Purpose of ND filter


rocketatw

Senior Member
Jan 15, 2010
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I understand that with this ND filter, we can freeze the water.

Example with 2 stops ND filter:
if we shoot at AV mode, F8, ISO100, we will get 1/100s (without 2 stops ND filter)
at same setting, we will get like 1/25s (with 2 stops ND filter)

Question:
why do we still need to pay for ND filter as we can use TV mode and set at 1/25s.

Anyone can answer my doubts. Thanks.
 

The ND filter is so that ur photos don't turn out overexposed at the low shutter speed. u may not need it if the ambient light is low at the time u r taking the photo
 

it cuts down the amount of light based on filter strength.

if there's not much light in the scene high f-stop (smaller opening) can do the trick but be wary of diffraction limit. during daytime with harsh lighting, long exposure is possible with the use of extreme nd filters.

short answer: it depends on the lighting situation or if the image in mind calls for its use.
 

I understand that with this ND filter, we can freeze the water.

Example with 2 stops ND filter:
if we shoot at AV mode, F8, ISO100, we will get 1/100s (without 2 stops ND filter)
at same setting, we will get like 1/25s (with 2 stops ND filter)

Question:
why do we still need to pay for ND filter as we can use TV mode and set at 1/25s.

Anyone can answer my doubts. Thanks.


some cs member here did a 45 seconds shot in day time... w/o nd filter do u think u can do that?
 

in addition it can also be used in flash photography where bigger lens opening is needed and shutter speed can't be fast enough to compensate :)
 

thanks for all the responds, learn something today.

by the way, why some people buy 2 stops, 4 stops ... 10 stops. which is better, i know it may be for different usage depending on how much light we want to cut, but generally, most people will buy which type and why?
 

some cs member here did a 45 seconds shot in day time... w/o nd filter do u think u can do that?

Perhaps achieveable on a cloudy day or in the early morning/ late evening.

With sunlight, its almost impossible. Even at 10 secs -EV to the max and max F, it will still turnout overexposed.
 

thanks for all the responds, learn something today.

by the way, why some people buy 2 stops, 4 stops ... 10 stops. which is better, i know it may be for different usage depending on how much light we want to cut, but generally, most people will buy which type and why?

I've seen people hankering for ND10, some fader ND, while others, get the full range of ND2, ND4, ND6, ND8 and ND10. And some have used them stacked.

So it all depends on usage and ambient lighting.
 

thanks for all the responds, learn something today.

by the way, why some people buy 2 stops, 4 stops ... 10 stops. which is better, i know it may be for different usage depending on how much light we want to cut, but generally, most people will buy which type and why?

there is no better really... when u need 10 stop, u need 10 stop.. when u need 3 stop, your very expensive 10 stop does not help... but the cheaper 3 stop helps...


it is like what lens is good , all are good if u use them, all are bad if u don't use them...

i have a fren who bought a uwa, and then sold it.. saying he never use it... but i think it is bcos he don't know how to appreciate it...

:)
 

I understand that with this ND filter, we can freeze the water.

not freeze, smooth it out.

for nd4/nd8, perhaps their use is clearer at twilight timing, where the typical exposure can reach to more than 10 seconds, which is insufficient to render smokey water sometimes. then extending by 2-3 stops will help make this sufficiently long.

for nd106 (6 stops) , nd400 (9 stops) and nd110 (10 stops), purpose is clearer, because they allow long exposures in daytime. even with f/27 and iso100, you will find it hard to achieve something like this in the daytime:

4757321561_d24b886290_o.jpg


45 second exposure at noon-time.

all nd filters have their use, and every landscape photographer wishes they had all, actually. it is not something you can replicate with photoshop.

another purpose of light nd filters involve LARGE APERTURES in STRONG DAYLIGHT.

for example, sometimes even at iso100, f/2.0 and the fastest shutter speed will give you an overexposed photo. adding an nd filter will help prevent getting an overexposed photo.
 

I understand that with this ND filter, we can freeze the water.

Example with 2 stops ND filter:
if we shoot at AV mode, F8, ISO100, we will get 1/100s (without 2 stops ND filter)
at same setting, we will get like 1/25s (with 2 stops ND filter)

Question:
why do we still need to pay for ND filter as we can use TV mode and set at 1/25s.

Anyone can answer my doubts. Thanks.
if you want to freeze the water, you need high shutter speed, or a freezer.

and 1/25s is nor here or there, you can freeze the water, or make it smoother.
 

if you want to freeze the water, you need high shutter speed, or a freezer.

and 1/25s is nor here or there, you can freeze the water, or make it smoother.

Excuse me Mr Moderator. Can I check what brand freezer is best arh? So far, I find LG is ok... but not sure about Korean quality. Will it affect the sharpness of my lens?
 

Just a quick question to nightmare: which filter system do you use? Tianya, Cokin, or...?
 

Excuse me Mr Moderator. Can I check what brand freezer is best arh? So far, I find LG is ok... but not sure about Korean quality. Will it affect the sharpness of my lens?
I'm using Kadeka, made in Japen. is this the best? I'm not sure, but serve me well. :)


KCF_1H.jpg
 

Just a quick question to nightmare: which filter system do you use? Tianya, Cokin, or...?

hi

i saw a 12 stop cokin nd.. but i am not sure if it is still in production..

tianya only offer 3 stops nd if i am not wrong..

for those 9 , 10 stops nm talked about, they are from B+W or Hoya...

:)
 

Just a quick question to nightmare: which filter system do you use? Tianya, Cokin, or...?

my 10 stop nd filter is from B+W

i only got it because it was cheaper than hoya nd400 in uk.

other than that, i use a cokin p series filter holder, coupled with tianya filters.

these are the cheapest of cheap that you can get for every option there.. of course if i have enough money i would consider getting better ones like those from singh-ray, but i haven't justified it to myself yet.

what uncle catchlights said is very true, understanding what the equipment does, more important than what brand is being used. as long as not too laoya, it will do the job sufficiently well for a hobbyist. :)
 

all nd filters have their use, and every landscape photographer wishes they had all, actually. it is not something you can replicate with photoshop.

is that the reason why, lenses like 14mm L which cannot put filters are not often used by landscape photographers? I wonder if Cokin holding system can be attached to it as it has a penta-hood fixed to it.
 

is that the reason why, lenses like 14mm L which cannot put filters are not often used by landscape photographers? I wonder if Cokin holding system can be attached to it as it has a penta-hood fixed to it.

i would think so.

anyways, i know some systems make specialised filter holders for popular lenses... like i think lee makes a filter holder for the 14-24 from nikon that doesn't accept conventional filter holders?

for 14mm L, i don't know.