GND Buyers FAQ:

[daveyboi]

Originally Posted by Bonbridge

Thanks for the advice!

I've got a 5DII with 24-70 and a 50F1.8.
I almost bought a 85F1.2

What I want in the future: samyang24 24L 85L.

I CAN spend some money, but I think 400 euros for just some filters is expensive enough already. So I want a minimal setup to enjoy my holidays and nature/landscape shots. I do travel every year (a couple of times), and love to make landscape shots and cityshots. I am going to shoot my first wedding next month, but don't think I really need a filter right then. I can use a GND for (outside) architectural shots because I can shoot architecture for some money.

I want to shoot (wide open) portrait in the bright sun too, so I need a ND filter for that because I don't have a high sync flash. And when I see the long-exposure topics I love the seascape results from the 10 stops ND. So I would love to have a big stopper too. The Polarizer is very expensive in my opinion, and sold my B+W polarize before. I could miss this one I think.

Edit: Oh, and I don't like to have a HUUUUGEE contrast in the air. It must be a bit realistic.

This is the best set up I think?

77mm. wide angle adapter
Foundation kit
0.6 hard GND
0.6 ND
Big Stopper

You can see my pictures below.

skip the the .6nd, just slide the gnd all the way down. replcae that with a lee cpl

[Phrasikleia]

Originally Posted by penduboy

Thanks Bann but is there any disadvantage using cpl all the time on my 17-40 if I am using flash indoor and tripod outdoor for landscape. i know it will cut some light off but I think it will be fine if using flash and tripod along with dialling it to allow maximum light.

Thanks, Pendu

Sometimes a CPL can produce an overly contrasty image, even when dialed to minimize its affect. It can also produce unwanted flare. I certainly would not use one all of the time. A CPL has its uses (controlling reflections and giving definition to bright skies), so just put it on the lens as needed.

Originally Posted by Bearmann

Anyone using a one stop graduated, soft or hard? What application do you typically find it useful for?

I see that the Lee filters come in filter sets which are a bit cheaper and include a 1, 2, and 3 stop hard set or soft set.

The one-stop filters are really better for film and video. If you're shooting digital stills, then I would recommend a 3-stop filter. That gives you enough of an effect for it to be very noticeable, and you can always reduce or increase the effect in raw processing software by a stop or two without losing much if any image quality.

[Bonbridge]

Originally Posted by daveyboi

skip the the .6nd, just slide the gnd all the way down. replcae that with a lee cpl

Never thought of this! Very nice tip! This will save me 100 euro.

But is the dark side big enough for this? I think the darkside of an GND is 75mm. Thats 2mm. too short for a 77mm. lens. Could you see this in a picture then?

[oweneck]

Originally Posted by Bonbridge

Never thought of this! Very nice tip! This will save me 100 euro.

But is the dark side big enough for this? I think the darkside of an GND is 75mm. Thats 2mm. too short for a 77mm. lens. Could you see this in a picture then?

I was going to suggest this too, if you have hard edge graduated nd filters because they're 4x6's you can slide them down and use them as nd filters too, worked great so far with me on my Canon 24-105mm and Canon 17-40mm, both of which have 77mm filter threads.

[daveyboi]

sorry for crappy pics, in the process of moving and my camera is packed

24-70 with WA Adapter



with gnd slid down it covers the entire lens

[Bearmann]

Thanks Phrasikleia.

[oweneck]

Originally Posted by Bonbridge

Thanks for the advice!

I've got a 5DII with 24-70 and a 50F1.8.
I almost bought a 85F1.2

What I want in the future: samyang24 24L 85L.

I CAN spend some money, but I think 400 euros for just some filters is expensive enough already. So I want a minimal setup to enjoy my holidays and nature/landscape shots. I do travel every year (a couple of times), and love to make landscape shots and cityshots. I am going to shoot my first wedding next month, but don't think I really need a filter right then. I can use a GND for (outside) architectural shots because I can shoot architecture for some money.

I want to shoot (wide open) portrait in the bright sun too, so I need a ND filter for that because I don't have a high sync flash. And when I see the long-exposure topics I love the seascape results from the 10 stops ND. So I would love to have a big stopper too. The Polarizer is very expensive in my opinion, and sold my B+W polarize before. I could miss this one I think.

Edit: Oh, and I don't like to have a HUUUUGEE contrast in the air. It must be a bit realistic.

This is the best set up I think?

77mm. wide angle adapter
Foundation kit
0.6 hard GND
0.6 ND
Big Stopper

You can see my pictures below.

As daveyboi said, skip the 0.6 ND filter an use the 0.6 GND filter instead as an ND filter, try to get a circular polarizer too, the Lee 4x4 is a really good option, it will limit you but it's a cheap option, if you're not using anything wider than 24mm for now and then worry later about getting the circular polarizer adapter and a thin circular polarizer and keep both, then you can take advantage of both options when you need 1 over the other.

I will post a couple of examples later with the difference at 24mm with the wide adapter and regular adapter and vignetting and you can decide which option is better there if you haven't already decided about it.

[Bonbridge]

Thanks! But just ordered this:

77mm. WA Adapter
Foundation kit
GND Hard set (0.3, 0.6, 0.9)

Pretty versatile I think.

[Dnomyar220]

Originally Posted by Bonbridge

Thanks! But just ordered this:

77mm. WA Adapter
Foundation kit
GND Hard set (0.3, 0.6, 0.9)

Pretty versatile I think.

I'm thinking of ordering that same exact setup... has your's come in yet? Seems like they're out of stock EVERYWHERE... What camera and lens are you using it on? I'd love to see a pic of that setup if you're willing to upload one

[Bonbridge]

I am living in the Netherlands. They had it on stock. So I got it within a week.

It's a very good setup to start with. You can stack them all together to get a 6stop ND filter. I was looking for a Big stopper first, but I think I will use this setup. 6 stops is pretty much too.

With this setup you've got:

3 GNDS
and you can use it as a variable ND filter for just one stop till 6 stops!

Maybe I am going to purchase a polarizer anytime. But then my filters setup is completely finished I think.

I use it on my 5DII with 24-70 now. But I am getting a 85LII this week, so I already bought a 2 dollar step up ring. Hopefully it is working with this holder. That will save me 48 euro's

I don't have picture now, I can make one this evening. I have to go to my work now.

[jacobsen1]

Originally Posted by penduboy

Finally I got my BW 77mm circular polarizer. Now I have to decide where to put it. I have 17-40 and 70-200. I don't want to switch filter all the time. Could anyone tell from experience where should I put it to get most use out of it.

Thanks, Pendu

I use the Lee panel CP. Pricy at $180, but it slides into the holder so easily you can use it on any lens. With your options though I'd go with the 17-40.

Originally Posted by Bearmann

Anyone using a one stop graduated, soft or hard? What application do you typically find it useful for?

I see that the Lee filters come in filter sets which are a bit cheaper and include a 1, 2, and 3 stop hard set or soft set.

I use a 1 stop soft from time to time. Usually for waterfalls in the woods when the sunlight is lighting up the trees. As for the sets, it's basically buy 2 get one cheap. So normally I wouldn't buy the 1 stop on my own, but if you're starting out why not for the price?

[BigBadWolfie]

Hey guys. My Lee filter collection is finally starting to look good and I'm in the process of getting better at using the filters. Thanks to Ben who got many of us here started.

I currently have the foundation kit, 77mm + 82mm WA rings, 4x4 CPL, Big Stopper, 3 stop hard grad, and 2 stop soft grad. My question is what to get next? I like shooting sunsets so I'm thinking a 3 stop reverse ND grad would be a good option? I don't believe Lee makes one so should I go with Hitech? After that if funds allow, I'm thinking I should either add a 3 stop soft grad or a 2 stop hard grad? Any thoughts and advice?

[Heath]

Originally Posted by BigBadWolfie

Hey guys. My Lee filter collection is finally starting to look good and I'm in the process of getting better at using the filters. Thanks to Ben who got many of us here started.

I currently have the foundation kit, 77mm + 82mm WA rings, 4x4 CPL, Big Stopper, 3 stop hard grad, and 2 stop soft grad. My question is what to get next? I like shooting sunsets so I'm thinking a 3 stop reverse ND grad would be a good option? I don't believe Lee makes one so should I go with Hitech? After that if funds allow, I'm thinking I should either add a 3 stop soft grad or a 2 stop hard grad? Any thoughts and advice?

What is the difference between a 3 stop hard (or soft) and a 3 stop reverse? Can't you turn the hard upside down and get a 3 stop reverse?

Also, which CPL did you get? I am just starting to put my kit together also.

Thanks,

[jacobsen1]

Originally Posted by BigBadWolfie

My question is what to get next? I like shooting sunsets so I'm thinking a 3 stop reverse ND grad would be a good option? I don't believe Lee makes one so should I go with Hitech? After that if funds allow, I'm thinking I should either add a 3 stop soft grad or a 2 stop hard grad? Any thoughts and advice?

I tried a format (hitech in the UK) reverse a while back. The second transition was so high I could only use it at super wide angles, in vertical shots, and still it could only be with the first "stage" WAY at the bottom of the frame and the second WAY at the top. I'm not sure if mine was made wrong (it could NOT be used horizontally so I'm thinking it was) but it made me realize that they're fundamentally flawed because the distance between the normal grad line and the second one are set, how often will that distance match what you're shooting? Sure, the set distance they give you might be better than not, but I wanted adjustability...

so I bought a lee 1 stop soft, and put it in my holder UPSIDE DOWN and get an adjustable 2 stop grad when used with my 3 stop hard GND the normal way. It's weird, a lot of people don't get it, but I assure you it works.

As for what I'd get next in your shoes, I have and use 2 and 3 hards and softs all the time. I use my hards more around the ocean and my softs more in the woods (streams/waterfalls) but I use both quite often. Eventually I'll have 1~3 in both had and soft and a 4 stop hard as well.

Originally Posted by Heath

What is the difference between a 3 stop hard (or soft) and a 3 stop reverse? Can't you turn the hard upside down and get a 3 stop reverse?

a normal 3 stop has 3 stops worth of gray up top, a transition, then clear at the bottom.
a 3 stop reverse, looks like a normal 3 stop for the bottom 2/3, but then the top is a stop lighter.

Normal 3 stop GND:
333
333
333
000
000
000

3 stop reverse:
222
333
333
000
000
000

if that makes sense. My hacked version that's adjustable and a "2 stop reverse" is done like this:
333
444
444
111
111
111

using a 1 stop soft in "upside down" and a 3 stop hard in the "normal way".

[Phrasikleia]

Originally Posted by jacobsen1

Normal 3 stop GND:
333
333
333
000
000
000

Unless it's a 3-stop soft grad, in which case it's more like this:

333
222
111
000
000
000