ND Filters...? (Now Polarising Filters)

WideEyedFox

WideEyedFox

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We are going to Kenya in 4 weeks and someone has recommended that I consider getting some ND filters.

I have a Nikon D90 with the 18-105 kit lens, as well as a Nikon 50mm lens, and a Sigma 150-500. I think the Nikon lenses are all 67mm.

After having a looking on Amazon, the Tiffen filters get good reviews, but come in both 0.9 and 0.6.

What do you guys and girls recommend?

Any help and advice really appreciated.
 
Why do you want ND filters? They just make everything darker, usually so that you can use a low f/number.

Do you mean an ND Grad, to darken washed out skies? In which case, you should take a polariser as well.
 
I've no idea what I mean :lol:

I mentioned to someone that I was going to Kenya, and they suggested taking an "ND filter" with me to reduce the changes of washed out images due to the high sun levels. :shrug:

Thus - I thought I'd ask the pro's what they thought and suggested.
 
I'm off to Kenya in Sept so will be interested to hear everyones recommendations, am going to get a polariser but hadn't considered a set of ND's.
 
WideEyedFox said:
I've no idea what I mean :lol:

I mentioned to someone that I was going to Kenya, and they suggested taking an "ND filter" with me to reduce the changes of washed out images due to the high sun levels. :shrug:

Thus - I thought I'd ask the pro's what they thought and suggested.
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Maybe they meant an ND Grad, which is dark at the top to retain detail in bright skies. A square filter system is best, like Cokin or Lee. Maybe a 2-stop 0.6 hard-cut.

Personally, I think HDR technique does it better - taking two shots at different exposure levels and merging them in post processing. It's easy to do and costs nothing, if you have some familiarity with post processing.

Or use a polarising filter. That would be my choice. Every photographer should have one of those anyway. Get a good quality one, like Hoya Pro-1 or HD.
 
Having been to Kenya, I'd say that the need for filters is pretty much the same as on a sunny day here:

standard ND filters - only really of use if you want to deliberately lengthen exposures (or possibly to shoot at very wide apertures (f/1.8ish or wider) in the middle of the day)

graduated ND filters - useful for landscape shots where the sky is often much brighter than the land (but as with Hoppy, HDR is a useful alternative)

Polariser - I would recommend one for Kenya as I found it helped to reduce some of the haziness, especially in Tsavo (and in the Rift Valley if you're heading that way).
 
Thanks Hoppy and Mark :thumbs:

Am I on the right lines with this one on Amazon? (Hoya 67mm Pro1 Digital Circular Polarising Filter)

I presume I'll need one for the Nikon 18-105 lens and another for the Sigma 150-500 ?
 
You'd be fine getting a polariser for the sigma and a step up ring to use the polariser with the Nikon - though an 86mm polariser is going to be about twice the price of the 67mm one as they are much less common (and bigger too obviously)
 
WideEyedFox said:
Thanks Hoppy and Mark :thumbs:

Am I on the right lines with this one on Amazon? (Hoya 67mm Pro1 Digital Circular Polarising Filter)

I presume I'll need one for the Nikon 18-105 lens and another for the Sigma 150-500 ?
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Yes, that will do nicely for the 18-105 zoom :thumbs:

I wouldn't bother with the other lenses. You'll use a polariser mainly for darkening blue skies, it's a landscape filter which is much less use on long lenses.
 
Thanks again.

Pricing them up, Sigma do a 86mm Polariser at £119.65 :eek: and Hoya do both the 52mm and 67mm ones at £33.37 and £38.95 respectively. I cannot find any 86-67 or 67-52 step down rings for the 3 lenses.

If you reckon I won't need them for the other lenses I'll just order the 67mm one for the 18-105 Nikon.

EDIT: What's the difference between the HD and PRO1 filters? For the extra £20-ish will I notice a difference?

Hoya 67mm Pro1 Digital Circular Polarising Filter - £38.95

Hoya 67mm HD Digital PL-CIR - £60.50
 
Just as an update - I ended up buying a Hoya HD 67mm Polarising filter for my Nikon kit lens (as it was a good price), and it arrived this morning.

On the outer edge it says Hoya PL-CIR, but not the HD bit, or Pro1.

Is there an easy way to tell the difference between the HD and Pro1 filters? Or have I been duped?

Thanks for any help/advice :thumbs:
 
WideEyedFox said:
Just as an update - I ended up buying a Hoya HD 67mm Polarising filter for my Nikon kit lens (as it was a good price), and it arrived this morning.

On the outer edge it says Hoya PL-CIR, but not the HD bit, or Pro1.

Is there an easy way to tell the difference between the HD and Pro1 filters? Or have I been duped?

Thanks for any help/advice :thumbs:
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Mine has HD written on it, in the HD logo style. Phone Intro2020 and check with them, UK distributors http://www.intro2020.co.uk/pages/contact.htm

Please let us know if it's a fake ;)
 
Thanks Hoppy - I'll do that and let you know how I get on. :thumbs:

This is a photo of it.
hoya-PC-CIR.jpg
 
UPDATE : I was conned :bang:

Description and price were based on a Hoya HD Polarising Filter, what I received was a standard Hoya Polarising Filter.

I have contacted them offering to either return it for a full refund, or take a partial refund based on it's true value.
 
WideEyedFox said:
UPDATE : I was conned :bang:

Description and price were based on a Hoya HD Polarising Filter, what I received was a standard Hoya Polarising Filter.

I have contacted them offering to either return it for a full refund, or take a partial refund based on it's true value.
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You can tell by the thick mount that's a cheapie. Looks like more of a mistake than a fake I think.

You can also tell a coated filter by the coloured reflection - can be pretty much any colour, except white. That's uncoated.

This is what my Hoya HD CPL looks like http://www.surreyphotographyshop.co.uk/images/hoya-hd-circ-pola.jpg Though the writing around the edge isn't always a reliable guide, they sometimes change that. TBH the easiest way to tell if it's the real thing is to buy from a reliable source.
 
I'm getting a refund off them and returning it. <phew!>

Based on the advice of UV filters for lens protection while in Kenya later this month, I'm ordering the following from Amazon this afternoon :

Hoya 67mm HD Digital PL-CIR Screw in Filter @ £61.88
Hoya 67mm Pro-1 Digital UV Screw in Filter @ £29.95
Sigma EX DG 86mm Digitally Optimised UV Filter @ £59.95

Unless of course you can recommend anywhere cheaper :thumbs:

Seller is "CameraKing" - and judging by the amount of sales and feedback it looks to be pukka products. Hmm pukka... now I'm thinking of pies!
 
Glad this is getting sorted, and that a good lesson(s) have been learnt.

May I kindly suggest, in all due fairness, that you adjust the post due to ...

WideEyedFox said:
I'm getting a refund off them and returning it. <phew!>

<snip>
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This part is not so fair, as they've agreed to a refund. It may just have been a genuine error on their part.

WideEyedFox said:
UPDATE : I was conned :bang:

<snip>
Click to expand...


Enjoy your trip :thumbs:
 
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