Gradual ND Gray Filters

[Hoky]

Hi Csers,

Which is the most popular / useful gradual ND filter?

 

[Denosha]

Grad ND4, especially if you're using digital. Check out the september 2006 issue of Practical Photography for the reason why.

 

[Hoky]

Grad ND4, especially if you're using digital. Check out the september 2006 issue of Practical Photography for the reason why.

Thanks... I see some people post ND8...
Errr, I'm talking about Gradual ND... not NDs...

 

[zcf]

I have both Cokin Gradual ND4 and 8, I use ND8 more than 4, because the sun/sky light in Singapore is too strong, ND4 won't be able to bring out as much blueness from the sky like in other non-equitorial countries.

 

[robchanyl]

Hi everyone! Since we are on the topic of gray filters and this is a newbies corner, may I know if this type of filter will help me take good shots of sunsets/sunrise?

Thanks v. much for your kind advice.

 

[zoossh]

Hi everyone! Since we are on the topic of gray filters and this is a newbies corner, may I know if this type of filter will help me take good shots of sunsets/sunrise?

Thanks v. much for your kind advice.

get a reverse sharp edge grad ND, 2 or 3 stops. in fact i wonder if commercially they have 4-5 stops, if there are, i may buy more. very useful in landscape, travel/building. in your case, sunset (over the sea). if over the mountains, not so useful and got to use soft edge.

 

[zcf]

get a reverse sharp edge grad ND, 2 or 3 stops. in fact i wonder if commercially they have 4-5 stops, if there are, i may buy more. very useful in landscape, travel/building. in your case, sunset (over the sea). if over the mountains, not so useful and got to use soft edge.

for many more stop, try stacking filter, I tried and it works. Not sure how much it affected the image quality though :sweat: .

 

[zoossh]

for many more stop, try stacking filter, I tried and it works. Not sure how much it affected the image quality though :sweat: .

i can't. that will vignette physically at 13-14mm focal length. if i do single stack, i will push to 11-12mm

 

[Splutter]

get a reverse sharp edge grad ND, 2 or 3 stops. in fact i wonder if commercially they have 4-5 stops, if there are, i may buy more. very useful in landscape, travel/building. in your case, sunset (over the sea). if over the mountains, not so useful and got to use soft edge.

I think Singh Ray has, but I recall its incredibly expensive, almost 300usd.

 

[p510]

get a reverse sharp edge grad ND, 2 or 3 stops. in fact i wonder if commercially they have 4-5 stops, if there are, i may buy more. very useful in landscape, travel/building. in your case, sunset (over the sea). if over the mountains, not so useful and got to use soft edge.

I am a newbie, may I ask what is difference between reverse sharp edge and soft edge grad. For cokin, what is the product ref no. Thanks.

 

[zoossh]

I am a newbie, may I ask what is difference between reverse sharp edge and soft edge grad. For cokin, what is the product ref no. Thanks.

graduated refers to the graduation of density that goes from very dark to almost clear. so sharp edge and soft edge refers to the transition. sharp means the transition is over a small area with most part of the dense part dark (e.g. 3 stop) and only the small part of it changed from dark to clear. soft means the transition area is bigger. reverse means that the darkest portion is in the middle, with a soft transition to less dark density towards one end, and with a sharp edge transition to clear joining the clear half of the filter. this is better for seashore sunset where the horizon is straight and the sunset gives the brightest highlight in the middle and that is where the darkest density will help to bring down and even out the exposure.

as for product ref no, pls dun ask any forumers for that. i dun think that anyone would know it at the back of their mind, unless they search specifically for it, which you can do the same thing. go to my thread in my signature, or just search for some online retail site, they might have it.

 

[hazmee]

I use Lee 0.45 ND Grads both soft/hard and they work as advertised. Its neutral and doesnt give nasty color casts like the Cokin ones which is painful to remove. I would recommend the 0.45 and 0.6 ND Grad for landscape enthusiast. Cost about $165 each. You can get them at Cathay Photo.