CPL, ND and GND at the same time

[tomtom1]

Hi,

I was wondering if there is any way to stack all three types of filter (polarizer, solid neutral density and grad nd) on a 77mm lens at once without ghastly vignetting at wide angles, preferably without hand-holding one of the elements.

The options I know of are:
Slim Singh ray Vari-N-Duo and handhold a GND (vignetting to 18-20mm on FF)
Lee filter holder with 105mm polarizer and 2 filter slots, however this will vignette to 21mm on FF (according to previous forum posts)
Screw-on CPL, with filter holder in front (difficult to adjust polarizer, will still get vignetting not sure how much)Any better ideas?

[NYPhotog]

It depends on whether you are using a crop of FF body. I use the Lee system. On FF (I use a 5d II), with 2-slots plus the CPL, I can get down to 19mm-20mm. With 1-slot plus the CPL, or 2-slots without the CPL, I can use 16mm without vignetting. On a crop camera there will be no vignetting with any of those combinations.

[tomtom1]

Thanks for that.

At the moment I've got a Lee filter holder with a set of GNDs. I've decided I want to get a polarizer that I can use with my other filters, and get some dedicated strong, solid NDs as I tend to stack multiple GNDs, and push them down in the holder :oops:.

Trying to decide between the Singh-Ray Vari-N-Duo, or sticking with the Lee system and buying a 105mm polarizer with slide in solid NDs. If, as you say I can get away with vignetting at 20mm on FF with a CPL at 2 slots that would be good enough. I've got a 40D at the moment, but will definitely go FF at some stage in the future.

If I did go the 105mm, I'd probably get the b+w kaeseman. Which one do you have?

[NYPhotog]

Thanks for that.
If I did go the 105mm, I'd probably get the b+w kaeseman. Which one do you have?

That's the one I use. If I were buying one today, I would be tempted to get the Extra Wide version (even though it is much more expensive).

[ddong]

Thanks for that.

At the moment I've got a Lee filter holder with a set of GNDs. I've decided I want to get a polarizer that I can use with my other filters, and get some dedicated strong, solid NDs as I tend to stack multiple GNDs, and push them down in the holder :oops:.

Trying to decide between the Singh-Ray Vari-N-Duo, or sticking with the Lee system and buying a 105mm polarizer with slide in solid NDs. If, as you say I can get away with vignetting at 20mm on FF with a CPL at 2 slots that would be good enough. I've got a 40D at the moment, but will definitely go FF at some stage in the future.

If I did go the 105mm, I'd probably get the b+w kaeseman. Which one do you have?
I use Heliopan 105 mm Circular Polarizer Multi-Coated (SH-PMC) Slim one. I'll say this one is hard to use, you probably want to go with B+W.

[Azzure_7]

I use Heliopan 105 mm Circular Polarizer Multi-Coated (SH-PMC) Slim one. I'll say this one is hard to use, you probably want to go with B+W.


Dude,
You took amazing landscape shot.
Make me want to take some. lol

Dude,
What's so hard about the heliopan?

[argyle]

Hi,

I was wondering if there is any way to stack all three types of filter (polarizer, solid neutral density and grad nd) on a 77mm lens at once without ghastly vignetting at wide angles, preferably without hand-holding one of the elements.

The options I know of are:
Slim Singh ray Vari-N-Duo and handhold a GND (vignetting to 18-20mm on FF)
Lee filter holder with 105mm polarizer and 2 filter slots, however this will vignette to 21mm on FF (according to previous forum posts)
Screw-on CPL, with filter holder in front (difficult to adjust polarizer, will still get vignetting not sure how much)Any better ideas?

1.) Don't know where you heard this. The slim Vari-N-Duo will vignette on a FF all the way up to 28mm. The vignetting at 28, however, is minor and very manageable. By 29 or 30mm, the vignetting is completely gone. OTOH, the standard Vari-N-Duo will vignette all the way up to 35mm on a FF. I had the standard version, but sent it back to SR to have it re-worked into the slim version.

2.) If you go this route, you can always use the adapter ring to adjust the CPL before slipping on the holder. Just turn the edge of the ring to set the CPL to the needed result.

Not sure why you want to stack GND's...with this particular type of filter, its always best to use a single filter of the proper strength. Hitech has a 4-stop filter, and with SR you can get a 5-stop filter, albeit at a steep price. The more "stuff" you stick onto the front of the lens barrel, the greater your chances of vignetting. If you can't avoid stacking, you have to be mindful of the focal length limitations for vignetting and compose your shot accordingly within those limits. FWIW, on occasion I'll also hand-hold a GND in front of a polarizer when I don't feel like using the Lee 105. I've hand-held some shots at a shutter speed of 5-seconds or more...its not as difficult as it sounds.

[NYPhotog]

Not sure why you want to stack GND's...with this particular type of filter, its always best to use a single filter of the proper strength.

Generally true. However, I use Lee filters and there are times when a 3-stop GND just isn't enough and I need to drop in an additional filter. And, on occasion, I use both a GND and ND...

[Azzure_7]

I just placed an order ofB + W 77mm Kaesemann Circular Polarizer Filter in Wide Angle Slim Mount, MRC Coated Glass without knowing too much about this. Geez they have lots of type which made my head aches.
http://www.adorama.com/BW77CPLKS.html

Just wanted to know if it will vignette at 16mm on FF.

[Oliviero]

Let's say you wanted to use a 10 stop ND filter in addition to a GND filter, which would be the best way to go? I know B+W makes a 77mm 10 stop screw in filter but that will be a PITA to use since you'd have to focus/meter before you apply the ND filter and positioning the GND will be hard since the viewfinder is too dark. Are there any options? Slide-in ND filters?

[joosay]

Let's say you wanted to use a 10 stop ND filter in addition to a GND filter, which would be the best way to go? I know B+W makes a 77mm 10 stop screw in filter but that will be a PITA to use since you'd have to focus/meter before you apply the ND filter and positioning the GND will be hard since the viewfinder is too dark. Are there any options? Slide-in ND filters?

Can't you just chimp it, with the ND filter already on?

[Oliviero]

What do you mean by chimp it?

[Jon]

Chimp = Check the LCD display of a completed picture. But it's going to be kind of hit and miss going that route.

[joosay]

Well that's why there's AEB :)

[Jon]

AEB's not much help on framing or adjusting a grad though.

[Oliviero]

True, AEB is if little use when positioning the grad. Trail and error could work but that's a time consuming process. Seems like a slide-in 4x4 ND filter is be the best option. I'm just worried that light leakage might ruin the shots.

[Oliviero]

Apparently formatt.co.uk makes 10-stop 4x4 filters that fit the Lee holder. However, some claim that this filter produces a significant colour cast that is almost impossible to correct in PP, even when shooting in RAW. Thus I'm leaning towards a screw-in type ND filter and then using a Lee holder on top. I'll have to rely on trail and error to position the GND but this seems to be the only solution.