Which variable ND filter?

lolage

lolage

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Ben
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Hi

Looking for a variable ND filter as I plan to do a lot of outside shooting and need to be able to use a low appeture without the image being over exposed. Will also use it for long shutter speed photos.

Budget is £150ish, can push to £200 if I really have to. I presume the £20 ones from 7day shop (link) won't be very good?

Cheers
 
If you only want to experiment then the 7dayshop offer is worth a try - especially with their great "refund if unhappy" policy.

You've got nothing to lose at that price.
 
rhody said:
If you only want to experiment then the 7dayshop offer is worth a try - especially with their great "refund if unhappy" policy.

You've got nothing to lose at that price.
Click to expand...

I need it for a documentary I'm going to shoot pretty soon so don't really have time to be experimenting I just want a solid ND filter. :)

Thanks anyway though, almost tempted to get one anyway!
 
If you need it for a documentary - I agree. Now is not the time undertake trial and error.

Go for the known quality option at this stage.
 
Just bear in mind that with extreme ND filters you can get a "cross bar" effect.

If your documentary is a one off - know the limits of the filter and when this might occur

Details here http://www.singh-ray.com/varind.html
 
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Main usage will be for video, would use non-variable filters for photo work so stuff like the cross of doom etc won't be an issue.

I'm trying to find a Light Craft Workshop 77mm vari filter, but the UK seller has no stock, a website who sells them in europe (Netherlands) won't ship to UK which means I may have to look at US which I'd rather not do with shipping costs...

Any ideas guys?
 
For a good compromise between really cheap rubbish and silly money, try the 'nature' brand.
The guy at Cheesycam did a nice review and I thought I'd give the 77mm version a whirl.
http://cheesycam.com/nature-fader-nd-variable-neutral-density-filters/

I've found it to be good so far - no nasty colour casts and no loss of sharpness to speak of in stills.
I actually used it for some still architectural work - some of the daylight shots with 'people blur' here: http://www.dandphotography.co.uk/bl...ral-shoot-manchester-spinningfields/#more-720


My main use for it though is for DSLR video, so nitpicking loss of sharpness is much less of an issue
 
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