Want to try GND filters, holder necessary?

I've seen a few little tidbits online where people don't even bother with filter holders and just hold them or 'dance' them in front of the lens during an exposure. I remember one video where Joe McNally was giving a workshop and a student was fumbling with the filter holder...he came up and shook it out of her hand and just 'forget about that..just do this' and just held it in front of the lens.

So, what's the verdict? Total pain in the butt or something worth having? I guess for LONG (2+ minute exposures) the filter holder would be worth it, but I usually wouldn't use filters in that situation anyway (night shots, etc)

I'll hand hold a filter if I'm in a hurry...that's about it (but now, even that's a rarity). I generally use more than one filter at time, so if you're stacking filters you're much better off using the holder in those situations. Hand holding does present some risks...if you're not careful, you can (1) scratch the filter (done that), (2) drop it (which I've also done), (3) get your fingertips in the frame (done that too), (4) bump the lens during an exposure (yep, did that too), etc. These incidents happened mainly because I was in a hurry and had gotten careless. The holder also makes it easier to set the filter at an angle if need be. I now make an effort to take my time and get it done right, and that's using the holder. Maybe its the cash outlay for a holder that gets people thinking about hand holding, but considering that a damaged filter costs more than a holder anyway, I don't see the advantage. Put me in the holder camp.

I got my first Lee ND grad not too long ago. I bought the filter first and tried hand holding it but didn't care for the exercise. I've been much happier since I bought the filter holder. But as they say, YMMV.

Argyle, what filters are you typically stacking?

I am trying to get my hands on a Z-pro filter GND and ND8

my only option with my sigma 12-24mm now is to build a very expensive x-pro DIY or handhold.

I think handholding is doable specially if I have a tripod. the problem is I can't find an ND8 100mm x 100mm here in my country

Hand hold all the time. Biggest advantage is that I can jiggle the filter to make the transition zone even more transparent.

Hogloff wrote in post #10525232
Hand hold all the time. Biggest advantage is that I can jiggle the filter to make the transition zone even more transparent.

yes you can 'Feather" the GND.

mike_d wrote in post #10525150
I got my first Lee ND grad not too long ago. I bought the filter first and tried hand holding it but didn't care for the exercise. I've been much happier since I bought the filter holder. But as they say, YMMV.

Argyle, what filters are you typically stacking?

On occasion, an ND with a GND, depending on the situation. I'm also switching to a Lee 4x4 polarizer, which will also be in the sandwich. Basically, it'll be some combination of the three filters.

As far as feathering goes, I don't bother with it. I pretty much stick with a hard grad for most of the shooting (where most would often grab a soft filter). With a hard grad, the shaded area is fairly constant, which makes dodging some areas much, much easier if need be. With a soft grad, the shaded area is much less constant, making dodging a much more difficult task.

Get the holder. I went on a three-week photo trip last month and tried to get a set of filters with a holder before I left. However, there was no way for me to get the holder fast enough, so I had to go without one. Very unfortunate! I learned the hard way why the holder is worth having.

1) I got scratches all over my new GND from it making contact with the lens.

2) I had numerous shots ruined by reflections that occurred because I was not holding the filter exactly parallel with the lens. It can be difficult to tell whether or not you're holding it just right, and if you press firmly against the lens to make sure it's flat against it, you're likely to scratch the filter (see number 1).

3) I got my fingers in a lot of shots.

4) During longer exposures, the vibrations of holding the filter against the lens caused camera shake. There I was using a good tripod, mirror lock-up, and a remote shutter release, and then making all of those precautions pointless by bumping up against the lens with a handheld filter.

5) When I was in places where tripods are forbidden, I had to hold the camera mostly with one hand while I held the filter in place with the other. This juggling act greatly reduced my stability and caused unnecessary camera shake.

The first thing I did when I got back from my trip was order a holder and set of adapters.