Variable ND Filter - No highlight clipping?

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taxboy

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I've just watched this YouTube video
View: https://youtu.be/bOHIVQG8HMs
and have to say I'm confused by the photographer saying his variable ND filter stops the highlights from blowing out. My understanding is an ND filter reduces the amount of light universally hitting the sensor but has no impact on highlights or shadows for that matter.
If I don't want highlights to blow out I adjust my exposure - usually by exposure compensation and check the histogram. Unless variable ND filters produce a different outcome to fixed ND filters
The only way I can think it works is to set a fixed exposure manually and then adjust the filter to get the desired result ?
 
taxboy said:
I've just watched this YouTube video
View: https://youtu.be/bOHIVQG8HMs
and have to say I'm confused by the photographer saying his variable ND filter stops the highlights from blowing out. My understanding is an ND filter reduces the amount of light universally hitting the sensor but has no impact on highlights or shadows for that matter.
If I don't want highlights to blow out I adjust my exposure - usually by exposure compensation and check the histogram. Unless variable ND filters produce a different outcome to fixed ND filters
The only way I can think it works is to set a fixed exposure manually and then adjust the filter to get the desired result ?
Click to expand...
My understanding also is that a variable ND filter can no more stop highlights blowing out than simply adjusting exposure. I’ve not watched the video, but I wonder if he’s referring to a graduated ND filter?
 
I didn't think variable NDs were that suitable for landscape photography either, as they can cause banding in the sky. They are effectively 2 polarising filters.
 
I havent used one much, but I never found it stopped clipping, all I ever got was a colour cast and uneven lighting, probably from a cheapy filter. I cant see how it would affect the lights different to the dark areas.
 
taxboy said:
I've just watched this YouTube video
View: https://youtu.be/bOHIVQG8HMs
and have to say I'm confused by the photographer saying his variable ND filter stops the highlights from blowing out. My understanding is an ND filter reduces the amount of light universally hitting the sensor but has no impact on highlights or shadows for that matter.
If I don't want highlights to blow out I adjust my exposure - usually by exposure compensation and check the histogram. Unless variable ND filters produce a different outcome to fixed ND filters
The only way I can think it works is to set a fixed exposure manually and then adjust the filter to get the desired result ?
Click to expand...

Stephen L said:
My understanding also is that a variable ND filter can no more stop highlights blowing out than simply adjusting exposure. I’ve not watched the video, but I wonder if he’s referring to a graduated ND filter?
Click to expand...
I've just watched it skipping along until about 3 minutes in where he is clearly using a variable ND but his explanation of controlling highlights and Bringing your dynamic range closer together is not what the variable ND does, that is what a graduated ND does. He is talking nonsense.

Variable NDs act just like standard NDs but just by turning them (like a CPL) they get darker or lighter, the only advantage is that you only need 1 filter but the downside is they often have variable colour casts.

TBH in digital photography these days the sensors have much more DR than film and in editing softwares like Lightroom ect one can recover detail from shadow areas and to some degree in highlight areas. Also there are optiond for ND grad filters that are very controllable, much more than an actual filter on the lens.

I still have my full set of ND Grad filters but really only use them when shooting film. Polarisers and NDs still have a use in digital though because they do things that are not easy to replicate in post processing.
 
Topsy said:
He is talking nonsense.
Click to expand...

Not for the first time on this channel. I made a helpful (gently corrective) comment on one of his past videos, and got torn into by his fanboi's so I won't be helpful now! In fact I don't bother watching his videos, YouTube can be a complete time bandit and I've found that a good digital detox of subscribed channels is regularly required!!!
 
Mr Perceptive said:
Not for the first time on this channel. I made a helpful (gently corrective) comment on one of his past videos, and got torn into by his fanboi's so I won't be helpful now! In fact I don't bother watching his videos, YouTube can be a complete time bandit and I've found that a good digital detox of subscribed channels is regularly required!!!
Click to expand...
:agree:. I have occasionally watched his channel when he has been somewhere that I like/haveshot/want to shoot but don't pay any attention to his "advice".

The trouble is YouTube is full of people doing stuff like this but often they aren't knowledgeable enough to give good advice, I feel a bit sorry for people who are beginning in photography and can't yet tell the good from the bad.
 
Topsy said:
:agree:. I have occasionally watched his channel when he has been somewhere that I like/haveshot/want to shoot but don't pay any attention to his "advice".

The trouble is YouTube is full of people doing stuff like this but often they aren't knowledgeable enough to give good advice, I feel a bit sorry for people who are beginning in photography and can't yet tell the good from the bad.
Click to expand...

I think the problem here is that there are many you tubers (this gentlemen among them) who don't have in-depth technical knowledge, they then post videos with (un-intentional) misleading information.

There are some really good people out there, and some who are very engaging so they deliver the message very well. These days I tend to use You Tube for location research, though there are some photography people who I still follow as their work is interesting and for me can be inspiring.
 
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Topsy said:
:agree:. I have occasionally watched his channel when he has been somewhere that I like/haveshot/want to shoot but don't pay any attention to his "advice".

The trouble is YouTube is full of people doing stuff like this but often they aren't knowledgeable enough to give good advice, I feel a bit sorry for people who are beginning in photography and can't yet tell the good from the bad.
Click to expand...

Mr Perceptive said:
I think the problem here is that there are many you tubers (this gentlemen among them) who don't have in-depth technical knowledge, they then post videos with (un-intentional) misleading information.

There are some really good people out there, and some who are very engaging so they deliver the message very well. These days I tend to use You Tube for location research, though there are some photography people who I still follow as their work is interesting and for me can be inspiring.
Click to expand...

Couldn't agree with you both more!

I actually follow less digital YouTube people now than ever before. I've moved more towards film people and outdoors hiking/camping type things.
 
Some very knowledgeable youtubers/photographers can also miss-speak. So, like anything, you need to pay attention and watch more than one source to get an understanding
 
Thanks for all the input and confirming my thinking. What he was saying didn't seem correct so thought I'd tap into the collective knowledge here
 
Mr Perceptive said:
Oh dear, in his latest video at around 5min 20 secs increasing ISO increases Dynamic Range - who knew :ROFLMAO: :ROFLMAO: :ROFLMAO: Daren't comment on the YouTube channel as I will get flailled by the fanboi's
Click to expand...
And for some cameras with dual gain ISO there is a specific point in the ISO range where that is true (EG The A7iv has slightly greater dynamic range at ISO 400 than ISO 320).
Over the rest of the range though the claim is just wrong!
 
Topsy said:
I He is talking nonsense.
Click to expand...
He sure is. But what good landscape photographer would go out without a lens hood? I did think that the location was superb and hope I can get to that location some time in the right weather.

Dave
 
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