ND fiters

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killyglenman

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Bob
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Hi all
Just joined and would like help in the choice of which ND filter is best to start with. I have some experience with filters having used polarisers in the past on a film camera. I have been using digital for some time now and have recently accquired a D90,50mm1.4 and 55-200. I plan to use the ND on the zoom. We dont have a lot of sun and blue skies here in N Ireland but I am keen to record good cloudscapes. I think an ND filter will show what is available to best advantage. Any guidance will be appreciated
 
Welcome killyglen, man.

ND Grads are worth their weight in gold, ten times over, to a landscape photographer.

There are two popular makes, Cokin and Lee Filters.

Cokin are the cheaper of the two but still very good. Most of the shots on my website were taken with Cokins. Cokin ND Grads tend to give a slight reddish/purple colour cast to the shots looking into the sun. Sometimes this can be a good thing, not so good at other times.

Lee Filters are the better of the two and used by all the top pros - but much more expensive (mount, adapter ring and one ND grad is about £120) but they give a more natural and neutral feel to the shot and don't add a colour cast so you get a more natural image.

Their are other makes, such as Ray Singh, but they're mega bucks.

The ND Grads are normally graded as follows: ND2 = 1 stop, ND4 = 2 stop and ND8 = 4 stop. A 2 stop is twice as dark as a 1stop and a 4 stop is twice as dark as a 2 stop.

Also, you can get a hard edged or a soft edged grad. Landscapes with trees and other features above and below the horizon it is a good idea to use a soft edged filter - as the graduated section of the filter is very gradual and soft.
On a hard edged filter on the other hand, the graduated section is very pronouced and very sudden. It is normally used in situations when there is a sudden difference in light (think of a sunset where the sky meets the sea on the horizon). Place the graduated portion on the horizon and you're sorted.

I suggest getting a 4 stop soft grad filter to start with.
 
And what a bloody good answer Brian_C!

Welcome to the forum all 3 of you. :lol:
 
Brian C
Hi from a fellow Ulsterman. Just the answer I was after. Thanks very much.
 
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