Cheap substitute of ND filter for S2?

[ssd]

I am thinking of using a photo chromatic glass of zero power (can be easily obtained from a spectacles' shop) fitted in the metal ring of any cheap filter. Hoping that it will be able to cut down 2 to 3 stops of aparture in full sun. I expect the cost of two such filters will be less than 1/5 th of a ND filter.
Any thought about its merits or demerits?

[Jon]

If you can get one that's round, matches the size of an existing filter, and have a filter that you can easily disassemble (which is surplus to requirements), and the glass from the opticians is both flat and multicoated, it won't be much worse, or more expensive, than just getting an ND filter in the first place although the optical qualities may not be so good. Remember, part of the reason good filters are so expensive is the good quality optics and the other part is their multicoating.

[raimisch]

Not sure if this is an option, but just use a pair of sunglasses. Just make sure they are non-prescritpion. Otherwise you will have horrible focus hunting issues with both auto and manual.

[JustShootin']

Just my opinion, but it seems like just buying the filter would be by far the best option. As for the sunglasses, well many of us have probably used them as a ND or Polarizing filter at one time or another, but chances are it won't work as good as the real thing, and do you really want to hold a pair of sunglasses in front of your lens while you take a picture? Unless I'm in a real pinch, I don't.

[BBoi]

Agreed, decent coatings can cost, you'd be better off with a proper made-for-camera-use filter. The only reason i'd say it's worth talking to an optic lab is to get hold of a drivewear lens which is a combination of CPL and photoreactive material, so although it filters the colours through, the brighter it is, the darker the lens will become. A typical pair costs about £200 inc frame. So you could guess roughly the lens may cost in the region of say £50 to £70.

[ssd]

If you can get one that's round, matches the size of an existing filter, and have a filter that you can easily disassemble (which is surplus to requirements), and the glass from the opticians is both flat and multicoated, it won't be much worse, or more expensive, than just getting an ND filter in the first place although the optical qualities may not be so good. Remember, part of the reason good filters are so expensive is the good quality optics and the other part is their multicoating.

Firstly, it will be tailor made (from the shop) to fit the filter ring. Secondly, the filters often hold the glass with a thin metal plate screwed to the main ring and can be unscrewed easily. For the rest of your opinion, I agree... but shall proceed to test.

[JustShootin']

For the rest of your opinion, I agree... but shall proceed to test.

Test on Brother. As for me, I will just screw on that factory made filter that works great, and take some pictures.

[picturecrazy]

Seriously, how much money do you want to save?
A tiffen 3 stop ND is like 15 dollars at B&H.
Hoya is $20.
Heliopan is $24
If you want multicoated hoya, it's only $34... and these are optics SPECIALTY companies and will likely work better than a one-off experiment.

[ssd]

Seriously, how much money do you want to save?
A tiffen 3 stop ND is like 15 dollars at B&H.
Hoya is $20.
Heliopan is $24
If you want multicoated hoya, it's only $34... and these are optics SPECIALTY companies and will likely work better than a one-off experiment.

I am in india, and the proposed filter here costs (I ordered yesterday)Rs. 95 ( Rs 35 for a local 58mm filter and Rs60 for the glass without anti glare) , where 1US$= Rs 48 approx. So it will cost less than 2US$. Here 58mm ND(4) filters are selling (cheapest) at approx Rs.2000+, that is at approx 40 US$.
If the idea works reasonably (yet to test the real number of stops going down and for any visible detoriation in picture quality), it will be really cheap here in India.
My thought is actually to perform the experiment and verify the idea.....if it works -fine, if not - no problem, the originals are there.

[BBoi]

Good luck, can't wait to read your findings.

[ssd]

Results of the experiment:
Here I am posting two test photos with and without the proposed filter.

Eventually it is a cloudy day, did not get enough Sun to make the filter dark (expecting more f no.s to get cut off in bright Sun).

They are for your comments .

Without any filter: Shutter speed 1/50, F no. 7.1
http://i16.tinypic.com/4ul2h6v.jpg

With the filter:Shutter speed 1/50, F no. 4.5
http://i12.tinypic.com/6240ln8.jpg

I also took a number of shots at long range ... but in my moniter the is no visible distortion ... of course I did not perform any standard test.

(The filter costs less than 2 US$ as per Indian conversion)

[Johan007]

Sadly I can not spot the difference apart from the focus is much better on the pic without any filter :oops:

[BBoi]

7.1 vs 4.5 is probably doing that, I can see no advantage to this filter at all.

[JustShootin']

I can see no advantage to this filter at all.

Me either, but I can sure see a dis-advantage! The time spent making this filter that doesn't work could have been spent taking a lot of pictures with one that does.

[Billginthekeys]

7.1 vs 4.5 is probably doing that, I can see no advantage to this filter at all.
there are several advantages to using ND filters. Heres a few quick ones 1.) they allow you to use a lower Fstop in order to have more bokeh without exceeding the shutter speed while outdoors. and 2.) useful for slowing down the shutter speed to capture motion in ocean/rivers/waterfalls.

[JustShootin']

there are several advantages to using ND filters.

Of course there is, but not a home made one that doesn't work!

[Jon]

No-one disputes that ND filters have valuable uses; however the home-brew one here is only giving about 1-1/3 stops, which is barely worth bothering with.

A simple test for optical quality would be to shoot a piece of graph paper fastened to the wall with the camera perpendicular to it. Rule over the lines with a black pen to make them stand out more if need be.

[ssd]

Sadly I can not spot the difference apart from the focus is much better on the pic without any filter :oops:

This autually was my point to check, no other differences except from lower f-no.

Sadly enough the filter did not work up to the expectation. I justed posted the results as some one was interested to know the results.