Variable ND filter at DVinfo.net

Evan Bourcier · June 21st, 2012, 12:23 PM

Hey guys, so I'm looking to get one or two variable ND filters soon to help with shooting outdoors and not having to be at f/22 all the time haha, but there are a million out there from the cheap ebay knockoffs to the expensive big name ones, was wondering what you guys use.

Robert Turchick · June 21st, 2012, 12:27 PM

Singh Ray 77mm slim variable ND. I never shoot outdoors without mine! Yes, not cheap but image quality and color are fantastic no matter how it's set.
Also, you only need one variable as you can get step down rings to fit all lenses.

Evan Bourcier · June 21st, 2012, 12:37 PM

Hmm thanks man! I was thinking getting more than one for multi-cam shoots actually haha.

Robert Turchick · June 21st, 2012, 01:13 PM

Ahh! My DsLrs are my b-cams!
Another thing to consider is the matte box concept. I just picked up a really nice one from coollcd.com for not a lot of money. It has slots for 4x4 drop in filters. More money than a screw on filter but allows For much quicker lens changing and easier stacking of filters with no vignetting. Plus they look cool! Ha ha!

Evan Bourcier · June 21st, 2012, 01:33 PM

I'm assuming you mean this Matte Box? DSLR Matte Box, Lanparte Matte Box, Canon 7D 5D T2I Matte Box [CoolMatte Pro]

It does look pretty awesome, but a bit out of my goal budget for now still unfortunately. I also still need to get some kind of a rail system before I go with that and a follow focus, I've been watching the Gini rigs on ebay, they seem pretty sweet for the price.

Mladen Ilic · September 26th, 2012, 05:39 AM

I have a Phottix Variable ND filter , and it's an amazing piece of gear! I use a Canon 600d and my main lens is a Samyang 35mm. I switched from Sony ax2000 which, naturally, has built-in NDs but using Variable NDs is much better IMHO.

*Very important note:

I don't know which lenses you have, but it's best to buy a VND that can cover all or a majority of your lenses (the ones you use the most), since you can buy step up rings, this means you should buy the one with a large ring size, for example a 77mm VND

Nicholas de Kock · September 27th, 2012, 06:26 AM

I have a Genus variable ND filter & it's very sharp on wide/mid lenses but I find on 70mm and up the image becomes soft. There is apparently a problem with variable ND filters & telephoto lenses? I'm busy switching over to standard ND filters.

Simon Wood · September 27th, 2012, 06:41 AM

I use a Light Craft Variable ND filter. I shoot nearly everything outside under the equatorial African sun, so I really needed something quick and easy to use.

It seems to work fine. It softens the image a bit, and perhaps warms the image a bit too,. But I like a softer image anyway (I use vintage nikkors, and soften in post too).

All of the videos in the vimeo link below used that ND filter (have a look at 'The Source' for an all outdoor shoot).

Iker Riera · September 27th, 2012, 06:51 AM

we use the LCW Fader ND Mk II with two T3i's, here's a recent review we did of the filter, it shows various examples of it in use.

Click "CC" for English subtitles, hope it helps :)

Nicholas de Kock · September 27th, 2012, 07:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iker Riera

.... and perhaps warms the image a bit too,. .

Simon I spent some time reading up on ND filters & the word is they only cut visible light while allowing IR light to pass that's why the image seems warmer. In extreme cases they (the internet) advice a person also use an IR filter.

Ger Griffin · September 27th, 2012, 07:32 AM

all i know is the lightcraft fader nd 2 makes my 70-200 2.8 is II look like crap

Nicholas de Kock · September 30th, 2012, 03:35 AM

Same here Ger my Genus is unusable on my 70-200.

Bruce Foreman · September 30th, 2012, 10:42 AM

A variable ND filter is actually two "pieces" of glass so when using one you are introducing FOUR additional potentially reflective layers. This could partially explain the softness some are seeing with telephoto lenses.

Depending on lens design a variable ND filter can cause or introduce more internal reflections also. I'm seeing a disturbing number of reports of this happening with Lumix lenses for the Micro Four Thirds system. As a result I've quit using my variable ND's (Polaroid brand) and gone back to single strength Tiffen ND's. I've got those in .6ND, .9ND. and 1.2ND for 2 stop reduction, 3 stops, and 4 stops respectively.

Reuben Miller · September 30th, 2012, 04:30 PM

I just picked up a LCW Fader MarkII - I've only done a couple of tests, but it seems to do a fine job. Like anything else it will take time to get it perfect, but I'm happy :)

Victor Nguyen · October 2nd, 2012, 11:13 PM

like everyone else, my image is softer when using lightcraft workshop variable nd filter. I'm probably gonna try to use a mattebox or something else.

June 21st, 2012, 12:23 PM	#1
Evan Bourcier Major Player Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Mashpee, MA Posts: 251	Variable ND filter Hey guys, so I'm looking to get one or two variable ND filters soon to help with shooting outdoors and not having to be at f/22 all the time haha, but there are a million out there from the cheap ebay knockoffs to the expensive big name ones, was wondering what you guys use. __________________ DSLR Photographer/Videographer from Massachusetts Portfolio at http://ebourcier.com

June 21st, 2012, 12:27 PM	#2
Robert Turchick Trustee Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Mesa, AZ Posts: 1,389	Re: Variable ND filter Singh Ray 77mm slim variable ND. I never shoot outdoors without mine! Yes, not cheap but image quality and color are fantastic no matter how it's set. Also, you only need one variable as you can get step down rings to fit all lenses. __________________ The older I get, the better I was!

June 21st, 2012, 12:37 PM	#3
Evan Bourcier Major Player Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Mashpee, MA Posts: 251	Re: Variable ND filter Hmm thanks man! I was thinking getting more than one for multi-cam shoots actually haha. __________________ DSLR Photographer/Videographer from Massachusetts Portfolio at http://ebourcier.com

June 21st, 2012, 01:13 PM	#4
Robert Turchick Trustee Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Mesa, AZ Posts: 1,389	Re: Variable ND filter Ahh! My DsLrs are my b-cams! Another thing to consider is the matte box concept. I just picked up a really nice one from coollcd.com for not a lot of money. It has slots for 4x4 drop in filters. More money than a screw on filter but allows For much quicker lens changing and easier stacking of filters with no vignetting. Plus they look cool! Ha ha! __________________ The older I get, the better I was!

June 21st, 2012, 01:33 PM	#5
Evan Bourcier Major Player Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Mashpee, MA Posts: 251	Re: Variable ND filter I'm assuming you mean this Matte Box? DSLR Matte Box, Lanparte Matte Box, Canon 7D 5D T2I Matte Box [CoolMatte Pro] It does look pretty awesome, but a bit out of my goal budget for now still unfortunately. I also still need to get some kind of a rail system before I go with that and a follow focus, I've been watching the Gini rigs on ebay, they seem pretty sweet for the price. __________________ DSLR Photographer/Videographer from Massachusetts Portfolio at http://ebourcier.com

September 26th, 2012, 05:39 AM	#6
Mladen Ilic Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Belgrade, Serbia Posts: 35	Re: Variable ND filter I have a Phottix Variable ND filter , and it's an amazing piece of gear! I use a Canon 600d and my main lens is a Samyang 35mm. I switched from Sony ax2000 which, naturally, has built-in NDs but using Variable NDs is much better IMHO. *Very important note: I don't know which lenses you have, but it's best to buy a VND that can cover all or a majority of your lenses (the ones you use the most), since you can buy step up rings, this means you should buy the one with a large ring size, for example a 77mm VND

September 27th, 2012, 06:26 AM	#7
Nicholas de Kock Major Player Join Date: May 2007 Location: KLD, South Africa Posts: 983	Re: Variable ND filter I have a Genus variable ND filter & it's very sharp on wide/mid lenses but I find on 70mm and up the image becomes soft. There is apparently a problem with variable ND filters & telephoto lenses? I'm busy switching over to standard ND filters.

September 27th, 2012, 06:41 AM	#8
Simon Wood Major Player Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Entebbe Uganda Posts: 768	Re: Variable ND filter I use a Light Craft Variable ND filter. I shoot nearly everything outside under the equatorial African sun, so I really needed something quick and easy to use. It seems to work fine. It softens the image a bit, and perhaps warms the image a bit too,. But I like a softer image anyway (I use vintage nikkors, and soften in post too). All of the videos in the vimeo link below used that ND filter (have a look at 'The Source' for an all outdoor shoot). __________________ http://vimeo.com/channels/guerrillafilms

September 27th, 2012, 06:51 AM	#9
Iker Riera Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Caracas, Venezuela Posts: 164	Re: Variable ND filter we use the LCW Fader ND Mk II with two T3i's, here's a recent review we did of the filter, it shows various examples of it in use. Click "CC" for English subtitles, hope it helps :) Yardbless Pro Shooter - LCW Fader ND Mk. II Review - YouTube

September 27th, 2012, 07:32 AM	#11
Ger Griffin Major Player Join Date: May 2007 Location: Ireland Posts: 579	Re: Variable ND filter all i know is the lightcraft fader nd 2 makes my 70-200 2.8 is II look like crap

September 30th, 2012, 03:35 AM	#12
Nicholas de Kock Major Player Join Date: May 2007 Location: KLD, South Africa Posts: 983	Re: Variable ND filter Same here Ger my Genus is unusable on my 70-200.

September 30th, 2012, 10:42 AM	#13
Bruce Foreman Trustee Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: San Angelo Texas Posts: 1,518	Re: Variable ND filter A variable ND filter is actually two "pieces" of glass so when using one you are introducing FOUR additional potentially reflective layers. This could partially explain the softness some are seeing with telephoto lenses. Depending on lens design a variable ND filter can cause or introduce more internal reflections also. I'm seeing a disturbing number of reports of this happening with Lumix lenses for the Micro Four Thirds system. As a result I've quit using my variable ND's (Polaroid brand) and gone back to single strength Tiffen ND's. I've got those in .6ND, .9ND. and 1.2ND for 2 stop reduction, 3 stops, and 4 stops respectively.

September 30th, 2012, 04:30 PM	#14
Reuben Miller Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Playa del Rey, CA Posts: 61	Re: Variable ND filter I just picked up a LCW Fader MarkII - I've only done a couple of tests, but it seems to do a fine job. Like anything else it will take time to get it perfect, but I'm happy :)

October 2nd, 2012, 11:13 PM	#15
Victor Nguyen Major Player Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Houston,Texas Posts: 289	Re: Variable ND filter like everyone else, my image is softer when using lightcraft workshop variable nd filter. I'm probably gonna try to use a mattebox or something else.