Question about ND filters for the 24-90mm lens

[Ktsa5239]

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Hi everyone,

I just have a few questions regarding getting a ND filter for my 24-90mm lens. I got the Hoya HD CPL filter for it when I first bought the lens. But while shooting landscape yesterday I ran into another photographer who mentioned a ND filter would be better suited as it tames the harsh highlights. My question is wouldn't that also bring the shadows darker? I understand that it allows me to use longer exposure or smaller DOF on a bright day but I dont understand how it would make my shot better if theres harsh light and deep shadows. He then started talking about how I've spent all this money on the lens and body and cheaped out on the filter. Which brings me to my second question, he said the only filter worthy of that lens is the Peter McKinnon ND Mist filter, I've checked them out and they are super expensive. Have anyone here used it and would recommend it? 

Appreciate any inputs! Thanks

[Photoworks]

I use ND filters to cut the light in video, I don't usually use them for any other photography.

Landscape photographers use them to get longer exposure times to smoothest water or clouds in the shots. Some combine it with Ploarizing filters. Stacking filters is not ideal for image sharpness, but there are manufacturers the combine ND and PL in one.

I use the filters from https://breakthrough.photography/products/x4-neutral-density?variant=30850759697

ND filters have the nasty side effect to add some color cast to images the is impossible to remove, I would buy good one if you can.

Mist Filters is used in film to bloom highlight. it is mostly an effect to reduce sharpness and not desired on every day shooting.

 

[Slender]

5 hours ago, Ktsa5239 said:

Hi everyone,

I just have a few questions regarding getting a ND filter for my 24-90mm lens. I got the Hoya HD CPL filter for it when I first bought the lens. But while shooting landscape yesterday I ran into another photographer who mentioned a ND filter would be better suited as it tames the harsh highlights. My question is wouldn't that also bring the shadows darker? I understand that it allows me to use longer exposure or smaller DOF on a bright day but I dont understand how it would make my shot better if theres harsh light and deep shadows. He then started talking about how I've spent all this money on the lens and body and cheaped out on the filter. Which brings me to my second question, he said the only filter worthy of that lens is the Peter McKinnon ND Mist filter, I've checked them out and they are super expensive. Have anyone here used it and would recommend it? 

Appreciate any inputs! Thanks

Hmmm.... several points to talk about here:

In theory, NDs do nothing other than blocking light. "a perfect ND" (doesnt exist) but should not affect your shadows differently than highlights or midtones....AKA contrast should be the same with or w/o ND filter.

Stacking NDs or older ones can introduce color shift and InfraRed pollution. Unles you photograph lots of black fabrics under a harsh sun, IR pollution should largely remain invisible and was mostly an issue for film/older sensor... especially true in the old days for motion picture work. Less of an issue today.

All ND have a color shift. It gets more severe with cheaper ones. But you carry a white/grey card with you so you can adjust your White Balance through the filter and get rid of most of this. It is mostly critical for winter photography if you dont want yellow/brown snow lol.

Stacking/Thick filters can add vignetting... even more so at wider lens settings.

PM VND+Mist are more of a DSLR/mirrorless videomaker thing. I would avoid it for still work especially landscape.

With a camera like the SL, for stills, you dont really need the ND filter if you just intend to shoot wide aperture in bright condition as the electronic shutter is so fast. You still need it for long exposure/on tripod work if you want to smooth moving object... but that is a bit of a tired cliche nowadays...IMHO.

Lastly.....

 

PolarPro indeed makes some sexy products.... but your mostly pay for the hype created by youtubers and that costs the company a lot I assume. They are large and may interfere with your use of sunhood on the 24/90. Check out what B+W or Breakthrough photography filters have to offer.

VND really are a videothing, as it basically is two polariser stacked together.... it means uneven repartition of filtration and risk of cross-polarization. All of which are not problematic for youtubers with fast pacced run-and-gun settings... but can be a distraction for still landscape work, i think. I would really stick to buying a good CPL and perhaps (CPL already cut an average of 2IL) a -4/5IL and -8/9IL ND... it should all come just under the price of one PolarPro VND.... and be more flexible solution.

 

 

[hansvons]

Absolutely agree with Slender. In terms of picture quality, nothing beats no filter on the front lens. But sometimes, especially for video, an ND filter is a necessity. For video, I use the NISI Pro Nano variable ND, bringing down up to five stops. As Slender pointed out, ND filters tend to influence the colour. When the sensor is prone to IR pollution, ND filters can advance severe IR pollution. I can't say that from the NISI Nano, even at ND15. They claim it's IR neutral, which means it's with some kind of IR hot mirror coated. 

[Ktsa5239]

Thank you everyone! I guess that answers my question! I don’t actually need it at all since I don’t do any videos.

Is stacking protective filter with CPL going to create problems? I’m using Hoya HD for both. Should I go for better brands for better results?

[earleygallery]

10 hours ago, Ktsa5239 said:

Hi everyone,

I just have a few questions regarding getting a ND filter for my 24-90mm lens. I got the Hoya HD CPL filter for it when I first bought the lens. But while shooting landscape yesterday I ran into another photographer who mentioned a ND filter would be better suited as it tames the harsh highlights. My question is wouldn't that also bring the shadows darker? I understand that it allows me to use longer exposure or smaller DOF on a bright day but I dont understand how it would make my shot better if theres harsh light and deep shadows. He then started talking about how I've spent all this money on the lens and body and cheaped out on the filter. Which brings me to my second question, he said the only filter worthy of that lens is the Peter McKinnon ND Mist filter, I've checked them out and they are super expensive. Have anyone here used it and would recommend it? 

Appreciate any inputs! Thanks

Don't listen to random strangers!

[RoySmith]

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Graduated ND filters can be useful in landscape photography to reduce the dynamic range when the sky is too bright.

Reverse graduated ND filters are interesting when the sky is brightest at the horizon. Of course this all depends on the scene, the time of day, the weather.

[FlashGordonPhotography]

2 hours ago, RoySmith said:

Graduated ND filters can be useful in landscape photography to reduce the dynamic range when the sky is too bright.

Reverse graduated ND filters are interesting when the sky is brightest at the horizon. Of course this all depends on the scene, the time of day, the weather.

I still carry a couple of grads. Almost never use them though. Doing an exposure blend in Photoshop is so trivial and more accurate/adjustable that it has rendered grad NDs of little use, to me.

I carry a good Polariser and a couple of ND's and that's about it now days. It's nice not to have another bag just for your accessories on modern cameras.

As for the Peter McKinnon filters... Seems like someone who'll strap his name to anything. Bags, filters etc. Marketing BS. There are plenty of alternatives that are just as good. And nothing wrong with Hoya. Interesting how people love to bag them when they may be using lenses with Hoya ground elements in them. They make a range from cheap to fabulous. Buy the good ones and you'll not tell. Polar Pro do do well in video because of their consistency, which is important in video and less so for stills. They make a great product. But the holy grail they are not.

Personally I prefer square filters so I can use one filter for all my systems. I put a lens ring on each lens for a 100mm filter and leave the hood and lens cap in the box. Instead of losing a 10 million dollar Leica lens cap I lose a 2 dollar B&W one. My B&W extending hood is far better than anything a camera manufacturer provides for any zoom lens. I have filters from a range of brands. Most are excellent.

Gordon

[Ktsa5239]

What is the best brand ND that people highly recommend?

[pedaes]

9 minutes ago, Ktsa5239 said:

What is the best brand ND that people highly recommend?

If you want loads of options and versatility - Lee Filters. Not to be confused with cheap.LEE Filters - Masters of light

[hansvons]

10 hours ago, Ktsa5239 said:

What is the best brand ND that people highly recommend?

In the last few decades, most Hollywood and other films have been shot with Tiffen filters, Format being the number two. I've been using both brands extensively and never had issues. But there are others with good products nowadays, such as Nisi, who know their trade and are a tad less costly.