philipus Posted April 26, 2013 Share #1 Posted April 26, 2013 Advertisement (gone after registration) I'm looking to buy a B+W ND filter but have trouble deciding whether I should get a 3-stop or a 6-stop filter. Has any of you faced a similar conundrum? If so, I'd be very grateful for how you reasoned in coming to a decision. Cheers and thanks in advance Philip Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted April 26, 2013 Posted April 26, 2013 Hi philipus, Take a look here ND filter 3 or 6 stops?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
250swb Posted April 26, 2013 Share #2 Posted April 26, 2013 It depends what you want to do with it. If it is to increase the exposure when using a fast lens wide open I use a 3 stop filter. But if it is for using along with a tripod to make water look smooth and milky I would say a 6 stop would be best. Steve 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tinchohs Posted April 26, 2013 Share #3 Posted April 26, 2013 Along these lines. (1) Do ND filter significantly impact image quality? (2) Which brand would you recommend for a Leica MM to be able to shoot wide open during the day? (3) Do color filters affect image quality? (4) Again, any brand recommendations for yellow filters? Thanks so much. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
spydrxx Posted April 27, 2013 Share #4 Posted April 27, 2013 I went with a 3 stop B+W ND filter a couple of years ago and have been pleased with that choice. I've never found a need in my work for anything greater. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdlaing Posted April 27, 2013 Share #5 Posted April 27, 2013 Look at a Heliopan Variable ND filter. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MT710 Posted April 27, 2013 Share #6 Posted April 27, 2013 Finally I went for a 2 stop B&W only for the purpose of compensating in sunny situations, when a 400 ISO film is in the camera and I want more options of aperture and time. I hardly use it, though (and I have no Summilux or Noctilux I would want to use wide open ). If I was to buy again, it would be the 3 stop. Michael 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul J Posted April 28, 2013 Share #7 Posted April 28, 2013 Advertisement (gone after registration) I use both the 3 and 6 stop. They are both very useful depending on the lighting conditions and application. Where are you based? In the UK, for example, you would probably get more use out of the 3 stop. 3 stop you get the added benefit of using higher shutter speeds. You need the 6 stop with flash as you're tied to 180th sync. Also know that the 6 stop has quite a strong colour cast. But the warm tone is very pleasing and I like it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
philipus Posted April 28, 2013 Author Share #8 Posted April 28, 2013 I'm mainly in The Netherlands and Sweden so weather-wise it'd be similar to the UK, I guess. I also read that 6-stop filters have a warmer colour cast but I think I wouldn't mind that, actually. I've been thinking if 6 stops would be too much but I think it might be ok. B+W has two versions of the 6-stop, single and MRC-coated. Reading around, it seems MRC filters 1) are easier to clean due to the increased resistance, and 2) let more light through. Easier to clean is a good thing, but not really super necessary I would think. To let more light through seems to contradict the purpose of an ND filter. My current thinking is therefore to go for the single coated 6-stop B+W filter. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul J Posted April 28, 2013 Share #9 Posted April 28, 2013 (edited) I would go for the multi coated, personally. At first, actually, I found cleaning the MRC an issue and then found a 'lenspen' cuts through the haze that you see on the filter instantly so it's not a problem at all. I've not compared the two filters but would imagine the MRC is a step up in terms of flare resistance and colour. In terms of letting more light through, well...6 stop reduction is 6 stop. You can't have more light and still lose 6 stops. Perhaps they mean it's a bit more than 6 because of the coating? I've not noticed that. I actually like the colour cast created. It's a very nice tone. In over cast lighting you will find your shutter speeds a bit low with the 6 stop. It's useful in full sun though. Especially with flash. A 3 stop gives you much more usability in less than full sun and you get to take advantage of 1/4000th shutter speed. Edited April 28, 2013 by Paul J Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kdriceman Posted April 28, 2013 Share #10 Posted April 28, 2013 I'm mainly in The Netherlands and Sweden so weather-wise it'd be similar to the UK, I guess. I also read that 6-stop filters have a warmer colour cast but I think I wouldn't mind that, actually. I've been thinking if 6 stops would be too much but I think it might be ok. B+W has two versions of the 6-stop, single and MRC-coated. Reading around, it seems MRC filters 1) are easier to clean due to the increased resistance, and 2) let more light through. Easier to clean is a good thing, but not really super necessary I would think. To let more light through seems to contradict the purpose of an ND filter. My current thinking is therefore to go for the single coated 6-stop B+W filter. I have one of each and find occasion to use both fairly often. I decided that since I have something like $10,000 in lenses a few more $$'s to have the filter I want is worth it. I also buy the MRC filters because I have had some issues with unwanted filter glare/reflection and I believe MRC is expected to help that. Again a few $$'s more, but it seems if I'm spending this kind of time and money on camera, lens, film, post processing, a little more on filters might help some of those images be better. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
philipus Posted April 29, 2013 Author Share #11 Posted April 29, 2013 In over cast lighting you will find your shutter speeds a bit low with the 6 stop. It's useful in full sun though. Especially with flash. A 3 stop gives you much more usability in less than full sun and you get to take advantage of 1/4000th shutter speed. Thanks Paul. You raise several very good points. Since i only use film I'm limited to 1/1000. But since I usually shoot ISO400, even on an overcast f5.6 day I could shoot at about 1/60. That was my thinking behind choosing the 6-stop. It would work well with my Summiluxes but of course less so with the 90 Elmarit-M. So a 6-stop might after all be somewhat limiting. Hmm decisions decisions. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest tanks Posted April 29, 2013 Share #12 Posted April 29, 2013 Also, if you are using B&W film along with color filters you will lose a stop as well, depending on the filter. something else to consider. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
philipus Posted April 29, 2013 Author Share #13 Posted April 29, 2013 Thanks tanks. The only other filter I use is a UV haze filter. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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