ND Filter Set

So it was my birthday last week and my parents want to know what to buy me. I'm interested in getting a ND Filter set, but I don't know where to even start looking. My big problem is I have two lenses with the same filter size, and one with a massive filter size, so I'm not sure of the best way to do an ND Filter set. The larger filter size is 82mm and the smaller is 58mm.

The two things I know I can do are two different sets, or the filter "resizing rings" and just go with the larger filters. What's the best solution? The one thing to keep in mind that this would be primarily for landscape style shooting...with a yet-to-be-purchased tripod...

Thanks!

Do you mean Graduated ND's or plain old ND's? I assume you mean GND's.

Well, both, eventually...

I feel like plain old NDs are more useful right now. My plan is to use for both landscape photography and slap on my prime lenses to use wide apertures outdoors during the day. I'm moving to Newport, RI, so the landscape photography would be mostly ocean, though I'm not looking just to capture crisp waves, but also the long shutter times to get the misting effect from breaking waves (similar to long exposures of waterfalls/rapids). I think this means I'd want plain NDs now, and as I slowly accumulate money I can slowly spend it on more and more photography equipment...or something like that...

don't mean to hijack, but whats the difference between ND and GND??

woloi wrote in post #5549232
Well, both, eventually...

I feel like plain old NDs are more useful right now. My plan is to use for both landscape photography and slap on my prime lenses to use wide apertures outdoors during the day. I'm moving to Newport, RI, so the landscape photography would be mostly ocean, though I'm not looking just to capture crisp waves, but also the long shutter times to get the misting effect from breaking waves (similar to long exposures of waterfalls/rapids). I think this means I'd want plain NDs now, and as I slowly accumulate money I can slowly spend it on more and more photography equipment...or something like that...

Sorry, most people get them confused and you said landscapes so I assumes GND, which is why I asked. I don't know much about ND's (or GND for that matter ). I like my Hi-tech GND set that I got from www.2filter.com. I'll leave the advice to those who know what they are talking about though.

Canon Soldier wrote in post #5549259
don't mean to hijack, but whats the difference between ND and GND??

GND is usually for balancing the exposure of the sky with that of the foreground (sky is usually at least 2 stops brighter than the ground). While ND's are usually used to slow down your shutter speed in bright light.

GND:
http://en.wikipedia.or​g …ed_neutral_dens​ity_filter


ND:
http://en.wikipedia.or​g/wiki/Neutral_density​_filter

DDCSD wrote in post #5549344
I like my Hi-tech GND set that I got from www.2filter.com.

Wow that's a confusing website...

So I'm looking for a set of ND filters, which I think is 1, 2, and 3 stop reduction? I know something like Tiffen is "consumer" while B+W or Hoya is more "professional," but are the price differences justified?

Annoyingly, B+W don't make multi-coated 3-stop NDs, although you can get a 3-stop reduction by stacking the MRC 0.3 and 0.6 filters.

Heliopan do make multi-coated versions of 0.3, 0.6 and 0.9 NDs in all sizes and are IMO the best option if you can afford them.

I use a 3-stop and 6-stop ND filters, and will add the 10-stop shortly. Don't forget, your polarizer should give you almost 2 stops of light reduction as well (in addition to the polarizing effects). In a pinch, you can use the CPL as an ND filter. FWIW, I prefer to use B+W round threaded ND filters...rectangular for GND's.

Does anybody still use GND filters anymore with RAW and photoshop so easy and more flexible?

The only two filters in my bag are a CPL and a 6 stop ND.

Speedy818 wrote in post #5549679
Does anybody still use GND filters anymore with RAW and photoshop so easy and more flexible?

The only two filters in my bag are a CPL and a 6 stop ND.

In short, yes people still use GND's.

argyle wrote in post #5549514
I use a 3-stop and 6-stop ND filters, and will add the 10-stop shortly. Don't forget, your polarizer should give you almost 2 stops of light reduction as well (in addition to the polarizing effects). In a pinch, you can use the CPL as an ND filter. FWIW, I prefer to use B+W round threaded ND filters...rectangular for GND's.

I own a 58mm Tiffen CPL, I plan to upgrade that eventually as well, but I have not noticed even close to nearly a 2-stop reduction from using that on my 50mm and 85mm primes. Perhaps higher quality CPLs are darker?

Why do you only use 3 and 6-stop NDs? Is it worthwhile to get a 1 or 2-stop ND? What do you plan on using the 10-stop ND for?

10 stops are good for getting rid of people & cars in daylight scenes.
I have read some great things about the Singh-Ray Vari-ND. Very pricey though.

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

DDCSD wrote in post #5550013
10 stops are good for getting rid of people & cars in daylight scenes.
I have read some great things about the Singh-Ray Vari-ND. Very pricey though.

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

Ok, I admit, that's a use I never thought of, very neat idea though!

Those Singh-Ray filters look like just two CPLs stacked and set up so they can filter almost all light out. Neat idea...but yeah...way expensive!

Hermes - What's the difference between MRC and non-MRC?

woloi wrote in post #5550127
Ok, I admit, that's a use I never thought of, very neat idea though!

Those Singh-Ray filters look like just two CPLs stacked and set up so they can filter almost all light out. Neat idea...but yeah...way expensive!

Hermes - What's the difference between MRC and non-MRC?

MRC is their designation for multi-coated filters.

FYI the Vari-ND is not multi-coated and cannot be stacked with a circular polariser.

woloi wrote in post #5549888
Why do you only use 3 and 6-stop NDs? Is it worthwhile to get a 1 or 2-stop ND? What do you plan on using the 10-stop ND for?

Because a polarizer will give me anywhere from 1-2 stops of light reduction. If I need more reduction, I can use the 3-stop, and can then stack the CPL with a 3-stop for even more reduction, etc. The 10-stop (and higher if you stack) can have dramatic effects, such as smoothing out the ocean or another large body of water in daylight so that it looks like glass. It all depends on the effect that you're after.

The Singh-Ray Vari ND is an adjustable ND filter (2-8 stops), but it costs close to $400, and as someone else has already mentioned, it cannot be stacked with a polarizer (supposedly, they are coming out with a new version that will accept a polarizer, but who knows when). Also, its only available in two sizes...77mm and 82mm.