ND Filter Suggestions

I was reviewing my shot list this morning, and I noticed a lot of the shots are ones that would benefit from a ND filter. Normally, I just use my polarizing filter for these type of shots because I'm cheap, but with as many shots as I have that could use a good ND filter, I figure why not buy one.

So...I'm looking for suggestions. What specific ND filters do you use and how do you like them. I think I'm looking to go for a .9 filter, but I am not positive at this point. Keeping in mind that I am cheap (and a poor student so I can't afford some $100 filter), do you have any suggestions for filters?

 

That's good to know. ; I trust your judgment on all things equipment-related, so I will delve into the used sources of which I know...

Thanks!

 

Hey didn't I read this somewhere else. ; Maybe I am just getting old. ; Anyway I thought I would post over here with another option for anyone that does read other boards. ; (Not that there is any board as awesome as this. ; ). ;

Anyway,

One thing that I have tried is stacking two polarizers on top of each other. The closest one to the lens is the circular and the farthest is a linear. I was able to pick up a cheap linear one since I already had the circular. I had mixed results as it did cast a slight blue tone over the shot as I rotated the filters in opposite directions. But this was easily dealt with in post. These by no means beats a true ND Filter but it did perform pretty well in a pinch and did not cost me much. (especially if you have the first circular polarizer. I think I got out of there for about $25.

Just another option, since price seams to be a big deciding factor.



Still Blue but I have edited since. ;

 

Yeah, I'm aware of what it'll do. ; I regularly use my CP, but it's not dark enough of "shades" for my lenses for a few ideas I have. ; When I initially posted this, I thought a 3 stop ND filter was the max; however, in researching, I found that there are 6-10 stop filters, too. ; What I really think I want/need is a 6 stop one. ; The only 6 stop one I can find is B+W, though, and it costs $90!

 

Do you have the Hoya one or something else (all I've found is a Hoya)? ; Do you have any issues autofocusing with that on your lens?

 

How satisfied are you guys with the ND400? ; I am really torn between 6 stops and 9 stops. ; I think I'd be doing all tripod shooting regardless of which I choose, so that's not an issue, but it would be an issue if the D90 can't autofocus through the ND400 (maybe I should search Google on that...). ; It seems like the 9 stop one might be slightly more useful than the 6 stop one...

 

Anyone have any experience with this? ; There is very little about this company out there, but a couple posts on dpreview seem pretty positive. ; Doesn't seem to be too bad of a price for what it does...

http://cgi.ebay.com/Fader-ND-Filter-ND2-to-ND400-77mm-Neutral-Density_W0QQitemZ200420913462QQcmdZViewItemQQptZCamera_Filters?hash=item2eaa047136

ETA: ; "# According to the optics theorem, it is not recommended to apply this filter for wide angle lens (<24mm, 35mm film format equivalent)." ; Why is that? ; I may be going to an 8mm (what is that, like 12mm equivalent?) and most of the shots I need this filter for are UWA, so that alone might be a dealbreaker. ; Is it just a minor vignetting problem?

 

I have seen a variable ND before (http://www.singh-ray.com/varind.html) that was recommended by Rick Sammon but it is a little pricey.

This version you found on Ebay is made from a company in Hong Kong. ;

(http://www.hkcarris.com/v2/product_info.php?products_id=717&osCsid=135a645af1b0215bfb43ae2343537765)

Don't know if the optics would be great. ; Of coarse with a price difference that much I am sure they are not equal. ; Of coarse I am not sure I can tell the difference anyway. ; I guess from my standpoint, I would be willing to take the risk with my money. ; In fact I might seriously look at getting one now. ; I have been looking for a variable ND and this might be the price point I would take the risk. ;

Plus this would allow you to frame the shot through the view finder and then just give it a twist to set the correct level and shoot. ;

 

Here is the actual manufacturer site for that filter: ; http://www.faderfilters.com/fadernd.html

Doug - that site is just a HK reseller of the filter. ; I have no idea why they added "CARRIS" to the front of the filter's name, but it definitely is misleading. ; I saw that Sing-Rayh filter--it is way out of my budget.

Notice in the bullet points on the actual manufacturer's site, the "optic theorem" isn't even mentioned (although variants of the other points are...).

Justin - my issue with the D90 is the autofocus; I still can't accomplish manually focusing too well with the D90 even with live view. ; I suppose with the UWA manually focusing shouldn't be too difficult, but I'd rather the camera just do it itself. ; With the Fader filter, I could have the camera autofocus, then adjust the filter to the "darkest" setting. ; That is, assuming it wouldn't autofocus on the darkest setting in the first place (which it very well may). ; Plus, the Fader is cheaper (although I know this may come with the tradeoff in optical quality) than the Hoya. ; Another point for the Fader is that it is variable ND, which might come in handy.

ETA: ; From the official Fader site, I found an authorized seller on eBay. ; $10 more, but worth it for peace of mind (and US based). ; No mention of the "optics theorem" there, either: http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-Fader-ND-Filter-ND2-to-ND400-77mm-Neutral-Density_W0QQitemZ320477781075QQcmdZViewItemQQptZCamera_Filters?hash=item4a9df6dc53