Neutral Density Filter

I am looking for a decent ND not a GND and I know when I was looking for a CPL everyone made a huge deal about getting the correct Hoya or B&W

I don't see the same fervor over the NDs. So for a twist-on ND what are people using and what should I go for or avoid?

HVstar has several as do BH and Adorama. any suggestions greatly appreciated.

Thank you

Shawn.

The same quality issues that apply to a CPL apply to *all* filters. You mostly see it about UV and CPL because those are far more commonly used than other filters.

Ok, point taken but even within hoya and B&W there are choices.

any problem with stacking two CPLs for a simialr effect?

You can stack CPLs but you'll want to be careful about alignment. And you should always try to minimize the number of layers you are adding so a single dark ND is better than 2 CPLS or 2 lighter NDs. Adding a second filter means doubling the chances of dust, scratches or flaws in the glass.

One of the best NDs is the Singh-Ray vari-ND you can adjust the darkness by twisting the filter so you have flexibility.
Hoyas NDs are very good ones too

Stacking CPLs is not the same because you are getting polarized light thru the CPLs while the NDs just darken the scene without polarizing effect, sometimes you want to polarize and sometimes you don't.

Luigi

Variable Neutral Density Filter

Check out this link:

http://digital-photography-school.com …e-neutral-density-filter/

I saw that saw article. very interesting. here's what i was considering. I have a nice CPL and was considering adding a 4x and possibly an 8x.

http://hvstar.net …ction=VIEWPROD&​ProdID=195

get the 72 and the convertor rings for my 58 and 62s?

but then at BH they have 3 price classes one at $40-ish and one near $100 and one over $125??

doing a mfr# check the HVstar ND is equal to this one at B&H

http://www.bhphotovide​o.com/c/produc...l_Den​sity.html

so what is the difference? coatings again?

luigis wrote in post #6272736
One of the best NDs is the Singh-Ray vari-ND you can adjust the darkness by twisting the filter so you have flexibility.
Luigi

at quite a premium too. lots of warnings even on the Singh_ray site about fringing and color abberations though. anyone use this?

comes in a 77 so I'd have to have conversion rings too.

I read about buying one filter and putting converters on to allow it to fit on all lenses.

Singh-Ray is only making 77 and 88mm versions now so if I did this a 77 vari-ND on my 72mm would be fine but down to my 58? that's 19mm. Seems like too big a leap. chances of me wanting to use it on this lens is small but still just a question. is there a limit on how big a difference there should be between filter and lens in this situation?

Thanks

I also like the B+W 10 stop ND but, I wish they made it in 82mm. I also want the Singh-ray Vari-ND but, I hope that this is the last type of filter I have to buy.
Link: http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …29_77_mm_110_Ne​utral.html

luigis wrote in post #6272736
One of the best NDs is the Singh-Ray vari-ND you can adjust the darkness by twisting the filter so you have flexibility.
Hoyas NDs are very good ones too

Stacking CPLs is not the same because you are getting polarized light thru the CPLs while the NDs just darken the scene without polarizing effect, sometimes you want to polarize and sometimes you don't.

Luigi

The Singh Ray IS a stacked CPL and linear polariser. You can't combine it with a another CPL to get polarizing effects and it isn't multi-coated so you are adding two potentially flare-inducing elements to your optical chain by using it. Add to that the fact that you'll probably have to use step-up rings to attach it and therefore lose the ability to use your lens hood, and it seems like a waste of money when you could get a properly sized and multicoated, single-element ND filter for much less.