Vari-ND & Flash Lighting.

[SealBeard]

I'm looking for a way to easily allow me to control DOF on location when using high power flash.

I know Singh-Ray do a nice Vari-ND but at a fair old cost, does anyone have experience with other brands of a reasonable quality/price?

Thanks,

Rob.

 

[tdodd]

I bought and returned a LightCraftWorkshop Fader ND II. On a 5D2 it did not suit my needs for providing high density filtration without artefacts when shooting at wide angles (think landscapes and flowing water). At longer focal lengths (100mm+) it seemed to degrade the whole image. Have a look at the cautions now listed in the UK supplier's website....

http://www.premier-ink.co.uk/photog...p-77mm-fader-nd-filter-mk-ii-p-2828.html#DESC

If you will shoot in mid range focal lengths - say 35-100mm and don't want to go to too many stops then you might find it acceptable for your needs. Personally I decided to simply buy an ND8 for outdoor flash, motorsport and landscapes plus an ND500 for extended shutter speeds for landscapes.

An ND8 will let you shoot at around f/4 in bright sunshine if you can sync at 1/200 and shoot at 100 ISO. In an emergency you could stack a CPL on top of that for another stop and a bit.

 

[HoppyUK]

I bought and returned a LightCraftWorkshop Fader ND II. On a 5D2 it did not suit my needs for providing high density filtration without artefacts when shooting at wide angles (think landscapes and flowing water). At longer focal lengths (100mm+) it seemed to degrade the whole image. Have a look at the cautions now listed in the UK supplier's website....

http://www.premier-ink.co.uk/photog...p-77mm-fader-nd-filter-mk-ii-p-2828.html#DESC

If you will shoot in mid range focal lengths - say 35-100mm and don't want to go to too many stops then you might find it acceptable for your needs. Personally I decided to simply buy an ND8 for outdoor flash, motorsport and landscapes plus an ND500 for extended shutter speeds for landscapes.

An ND8 will let you shoot at around f/4 in bright sunshine if you can sync at 1/200 and shoot at 100 ISO. In an emergency you could stack a CPL on top of that for another stop and a bit.

^^^ I did exactly the same. I returned the LCW Vari-ND, which is basically the same as the SinghRay, using cross-polarisers. It's not a new idea, but has never caught on because while is seems like the perfect solution, in practise it doesn't work out that way.

I would do as Tim suggests. You'll be unlucky if ND8 doesn't sort you out, at lowest ISO.