advice buying variable ND filter

[Alex Sandman]

Hey people. Any advice on Vari ND filters? I will be doing some run n' gun stuff on the Epic-W with Sigma Art primes and won't have the ability or time to use a matte box or switch out filters. Looking at the Genustech Eclipse and Tiffen. Would love a Motion Mount but I have read there are unresolved compatibility problems with Epic-W.Thanks!

 

[Alex Sandman]

after doing some research i will not be using vari ND. best screw on ND (not variable)?

 

[Gene Sung]

A few years ago, I was bored one day and I went to 5 different camera houses in LA and tried almost everyone Variable ND. They all have a green cast and the only ones that did not soften the image were Heliopan and Kenko, but they still had green cast.

I personally avoid Variable ND unless it's absolutely necessary. When shooting my Red using still lenses like Sigma, I use the XUME magnetic filter system is simply FANTASTIC. Save you so much time. Not as fast as variable, but a lot faster than using a Matte box or screwing on filters. Get it in the 77mm filter size and for each lens. Costs about $300 for 8 or 9 lenses but totally worth every penny. Magnets!

Also, for screw on NDs, the mid-priced Hoyas are quite good. They no color cast and I've compared them to the cheaper Tiffins which have a green cast. I've heard good things about the White Water Tiffins, but they cost about the same as Hoya and I had a few of those already so I stuck with them.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6HvQOozNg8

 

[Mike P.]

Hey gene, we're any of those IR variable NDs? I haven't had noticeable green cast with even cheapy varibles, but definitely get a softening of the image and IR pollution (purple/reddish) at stronger strengths.

 

[Gene Sung]

Hey gene, we're any of those IR variable NDs? I haven't had noticeable green cast with even cheapy varibles, but definitely get a softening of the image and IR pollution (purple/reddish) at stronger strengths.

Hi Mike, I don't believe any of them were IR Variable NDs. Do they even make those? When you use a good quality ND filter side by side with almost any Variable ND filter, you notice the green cast right away. I noticed it on every variable ND I tested that day (Tiffen, Hoya, Kenko, Heliopan, Light Craft Workshop and a few others).

I've heard the Genus Eclipse is quite good from Frank Glencairn as it has a warm cast instead of green.

But yeah, I try my best to avoid Variable NDs unless desperate. I really miss the internal NDs on my FS7. I wish Red would somehow add internal NDs.

 

[Alex Sandman]

Thanks for the info Gene! I checked out the Xume adapters and they look great. Just ordered a couple sets to try out. Really hoping red fixes the Motion Mount problem with Helium - that seems like the perfect solution.