Graduated ND filters for Landscapes - Yay or Nay?

Alisonfd

Alisonfd

Suspended / Banned
Messages
402
Name
Alison
Edit My Images
No
I'm off to Iceland in a week.

I use ND filters, but I am wondering if I should expand my filter kit to include some graduated ND filters.

I know you can just take multiple shots and replicate it in Photoshop, but I'm thinking it would make life easier to have the filters... and I like to transfer photographs to my phone, do minimal editing in Snapsneed and upload them to FB/Instagram. But the cost of them could get me another holiday.

What do you guys prefer doing? Should I just save the money?
 
I much prefer to use filters. I am similar to you, I keep editting to a minimal whereas possible. Also I occasionally use images for competitions and large edits are forbidden so it fits better.
 
I don't mind doing more major editing when I'm on my PC at home but when travelling, minimal editing is best.

I'm just really not sure if its worth the money.. Guess I could always order them, and if I don't open them I can return them if I don't use them.. hmph :/
 
Get it, I know you might not need it but my opinion is that going to Iceland....it's not somewhere you can go back next weekend.

Better to have the filter and need it, can use it than not have it and wish you had it.

What's cheaper? £50 for the filter or £1500 going back for the trip?

You can always sell the filter or return it when you come back.
 
Do people use graduated filters much? I'd have thought that for many scenes without a flat uninterrupted horizon they'd be a PITA.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 4wd
Get the filters, use the filters. They are very helpful a lot of the time... Saying that you can also just edit the image/images... But at least try the filters...
 
Yay and nay. I use them a lot of the time, but I'll also bracket and blend using luminosity masks as well. It very much depends on the scene in front of me. I'd get them and take them as they can work really well.

Simon.
 
What camera have you got? The dynamic range of your sensor may mean you'll be fine without.

I've just been to Iceland and did not use any; https://www.talkphotography.co.uk/threads/vestrahorn-iceland.648247/#post-7748432

Filters can ruin shots. Your best bet is an extra memory card and shoot brackets, even if you think you won't need them. Then one day you could go back and blend then once you have learned how. Also there would be a better chance you'd have the optimal exposure to work with anyway. Read up on exposing to the right (but crucially retain your highlights).
 
Bobsyeruncle said:
They'd use soft grads for that type of scenario.
Click to expand...

I have softs and it's a nay from me. I just haven't seen many non seascape scenarios when they can be used without causing problems. As has been said it's better to have them available and not use them than to need them and not have them but I think that, obviously, depending on the scene in front of you grads are something that might not be appropriate.

I honestly can't remember the last time I used mine.
 
I have them, occasionally even carry them and once in a while might use one. But for a landscape scene I'd much rather use the dynamic range of the sensor (with or without bracketing) and the graduated filter tool in Lightroom which offers infinitely more control over the effect than a physical filter. I find that whereas I'd probably only use one physical filter in front of the lens in the field, with Lightroom I'm combining three or four of subtler effect and brushing out the effect for elements that intrude into the area I want to apply it to.
 
Buying a set of grads doesn't need to cost the same as a holiday? You can pick up a set of Cokin/Kood grads (ND2/4/8) for less than £30 which will mean you can use them and decide for yourself. Personally, I'd say that grads are extremely useful for landscapes and it's impossible to fix a blown out sky or black foreground afterwards on a single shot so just get it right when you shoot the image.
 
Last edited:
Craig_85 said:
What camera have you got? The dynamic range of your sensor may mean you'll be fine without.

I've just been to Iceland and did not use any; https://www.talkphotography.co.uk/threads/vestrahorn-iceland.648247/#post-7748432

Filters can ruin shots. Your best bet is an extra memory card and shoot brackets, even if you think you won't need them. Then one day you could go back and blend then once you have learned how. Also there would be a better chance you'd have the optimal exposure to work with anyway. Read up on exposing to the right (but crucially retain your highlights).
Click to expand...

Yeah that is why I am debating whether it's really needed.. It was more just whether it would make life easier rather than being a necessity. I use the D7200 with the D7000 back up. I already know how to blend photographs, that is how I have been doing everything for years. I space isn't an issue for me as I have enough SD cards.

I'm now at the stage where the only thing missing from my kit (besides investing even more into longer telephoto primes and getting a new drone), is grad filters. So, I am debating whether it would just make things easier & save me time as I won't have to blend (as often). Its more just whether it would make things a bit easier, save time and allow for the better quality previous while travelling without a laptop. Soon as I am home everything is processed properly in Capture One + Photoshop. But while on the road, I can be limed to just my phone and sending "previews" to a few groups and friends before I get home is expected.

Your photographs are awesome btw :) Stokksnes is on my list of places to visit as I am doing the ring road. I just have to pray my legs are up to getting there, as I am disabled causing limited mobility this isn't exactly the easiest trip to take :p
 
stevelmx5 said:
Buying a set of grads doesn't need to cost the same as a holiday? You can pick up a set of Cokin/Kood grads (ND2/4/8) for less than £30 which will mean you can use them and decide for yourself. Personally, I'd say that grads are extremely useful for landscapes and it's impossible to fix a blown out sky or black foreground afterwards on a single shot so just get it right when you shoot the image.
Click to expand...

I don't wish to cheap out on them, as cheap filters make for less sharp photographs. I don't want to put a £30 filter in front of a £1000 lens. Especially not on a holiday that has set me back around £1500.

But when I am discussing the cost of a holiday, I can travel quite cheap so I'm not thinking 100s of £s. I am happy to go wild camp in Scotland and eat tinned food of a camp stove every day. I can get flights to places in Europe for £30 and couchsurf or stay with friends for a week, or if I must there's hostels that are cheap as chips. I was thinking of the Formatt Hitech filters, that are around £150. That's more than I spent on a week in Budapest. Travelling cheap is something I do, and travelling is just as important to me as photography so I am on a 50/50 split when it comes to where I spend my money now.
 
To be honest, I've always used Cokin/Kood filters along with cheaper variable ND's when I wanted to travel very light and haven't had any noticeable loss in quality. The filter market will always have opposite ends of scale with prices. Some people would never consider anything less than Lee/Firecrest whereas others would be happy with a full set for £15 off eBay.

Personally, if you don't really know if you 'need' them, it seems pretty wasteful to be looking at £150 filters or nothing.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top