Neutral Density filters for a 5D...

Chris Barcellos · June 26th, 2009, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nigel Barker

I have now been using my 77mm Fader ND for a few days & it is just great. I have been
really, really pleased with my purchase. There are no aberrations or colour casts & it just works as advertised.

I have been able to compare the Fader ND with a Singh-Ray Vari-ND & the Fader ND is better. The Singh-Ray is very thick & can cause vignetting with wide angle lenses whereas the Fader ND does not. The Fader ND 77mm is actually an 82mm filter that is in a 77mm step down mount & a nice touch is that an 82mm lens cap was included.

I always thought that the Singh-Ray was crazily expensive for what it is. The Fader ND is not cheap crap but is at least as good quality as the Singh-Ray but at a much more reasonable price. It also comes in a greater range of filter sizes. I have already ordered a couple more.

Thanks for the recommendation Nigel, I have ordered one of my own to start off

Nigel Barker · June 27th, 2009, 07:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Olof Ekbergh

Nigil,

How does the 82mm work with Canons lens hoods. I use a 70-200 f 2.8, 100-400 and 17-40 and 24-105 all are 77's.

I ordered one and I should have it in a week or so.

Just curious, if you use it on any of those lenses.

I have the 24-105mm & you can use the lens hood but it is not easy. The problem is that the lens hood will fit over a normal 77mm filter but with the 82mm filter in a step-down ring you need to fit the filter while the lens hood is in place. It is possible although a bit fiddly & I usually end up with finger prints all over the filter glass. The next problem once you have the filter fitted is that you need to reach into the lens hood to rotate the filter to adjust the amount of light it passes but I guess that this would still be a problem even if it were a 77mm filter. I guess that it would be better to buy an 82mm screw-in lens hood.

Olof Ekbergh · June 27th, 2009, 08:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nigel Barker

I have the 24-105mm & you can use the lens hood but it is not easy. The problem is that the lens hood will fit over a normal 77mm filter but with the 82mm filter in a step-down ring you need to fit the filter while the lens hood is in place. It is possible although a bit fiddly & I usually end up with finger prints all over the filter glass. The next problem once you have the filter fitted is that you need to reach into the lens hood to rotate the filter to adjust the amount of light it passes but I guess that this would still be a problem even if it were a 77mm filter. I guess that it would be better to buy an 82mm screw-in lens hood.

Hmm. Maybe a mattebox.

I have often thought a light weight mattebox that uses Canons bayonet mount would be cool. I will see if someone makes one.

Otherwise maybe I will sacrifice one of the hoods to modify as a mattebox with french flags. It could work with all 77mm filter Canon lenses.

Fred LeFevre · June 28th, 2009, 07:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Olof Ekbergh

Hmm. Maybe a mattebox.

I have often thought a light weight mattebox that uses Canons bayonet mount would be cool. I will see if someone makes one.

Otherwise maybe I will sacrifice one of the hoods to modify as a mattebox with french flags. It could work with all 77mm filter Canon lenses.

I ordered my Fader ND this morning. I'd be interested in how you plan to modify your hood as a mattebox.

Thanks,
Fred

David Koo · June 28th, 2009, 12:18 PM

Can the Fader ND work as a circular polarizer lens also?

I assume so since it is just two polarizer lenses...

That way, for the price of a polarizer lens, I can have a variable ND filter too!

thanks...

Jeremy Nicholl · July 8th, 2009, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nigel Barker

I have been able to compare the Fader ND with a Singh-Ray Vari-ND & the Fader ND is better. The Singh-Ray is very thick & can cause vignetting with wide angle lenses whereas the Fader ND does not.

What is the widest lens you've used the Fader without vignetting?

Thanks.

Nigel Barker · July 8th, 2009, 11:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeremy Nicholl

What is the widest lens you've used the Fader without vignetting?

Thanks.

I have been using it with no problems on a Tamron 20-40mm F2.7-3.5. This lens has a 77mm filter ring.

Dan Brockett · July 9th, 2009, 07:57 AM

After trying our Nigel's ND fader, I ordered one as well. I will be using it with the Canon 17-40 F4 L so as soon as the filter and lens arrive, I will report back on vignetting.

Great find Nigel!

Dan

Jeremy Nicholl · July 9th, 2009, 08:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dan Brockett

After trying our Nigel's ND fader, I ordered one as well. I will be using it with the Canon 17-40 F4 L so as soon as the filter and lens arrive, I will report back on vignetting.

Dan

Yes, do please. I have a 16-35 and I'm sure it would vignette at the wide end, but I'm interested to see how wide you can go and still use it. The Sing Ray is very nice, but it vignettes even at 24mm.

Geoff Brandon · July 10th, 2009, 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeremy Nicholl

Yes, do please. I have a 16-35 and I'm sure it would vignette at the wide end, but I'm interested to see how wide you can go and still use it. The Sing Ray is very nice, but it vignettes even at 24mm.

Not sure how much it will help, but you do realize the 17-40 uses a 77mm filter while the 16-35 uses a 82mm filter?

The fader nd offers the 77mm stepped to 82mm while the 82mm is stepped to 86. Dont know the math, but I would *assume* that you may have a lesser chance of vigenetting with the 82/86mm at 16mm than the 77-82 at 17mm.

My question is that on the singh-ray, they offer the nd with a polarizing filter, and I'm curious to know if its possible to do this with the fader nd? Has anyone tried it if it is possible?

Geoff Brandon · July 10th, 2009, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeremy Nicholl

Yes, do please. I have a 16-35 and I'm sure it would vignette at the wide end, but I'm interested to see how wide you can go and still use it. The Sing Ray is very nice, but it vignettes even at 24mm.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeremy Nicholl

What is the widest lens you've used the Fader without vignetting?

Thanks.

I too would like to know what lens was used to test out the sing-ray.

I just ordered the fader nd in 77 and 82mm, I will report back (if noone else does) on the 16-35mm canon lens with the 82/86mm fader nd filter.
(i doubt the 24-70 canon in 77mm will exhibit vigenetting)

Julian Frost · July 10th, 2009, 10:51 PM

I received my Fade (77mm) the other day. I just tried my 17-40 L with it attached it it vignettes from 17mm thru about 20mm. :-(

Other than that, I'm happy with it.

Julian

Geoff Brandon · July 10th, 2009, 11:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Julian Frost

I received my Fade (77mm) the other day. I just tried my 17-40 L with it attached it it vignettes from 17mm thru about 20mm. :-(

Other than that, I'm happy with it.

Julian

sorry to hear that:(

I guess I can assume the 77 will be fine with my 24-70 canon lens?
on the other hand, I guess the million dollar question is how is the 82 going to do with the 16-35?

Dan Brockett · July 10th, 2009, 11:40 PM

That's disappointing Julian, I was hoping for no vignetting at 17. Oh well, I guess 17mm is destined for interiors only. I wonder if the 82mm with an adapter ring would have had no vignetting?

Dan

Manus Sweeney · July 11th, 2009, 02:27 AM

'Other than that, I'm happy with it.' do you have any other info re build quality? is there any colouration etc? thanks!

June 28th, 2009, 12:18 PM	#35
David Koo Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 51	Can the Fader ND work as a circular polarizer lens also? I assume so since it is just two polarizer lenses... That way, for the price of a polarizer lens, I can have a variable ND filter too! thanks...

July 9th, 2009, 07:57 AM	#38
Dan Brockett Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Los Angeles, California Posts: 2,109	After trying our Nigel's ND fader, I ordered one as well. I will be using it with the Canon 17-40 F4 L so as soon as the filter and lens arrive, I will report back on vignetting. Great find Nigel! Dan

July 10th, 2009, 10:51 PM	#42
Julian Frost Major Player Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: California USA Posts: 576	I received my Fade (77mm) the other day. I just tried my 17-40 L with it attached it it vignettes from 17mm thru about 20mm. :-( Other than that, I'm happy with it. Julian

July 10th, 2009, 11:40 PM	#44
Dan Brockett Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Los Angeles, California Posts: 2,109	That's disappointing Julian, I was hoping for no vignetting at 17. Oh well, I guess 17mm is destined for interiors only. I wonder if the 82mm with an adapter ring would have had no vignetting? Dan

July 11th, 2009, 02:27 AM	#45
Manus Sweeney Major Player Join Date: May 2009 Location: Amsterdam, NL Posts: 217	'Other than that, I'm happy with it.' do you have any other info re build quality? is there any colouration etc? thanks!