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ND filter


Wayne

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Specifically with a 35mm summilux VII:

 

Will the use of an ND filter significantly increase the resolution performance, i.e. make photos appear sharper and better focused at wider aperture settings?; or, does the ND filter just allow for use of wider apertures in bright light?

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The latter. Any glass in front of the lens may reduce performance across a number of areas. Having said that if you use a quality filter degradation will often be pretty much invisible to all but the most dedicated peepers. To be frank, you're more likely to have focussing issues than anything else if you are using a rangefinder and if you are not using a tripod for longer exposures.

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Specifically with a 35mm summilux VII:

 

Will the use of an ND filter significantly increase the resolution performance, i.e. make photos appear sharper and better focused at wider aperture settings?; or, does the ND filter just allow for use of wider apertures in bright light?

If you take a step back, all it does is add another layer of glass, and darkens the image.

It would be the same as turning the lights down and using a uv filter.

So, what happens when it gets darker? You need more exposure either through a wider aperture or longer exposure, or higher ISO.

As with a RF you are not looking through the lens, focus ability is unchanged.

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Almost all* lenses have strong fall off, lower contrast and lower resolution when full open - improving towards mid apertures.

*( some APO tele lenses are close to optimum full open )

A fast lens with a ND filter wide open on a dull overcast day will look terrible compared to the same combination on a sunny day or to a lens used at mid aperture.

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Hello Wayne,

 

What you might be thinking about is a Polarizing Filter.

 

A Polarizing Filter looks similar to a Neutral Density Filter because both of them are gray.

 

Neutral density filters come in different densities. Polarizing Filters usually come in 1 standard density of about 2/3ds of 1 stop.

 

By the way: All filters, color or black & white ONLY TAKE AWAY. All filters NEVER ADD anything.

 

A yellow filter takes away red & blue.

 

A neutral density & a polarizing filter only takes away light.

 

But a polarizing filter also does something else:

A polarizing filter also can remove scattered light of certain types coming from certain angles & also remove scattered light reflected from certain materials. This removal of scattered light within a scene can sometimes: "make photos appear sharper & better focused".

 

Best Regards,

 

Michael

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