Welcome to our community

Be a part of something great, join today!

Log in
  • Hey all, just changed over the backend after 15 years I figured time to give it a bit of an update, its probably gonna be a bit weird for most of you and i am sure there is a few bugs to work out but it should kinda work the same as before... hopefully :)

Will get at mattebox but needs a cheaper solution for the canon 17-55 meanwhile.

Joel Arvidsson

Joel Arvidsson

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 3, 2008
Messages
3,044
Reaction score
6
Points
38
Age
46
Location
Sweden
Did a quick test in a sunny snowlandscape today. If I set iso to 800, then I got good exposure at F22. So I really needed a nd filter.

Im looking for a okay/good cheap solution for shooting outdoors with a canon 17-55. I don't want to spend to much since Im going to get a mattebox and spend the money on better filters for that.

Im not a big fan of circular nd filters but for the time I would guess It would be the best choice. Can some one please recomend circular nd filters and ir filters for the Canon 17-55?

or if you still think I should get a couple of "fixed" nds instead. Which ones to get.

Is there any nd with built in ir (combo)?

If you have a lens with uv filter on the front and want to add a nd filter. Do you have to take of the uv filter from the original lens before adding the nd/ir filter? or can you just ad a nd, ir and another uv filter?

If using a mattebox, should you take of the uv filter from the lens before adding filters to the mattebox.
 
Joel,
For Screw on to Canon lenses, we use Hoya, B+W and Tiffen multi-coated ND filters. They range in price from about $50 to $100 or so. Problem is that you need several depending on the light. You can stack them to reduce the number you need to buy, but then you get vignetting on your wider focal lengths.

In our Mattebox, it is Schneider 4x4 all the way.

I just saw a very favorable review of the new Schneider 77mm variable ND (from 1 1/2 to 11 stops) for $450 (ouch). But, if it resolves to 4K+, it would be a very time savings piece of equipment.... a lot faster than searching the bag for the right ND, cleaning the filter and replacing the one on the lens with another or stacking to get the right aperture. The folks at Schneider are pretty straight shooters, we plan on talking to them about the filter's ability to keep a sharp image at 5K or for high res stills from our 5DII.
 
I own a Scheider Variable 77mm ND... Cost me something like 180 at B&H. I have a bunch of 4x5.65 filters and use them whenever I need them but for quick run and gun type stuff that variable ND saves the day!

I would highly recommend it!
 
Can you get a variable nd filter with built in ir filter or do you have to buy it separate? If you can by this combo I guess it would minimize the risk of vinjett.
 
I need a little help how to calculate wich nd you need. If you are at F22 and want to be down on F8 instead. What nd filter would you use for that (no variable nd filters)?

In hvx200 it was 1/8 and 1/64 Nd. What would be the equivalent i number in the other way to describe it (0.3, 0.6)?

What is the your favorit variable nd filter. Can you use that with a "mattebox" (plast cup that mounts directly on the still lens)?
 
I find a thread that stated:
The ND filter on the HVX cuts three stops at the 1/8 setting, 6 stops at the 1/64 setting.

If that is correct 1/8 should be the same as 0.9 since that is 3 stops right?

Then 1/64 would be 1.8 since that is 6 stops.

That would men going from F22 to F8 would need a 4.2 nd fillter since that is 14 stops.

Does this make any sence?
 
Joel Arvidsson said:
I need a little help how to calculate wich nd you need.
Click to expand...

I have the Cokin Z-Pro 4x4 filters for my Mattebox. Good quality and happy with this filters.

Filter Steps

0,3
0,6 2
0,9 3
1,2 4
1,8 6
2,06,66
4,0 13

[TD="align: center"]1[/TD]

[TD="align: center"]3,0[/TD]
[TD="align: center"][/TD]
[TD="align: center"]10[/TD]
 
Joel Arvidsson said:
I find a thread that stated:
The ND filter on the HVX cuts three stops at the 1/8 setting, 6 stops at the 1/64 setting.

If that is correct 1/8 should be the same as 0.9 since that is 3 stops right?

Then 1/64 would be 1.8 since that is 6 stops.

That would men going from F22 to F8 would need a 4.2 nd fillter since that is 14 stops.

Does this make any sence?
Click to expand...

22 to 8 is only 3 stops. An nd .9 would accomplish that. Just get a .6, a .9, a 1.2 and a pola. Tiffen make a set that comes in a small belt pouch.
 
Thanks Shane, can you enlighten me how you calculate the F22 to F8 to 3 stops?

Also thanks for the tip with the tiffen set with the belt pouch!
 
Joel Arvidsson said:
Thanks Shane, can you enlighten me how you calculate the F22 to F8 to 3 stops?

Also thanks for the tip with the tiffen set with the belt pouch!
Click to expand...

How are you calculating 14? I think you're confusing third, half, and even quarter stops of adjustment with full stops.

1 full stop change is either a halving or doubling of the amount of light coming through. For shutter speed and ISO, this is just the time/rating either doubling or halving.

Aperture is somewhat more confusing as it is done on a scale based on the square root of 2.
full stops are:
f/1
f/1.4 (square root of 2)
f/2
f/2.8 (2 X sqrt 2)
f/4
f/5.6
f/8
f/11
f/16
f/22
f/32

And so on. You have either half stops (2.8-3.3-4-4.8-5.6-6.7 etc.) or third stops (2.8-3.2-3.5-4-4.5-5.6-6.3-7.1 etc. ) to give you more control. For ND purposes you're dealing with full stops only. Each 0.3 of ND will take you one step on the full stop scale above.
Going from f/22 to f/8 is 3 steps therefore 3 full stops of exposure reduction. So you need a ND 0.9.

hope this clears things up... It should help a lot when judging lighting too, because an incorrect knowledge of aperture's relation to ovall exposure could make it more difficult to adjust your lighting.
 
Joel Arvidsson said:
Thanks Shane, can you enlighten me how you calculate the F22 to F8 to 3 stops?

Also thanks for the tip with the tiffen set with the belt pouch!
Click to expand...

f8 +1stop = f11,
f11 + 1stop = f16,
f16 + 1stop = f22
so f8 to f22 = 3 stops.
as Harrison says, use only full stops. Also I left out the nd 0.3 as it's not a filter I use much and you are trying to save some money.
I got the filter pack from here: http://stores.ebay.com/Event-Cameras?_trksid=p4340.l2563
also, if you have a mixture of lens thread sizes use step up rings to get them to a common thread size so you only have to buy one set of filters. I would recommend 77mm.
Don't forget to buy some new lenscaps.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top