ND filters, which to go for?

[Phil White]

I just bought a Nikon 17-55 f2.8 DX lens and want to have a go at using a 10 stop filter for things like waterfalls.

This is all new to me and I see that there are filters that screw on the lens and square type with suitable fittings.

What you recommend for a beginner that's not too expensive to start with.

Thanks.

 

[Mark twiglet]

What body you shooting with? If you take the ISO down and f stop high number you'll get long enough exposure ! You don't need a 10 stop for that unless you're out at 12 midday in harsh blue skies!

 

[Coyon]

Try a screw in filter from SRB.

 

[Tulipone]

Being fairly inexperienced but wanting to learn, I purchased a reasonable quality screw on 10 stop. 10 stops makes a lot of difference and was at the extreme edge for me and took a while to understand what I was doing with it to get any reasonable image from it. If I was to go again I'd probably buy a cheaper but branded mid range rather than 10 stop and think that I would get more use out of it as available natural light may be also low when you want to use it.

 

[woof woof]

I just bought a Nikon 17-55 f2.8 DX lens and want to have a go at using a 10 stop filter for things like waterfalls.

This is all new to me and I see that there are filters that screw on the lens and square type with suitable fittings.

What you recommend for a beginner that's not too expensive to start with.

Thanks.

I suppose the square ones have the advantages that you buy the one holder and then buy the same sized square filters every time and mount it in the same holder and with step up rings or adapters you can fit them to any lens. Also if the lens has some effect that changes with position you can slide it about or rotate it easily.

Screw on ones are more compact and to be honest if you buy a large diameter one you can still fit it to different lenses with step up rings.

I have both but mostly use screw on filters and mostly ND's.