Anyone recomend a good ND filter system for the sony NEX?

I use this one, it gets the job done...I just purchased the largest filter size and bought a bunch of step down rings...

Tiffen 77mm Variable Neutral Density Filter 77VND B&H Photo (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=&sku=813278&Q=&is=REG&A=details)

I use the Genus Eclipse variable ND - it's great

Eclipse ND Fader Filters | Genustech (http://www.genustech.tv/collections/genus-eclipse-nd-fader)

And the quick release filter system from Xume

Products (http://www.xumeadapters.com/order-here.html)

Pete

Is there footage out there from the nex-ea50 with and without a ND filter. to see the difference?
I have mattebox with 4x4 filter holder.

And which nd filter do I need? I know with the sony NX5 I fimed outside in auto mode and the camcorder told me which ND setting to use.

Ditto on the Genus variable filter. Works great. Haven't seen any odd discolorations.

genus get some great reviews. But I also read some great reviews about the very cheap ND filter from fotga.
Because the stocklens extends I can't use my mattebox with that lens.

the fotga is good but looses too much sharpness while zooming in I read.
I also read good reviews about the hoya variable nd filter.

So at this moment I doubt between the tiffen,hoya or genus. All about in the same price range.

I use a mattebox and french flags so it's difficult to rotate the nd filter when shooting "handheld"

With the mattebox you can forget about turning the variable nd filter while shooting handheld and even on a tripod you risk that your hand will come into the frame, what you can do is just set the variable filter at the desired nd stop and just leave it while shooting, that works fine as long as the light conditions don't change too much.
On my blog there are some tests with filters in combination with the nex-ea50: https://accidentalvideographer.wordpress.com/category/sony-nex-ea50/filters/

Noa,

thannks for helping me out again. Yes, like you said: set it on the desired nd stop as the lightning conditions doesn't change too much. That will be best.

That genus nd filter looks really great to me! I believe if you say that even fully zoomed in there is almost no image quality loss.

Without a nd filter I have no DOF background because the F stop goes really high to compensate this.
In this case the big sensor is useless without ND filter.

So I buy the ND filter for the biggest lens with a downstep ring? Then I can all use the 3 lenses I have (from you)

perhaps a stupid question: can I leave this nd filter on when going inside a house? So turn it on minimum or do I always inscrew it when going from outside to inside?

Yes you can get some step down rings attached to each lens so you can use the filter on all lenses (expect the 14mm from Samyang which doesn't allow a nd filter to be attached), there is a magnetic ring from xume (Home Page (http://www.xumeadapters.com/)) available which allows very quick changing of the filter onto all you lenses BUT after having used such a ring for a while I will never buy it again. I know many here that got it have raved about how easy and quick it is to use but I damaged my expensive nd filter because of it. I was carrying around my camera on the tripod and the filter was attached to the lens with the magnetic ring, I must have accidentally pushed against the ring with my shoulder and the ring popped off and my nd filter fell onto the ground. I trew the xume away, will screw the filter onto the lens each time, then at least it's secure.

Leaving the filter on inside is not such a good idea, even at it's lowest setting you"ll loose quite some light making your slow stocklens useless, you can get away with it with a fast prime, unless it your at a dark reception.

Anyone recomend a good ND filter system for the sony NEX?

yes I have one I can recommend. I made this video:

Snow in Paradise on Vimeo

I shot this on a Sony FS100 which has the exact same mount as the EA50, so it will give the exact same result in theory. without it, the snow would have been so bright you would see nothing.

Looks great chris, I too found the Holymanta an interesting product, I only wonder how the deliverytimes are now, I understood it started with one person making this at his home. It's not exactly cheap but should make setting exposure and switching lenses much easier. (with the nd filter covering your sensor so dust should not get so easy in the camera)

So I'm guessing the Holymanta has NEX mount both sides and simply includes a NEX to EF adapter - has anyone used this? I use both NEX and EF lenses so I'm assuming it will work with either?

This could a must have purchase if so!

yes because I own it I can answer. sorry sir, but u assume incorrectly. that would be impossible. it is Canon to NEX only. it has to sit that far from the sensor to accommodate a canon lens. but in order for a NEX camera to work on a NEX mount, it must be flush with the camera. u can't put anything between a NEX lens and an NEX mount. canon mounts you can. this is a factor of the flange distance for those different mount. for NEX lenses the ONLY way to get a ND on them is to put the ND on the end of the lens.
sorry to disappoint you

Thanks Chris - would have been nice though!

a use 2 Emolux ND filters (ND4, ND8) for outdoors videos

cheap and good quality.

I'm going for the genustech eclipse variable nd filter NOA has/had.
My biggest lens diameter is 77mm. (the samyang 24mm)

Will I order a 77 nd filter or going for a bigger one? My 2 other lenses have 72mm and 67mm (stocklens powerzoom)

Maybe 77mm is already a big diamter lens? Have no experience with other lenses.

Tom,

I am using similar lenses on my FS100, and use 77mm ND with step down rings for the smaller ones.
Its a bit fiddly, but it works!
The 77mm ND has no issues on my Samyang 35mm lens.

Well, I may be the fool here... but in my haste, when I purchased the camera well over a year ago, I simply bought the expensive one: the Heliopan. What I did figure correctly is that it goes on my camera almost every time I'm outside... but I figured I wanted the best glass possible over what I realize now might be considered a medium quality lens at best.
For whatever it's worth, it's really great... I set the camera where I want and then just spin the filter by hand to set the exposure the way I want. It's really high quality feeling... actually nicer than dealing with the buttons/wheels on the camera.

Now I'm curious if I'd notice a visual difference between this $350 filter and a $100 filter, and somehow I'm guessing I wouldn't. Oh well.

Here's a slightly exotic little piece from this summer... I was flown and choppered up to this remote location where this crew is installing fibre optic cable. EDIT: 'Almost' all (outdoor) exposures set by spinning the filter. Yes, I got a couple wrong. :)
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Sandy+Lake,+ON+P0V/@51.8422582,-96.7978519,6z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x528f8a4c5426e391:0xae7a482442db59b2

NDL Construction - Fibre Optic Cable Deployment on Vimeo


Darryl

I have both Zeus and a Tiffen variable ND's - both great as far as I'm concerned and reasonably priced.

As I understand, most of You are using on-thread filters. We, owners of EA50, can not use matteboxes because of the lens structure. But did somebody try option of the filter holders like this:
LEE Filters Foundation Kit (Standard 4x4", 4x6" Filter Holder) (Requires Adapter Ring)
LEE Filters Foundation Kit FK B&H Photo Video
or this:
Cokin Filter Holders
Cokin Filter Holders & Accessories | B&H Photo Video (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/buy/Filter-Holders-Accessories/ci/9313/N/4232858728)
And what about clip-on matteboxes, like those:
Matte Boxes & Sunshades | B&H Photo Video (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?atclk=Mount+Type_Clamp-On+Only&ci=2118&Ns=p_PRICE_2%7c0&N=4028759359+4070610923)
Thank You in advance.

Just bought my EA50 this week after contemplating it for several months. Ordered a Rodenstock variable ND filter - 1 to 5 stops effect, so not as strong as some others. Seems very well constructed and cost £93, as opposed to the Tiffen which costs about £150 here in the UK.

Cokin and Lee filters are junk. They would be a waste of money.

That Heliopan is worth every penny you paid for it. Any glass that goes in front of any lens must be of higher quality than the lens. You know it visually if you underestimated the filters quality. When you get it right you will always wonder. There is no chart or standard to be sure of that except money.

Steve

I have several Heliopan 'screw on' filters and in my opinion, they are worth every cent. I also use a matte box with my Zeiss primes and my little 28-70mm zoom because it is the only Contax zoom which does does not extend like all the other Zeiss zoom lenses do.

For the matte box, I have a small selection of Schneider Optics 4x4" glass filters and they are the best in the business for cine work BUT I am very pleased with the results I get the three Fotga graduated ND 4x4" glass filters which I recently bought for about $60/set. Given that Schneider 4x4" filters cost between $200 and $300 each, the Fotga 4x4s offer great value for money.

I receive my genustech eclipse next week. I will let you know how it works out with my mattebox.
Will make video of it (if the ND filters works on it)

Hi Tom

I thought the reason for your matte box was to be able to use a standard 4x4 filter? Seems a waste to have a huge matte box and then still have to screw on a filter??

Chris

Cokin and Lee filters are junk. They would be a waste of money.
Thanks for Your answer. But I meant not Lee and Cokin glasses, but holders. Actually, as I understand, I can push into those holders any good quality 4x4 filters, cannot I? In EA50 there is a problem - the lens hood (compendium) structure makes some problem accessing screw filter, so this makes me taking off this hood for any filter manipulation. The hood, which plastic is not that strong, I believe, will break in a month this way...
Things that I afraid of them in this kind of holders are: a.How to attach to them some kind of french-flag and wings for minimazing flares and light diffusion; b. If they hold filters into themselves strong enough to keep glass from falling down during hand held video shooting or moving camera from one shooting location to another.
Thank You in advance.

Hi Tom

I thought the reason for your matte box was to be able to use a standard 4x4 filter? Seems a waste to have a huge matte box and then still have to screw on a filter??

Chris

because the stocklens extends I needed a screw on filter

Hi Sergei,

Welcome to the forum. I would not be the right person to advise you on matte boxes or filter holders. I have no interest in putting a matte box on my EA50. The good news is there are a lot of threads going on right now in this forum with lots of information on both subjects.

Steve

Hi Tom

I actually sold my matte box ... I bought the rail system so I could use the support rod rig which is brillant but as you mention it's only good for very short throw zooms or prime lenses. The Genus variable ND is what's usually recommended for this camera so tell us how you find it??

If I were you I would dump the matte box now ...it is serving you now real purpose other than looking "cool" and at nearly 1kg right up the front of the camera it adds a HUGE in-balance to the whole camera. Do yourself a favour and slip off the matte box and take off your counter weight and go and do a shoot. You will be amazed how much easier your camera is to handle and use ...!! If I have stuff that doesn't work out it goes onto eBay and I use the money to buy something else more useful.

Sergei?? I wouldn't even think about a matte box ...the EA-50 is already a front heavy camera and adding a matte box right up front will make the camera feel 10 times more heavy !! Unless of course you are never going to handhold it and it will be always on a tripod. Most lenses will have a adequate hood to protect against flares anyway. Take it from one who tried it and it simply adds a huge amount of un-needed bulk to the camera.

Chris