Quick test of the Light Craft Workshop (LCW) Fader ND

argyle wrote in post #12392111
Actually, with the 7D, you should be able to have the filter set at its strongest density and compose/focus with Live View...LV will see right through the filter in decent enough light. I often stack my 10-stop with a polarizer for a total of 12 stops...the 5D2 LV has no problem with it...I suspect your 7D shouldn't either. Just another option to consider...

I haven't thought about that. I spent most of my time playing with the 5D1 today and there's no live view on that. If I get out to the waterfalls this week, I'll have to try using live view. When you do this method, does autofocus work, or do you have to use manual?

With my experiments on the 5Dc today, I'd set the ND to 2 stops, lock focus with AF, switch the lens to MF and set the filter to 8 stops, and shoot. Seemed to work well. The only lens I couldn't do that with was my 100-400l at 400mm. I may have not had enough contrast in my subject.....more experiments to come....

genzbenz wrote in post #12392151
I haven't thought about that. I spent most of my time playing with the 5D1 today and there's no live view on that. If I get out to the waterfalls this week, I'll have to try using live view. When you do this method, does autofocus work, or do you have to use manual?

With my experiments on the 5Dc today, I'd set the ND to 2 stops, lock focus with AF, switch the lens to MF and set the filter to 8 stops, and shoot. Seemed to work well. The only lens I couldn't do that with was my 100-400l at 400mm. I may have not had enough contrast in my subject.....more experiments to come....

When in LV, I strictly use manual focus with the magnification set to 10x...I typically shoot hyperfocally when doing landscape work, hence the reason for manual focus at 10x...lets me get critical focus.

AF will work in LV mode...just not sure if it'll work with a very strong ND filter. You may need to resort to your present method if you don't want to use manual focus...AF with weak ND, then adjust the filter strength afterwards.

argyle wrote in post #12392606
When in LV, I strictly use manual focus with the magnification set to 10x...I typically shoot hyperfocally when doing landscape work, hence the reason for manual focus at 10x...lets me get critical focus.

AF will work in LV mode...just not sure if it'll work with a very strong ND filter. You may need to resort to your present method if you don't want to use manual focus...AF with weak ND, then adjust the filter strength afterwards.

Thanks for the update. Its been about 15 years since I had to rely on my Manual Focus skills. I think I've gotten soft, because I tend to miss the focus when I've had to go manual lately....although I haven't tried it in LV with a 10x magnification. Thanks for the tip!

I have the same ND filter. This last past weekend I was able to take it out to the beach to shoot a friend around 11am... clear blue skys and everything was ultra bright...

The first 5 were shot with a ND filter at various stops.. I was using a AB1600 + BD for my lighting

http://www.flickr.com/​photos/darktiger/

Those are sweet! I LOVE the one that you have in sepia. Phenomenal shot.

awesome, i atcually have on of these, i found it good in day light, good in studio,
on sigma 50mm 1.4 and 7d
only got to use it once, to test it out... then oregon decided to rain untill june... and still going at it haha