Promaster variable NDX

Just got a new ND filter for my new 24-70mm lens and not sure if I like it. Your able to adjust the darkness and when you adjust it to its max darkness, it appears that the picture is like a honeycomb. I'm not happy with this filter and maybe its because I don't know how to use it. If someone could shed some light on this, that would be great. I wanted a 9 stop because it looks like thats what most people use but my camera store only carried this brand. I had a gift certificate there.

Under 35mm that effect you're talking about is common with the variable nd filters set to the maximum setting. I had a Fader NDII that produced an X pattern in the photo when I had it set to maximum darkness. Even the $400 Singh-Ray Vari-ND suffers from the pattern at maximum setting.

It is a common issue with cheaper super-dense and variable ND filters, especially on wide angle lenses. It looks like the cheap filters are made from two polarizing filters which are rotated relative to each other for the variable ND effect. Because the filters are polarizing, they are very directional, so this approach fails for wide angles.

For super-dense ND, I'd stay away from variable, and would stick to well known brands. My 10-stop ND110 (B+W) is not perfect (pretty strong purplish tint), but perfectly usable, even on UWA lenses.

how much did you pay?

A quality variable ND cost $300 upwards (helipan, b+w, singh ray) . Anything below it is pretty much crap.

I can't remember off the top of my head. I traded some equipment in and bought the 24-70mmL lens and he said he gave me a discount. I've tried searching the net for the 82mm B + W 10 stop ND filter and cant find one. Anybody know where I can purchase one?

Thorrulz wrote in post #15432356
Even the $400 Singh-Ray Vari-ND suffers from the pattern at maximum setting.

Despite some people suggesting that the X-problem only happens with cheaper VNDs, Thorrulz is correct in the above statement. Any and all VNDs will give unusable results with an UWA and maximum density.

I just bought a Hoya Pro-1 Digital 6-stop ND and it is excellent! No color cast and very effective. Add my B+W CPL and I get about 7.5 to 8 stops of light reduction.

I got mine from MaxSaver.net - Big savings!

There is a big difference between 6-stop and 10-stop filter. At 10-stops, a slight tint is unavoidable, but nothing a PP white balance can't correct for. Also, for purely geometrical reasons, you get an additional vignetting when using super-dense ND filters with UWA lenses - again, nothing that PP can't correct for.

Here is the B+W ND110 82mm (rather pricey - 223$):

http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …3163_82mm_3_0_N​D_110.html

There seems to be a huge premium for going from 77mm (the one I got) - 125$, to 82mm (223$).