Advice needed - which ND filter do you recommend?

[Ivar B]

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I consider buying an ND filter for my SL 24-90mm lens (82mm).

 

Does anyone have practical experience with density (32 - 64 etc.) works best? I plan to use it for landscaps mostly, for example capturing the rough ocean near where I live.

 

I note also that respected producers like Marumi and B + W also offer vario ND filters, but they cost quite a bit more.

[Theodor Heinrichsohn]

I consider buying an ND filter for my SL 24-90mm lens (82mm).

 

Does anyone have practical experience with density (32 - 64 etc.) works best? I plan to use it for landscaps mostly, for example capturing the rough ocean near where I live.

 

I note also that respected producers like Marumi and B + W also offer vario ND filters, but they cost quite a bit more.

 

 

I don't know, whether this helps, but I suggest a variable ND filter. I purchased one for my 50/0.95 so that I can use it at full aperture

in bright light. The advantage is that you do not have a fixed density but can adjust according to the situation.

Teddy

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[thighslapper]

This is quite informative and might be helpful .....

 

http://www.formatt-hitech.com/learn-neutral-density

 

I have just bought a set of square ND's and Grads, holder/adapter rings that I can use on all my lenses ... much more flexible ...... but quality glass filters like these are VERY expensive.

 

It really depends what you intend to do as to what density and how many you may need. I too have several B+W ND's for my noctilux and more for other lenses but they will all be going on ebay.

 

I've come to the conclusion that buying filters piecemeal for multiple lenses just yields a drawer full of them and you can never find the one you want ....

Edited September 10, 2016 by thighslapper

[Giulio Zanni]

I consider buying an ND filter for my SL 24-90mm lens (82mm).

 

Does anyone have practical experience with density (32 - 64 etc.) works best? I plan to use it for landscaps mostly, for example capturing the rough ocean near where I live.

 

I note also that respected producers like Marumi and B + W also offer vario ND filters, but they cost quite a bit more.

I am into long exposures so I tried pretty much all the ND filters on the market. The Format Hitech Firecrest are the most neutral. Get the biggest size and use step-up rings. Usually a 3, a 6 and a 10 stops cover pretty much all the needs as you can stuck them to get also a 13 and a 16 stops. A 10 stop in daylight is enough for water but for clouds you need to get higher. Avoid vario ND filters as they cause artifacts and light leaks at longer exposures. The advantage of screw-in ND filetrs over square ones is that they are easier to carry and they don't have light leaks. The advantage of square ND filters over screw-in filters is that they are faster to mount/unmount. Edited September 9, 2016 by Giulio Zanni

[honcho]

.....The Format Hitech Firecrest are the most neutral.

 

No. Breakthrough filters are.

 

I currently use use Firecrest square filters, which in turn are more colour consistent than Lee.  Having seen a comparison between  them, Breakthrough are noticeably better than both but are only available as screw-in filters.

Edited September 9, 2016 by honcho

[Vieri]

I consider buying an ND filter for my SL 24-90mm lens (82mm).

 

Does anyone have practical experience with density (32 - 64 etc.) works best? I plan to use it for landscaps mostly, for example capturing the rough ocean near where I live.

 

I note also that respected producers like Marumi and B + W also offer vario ND filters, but they cost quite a bit more.

 

 

Hello Ivar,

 

Perhaps this article I wrote might help:

 

https://vieribottazzini.com/2016/07/best-filters-landscape-photography-review.html

 

My suggestion is to get a 100mm square filter system, much more practical and - once you got it - you can use it with any lens you'll ever get.

 

Best,

 

Vieri

[rriley]

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 The Format Hitech Firecrest are the most neutral. Get the biggest size and use step-up rings.

 

 

 

So not the Format Hitech 100mm, but the 165mm for use with the SL?  Is that what you mean?

[JeffWright]

So not the Format Hitech 100mm, but the 165mm for use with the SL?  Is that what you mean?

 

 You won't need the 165, and cost starts to go way up. The 100 filters are fine, and a standard size with several manufacturers available.

[honcho]

So not the Format Hitech 100mm, but the 165mm for use with the SL?  Is that what you mean?

Far better to invest in a square filter system than screw-in filters and Formatt-HiTech are arguably the better choice. The only real advantage of screw-in filters is that you have less stuff to carry, but is actually a rather self-defeating route. I personally do not advise stepping rings! The cheap and nasty alloy step rings that you'll find on Ebay are prone to binding, especially in cold conditions and will render your expensive oversized screw-in filter useless with different sized lens threads. Of the 3, 6, 10 and 16 stop set of square Firecrest filters I have, the 6 and 16 stop nd's are the most used. The advantage of a square system is that you can use more than one filter at a time, for example a 6 stop nd with a 2 or 3 stop hard or soft graduated nd filter or polariser.

 

Very long exposures with square nd's require careful placement of the filter in the holder, the better quality filters are fitted with a minicell gasket to help avoid light leaks between the front lens element and the back of the filter. All nd filters are prone to flare, especially older resin filters. As with everything, you get what you pay for and trying to build a filter set on a budget is not to be recommended if you're going to be serious about using filters.

[helged]

Thanks for all the input - much appreciated from (another)one that is pondering where to go wrt nd and grad filters.

[Vieri]

By the way, if anyone is interested in FH Firecrests I have a code giving you a 10% off. Not sure if it's allowed to post it here, but anyway code is 

 

VIERIB10

 

to be used on FH own website. In case it's not allowed I deeply apologise and mods please delete this message. Just trying to help

 

best,

 

Vieri

Edited September 10, 2016 by Vieri

[honcho]

Thanks for all the input - much appreciated from (another)one that is pondering where to go wrt nd and grad filters.

 

Your chosen square filter system will very likely be with you for much longer than the camera and lenses you are currently using, so it makes sense to buy wisely and buy once.  With this perspective, the outlay, although a factor, is not the most important consideration.  Most current Leica SL users will probably upgrade to other camera systems for landscape photography, particularly as 'medium format' systems mature and become more mainstream.  With the cheap and simple addition of lens ring adapters when required, your basic Lee or Firecrest filter system will remain equally useful through multiple camera system upgrades.

Edited September 10, 2016 by honcho

[Giulio Zanni]

So not the Format Hitech 100mm, but the 165mm for use with the SL?  Is that what you mean?

 

 

No I was talking about screw-in filters, with three of them (3,6,10) you are set

[Giulio Zanni]

Far better to invest in a square filter system than screw-in filters and Formatt-HiTech are arguably the better choice. The only real advantage of screw-in filters is that you have less stuff to carry, but is actually a rather self-defeating route. I personally do not advise stepping rings! The cheap and nasty alloy step rings that you'll find on Ebay are prone to binding, especially in cold conditions and will render your expensive oversized screw-in filter useless with different sized lens threads. Of the 3, 6, 10 and 16 stop set of square Firecrest filters I have, the 6 and 16 stop nd's are the most used. The advantage of a square system is that you can use more than one filter at a time, for example a 6 stop nd with a 2 or 3 stop hard or soft graduated nd filter or polariser.

 

Very long exposures with square nd's require careful placement of the filter in the holder, the better quality filters are fitted with a minicell gasket to help avoid light leaks between the front lens element and the back of the filter. All nd filters are prone to flare, especially older resin filters. As with everything, you get what you pay for and trying to build a filter set on a budget is not to be recommended if you're going to be serious about using filters.

 

I was talking about quality step-up rings like B+W. With stuck square ND filters you get light leaks, it doesn't matter which holder you are using, unless you put back tape all around them. The only sealed solution for square filters is this one

 

http://www.winecountry.camera

[Giulio Zanni]

Thanks for all the input - much appreciated from (another)one that is pondering where to go wrt nd and grad filters.

 

I gave up on ND grads and bracket and do gradients in photoshop

[Giulio Zanni]

Great resources for long exposures and filters 

 

http://www.bwvision.com/ultimate-guide-long-exposure-photography/

 

http://bulbexposures.com

[thighslapper]

I was talking about quality step-up rings like B+W. With stuck square ND filters you get light leaks, it doesn't matter which holder you are using, unless you put back tape all around them. The only sealed solution for square filters is this one

 

http://www.winecountry.camera

 ..... not entirely true ..... the new Firecrest holder (shipping this week) specifically has both a rubber flange between filter and holder and end caps that virtually eliminate light leakage even with 16 stop ND's (so they say .... time will tell...)

[Giulio Zanni]

 

..... not entirely true ..... the new Firecrest holder (shipping this week) specifically has both a rubber flange between filter and holder and end caps that virtually eliminate light leakage even with 16 stop ND's (so they say .... time will tell

Edited September 10, 2016 by Giulio Zanni

[honcho]

With stuck square ND filters you get light leaks, it doesn't matter which holder you are using, unless you put back tape all around them. The only sealed solution for square filters is this one

 

http://www.winecountry.camera

 

I certainly would not recommend taping anything up.  The Lee and (old) Hitech holders work as long as the filter has a gasket fitted to the back. I frequently use exposures in excess of 45 minutes in which case I also cover the top of the filter and holder, often with a Buff.  I don't get light leaks.

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[Giulio Zanni]

I certainly would not recommend taping anything up.  The Lee and (old) Hitech holders work as long as the filter has a gasket fitted to the back. I frequently use exposures in excess of 45 minutes in which case I also cover the top of the filter and holder, often with a Buff.  I don't get light leaks.

 

 

The gasket is not good enough, over time it moves etc. I use black tape, easy to put on and to remove. I use a black sailor cap for the camera. I usually don't go past 10 minutes as the the effect starts to fade after 12 minutes or so, unless you want to get rid of people in crowded places. Wow 45 minutes! How many ND filters do you stuck in order not to blow a 45 minutes exposures? What do you get out of 45 minutes that you don't get with 10? I assume that you'll then blend in a normal exposure for the main subject, cause there's no tripod that can ensure a sharp image in a 45 minutes exposure. Can you post a 45 minutes exposure?

And...by the way....as I am shooting M Monochrom 246 I stuck 6/8 1 minutes exposures.

 

http://www.giuliozanni.com/p261932844/h599e4b#h599e4b

 

http://www.giuliozanni.com/p869996416/h4433415f#h4433415f

 

http://www.giuliozanni.com/p869996416/h44334287#h44334287

 

etc.

Edited September 10, 2016 by Giulio Zanni