Filters

Hi all,

1. I would like to buy an ND filter, which one do you recommend? [77mm]

2. I am using GND, so can i still use ND with it? i think i can and see some do that, but how can i do that without vignetting or which ND, regular standard or rectangular?

3. I have Circular Polarizer from B+W, really great CPL filter, but that frontal element about 91mm make it not possible to place any other filters on it, so if i will use only CPL then this is really very great and i don't have issue using it only, but when i want to use CPL with another filter then this one is useless unless i place a filter before it, so should i think about another CPL filter that i can use it with another filters no problem?

4. About IR filters, i am not looking to convert any of my cameras to IR, so will IR filter give good enough or closer results to those with camera completely converted to IR? any recommendation on IR filters?

1.) Hard to give an answer. The use of an ND filter is highly dependent on available light conditions at the time, and what you're actually trying to do with it. That being said, since you already have a good polarizer, I'd recommend a 3-stop and 6-stop ND filter (round). Since the CPL will give you anywhere from 1-2 stops of reduction, it wouldn't make much sense to buy a 2-stop ND. You can use the two ND's and CPL in any combination to get anywhere from 1-11 stops of reduction. However, at wide angles, you will get vignetting when stacking. B+W (and I think Hoya) sell 10-stop ND filters as well. Personally, I prefer round ND's over the square filters...when stacking the square filters in a holder, there are too many paths for extraneous light to get in.

2.) I generally will use a GND filter in tandem with a polarizer (haven't tried it with an ND). When I do this, I forego the filter holder and handhold the GND filter in front of the CPL. See above response for round vs. square ND.

3.) Not sure I follow this question. If you have a slim CPL from B+W, then you don't have any front threads to attach another filter. You can always put a filter behind it (on the lens first), then have the CPL on the outside. This would at least make it easier for you to rotate the CPL since it'd be on the outside.

4.) Most people that go the IR filter route settle on the Hoya R72. They're not overly expensive, until you get to the 77mm filter size and larger. For some reason, 77mm seems to be the point at wich they become very expensive. You may get similar results as that of a converted body, but it'll be more difficult....you'll need a tripod, have longer exposure times, and any movement of foliage or clouds, even in the slightest breeze, will appear as OOF in the final image due to those long exposure times. Not to mention the high price of a 77mm R72 filter. IMO, best results are with a converted camera.

argyle wrote in post #5744697
1.) Hard to give an answer. The use of an ND filter is highly dependent on available light conditions at the time, and what your actually trying to do with it. That being said, since you already have a good polarizer, I'd recommend a 3-stop and 6-stop ND filter (round). Since the CPL will give you anywhere from 1-2 strops of reduction, it wouldn't make much sense to buy a 2-stop ND. You can use the two ND's and CPL in any combination to get anywhere from 1-11 stops of reduction. However, at wide angles, you will get vignetting when stacking. B+W (and I think Hoya) sell 10-stop ND filters as well. Personally, I prefer round ND's over the square filters...when stacking the square filters in a holder, there are too many paths for extraneous light to get in.

2.) I generally will use a GND filter in tandem with a polarizer (haven't tried it with an ND). When I do this, I forego the filter holder and handhold the GND filter in front of the CPL. See above response for round vs. square ND.

3.) Not sure I follow this question. If you have a slim CPL from B+W, then you don't have any front threads to attach another filter. You can always put a filter behind it (on the lens first), then have the CPL on the outside. This would at least make it easier for you to rotate the CPL since it'd be on the outside.

4.) Most people that go the IR filter route settle on the Hoya R72. They're not overly expensive, until you get to the 77mm filter size and larger. For some reason, 77mm seems to be the point at wich they become very expensive. You may get similar results as that of a converted body, but it'll be more difficult....you'll need a tripod, have longer exposure times, and any movement of foliage or clouds, even in the slightest breeze, will appear as OOF in the final image due to those long exposure times. Not to mention the high price of a 77mm R72 filter. IMO, best results are with a converted camera.

1. I have one Hoya ND filter and i want to use for slower shutter speed shots, not always CPL is the only filter recommended, but seems my ND [8x i think 3 stops maybe] is not slim enough, so that i am thinking to replace it [I mean buy another one better if so], i will use that ND with CPL or with another GND, so i know when use ND but which ND i should look at?

2. I don't like to handhold my filters, as i sometimes use shutter speed about 2-15 seconds, so any shake or movement will kill and waste my trials and time, so i prefer to use holder with release rather than hold that filter for more than 2 or 3 scnds.

3. I have that B+W with large frontal element, i didn't imagine i chose that one, i don't see any vignetting at ultra wide using this filter which is great, but as i said, with that frontal 95mm element i can't place any another filter on it even UV, here is a link to this filter, so check it and yu will know what i mean, so now do you recommend me to buy another slim CPL instead of that?

http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …mm_Kaeseman_Cir​cular.html

4. Ofcourse when sue all those lenses for slower shutter speed i must use tripod, so doesn't matter if i use slow shutter speed with any filter, tripod and release are must, so with IR filter i know i am going to use so sow shutter speed, and i am looking for that OOF moving clouds, and i will get some still shots even with longer shutter speed, houses cars and still objects don't move unless you move them, and i think that camera converted is better but i am not going to take that risk, i am not a big fan of IR so i think i will use just filter for a while for some shots, and i know they are expensive, doesn't matter as long i will buy one IR filter only.

If you feel that you don't want to handhold a GND in front of a polarizer, you may want to take a look at the Lee system. Lee has a 105mm CPL that attaches to the front of their GND filter holder. In essence, you'll have the ability to use up to two GND's in addition to the CPL. This works great (I also have this setup and use it when needed) and you won't have to handhold anything.

argyle wrote in post #5745851
If you feel that you don't want to handhold a GND in front of a polarizer, you may want to take a look at the Lee system. Lee has a 105mm CPL that attaches to the front of their GND filter holder. In essence, you'll have the ability to use up to two GND's in addition to the CPL. This works great (I also have this setup and use it when needed) and you won't have to handhold anything.

Links please

I don't have the links handy...just do a google for lee filters, and you should come up with many different links.

argyle wrote in post #5750942
I don't have the links handy...just do a google for lee filters, and you should come up with many different links.

I have HiTech GND filters and Cokin Z-Pro holder, so should i really look at Lee filters and system?

Tareq wrote in post #5750971
I have HiTech GND filters and Cokin Z-Pro holder, so should i really look at Lee filters and system?

If you already have a Z-Pro holder, then by all means check out the Cokin accessories. They also have a large diameter polarizer that fits into their system...

argyle wrote in post #5751106
If you already have a Z-Pro holder, then by all means check out the Cokin accessories. They also have a large diameter polarizer that fits into their system...

And do you recommend their large diameter polarizer filter?

In fact i was just going to look for another slim 77mm frontal element circ. polarizer filter and add another regular ND to my collection, what i have already i found what i need or what issues i face with my current filters system.

So before i press order buttons i just want to be sure of what i will buy.

GND filters finished, have what i need.
ND, i don't know which one to get for UWA lenses, i have regular one which is not designed for UWA.
CPL, i have 2, one is normal not for UWA and one from B+W great for UWA but it has front thread [95mm] so it is useless with another filters.
So for that, which ND and CPL i should buy if i will use them both together on UWA lenses? what your recommendations? I don't care much about vignetting but i am sure there are some filters that can minimize the amount of the vignetting, tiny vignetting can be handled or deal with.