What ND filters for landscape work

[merv]

Wish to equip myself with Neutral Density filters for some coastal landscape shots and may need to slow down shutter speeds. What type of filter, circular or square, should I buy and what strengths? Is a variable one any use as have read some reports saying fixed ones are better.
Merv:bang:

 

[Digifrog]

Hi Merv

For coastal shots you'd be mainly dealing with straight horizons so as a start a hard edged gradual neutral density should be your priority.

For strengths of ND's I would say (for me) it's evenly split between a 2 (0.6) and 3 (0.9) stop. You will need graduated ND's to hold back the sky in your images.

For full ND's, the popular choice would be a 10 stop filter (3.0, ND1000). This will substantially lengthen shutter speed, in most cases up o 5 minutes. Ideally you'd use the 10 stop together with a graduated ND filter.

For grad ND's I would recommend the Lee system. They are pricey but cheap ones will give a strong unwanted colour cast. For Lee you'd need the Foundation Kit (essentially the filter holder), an adaptor ring to attach filter holder to your lens and of course the filter itself.

For 10 stop, you can get the Lee Big Stopper or the B+W ND110. Using the B+W though (a screw in filter) you'll need align you grad filter first before attaching the complete set up. Most people prefer the Lee Big Stopper because of this but I use this method.

 

[markmullen]

I wrote a blog post on long exposures using filters, some people have said it was helpful, http://www.markmullenphotography.co.uk/blog/2012/8/long-exposure-photography---my-tips

If you're new to filters my ND grads post might also help, http://www.markmullenphotography.co.uk/blog/2013/3/filters-for-landscape-photography

Hope they help.

 

[merv]

Thanks guys both very helpful. Merv

 

[LongLensPhotography]

Another good filter is Hoya ND400. It is a 9 stop multicoated and does almost the same job. I find 3 stop filters very useful at the sunset to control the water blur.

For grads there is also an alternative from Hitech. I use their 0.9 reverse grad for sunset and really love it.

 

[PD_BARBS]

If the Lee ones are out of your budget, I'd also look at Hitech filters, I used them in the past and they weren't too bad at all.

Teamwork is a good place for these as they tend to be well priced.

http://www.teamworkphoto.com/

If you looking to shell out a few hundred quid for Lee's try Speedgraphic, I found them to be the cheapest and fast service.

The Lee filters really are the best, but I found my ones scratched easy and in general think they are well over priced.