What circular ND 10 stop filter to buy?

[Polar01]

Lars: It is hard to give you a easy answer as there are many factors at work. I started out with a 77mm 10-stop from B+W, still have it and use it. I then got into the Lee filter system with their 2,3, and 4 stop GND filters in hard and soft, there have been times where I have used a 3 stop to knock down the sky with the 10 stop to give me the overall effect that I am looking for. As I have the 2,3,4 filters I can stack then to get 9 stops however problems at ultra wide. If you take the price of the adaptor ring, filter holder, and the 3 GND filter then I believe that the Singh-Ray is well worth it, to be able to simply dial in the amount of ND that you require and go. As I use the GND filters a lot, using a vari-density filter with them would not work as well as using the 100mmx100mm Lee big stopper. So you see that it is hard to give you a simple answer, both the Singh-Ray and B+W are excellent pieces of kit, they cost more than others but you get what you pay for. As to colour cast yes the Lee has a cool cast to it, so I often set white balance to 10,000K in camera, however most times I use the 10 stop is when I envision the final image as a B&W and I find images with some blue overcast work well in B&W.
Hope this is of some help.

Cheers: Allan

[Colin Southern]

So you are saying that a 10 stop singh ray is worth its money?

We're both saying a Singh-Ray Vari-ND is a far far far far better choice than an 10-Stop ND filter.

[Colin Southern]

However, Colin, I must raise a serious issue. What's with the Papyrus font on your prints? Maybe I'm just a typography nerd, but I think it lets down your work.

I really like it - it's one of 2 or 3 that I use regularly

[Colin Southern]

The Lee big stopper works well for me and I am aware of the ongoing debate over colour casts, but I am content to adjust in PP.

That's just because you don't have the Singh-Ray filter

You have a D800 and two seriously good Nikon lenses. (14-24 and 24-70). Its a bit like having a Ferrari and saying you don't want seriously good performance tyres on it?

It amazes me the number of people who will buy the photographic equivalent of a Ferrari and then put pram wheel on it! (eg a cheap filter, or a single-digit D series camera - L-Series lens - and no flash for portraits). Crazy.

[teigas]

That's just because you don't have the Singh-Ray filter



It amazes me the number of people who will buy the photographic equivalent of a Ferrari and then put pram wheel on it! (eg a cheap filter, or a single-digit D series camera - L-Series lens - and no flash for portraits). Crazy.

I dont have any cheap glass on it And to be honest i`m not scrolling ebay for a china free shipping nd 10 stop filter. Its either a B+W - Hoya og a Singh ray. Neither of them are cheap, I guess all of them are quality brands.

[Colin Southern]

I dont have any cheap glass on it And to be honest i`m not scrolling ebay for a china free shipping nd 10 stop filter. Its either a B+W - Hoya og a Singh ray. Neither of them are cheap, I guess all of them are quality brands.

That's great, but I wasn't meaning you

[teigas]

Lars ( eller er det Martin ? ) , Hvis de er genuint dine første forsøk på x10 filter , ville jeg være veldig fornøyd . Du har gjort en god jobb , takk for å laste dem opp .

Jeg tror ikke det er noen lys lekkasje der på den siste, som du sier det kan være bare solen , men likevel en førsteklasses innsats .

Min norsk er langt verre enn din engelsk (takk og lov for Google translate ) . Min bror snakker litt norsk da han brukte litt tid på det som en del av sin universitetskurs , på en børs , men som jeg bor 200 miles fra ham nå , er han ikke mye bruk som en oversetter !

Som svar på spørsmålet ditt , jeg bruker 14 - 24mm det meste som jeg gjør mye av interiør arkitektoniske bilder og ideelt sett ønsker også et tilt og shift-objektiv , men for tiden gjør alt retting i PS og annen programvare som DX0 Viewpoint plugg i .

Som sannsynligvis er den andre punktet jeg vil gjøre når det gjelder å bruke x10 filter , som er at jeg bruker en relativt tung studio stativ ( Manfrotto 058B ) som er stor og virkelig solid , uavhengig av værforholdene . De fleste tror jeg er av å spille en runde golf når jeg satt ut med det i det bæreveske !
*******

Lars (or is it Martin?), if those are genuinely your first attempts at x10 filter, I would be very happy. You have made a great job, thanks for uploading them.

I don't think there is any light leak there on the last one, as you say it may be just the sun, but nevertheless a first class effort.

My Norwegian is far worse than your English (thank goodness for Google translate). My brother speaks a little Norwegian as he spent some time there as part of his University course, on an exchange, but as I live 200 miles from him now, he is not much use as a translator!

In answer to your question, I use the 14-24mm on a D3x mostly as I do a lot of interior architectural shots and ideally would also like a Tilt and Shift lens, but currently do all the straightening in PS and other software such as DX0 ViewPoint plug in.

Which is probably the other point I would make regards using x10 filter, which is that I use a relatively heavy studio tripod (Manfrotto 058B) which is big and really sturdy, regardless of the weather conditions. Most people think I am off to play a round of golf when I set out with it in it carry case!

Thanks for the feedback The norwegian translation was not bad at all

[teigas]

We're both saying a Singh-Ray Vari-ND is a far far far far better choice than an 10-Stop ND filter.

Why is it that? Because its almost the same price? No quality difference? Will i manage to get the same silky effects one the sea and skys with a 8 stop compared to a 10 stop?

[Colin Southern]

Why is it that? Because its almost the same price? No quality difference? Will i manage to get the same silky effects one the sea and skys with a 8 stop compared to a 10 stop?

The Vari-ND is 100 times more versatile. If you're shooting during the ideal times of day you'll find 10 stops more of a hindrance than an asset. Additionally, you can also add a 5, 10, or 15 stop Mor-Slo to it later should you so desire, but to be honest, I seldom use my Mor-Slo's; on the other hand, my Vari-ND is one filter I'd never leave home without.

I've written 7 blog articles for them - many about the Vari-ND - you might find some of them interesting (or you might not!)

http://singhray.blogspot.co.nz/searc...lin%20Southern

That reminds me - must find time to do another one!

[teigas]

The Vari-ND is 100 times more versatile. If you're shooting during the ideal times of day you'll find 10 stops more of a hindrance than an asset. Additionally, you can also add a 5, 10, or 15 stop Mor-Slo to it later should you so desire, but to be honest, I seldom use my Mor-Slo's; on the other hand, my Vari-ND is one filter I'd never leave home without.

I've written 7 blog articles for them - many about the Vari-ND - you might find some of them interesting (or you might not!)

http://singhray.blogspot.co.nz/searc...lin%20Southern

That reminds me - must find time to do another one!

The ideal times, golden hour? Sunrise / sunset?

So you say the 8 stop will be more than enough at does times? And at the vario at 8 stops will be just as good as the singh ray just 8 stops if they have it. ?

And you recommend the reguar Vari-ND?

Thanks for replying all my stupid question, just like to check out things before I spend money

[Colin Southern]

The ideal times, golden hour? Sunrise / sunset?

Yes - that's when you'll get the best light and most colour.

So you say the 8 stop will be more than enough at does times?

It depends what you're shooting, but normally, if you're at maximum attenuation, minimum aperture and minimum ISO and still getting too much light then I'd say you'd be shooting far to early if it's the evening. At the end of a shoot (shere I get my best long-exposure shots) I'm often down to minimum attenuation.

And at the vario at 8 stops will be just as good as the singh ray just 8 stops if they have it. ?

Singh-Ray don't make an 8-Stop Mor-Slo, but if they did, I still wouldn't buy one. The Vari-ND is an extremely high-quality product. I'll bet you can't find someone with one who would be willing to part with it! (I've got two of them) (different sizes).

And you recommend the reguar Vari-ND?

For landscape, yes. For the record, I'd just ordered my 2nd one when they were about to release the Vari-ND Duo - they phoned me up and asked if I'd like to change the order and I said no; personally, I'm just not a fan of polarisers - with wide-angle lenses they give very uneven skies, and if one is shooting at the right time of day they don't make any difference anyway.

Thanks for replying all my stupid question, just like to check out things before I spend money

No problem

Think of the 10-Stop as being like a 1 size spanner (the term "1 trick pony" comes to mind), whereas the Vari-ND is the Swiss Army Knife of ND filters.

[Nancy Moran G]

Colin, what do use on a lens that is not 77mm? Buy another or is there an adapter?
I am reading your blog link you attached earlier.
I am ready to buy
Nancy
Tokina 11-16 2.8, 55-300, 35 1.8.
Nikon D7000

[Polar01]

Nancy if the filter is 77mm than you get a adapter that will allow you to go from your lens say 67mm and steps up to 77mm the size of the NG filter.
Adding a link to a site that shows step up adapters

http://www.2filter.com/prices/products/rings.html

Cheers: Allan

[Nancy Moran G]

Thank you Allan. I am linking over there now
Nancy

[William W]

. . . As I recall, Colin has TWO of those Singh Ray Filters.

Anyway, I think they only come in ɸ77mm and ɸ82mm

One uses Step-Up-Rings for other lens’s filter sizes.

I haven't got the time to check the Filter sizes of all those three lenses that you have: but I'd guess that the Tokina would be the biggest diameter and that it would be 77mm so if you bought the filter to suit the Tokina and then bought Step Up Rings for the Filter to sit on your other two lenses that would be a suitable solution for you.

WW

(I am sure Colin will be by soon though . . . I just couldn't resist being quicker off the mark than he: is as it rarely happens so I had to take the opportunity . . .)

[William W]

. . . and Allan was even quicker!

[Nancy Moran G]

Bill, you are right about the 77mm. The others are 58 and 52 mm.
Thanks as I was about to ask about 'step up/down'. Is buying the largest size best and then step down with the attachment?
Nancy

[Colin Southern]

Wow - I completely missed the party on this one! (That'll teach me to sleep in on a Sunday morning).

@ Nancy - yep - sizing rings are your friend; they're cheap as chips. I assume you have a tripod?

[Nancy Moran G]

I assume you have a tripod?

Oh, now you've opened a can of worms! I have been nose to the grindstone for days studying THAT topic! Ugh, cause I am a 'jump in the car without a map, let's adventure ' kind of person...
Have a cheapie, but am seriously looking in the $400 range which may include a head that will suit me for a while.
(Really interested in long exposures, night sky, a slider, landscapes. We travel USA in RV, so National Parks are my home for any part of the year we can hit one. Although recently, we have been in Fl on the beach)

But, am serious on the filter. It would be my first filter. Knowing what I do, any other suggestions for a filter to get?
Nncy

[Colin Southern]

Oh, now you've opened a can of worms! I have been nose to the grindstone for days studying THAT topic! Ugh, cause I am a 'jump in the car without a map, let's adventure ' kind of person...
Have a cheapie, but am seriously looking in the $400 range which may include a head that will suit me for a while.
(Really interested in long exposures, night sky, a slider, landscapes. We travel USA in RV, so National Parks are my home for any part of the year we can hit one. Although recently, we have been in Fl on the beach)

But, am serious on the filter. It would be my first filter. Knowing what I do, any other suggestions for a filter to get?
Nncy

Well basically ... when one attenuates the light one increases the shutter duration ... which means hand-holding is pretty much eliminated. In that situation ANY tripod is going to be 1000 times better than NO tripod.

To be honest, I really don't know if it's a good filter FOR YOU for not, as it all depends on what you want to shoot. If it's BIF then definitely not - if it's something with water or other motion then definitely yes




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