Any thoughts on a COLOR GRADUATED ND FILTER?

[Anex]

I read on a site, http://dpfwiw.com/filters.htm#gnd, that UV filters seldom make much of a difference on digital cameras or at least not enough to compensate for the possibility of add glar (I think I'm semi quoting that right). Instead, this particular article recommended a COLOR GRADUATED ND FILTER.

Do any of you have any experience with such a filter? If so, care to comment?

[Anex]

** bump **

[genece]

IMHO

I do not believe a ND filter of any type should be used as protection.
They are great for what the are intended, but they block light and for all around use especially indoors that is not good. UV filters do not block UV light or remove haze on Digital cameras but they do protect the lens.
If you want one for protection make sure it is "multi coated" that will help with the glare as will a lens hood.
ND filters help to keep highlights from blowing out, and a good graduated ND filter is expensive.
Maybe I misunderstood your question.

[Anex]

Actually that's exactly the info I was looking for Genece, thanks. Now I know I don't need to spend big $ on a haze UV filter when I can get a slightly cheaper one...being that it's really just for lens protection. That said, I will still get the multi coated one as per your recommendation and that of FZ20Knowitall.

Thanks again.

[pwiles1968]

The Word Colour Graduated ND Filter is an Oxymoron, ND is Neutral which means no colour, you can have one or the other.

A colour graduated filter is used to change the colour of something like sky, this can be done really easily in Photoshop or similar.

A graduated ND Filters are used in film Photography to darken bright sky or similar so you can get better exposure balance between sky and foreground.

When Taking digital Photos there is another way, I have not tried but what you can do is set the camera to Bracket mode, take the three photos (you will need a tripod) You can then overlay the two best photos in Photoshop one with best sky and one with the best foreground and blend them so that you see the best of both (or any subject with high contrast). I have read of packages that will do this automatically given 2 or 3 photos with different exposures. (don’t ask the name I cant remember).

I am by no means an expert I have been fiddling with photography for many years and have read quite a few books and magazines.