Grad ND filter darker than ND8?

[bass_sears]

Hi All,

I am really enjoying using a graduated ND filter, but I find on bright days the ND8 graduated filter I have isn't dark enough. (ND8 = 0.9 density = 3 stops darker).

My question is, should I get another one and try to use two at once (I have a Cokin P style holder that can hold up to three filters at once). Seems to me I might have weird overlap issues or an overly abrupt transition from filtered to unfiltered.

My other question then is has anyone seen a single, darker filter than ND8 / 0.9? Can anyone steer me to where I might buy one?

Thanks in advance.

-- Bass

[JTL]

Hi All,

I am really enjoying using a graduated ND filter, but I find on bright days the ND8 graduated filter I have isn't dark enough. (ND8 = 0.9 density = 3 stops darker).

My question is, should I get another one and try to use two at once (I have a Cokin P style holder that can hold up to three filters at once). Seems to me I might have weird overlap issues or an overly abrupt transition from filtered to unfiltered.

My other question then is has anyone seen a single, darker filter than ND8 / 0.9? Can anyone steer me to where I might buy one?

Thanks in advance.

-- BassSingh-Ray will make any custom filter you want...any density, any calibration, any size...

For example:

http://www.singh-ray.com/grndgrads.html


I also own this amazing filter from Singh-Ray...variable up to 8 stops!!!

http://www.singh-ray.com/varind.html

[TheWengler]

I also own this amazing filter from Singh-Ray...variable up to 8 stops!!!

Does that cause vignetting with wide angle lenses?

Edit: Nevermind, I see they have a wide angle one.

[toriaj]

With some quick searching, I found filters listed as high as 1.2 and 1.8. I think if you used grad filters, you'd probably want to offset the graduated areas, unless they were very soft, or your scene really did have a straight line at the horizon.

I've seen images with several filters used, like this one: http://www.flickr.com/photos/pduv/526540573/ , which was taken with two grad filters and a warming filter.

I'm in your same situation, except my ND grad is only 0.6. I've stacked my polarizer and ND grad with no problems, but I still want to get more filters! I'm sure there could be some trouble with ghosting, lack of image quality, etc., but I still want to try it :D

JTL, that filter looks awesome!

[Razr]

Welder's glass-doubled and cut to fit Cokin "P" holder

[ratherB]

You might want to try a filter that gives variable density/transmittance to light. It's made by using 2 polarizing filters. When you rotate one with respect to the other, you approach 0% light transmittance as the orientation of the 2 polarizers approaches 90 degrees. You can buy a filter like this called a polarizer fader filter from camerafilters.com

http://www.camerafilters.com/pages/linearpolarizer.aspx

ratherB

[toriaj]

Wow, that's really interesting.
You can buy it here for only $38.79: http://www.2filter.com/hoya/hoyapolarizers02.html (bottom of the page)
I've purchased from 2filter.com before, quite satisfactory.

I'd like to learn more about it. If you aligned the 2 polarizers in the same direction, would it have the effect of only 1 polarizer?

[ratherB]

I looked for it at 2filter.com first, but I guess I missed it. Just bought a polarizer from them. Shipped very fast.

Yes. 2 parallel polarizers have the same effect as one, except that because there are 2 polarizers the light is reduced twice as much as one polarizer.

By the way, could you tell me more about the grad ND filter, which I want to buy? There are screw-on filter types with half as a ND filter. Is it difficult to orient them in framing a shot compared to the cokin type sheets that you can move vertically?

[toriaj]

I chose the sheet type on recommendation here. I don't use a filter holder, I just hand-hold it. I like that flexibility, although the first time I used it, I did have some ghosting due to holding it out too far in front of the lens. I can use it as a simple ND filter, because the dark side is large enough to cover the entire lens. I can hold it at a weird angle, and for smaller portions of the image than 50%.

The only time I wish I had a holder is when I want to hand-shield the lens from the sun (if I had a lens hood, I wouldn't even have that problem.)