Gradient ND filter with lowest cost?

[dRebelXT]

I only need one for my 17-40mm, so what is the lowest cost solution?
TIA

[catchlights]

Originally Posted by dRebelXT I only need one for my 17-40mm, so what is the lowest cost solution? TIA

for a few shots only, the lowest cost is PhotoShop.

If you shoot more, Cokin filters.

[yyD70S]

Low cost GNDs are prone to having colour cast, ie, not neutral colour.

[dRebelXT]

Thank you catchlight and yyD80S.

What is the cost of a Cokin holder and one piece of ND filter (shooting blue sky)?

Do I need some kind of graduated filter when shooting airplanes at noon? I think the
top half and bottom half will have large difference in lightening.

[yyD70S]

Originally Posted by dRebelXT Thank you catchlight and yyD80S. What is the cost of a Cokin holder and one piece of ND filter (shooting blue sky)? Do I need some kind of graduated filter when shooting airplanes at noon? I think the top half and bottom half will have large difference in lightening.

Sorry but I don't know the prices but I don't think you need a GND to shoot airplanes assuming you are pointing at the sky, ie, filling the whole frame with the airplane as foreground and the sky as a background. On the contrary, you may need an ND filter.

Unless, you meant during takeoffs and landings where your background would include part sky, part others.

Usually, in our climate, a 3-stop ND or GND is ideal.

[catchlights]

Originally Posted by dRebelXT Thank you catchlight and yyD80S. What is the cost of a Cokin holder and one piece of ND filter (shooting blue sky)? Do I need some kind of graduated filter when shooting airplanes at noon? I think the top half and bottom half will have large difference in lightening.

graduated filter is not a magic filter, beware that you will underexpose the airplane if compose the airplane into the top half.

Btw, you should take metering WITHOUT the filter.

[dRebelXT]

Well, in the case of landed airplanes like 747, 380, etc. How do I make sure the upper portion
and lower portion are equally exposed? I will be going to the show at Changi in late morning,
expecting quite bright & vertical sunshines.

[yyD70S]

Originally Posted by dRebelXT Well, in the case of landed airplanes like 747, 380, etc. How do I make sure the upper portion and lower portion are equally exposed? I will be going to the show at Changi in late morning, expecting quite bright & vertical sunshines.

OK. I can concur now that you it's the GND that you need.

As in any GND, you meter the brightest portion of the subject; in this case, the sky. And you do the same for the foreground; the airplanes, I suppose. If the difference is huge and is greater than what your DSLR can handle, you need to balance it with the appropriate GND.

You can do a search for Singh-Ray or Lee Filters on Google and read on further.