ND filter...about to jump at DVinfo.net

Darren Ruddock · May 12th, 2014, 11:42 AM

Hi guys,

Just about to splash the cash on an ND for my G6. Just before I do wanted to know your thoughts. Shall I go for a variable nd or just a normal? I have a Canon FD 1.4 50mm and the stock 14-42.

Phil French · May 12th, 2014, 05:05 PM

I just took a variable ND back to the store because it seriously softened the image on my new GH4. Neither AF or peaking would function at all with the filter on. One of the worst pieces of .... I have ever seen in a camera shop. I hate to recommend something I haven't tried, but No film School's DSLR Cinematography Guide recommends the Fader ND Mark II from Light Craft Workshop. I haven't decided yet, but after my bad experience I may just get individual ND's.

Gary Huff · May 12th, 2014, 06:09 PM

If quality is important to you, you simply cannot beat individual NDs. A set of 2, 4, and 6 stops reduction is all you really need.

However, if convenience trumps quality, then Fader ND Mark II and Heliopan are two brands I have heard good things about.

Darren Ruddock · May 13th, 2014, 09:07 AM

Thanks for the advice guys.

The Heliopan is bit too expensive. I can get a good Tiffen variable nd for about $99 and it gets a good review

Jeff Harper · May 13th, 2014, 01:37 PM

Variable ND filters are well known to cause a softening in images, but are useful for those who don't mind a bit of softening. If for some reason in a particular scenario you are going for a soft image, and if the filter is of decent quality, the variable might work out fine. No filter is going to work in every scenario anyway, which is what we forget. Trying to buy one filter to satisfy many situations is a tempting shortcut, and the variable ND filter is an example of marketing to people who will sacrifice quality for convenience. Nothing wrong with it, and the higher-priced variables are decent, but they are still what they are.

+1 what Gary says.

Unfortunately, cheaper filters, such as a $99 variable, may work for some, but it depends on how demanding you are and your shooting situation. I personally have owned cheap filters and while they can work sometimes, generally they are not worth the money and end up in a junk pile.

Cheap filters are problematic and can give very disappointing results.

I had a decent, moderately priced variable ND filter, cost me about $169 or so a few years ago, and sometimes it worked and sometimes it didn't work out for me. I sold it and went with solids.

Darren Ruddock · May 13th, 2014, 02:39 PM

Well I just watched a guy do a very interesting test...

As I'm not using lenses that cost hundreds I don't really see the need for a $500 filter! The guy on the video points this out. Tiffen looks fine to me

Bruce Foreman · May 14th, 2014, 10:17 PM

Tiffens are fine in single strengths, Shane Hurlbut uses Tiffens. Variables are...variable. The softening (or lack of detail/sharpness) is most problematic at the telephoto end of zooms.

You also now have 4 reflective surfaces in front of the lens (like a polarizer, two glass "panes") and can expect extra flares and unwanted reflections. Micro four thirds lenses seem to be more susceptible to this than many other formats. So for all the reasons above I try to stick with single strength ND's. I have .6ND, .9ND, and 1.2ND for 2, 3, and 4 stops reduction respectively.

If variables are going to give you a problem you likely won't see it until you're in the editing bay. Gonna enjoy going back out for a reshoot (if you can)?

Gary Huff · May 15th, 2014, 07:57 AM

Also keep in mind that Water White Tiffens are superior to Core Color. The latter casts a green hue over your image that is hard to get out. Hoya ProND is another good option too.

Darren Ruddock · May 15th, 2014, 09:00 AM

Great response guys,

As I have said I dont have the budget for endless filters. From the test that the guy did in the video the Tiffen
looks pretty good to me. I'd agrre with you if I had a Voightlander on my camera but I dont. Sometimes you can get a little over picky about image quality and forget that its content thats important!

Bruce Foreman · May 15th, 2014, 01:31 PM

The "incidents" I've read several months ago had nothing to do with "being a little over picky" about image quality. The posters were complaining about very noticeable effects in the editing bay that made the footage almost unusable.

One filter?

If I'm packing light, the one I put in a corner of the small bag will be a 1.2ND (strongest single strength I currently have), that's 4 stop reduction and is usually enough to get me down into the f8-f5.6 range out in bright daylight or sunlight. That's where a lot of lenses have a "sweet spot", and get's away from the f22 range with it's unwanted "diffraction effect" that can also kill sharpness.

Lens quality has little to do with what "cheap" filters can do to you.

Darren Ruddock · May 15th, 2014, 01:43 PM

Dont mean a thing if you aint got that creative swing ;)

May 12th, 2014, 11:42 AM	#1
Darren Ruddock Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Southend, UK Posts: 165	ND filter...about to jump Hi guys, Just about to splash the cash on an ND for my G6. Just before I do wanted to know your thoughts. Shall I go for a variable nd or just a normal? I have a Canon FD 1.4 50mm and the stock 14-42.

May 12th, 2014, 05:05 PM	#2
Phil French Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Lousana, Alberta, Canada Posts: 146	Re: ND filter...about to jump I just took a variable ND back to the store because it seriously softened the image on my new GH4. Neither AF or peaking would function at all with the filter on. One of the worst pieces of .... I have ever seen in a camera shop. I hate to recommend something I haven't tried, but No film School's DSLR Cinematography Guide recommends the Fader ND Mark II from Light Craft Workshop. I haven't decided yet, but after my bad experience I may just get individual ND's. __________________ Nature Boy

May 12th, 2014, 06:09 PM	#3
Gary Huff Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 2,006	Re: ND filter...about to jump If quality is important to you, you simply cannot beat individual NDs. A set of 2, 4, and 6 stops reduction is all you really need. However, if convenience trumps quality, then Fader ND Mark II and Heliopan are two brands I have heard good things about.

May 13th, 2014, 09:07 AM	#4
Darren Ruddock Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Southend, UK Posts: 165	Re: ND filter...about to jump Thanks for the advice guys. The Heliopan is bit too expensive. I can get a good Tiffen variable nd for about $99 and it gets a good review

May 13th, 2014, 01:37 PM	#5
Jeff Harper Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 8,425	Re: ND filter...about to jump Variable ND filters are well known to cause a softening in images, but are useful for those who don't mind a bit of softening. If for some reason in a particular scenario you are going for a soft image, and if the filter is of decent quality, the variable might work out fine. No filter is going to work in every scenario anyway, which is what we forget. Trying to buy one filter to satisfy many situations is a tempting shortcut, and the variable ND filter is an example of marketing to people who will sacrifice quality for convenience. Nothing wrong with it, and the higher-priced variables are decent, but they are still what they are. +1 what Gary says. Unfortunately, cheaper filters, such as a $99 variable, may work for some, but it depends on how demanding you are and your shooting situation. I personally have owned cheap filters and while they can work sometimes, generally they are not worth the money and end up in a junk pile. Cheap filters are problematic and can give very disappointing results. I had a decent, moderately priced variable ND filter, cost me about $169 or so a few years ago, and sometimes it worked and sometimes it didn't work out for me. I sold it and went with solids. __________________ "The horror of what I saw on the timeline cannot be described."

May 13th, 2014, 02:39 PM	#6
Darren Ruddock Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Southend, UK Posts: 165	Re: ND filter...about to jump Well I just watched a guy do a very interesting test... Variable ND Filter Shootout - Polariod Genus Lightcraft Tiffen Singh-Ray Heliopan - YouTube As I'm not using lenses that cost hundreds I don't really see the need for a $500 filter! The guy on the video points this out. Tiffen looks fine to me

May 14th, 2014, 10:17 PM	#7
Bruce Foreman Trustee Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: San Angelo Texas Posts: 1,518	Re: ND filter...about to jump Tiffens are fine in single strengths, Shane Hurlbut uses Tiffens. Variables are...variable. The softening (or lack of detail/sharpness) is most problematic at the telephoto end of zooms. You also now have 4 reflective surfaces in front of the lens (like a polarizer, two glass "panes") and can expect extra flares and unwanted reflections. Micro four thirds lenses seem to be more susceptible to this than many other formats. So for all the reasons above I try to stick with single strength ND's. I have .6ND, .9ND, and 1.2ND for 2, 3, and 4 stops reduction respectively. If variables are going to give you a problem you likely won't see it until you're in the editing bay. Gonna enjoy going back out for a reshoot (if you can)?

May 15th, 2014, 07:57 AM	#8
Gary Huff Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 2,006	Re: ND filter...about to jump Also keep in mind that Water White Tiffens are superior to Core Color. The latter casts a green hue over your image that is hard to get out. Hoya ProND is another good option too.

May 15th, 2014, 09:00 AM	#9
Darren Ruddock Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Southend, UK Posts: 165	Re: ND filter...about to jump Great response guys, As I have said I dont have the budget for endless filters. From the test that the guy did in the video the Tiffen looks pretty good to me. I'd agrre with you if I had a Voightlander on my camera but I dont. Sometimes you can get a little over picky about image quality and forget that its content thats important!

May 15th, 2014, 01:31 PM	#10
Bruce Foreman Trustee Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: San Angelo Texas Posts: 1,518	Re: ND filter...about to jump The "incidents" I've read several months ago had nothing to do with "being a little over picky" about image quality. The posters were complaining about very noticeable effects in the editing bay that made the footage almost unusable. One filter? If I'm packing light, the one I put in a corner of the small bag will be a 1.2ND (strongest single strength I currently have), that's 4 stop reduction and is usually enough to get me down into the f8-f5.6 range out in bright daylight or sunlight. That's where a lot of lenses have a "sweet spot", and get's away from the f22 range with it's unwanted "diffraction effect" that can also kill sharpness. Lens quality has little to do with what "cheap" filters can do to you.

May 15th, 2014, 01:43 PM	#11
Darren Ruddock Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Southend, UK Posts: 165	Re: ND filter...about to jump Dont mean a thing if you aint got that creative swing ;)