Filters - IR and 10 stop ND

Hello,

I am looking for advice/feedback on filters. Specifically the infrared filters and a ND filter that will allow me to take long exposure of like 2-15 minutes in daylight.

I am using an XTI and 40D (soon). I have using Sigma 10-20 and Tamron 17-50 lens.

2-15 minutes? 10 stop will get you down around 2-4 seconds at ISO 100. You need another 5-8 stops to get to the 2-15 minute range. And then you and the camera will go crazy trying to focus and compose.

I read something about long exposure times in OP a few weeks ago

http://www.outdoorphot​ographer.com …aug/neutral_den​sity.shtml

They have a Kodak filter that is ND4.0!

ND 4.0 is about 13 stops, IIRC.

Ok, maybe not that long.

Where would I find a decent filter with a 10 stop rating?

Well, maybe it'd be better to start with what you're hoping to achieve . . . If it's that soft, flowing water effect, somewhere between 2-15 seconds can do the trick. If you're trying to make people or traffic disappear you really do want times of over a minute.

But generally B+W, Hoya and Heliopan are excellent glass ones; Lee and Singh Ray for resin squares.

Actually, I am after both effects. I would think about 2 mins might be the longest exposure time now that I am thinking about it.

If you can, you might want to just shoot later in the day for the "disappearing people" shots. The lower light levels will help there. Of course, if there's vehicular traffic you'll get the car light streaks along roads.

I have the B+W 110 (10 Stop). I'm still only finding my feet but here is an example of a shot achieved with said filter (taken during the afternoon). From memory the exposure was about 2 mins in length.

https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=465785

Some say the B+W gives a colour cast but so far so good. The Hoya equivalent (9 stops) is more expensive and seems to be hard to locate (at least here in the UK).

TobyR wrote in post #5428289
I have the B+W 110 (10 Stop). I'm still only finding my feet but here is an example of a shot achieved with said filter (taken during the afternoon). From memory the exposure was about 2 mins in length.

https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=465785

Some say the B+W gives a colour cast but so far so good. The Hoya equivalent (9 stops) is more expensive and seems to be hard to locate (at least here in the UK).

Sorry to thread jump, but wil save on paper if i use this one.

Im looking at screw in ND filters and i want the ND110 from B+W aswell. Whats the differnece between that and the £30 more expensive Hoya 9 stop ??
I was going for the 110 and a CPL for a first buy just to see if i get the hang of it, then move into differnet stops (3 and 6 possibly)

Ta

Just the colour cast, as far as I'm aware, though not everyone experiences this.

I think there are already a few threads on the forum discussing the two filters (pros and cons).

One picture that I have in mind is to do a long exposure of a beach scene with a palm tree and strip of island anchored in the corner. I would like the ocean to be the smooth glassy (creamy) type. The wave are not very high in the Bahamas where I will be taking the pic. Also I would think I would need a longer exposure to also keep the palm tree from blurring should a slight breeze come along

Well, the longer the exposure, the more blur you'll see in the palm fronds, not just the water. You should catch a good smoothing of the sea at 1-2x the period of the waves, so maybe 10-15 sec.

ClickClick wrote in post #5433559
One picture that I have in mind is to do a long exposure of a beach scene with a palm tree and strip of island anchored in the corner. I would like the ocean to be the smooth glassy (creamy) type. The wave are not very high in the Bahamas where I will be taking the pic. Also I would think I would need a longer exposure to also keep the palm tree from blurring should a slight breeze come along

Set up the tripod, set the composition, and take two exposures...one with the palm 'frozen' and the second with the ocean blurred. Blend in PS to get the effect that you're after. No way the palm tree will be still otherwise.

http://singh-ray.com/varind.html
http://singh-ray.com/morslo.html

That is 13 stops of adjustable ND. You can turn them to lighten the scene and compose, then turn back to get the exposure you want. Fantastic quality and the best service and personal responsibility for products ive seen!

Another alternative is to get a square filter system, ala Cokin, Lee, Hitech, etc... Get a holder that can hold multiple filters. Stack the darkest ND filters you can find! 3 5-stop filters will be 15 stops stacked. At ISO 100, f/16, you should get a decent shutter speed. You might not get 15 minutes...but you should find your self somewhere around the 30-second to 1 minute mark in daylight. (thats a rough calc off the top of my head...)