Which ND10 filter?

Dean.

Dean.

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Dean
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Hello everyone!
I'm returning to photography after a long time off.
I've re-invested and purchased a lovely new body along with the sigma 18-35mm lens which are both brilliant.
Years ago I always wanted to get more creative with an ND10 filter, at the time everyone seemed to talk about the Lee Big Stopper but a quick google brings up many different options.

What is everybodys recommendations and why?

My main question, is it better to go for the square type filter and holder such as the Lee Big Stopper (I see they do a SUPER STOPPER now) or are the screw on circular filters adequate? I was always under the impression that the square types will fit more lenses and also due to the dark shade of ND10 filters they allow you to compose your shot and then slot the filter in place

Thankyou for your help,
Dean
 
I'd go for a square type but be aware that the Lee's give a blue colour cast.

If you want neutral colour go for a Hitech Firecrest and I think the Nisi one's are neutral too.

Obviously if you shoot mono then the Lee's won't give a colour cast.

I tried a 16 stopper but found it too dark. 15 minutes on a sunny day is madness.
 
I find using the square ND filters far more flexible than screw in ones. Particularly when framing or composing the image, just remove the holder and filter to frame and replace when done. Takes no time at all and no worry about moving focus or framing (well far less worry) ...
 
Thanks GreenNinja67, having a neutral colour isn't necessarily a dealbreaker for me as correcting colour cast in post isn't a huge chore.

At the moment I'm using the sigma 18-35 and Nikon 70-300 lenses with a view to purchase the 50mm prime too. Filter sizes (72mm, 67mm & 58mm??)

For this reason I think perhaps the square type ND's would be better suited providing they will fit onto all 3 lenses?
 
Dean. said:
Thanks GreenNinja67, having a neutral colour isn't necessarily a dealbreaker for me as correcting colour cast in post isn't a huge chore.

At the moment I'm using the sigma 18-35 and Nikon 70-300 lenses with a view to purchase the 50mm prime too. Filter sizes (72mm, 67mm & 58mm??)

For this reason I think perhaps the square type ND's would be better suited providing they will fit onto all 3 lenses?
Click to expand...

If it's just a 10 stop filter you're thinking about, you might be better just buying a screw in filter and step up rings for each lens rather than a holder and adaptors. If you intend to start using grads, a square system is worth investing in.

As you say, colour cast is no big deal. It's maintaining contrast and flare resistance that are bigger priorities. Other than those mentioned, it would be worth looking at the Haida ones. They cast a little blue as well but optically, they seem great.
 
Thanks Gad-westy, My only concern with screw in filters is composition, but as GreenNinja67 just mentioned, I can use live view.

Would it be best to purchase a 72mm ND filter and associated adapter rings, or is that a bit too much??
(Eg. 72mm - 67mm. &. 72mm - 58mm)
 
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GreenNinja67 said:
Go for the 77mm filter in case you buy this size in future I's suggest
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So buy a 77mm circular screw type ND10 with associated (77-72, 77-67 & 77-58 adaptors)
Compose all shots through live view... will the adaptors etc. cause much vignetting?


Are square type ND's out the question for my needs?
 
Shouldn't vignette as the filter's larger than the filter thread.

Nothing's out of the question. Buy whatever you like.

You may want to buy square filters in case you decide to use ND grads in future.
 
GreenNinja67 said:
I'd go for a square type but be aware that the Lee's give a blue colour cast.
Click to expand...


That's pretty irrelevant(*), Terry, if only one filter is used and
one was careful to measure the colour temperature. The
real problems begin when one uses more filters with each
their own cast!

* WB being the less critical parameter at SR!
 
I recently went down the LEE route with many adaptors for different lenses and a big stopper. I sold it all though, as I knew I didn't want any other filters and it was needless expense to have all that gubbins for the sake of occasional 10 stop use.

Get the screw in, it's not that hard to screw a filter on without moving composition or focus!
 
I bought a Haida 100mm square 10 stop and it has no colour cast and seems to be high quality. There's one or two reviews on YouTube. A little less expensive than Lee too. I use it with the Nisi V5 holder/CPL and all is fine.
 
Dean. said:
Thanks for all the replies
Which makes/brands do people use/recommend?
Click to expand...

You get what you pay for!! eg screw in

Cheap - Xsource
Slightly less cheap - SRB, Camidox, etc
Mid price - Hoya Pro ND
High End - Hitech Firecrest

The Hoya is good value for money, but it's not as good as Hitech Firecrest - it all depends how much you want to pay. I've had Xsource, SRB, Hoya ProND, and Hitech Firecrest. I use the latter, but if money didn't permit I'd happily live with the Hoya.
 
Mr Perceptive said:
You get what you pay for!! eg screw in

Cheap - Xsource
Slightly less cheap - SRB, Camidox, etc
Mid price - Hoya Pro ND
High End - Hitech Firecrest

The Hoya is good value for money, but it's not as good as Hitech Firecrest - it all depends how much you want to pay. I've had Xsource, SRB, Hoya ProND, and Hitech Firecrest. I use the latter, but if money didn't permit I'd happily live with the Hoya.
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Thankyou for your suggestions "Mr Perceptive"

As this will be my first ND10 filter, I think I will go for the Hoya Pro ND 77mm screw type with adaptors for each of my lenses, then see how I get on as the price of this is half that of the Lee or Hitech including holders etc.
 
Avoid Tiffen like the plague.

Had one and the colour cast was so severe I couldn't correct it in post. Only for B&W really.
 
Dean. said:
Thankyou for your suggestions "Mr Perceptive"

As this will be my first ND10 filter, I think I will go for the Hoya Pro ND 77mm screw type with adaptors for each of my lenses, then see how I get on as the price of this is half that of the Lee or Hitech including holders etc.
Click to expand...

Google reviews of the Hoya Pro ND ten stopper before you buy. Unusually, it has sharpness issues though the less dark versions are fine.
 
HoppyUK said:
Google reviews of the Hoya Pro ND ten stopper before you buy. Unusually, it has sharpness issues though the less dark versions are fine.
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Hi HoppyUK... I've done some googling for reviews but the majority seem to be positive, do you think the Hoya Pro ND ten stopper is still worth a buy?
 
Dean. said:
Hi HoppyUK... I've done some googling for reviews but the majority seem to be positive, do you think the Hoya Pro ND ten stopper is still worth a buy?
Click to expand...

I reviewed it some time ago, along with a stack of others for a UK magazine and found this unusual sharpness problem - it's more like a camera-shake-like double-image ghost rather than just blurring. Other reviewers have since found the same thing, or at least those reviewers that know what they're doing, eg The Digital Picture. Scroll down this link, but note that the excuse put forward from Hoya is complete rubbish ;) https://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/10-Stop-Neutral-Density-Filter.aspx
 
HoppyUK said:
I reviewed it some time ago, along with a stack of others for a UK magazine and found this unusual sharpness problem - it's more like a camera-shake-like double-image ghost rather than just blurring. Other reviewers have since found the same thing, or at least those reviewers that know what they're doing, eg The Digital Picture. Scroll down this link, but note that the excuse put forward from Hoya is complete rubbish ;) https://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/10-Stop-Neutral-Density-Filter.aspx
Click to expand...

Thanks mate, have they changed the design at all?
I always find choosing new equipment so difficult
You think you’ve narrowed it down to one option and then discover it has some sort of defect

Why can’t there just be a perfect, go-to option haha
 
Dean. said:
Thanks mate, have they changed the design at all?
I always find choosing new equipment so difficult
You think you’ve narrowed it down to one option and then discover it has some sort of defect

Why can’t there just be a perfect, go-to option haha
Click to expand...

FWIW, I wouldn't go for a ten-stopper anyway - they're extremely dark, and I find exposure times are just too long on a lot of occasions, longer than you want/need. I prefer something around 8 stops and for my money I like the evaporated-metal type that don't cause darkened corners with wide-angles, and are good at infrared suppression that used to be a real problem with some NDs (not so common now). So that would lead to either the Hoya ProND 200 with 7.7 stops ND value, or Hitech Firecrest 7 stops.
 
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