Very silly question time!!

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susie

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Having just gone through some pics I can see I am going to need a grad filter, I know there are various +1 things to think about but not having actually seen them before what physical sizes do they come in :thinking:

I will want to use one on a 77mm fitting, and I'm wondering how much room I would have for moving it up and down a bit to get unblown sky? Looking on the websites it seems they only come in one size, so will I find the size restricting on my lens - if so is there a simple way around it please.
 
You need to decide whether you want
A Circular which will mean you need filters for each lens with a different filter size

or

B A square filter system(e.g. cokin) with a filter holder that only needs a different size adaptor to swap between lenses
 
I assumed that they would be squareish - looking at my lenses the ends don't spin when they change length and focus so I would imagine that as my use is going to have a pretty straight line across where the blown bit starts square would be better?
 
hello susie
have a look here

http://www.cokin.co.uk/pages/main.htm

it will give you an idea of the system but basically ND grads are rectangular so they slide up and down the holder and also the holder rotates on the lens adaptor.

[ edit ] with a filter size of 77mm you'll need cokin P size ( 84mm) or bigger as the A size will be too small.
 
Thanks a lot, I have been zooming around searches and did not find that one :bang:

So my mission tonight is to make the big decision and order something!
 
susie said:
Thanks a lot, I have been zooming around searches and did not find that one :bang:

So my mission tonight is to make the big decision and order something!
Click to expand...

Before you make "the big decision" be aware that physical effect filters were developed for 35mm film cameras, in the sixties and seventies of last century. I.o.w. a half century ago!
Today we are in the 21st century and things have progressed: we have digital photography now! And 95% of physical filters are now redundant.
With digital there are much more precise ways to get the same effect. In post production.
All you need is a good photo editing app. Which you need anyway, right?

Oh, and it saves you nervously fidgeting with filters and filter holders when you're on location too. So I would keep my money in my pocket, if I were you.

Good luck with your big decision.

Have fun!
 
DollyBuster said:
Stuff :)
Click to expand...

Partly yes, and partly no;) 95% of filters are redundant, but there is still a very good reason for having ND and ND grads:) And the best photo editing in the world cannot salvage blown highlights...

I'd recommend a set of Cokin P or Kood ND grads, and of course a filter holder and ring. Start with hard-edge grads, you'll soon know if you need a soft-edge set as well!

Happy snapping!
 
:agree:

Not that i know any ting

Twentyten:wave:
 
reddeathdrinker said:
And the best photo editing in the world cannot salvage blown highlights...
Click to expand...

Neither can physical filters, my friend! Because when you have blown highlights in an image then you obviously have already shot that scene. There is no physical filter that can 'save' those blown highlights after the fact.

Had you shot that image in RAW, then you could 'save' those blown highlights after the fact, in PP!

Blown highlights are a clear indication of too large a dynamic range for the image file. With RAW and HDR processing in PP you can mitigate that dynamic range so that it can be displayed on-screen or in print.
And much more delicately and precisely than you ever can with a physical filter.
 
DollyBuster said:
Before you make "the big decision" be aware that physical effect filters were developed for 35mm film cameras, in the sixties and seventies of last century. I.o.w. a half century ago!
Today we are in the 21st century and things have progressed: we have digital photography now! And 95% of physical filters are now redundant.
With digital there are much more precise ways to get the same effect. In post production.
All you need is a good photo editing app. Which you need anyway, right?

Oh, and it saves you nervously fidgeting with filters and filter holders when you're on location too. So I would keep my money in my pocket, if I were you.

Good luck with your big decision.

Have fun!
Click to expand...

understand where you are coming from, but I like the satisfaction of getting something right in camera and not having to spend time editing a photo afterwards...I suppose that comes from using computers all day and not wanting to spend my free time editing photos on them though :shrug:
 
kfridge said:
understand where you are coming from, but I like the satisfaction of getting something right in camera and not having to spend time editing a photo afterwards...I suppose that comes from using computers all day and not wanting to spend my free time editing photos on them though :shrug:
Click to expand...

I appreciate that sentiment. You do, however, realise that you are going to spend that extra time in either situation, don't you? Because it's a toss-up: either you spend time nervously fidgeting with filters and filter holders on location – and get imprecise results!, OR you spend time in PP, getting exactly what you want.

It's a choice.
 
"Blown" highlights are "blown" highlights. If they're truly blown then it's nothing but white light and no digital editing is going to bring back what isn't there.

ND Grads are designed to stop the highlights from being blown, and once you get used to them, they're not that fiddly.

Steve
 
Jelster said:
"Blown" highlights are "blown" highlights. If they're truly blown then it's nothing but white light and no digital editing is going to bring back what isn't there.

ND Grads are designed to stop the highlights from being blown, and once you get used to them, they're not that fiddly.

Steve
Click to expand...

:agree::plusone:

and as no has yet mentioned all the digital editing in the world is no use if you are using

film
 
DollyBuster said:
I appreciate that sentiment. You do, however, realise that you are going to spend that extra time in either situation, don't you? Because it's a toss-up: either you spend time nervously fidgeting with filters and filter holders on location – and get imprecise results!, OR you spend time in PP, getting exactly what you want.

It's a choice.
Click to expand...

oh yes, I agree with what you are saying...and to get something 100% as I would like it I would spend time "in the computer". As a said originally though 'cos I work with computers all day I'd rather spend the time out in the open fiddling with filters etc :) horses for courses I guess!
 
DollyBuster said:
Snip
With digital there are much more precise ways to get the same effect. In post production.
All you need is a good photo editing app. Which you need anyway, right?

Oh, and it saves you nervously fidgeting with filters and filter holders when you're on location too. So I would keep my money in my pocket, if I were you.
Click to expand...
Thanks, my problem is that post processing and me just do not get on at all :lol: add to that the fact that when I blow highlights I do a good job of them and they are pretty much white space so I doubt anything would be savable even with raw - unless a different sky or water is pasted on which is not what I want to be doing!
My better pictures are the ones that I don't mess with in photoshop so I get them as good as I can direct from the camera so they only need a minor tweak rather than actual processing.
daftbugga said:
susie a good alternative to cokin are

http://www.formatt.co.uk/stills-filters/products.aspx

PS hows the head ?

DOH wrong link try this 1

http://www.teamworkphoto.com/index....78_767&zenid=297ddde76bb37cbb8596f4b979dfb86b
Click to expand...

Cheers, I'll check them out

the head is great, it comes on trips with me and its seeing a lot of new things - I swear it tried to take the pictures itself the other day!!

reddeathdrinker said:
Partly yes, and partly no;) 95% of filters are redundant, but there is still a very good reason for having ND and ND grads:) And the best photo editing in the world cannot salvage blown highlights...

I'd recommend a set of Cokin P or Kood ND grads, and of course a filter holder and ring. Start with hard-edge grads, you'll soon know if you need a soft-edge set as well!

Happy snapping!
Click to expand...
I will have a look at those as well tomorrow (I've got visitors tonight) and then its part with cash time :(
Jelster said:
"Blown" highlights are "blown" highlights. If they're truly blown then it's nothing but white light and no digital editing is going to bring back what isn't there.

ND Grads are designed to stop the highlights from being blown, and once you get used to them, they're not that fiddly.

Steve
Click to expand...
I think you have hacked my computer and seen the way I kill highlights :lol: there is certainly nothing recoverable on mine. I don't usually take long to get used to physical things its the processing software that I'm very weak on!
 
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