150mm , being longer means you can grasp the top & bottom edges without getting smearer fingermarks in the frame.
 
antc said:
Back on topic, what do you guys have in your filter kits for shooting landscapes?
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Lee UWA Holder and Adaptor

0.6 Pro Glass ND

0.3 0.6 0.9 Pro Glass ND Grad Hard

I miss a 0.6 ND Grad Soft and that will be my next purchase!
 
Les McLean said:
I use both (Lees are 150x100 and Hitech 100x100), while the 100x100 are no problem even at 17mm on a FF body, the 150mm , being longer means you can grasp the top & bottom edges without getting smearer fingermarks in the frame.
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Thanks, think I'd regret the 100x100 or even 85mm filters. May as well get it right first time with a bit of bodging:

77mm CPL with 67-77 step up ring, can justify the 105mm CPL/adaptor
Set of 100X150 soft hitechs which does mean I get the 0.3 that seems to get little use but for £80 seems cost effective way

Prob get Lee holder and adaptor (would it be a 77 or 67 if using step up ring?) although could handhold for a while as many seem to I suppose

Screw in ND filter (8 or 10) as they seem better as no leakage.
 
For those who have a NDx10 (B&W 110 ND 3.0) filter and an Iphone, here's a useful app (59p)

ND Calc which can calculate exposures for you dependant upon the strength of ND filter-it also has a countdown timer for exposures longer than 4 seconds

Here's an example straight from my iphone

Capture.JPG


App link:
http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=300699192&mt=8#

NDCalc homepage
http://www.nsonic.de/blog/software/ndcalc-iphone/

Thanks to Nick T for first mentioning it in another post :thumbs:
 
antc said:
How do you find the HiTechs?
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The grads are great and I can't fault them. My most used is probably the 0.3

The ND's are great too, but if you start stacking them you can get a slight magenta cast. But it seems to vary dependent on conditions. I did have a slot in HiTech 10 stop too, but found it a mare both for the magenta cast AND flare.
 
68lbs said:
The grads are great and I can't fault them. My most used is probably the 0.3

The ND's are great too, but if you start stacking them you can get a slight magenta cast. But it seems to vary dependent on conditions. I did have a slot in HiTech 10 stop too, but found it a mare both for the magenta cast AND flare.
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Lee have just announced a 10-stopper in 100mm square. They claim high quality glass - £95 http://www.leefilters.com/camera/news/ref:N4B8F96517C324/

Not sure how you're supposed to seal slot-in filters against light leaks though. When I tried it with the cheapo welding glass, unless that was sealed absolutely (with BluTak) to the front of the lens, the reflections of the back of the filter were truly horrendous, unusable. Surprisingly good when you do seal it though, and do a custom white balance, for three quid :eek:
 
Les McLean said:
For those who have a NDx10 (B&W 110 ND 3.0) filter and an Iphone, here's a useful app (59p)

ND Calc which can calculate exposures for you dependant upon the strength of ND filter-it also has a countdown timer for exposures longer than 4 seconds

Here's an example straight from my iphone

Capture.JPG


App link:
http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=300699192&mt=8#

NDCalc homepage
http://www.nsonic.de/blog/software/ndcalc-iphone/

Thanks to Nick T for first mentioning it in another post :thumbs:
Click to expand...

Thats a great spot Les McLean!

Going to get that downloaded and give it a go!
 
Went along to Foucs today, had a great time and I have just about recovered from a spending spree which saw me get everything I went for apart from the filters !!!!

List of items as follows -

1. Lee 77mm w/a adaptor
2. Lee 105mm Circ Pol
3. Lee Circ Pol ring
4. Lee foundation kit
5. Lee 10 filter multi pouch
6. Lee cleaning cloths x2

Was going to buy the soft ND grads as well but they had sold out (only had 3 sets with the yesterday and they all sold yesterday!)

Made some really good savings at the show on all the above products which was great and worth going for alone!

They had the grad sets at £133 instead of £148 ish everywhere else which i thought was a good price considering the general stock shortage. That price was for both hard and soft sets.

So im now on the lookout for a set of soft nd grads from a place that has stock haha!

If anyone sees any please shout.

Also anyone have any tips, tricks or tech advice for getting the best out of this kit?

Thanks
 
chewyuk said:
Take your time with the set up, don't rush to the scene and expect to set up in seconds.

Harve you tried karlu for availability?

I have exactly the same as the kit you list above, as well as the soft and hard versions of the ND. The circular polariser is absolutely stunning!
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Thanks for the advice thats great!

I havent tried Karlu, to be honest i have never heard of them but will google now!

The circular polariser is indeed amazing, its bloody huge!
 
HoppyUK said:
Lee have just announced a 10-stopper in 100mm square. They claim high quality glass - £95 http://www.leefilters.com/camera/news/ref:N4B8F96517C324/

Not sure how you're supposed to seal slot-in filters against light leaks though. When I tried it with the cheapo welding glass, unless that was sealed absolutely (with BluTak) to the front of the lens, the reflections of the back of the filter were truly horrendous, unusable. Surprisingly good when you do seal it though, and do a custom white balance, for three quid :eek:
Click to expand...

Had a look at the new 10-stop ND Lee filter today at Focus show. It is sealed against light leaks with a thin sponge pad which mates against the holder. Works nicely too :)

It looks pleasingly neutral, which most of them are not quite. The B+W is slightly warm/copper-ish, but only slightly. Guy on the Lee stand said theirs had a hint of blue about it, but I think he was being fairly critical/honest.

Looks like good news for square filter fans :thumbs:
 
antc said:
They had the grad sets at £133 instead of £148 ish everywhere else which i thought was a good price considering the general stock shortage. That price was for both hard and soft sets.

So im now on the lookout for a set of soft nd grads from a place that has stock haha!

If anyone sees any please shout.

Thanks
Click to expand...

Well managed to call up speedgraphic and get a set of both soft and hard nd grads today that will be with me by mid next week! Not only that but they matched the show price and also gave me free delivery!

Cant complain.

So just a heads up for anyone looking for Lee filters speedgraphic will have some coming in next week, not sure how many and what they will have left over as i am sure they may well have taken back orders from people at focus so perhaps get your orders in quick before the focus backorders are added to the list.
 
Incidentally, why are Lee filters so hard to get? When places do have them in stock they disappear very quickly so the demand is obviously there. Alot of places I order from have massive lead times...

Yet I can get any Lee lighting filters I use for the day job at the drop of a hat.
 
Far as i can tell the only reason they are hard to get at the moment is something to do with manufacturing issues. I dont know exactly what but thats what i have been told.

Demand is most definately there as you say, due to the above issues they are struggling to keep up with it for sure.
 
Talking to the guy on the Lee stand at Focus earlier today they can't keep up with the demand. They have put measures in place to address this including taking on more staff.
 
In a way it's comforting to know they can't keep with the demand because it means people do still value using ND grads and doing as much in the camera as possible - because sometimes you wouldn't know it from the way people talk about HDR etc.
 
Les McLean said:
The only filters that are essential (IMO) for landscapes, are ND grads, the ones I use most are 0.6 and 0.9 soft grads, and often stack them.

Ordinary ND filters I rarely use, preferring to use available light to 'slow down' my shutter speeds, i.e. shoot early and late in the day.

And like Mark, I disagree totally with hoppyuk's view that you can replicate any grad effect with HDR, the results I've seen using this method are usually quite ghastly, it's so much easier popping a grad in.
Click to expand...

I disagree. :p

The only essential filters for landscape are a Circular Polariser and an ND filter (the screw in 6 or 10x ones).

ND Grad filters can e replicated in Photoshop and with landscape if you are setting up with grads you are probably using a tripod and certainly have time to fire off a few exposures which you can merge much better in Photoshop after the event.

You can't (really) replicate a polariser and you can't do long exposures without an ND in bright conditions. :)
 
stumeech said:
In a way it's comforting to know they can't keep with the demand because it means people do still value using ND grads and doing as much in the camera as possible - because sometimes you wouldn't know it from the way people talk about HDR etc.
Click to expand...

You don't have to use HDR to merge photos together. My personal favourite is emulating the traditional ND grads by stacking two or three exposures on top of each other and erasing and merging layers together. There are no real weaknesses in this way for landscapes (with non/very slowly moving features) yet it gives you much more control over what the "ND Grad" covers (so you don't have the nasty dark trees and hilltops that happen to be in the higher ND area). :)
 
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