ND filter what is your solution ???

[Justin Raine]

Hi guys,
We're new to shooting on RED and are just assembling our ND set for use with the EPIC-W. I'm surprised to see such low densities recommended. My first thought was to buy a 0.6, 1.2, 1.8, and 2.4. Is that overkill? On a sunny day it seems like a 2.4 would be necessary to shoot f/4 at ISO 800, especially with IPP2. Are 1-stop increments of ND necessary?

Cheers,
Justin

 

[Rakesh Malik]

I went with a higher density set, and it's been working nicely for me. I haven't had to stack filters since the ones I got are so dense, even though my Wine Country holder kit is designed to make stacking filters easy, and I have done it a couple of times during our shoot already.

 

[Karel Šimůnek]

I also have the viv and with the rotateable filter stages you have options. you can get the 4x5.65 linear or circular filter or the 138mm mounted and put it in the retaining ring as long as you're not using the clamp on donuts. I went with a 138mm mounted tru-pol (because you can rotate to any angle without vignetting) and mount in in the retaining ring in the back of the black hole adaptor (or the 143-114mm threaded adaptor with retaining ring).

I had to call my bright tangerine rep but theres a ring in the back that unscrews, you place the 138mm filter in, then screw it back in to mount it.

Thank you Josiah for your info but doesn't it slow things down a bit if you have the polarizer in the donut a you have to unscrew the donut everytime you want to shoot with/without the polarizer?
I have 143-114 donut with retaining ring for 138mm filter ordered as well

 

[Josiah Duncan]

Thank you Josiah for your info but doesn't it slow things down a bit if you have the polarizer in the donut a you have to unscrew the donut everytime you want to shoot with/without the polarizer?
I have 143-114 donut with retaining ring for 138mm filter ordered as well

Short answer yes, it would take longer. In practice it's not too bad, the idea being that you wont be taking it out as much as the other trays I would think. You just have to swing away the matte box to do it. And because it's so large and circular you'll never see the filter tray in the shot (rotated at wide angles). The 4x5.65 would be cheaper and more compatible with other systems, but you can use the 138 if you want to save a filter tray.

 

[Karel Šimůnek]

Short answer yes, it would take longer. In practice it's not too bad, the idea being that you wont be taking it out as much as the other trays I would think. You just have to swing away the matte box to do it. And because it's so large and circular you'll never see the filter tray in the shot (rotated at wide angles). The 4x5.65 would be cheaper and more compatible with other systems, but you can use the 138 if you want to save a filter tray.

I think I'll go with what you suggest. It's a little bit more expensive (Schneider 138mm Tru-Pol 440 EUR in EU) but after what you wrote I think It'll be better to go with that 138mm circular and leave those 3 filter trays for IRND, Grads ND etc.
Thank you sir