Post your 9 or 10 stop ND photos

Looking for some advice. I'm sure this has been covered at some point in the last 520 pages or so...but I'm looking to get a 10 stop ND. What brand do you guys prefer? Is there any benefit, or negative aspect to using a square filter with a mounting system vs. a filter that screws into the lens threads themselves?

I prefer the Lee Big Stopper. I just found one in the FS forum after being patient for a while. There are others out there but I've never used them.

I prefer a square filter to a round screw on filter. The square filters have a gasket on them that prevents light from leaking through so there's no worry there. Getting into a square filter kit is more expensive than just buying a circular filter but it's better in the long-run especially if your lenses ever change, all you have to do is buy a new adapter and you're back in business. Circular filters are a pain IMO. Screwing that on and off is much more difficult than just sliding the square filter in/out of the holder.

theague wrote in post #17929368
I prefer the Lee Big Stopper. I just found one in the FS forum after being patient for a while. There are others out there but I've never used them.

I prefer a square filter to a round screw on filter. The square filters have a gasket on them that prevents light from leaking through so there's no worry there. Getting into a square filter kit is more expensive than just buying a circular filter but it's better in the long-run especially if your lenses ever change, all you have to do is buy a new adapter and you're back in business. Circular filters are a pain IMO. Screwing that on and off is much more difficult than just sliding the square filter in/out of the holder.

This

theague wrote in post #17929368
I prefer the Lee Big Stopper. I just found one in the FS forum after being patient for a while. There are others out there but I've never used them.

I prefer a square filter to a round screw on filter. The square filters have a gasket on them that prevents light from leaking through so there's no worry there. Getting into a square filter kit is more expensive than just buying a circular filter but it's better in the long-run especially if your lenses ever change, all you have to do is buy a new adapter and you're back in business. Circular filters are a pain IMO. Screwing that on and off is much more difficult than just sliding the square filter in/out of the holder.

Thanks for the insight! I remember Lee Big Stoppers being a bit pricey (but what isn't with photography) and thats why I held off. You bring up good points about being able to switch it between lenses with ease. Thanks again.

johnnyproblems wrote in post #17929358
Looking for some advice. I'm sure this has been covered at some point in the last 520 pages or so...but I'm looking to get a 10 stop ND. What brand do you guys prefer? Is there any benefit, or negative aspect to using a square filter with a mounting system vs. a filter that screws into the lens threads themselves?

circ filter pros:
no light leaks
can be much smaller, and thus smaller carrying case
can be used with a hood

circ filter cons:
different sized lenses can make it clunky to work with
cross threading
no gradient
threading it on in general is not as fast as a clip
stacking can quickly add vignetting problems

Square pros:
large, can accommodate many lenses
clipping on can be faster
gradients
stacking is generally ok
cleaning generally easier

Square cons:
large holder and filters and carrying case
light leaks / flare issues in between stacks.
size differences can make it a pain to mount
corners easy to chip/break
resin filters are super easy to scratch

I'm likely going to sell off most of my circular and square filters and stick with 4, 3 stop, 6 stop, 10 stop, and polarizer. I dont need any more than that.

johnnyproblems wrote in post #17929387
Thanks for the insight! I remember Lee Big Stoppers being a bit pricey (but what isn't with photography) and thats why I held off. You bring up good points about being able to switch it between lenses with ease. Thanks again.

get haida then, it's great. Probably the cleanest most neutral filter.

Charlie wrote in post #17929392
circ filter pros:


I'm likely going to sell off most of my circular and square filters and stick with 4, 3 stop, 6 stop, 10 stop, and polarizer. I dont need any more than that.

The square filter kits, Like the Lee, come with several slots to stack filters, correct?

johnnyproblems wrote in post #17929396
The square filter kits, Like the Lee, come with several slots to stack filters, correct?

yes (2 or 3), and being much wider, there's less of a tendency to vignette.

johnnyproblems wrote in post #17929396
The square filter kits, Like the Lee, come with several slots to stack filters, correct?

Yes 3. Save yourself some cash and get the holder and adaptor rings from "the filter dude". Fully compatible with Lee, well built and cheap

xpfloyd wrote in post #17929400
Yes 3. Save yourself some cash and get the holder and adaptor rings from "the filter dude". Fully compatible with Lee, well built and cheap

googling "the filter dude" now.

xpfloyd wrote in post #17929400
Yes 3. Save yourself some cash and get the holder and adaptor rings from "the filter dude". Fully compatible with Lee, well built and cheap

Thanks, will do!

ptcanon3ti wrote in post #17929404
googling "the filter dude" now.

They are based in the states but even when ordering from the uk the delivery is quick (and free!). I also recommend the coloured adaptor caps. Saves having to remove the adaptor from the lens. Excuse the non long exposure photo but here are two of my lenses with the filter dude adaptors and caps fitted

Photo from Eddie's gallery.

ptcanon3ti wrote in post #17929404
googling "the filter dude" now.

if you can wait for china products, you can get virtually the same as the filter dude stuff on ebay. For instance, LEE sells the adapter rings for $70? Filter dude for $25, fotocity $5.79....

just buy 82, 77, 72, 67, and you're done for $24. If you have any smaller lenses, ust a step up ring, for instance, I have a few lenses that are 49 and 52mm, and I use a stepup 49-67mm ring, and 58-67mm ring. It's likely that 82-67 will cover most of your lenses.

I have this exact ring http://www.ebay.com/it​m/351519495747, not much different from my authentic LEE one.

the holder: http://www.ebay.com …3edd0c:g:Sb8AAO​SwkNZUbhAq, exact same as filter dude, except it ships from the motherland which takes longer. $10.

xpfloyd wrote in post #17929413
They are based in the states but even when ordering from the uk the delivery is quick (and free!). I also recommend the coloured adaptor caps. Saves having to remove the adaptor from the lens. Excuse the non long exposure photo but here are two of my lenses with the filter dude adaptors and caps fitted

Gallery photo:
posted by Eddie originally in forum: Sony Digital Cameras

So he'll sell you the adaptor ring, for the size of your lens, and the holder, but you'd still need to buy the filters from Lee. Is that correct?

Charlie wrote in post #17929417
if you can wait for china products, you can get virtually the same as the filter dude stuff on ebay. For instance, LEE sells the adapter rings for $70? Filter dude for $25, fotocity $5.79....

just buy 82, 77, 72, 67, and you're done for $24. If you have any smaller lenses, ust a step up ring, for instance, I have a few lenses that are 49 and 52mm, and I use a stepup 49-67mm ring, and 58-67mm ring. It's likely that 82-67 will cover most of your lenses.

I have this exact ring http://www.ebay.com/it​m/351519495747, not much different from my authentic LEE one.

the holder: http://www.ebay.com …3edd0c:g:Sb8AAO​SwkNZUbhAq, exact same as filter dude, except it ships from the motherland which takes longer. $10.

Wow!!!! Are the LEE filters compatible with that holder?