Welding lens as extreme ND filter?

[paddlerx]

was planning on buying a few more .9 NDs to go on my cokin z holder to try some fun daytime long exposure images...but today at the hardware store i saw a welders lens that about the right size. was wondering how bad that'd be/what it'd do/colour casts etc?

the store only had the 10 model..it seems that less dark glass is available..and its a whole 9$. any thoughts?

[GSansoucie]

When you say "a few more" how many of these are you stacking?

I have to imagine there is a serious IQ degradation issue, flaring, and ghosting?

My gut feeling is that using welder's goggle material would be even worse, but I am a bit picky. I've seen some photos on Flickr with people putting their sunglasses in front of their lens and it was hard to tell. I have a [B+W] .9, 1.8, & 3.0 and they are never stacked.

[Lowner]

".....a few more". How many of the things have you already got?

But the welders "lens" is surely not photo optical quality surely?

[paddlerx]

saw some images from a russian photographer with 3-4 nds stacked. i noticed no degradation.

dunno overall...i may just 'buy and try' for 9$.

[Jon]

For $9, I agree, what do you have to lose? Just make sure you have a sturdy tripod and some secure way of mounting the glass.

[jack lumber]

[quote=paddlerx;6989889]was planning on buying a few more .9 NDs to go on my cokin z holder to try some fun daytime long exposure images...but today at the hardware store i saw a welders lens that about the right size. was wondering how bad that'd be/what it'd do/colour casts etc?

the store only had the 10 model..it seems that less dark glass is available..and its a whole 9$. any thoughts?

A shade #10 lens will filter out 99.percent of the infra red and ultra violet light from an electric arc whitch is 10x more intense than the sun. The minuscule amount of light it lets through is just enough for a welder to see to manipulate the electrode. There are lighter shades (down to a #4) which are used for gas welding, these may work, neat idea though, I have a drawer full of all different shades so I will try this sometime.

[Karl Johnston]

Hm .. I tried something similar to this, only it was using a broken shard of an old car windsheild top (the part that's tinted blue and shades you from the sun as you drive) just to check out what would happen. Blue casted to hell, but I theorize on a clear day (when blue skies are common) maybe it would shade the sun enough to get a shot off ...anyhoo be careful, though It pays to be creative, and fun too.

[joeseph]

I tried using a welders mask to photograph a partial solar eclipse in Feb - results:
331130

exif: 1/1600, f/11, ISO 100

:p

[argyle]

It wouldn't be very neutral, IMO...

[Lowner]

That would be 9$ wasted then.

[SkipD]

That would be 9$ wasted then.Nah, it wouldn't be wasted. Donate it to someone (like me :rolleyes:) who also does welding when you're done playing with it.