recomended round ND filter - 3 stops

[A_S]

Hi,

I've been looking for a good quality round screw thread ND filter, 3 stops/8x/whatever the multiple is....

plenty on the market - but lots of options, mainly variable these days which I hear often cause Xs in the image.

Not sure I really need variable. I have a Lee system for when i need really long exposures - but this is for sports, so using the Lee system is prohibative in this case. They do round filters but only Little and big stopper which are too much for my needs

3 stops should bring my aperture down enough and allow me enough control and flexibility

Ideally I'd go Hoya but they seem to have a few version of their "pro ND" and its really confusing as to which is the newer or better

Any suggestions?

 

[Kaolin]

I have been using Firecrest ND round filters in various sizes and specifications and they have all been very good. Much easier to clean compared to a Hoya filters which I have always found difficult to clean.

 

[A_S]

I have been using Firecrest ND round filters in various sizes and specifications and they have all been very good. Much easier to clean compared to a Hoya filters which I have always found difficult to clean.

Thanks, I'll have a look. I once bought a Formatt Hitech 8 stop square filter. It was purple, bad experience, and i've not looked at them since!

 

[Micro-four-thirds]

I’ve never had any issues with kase, having previously used their circular filters before moving over to the square system last year.
Kase Wolverine I believe they are.

 

[LeeRatters]

Never had an issue with Hiada or Hoya HD (I think).

 

[A_S]

Thanks both

Hoya HD is the polariser line - the ND line seem to be called pro ND or pro ND+ or similar.

 

[Mr Perceptive]

Thanks, I'll have a look. I once bought a Formatt Hitech 8 stop square filter. It was purple, bad experience, and i've not looked at them since!

The original Hitech filers had significant colour casts, the Firecrest range is quite neutral.

Hoya are usually a decent bet in the mid-price point - avoiding the uncertainly of a Chinese filter and the cost of a more premium brand.

 

[gregww1]

Another vote for Kase here, been using them since they launched and I currently use the revolution magnetic circular range (as opposed to the 100x100 square system). Makes for very quick swapping of filters, or filter on/off, which I think would be really useful for your chosen subject of sport. Not cheap, but worth it imho.

 

[A_S]

Thanks - how easy is it to combine a magnetic filter option with screw in? All my cpls are Hoya hd mk1 and 2 - they are really good with light transmission so keen to keep them

 

[hunnymonster]

3 stops? Just drop your ISO - or use a 6 stop and raise your ISO 3 stops...

 

[LongLensPhotography]

I have b+w mrc from years ago which is very neutral. I use it for seascapes and an odd video. K and f concept nano x filters also use pretty much same glass and i find them very good. Haida also made some quality filters. These days id rather just buy these than end up with endless fakes of big name brands

 

[A_S]

3 stops? Just drop your ISO - or use a 6 stop and raise your ISO 3 stops...

that is lovely simple logic and I had considered it but with a typical base exposure of 1/500s F4, ISO 500, to maintain F4 (presuming i had a TC on a 2.8 lens as worst case scenario) at 1/30s exposure it pushes ISO north of 1000 so 6 stop in worse light conditions is not suitable for what I want to do really, its too strong. Too inflexible. By going 3 or 4 stop I get best of both worlds. The flexability to maintain a low ISO and the ability to reduce the aperture or ISO if i need less light.

I know I can just about get away with this without an ND, but the idea is not to go crazy on changing the exposure, but just enough to get the Shutter speed down while controlling the aperture in most typical scenarios I'll face