ND Filters

[XKjimmy]

Hi all,

I quite want to start to try and start doing some long exposures in day light. I've seen that ND filters are needed for this, just wondering if anyone can recommend some good ones, so farm Tiffen and Hoya seem to look good.
They are are for a 77mm fitment,

I Have found these that have caught my interest

http://www.warehouseexpress.com/buy-Tiffen-77mm-Va...

This kit more so.
http://www.warehouseexpress.com/buy-tiffen-77mm-nd...

Many thanks in advance

James,

Edited to add examples.

Edited by XKjimmy on Wednesday 9th November 03:09

[AndWhyNot]

Those both seem pricey in direct comparison to hitech (no link sorry) which has been mentioned in a positive context on here recently and costs c£80. LEE are more expensive (than hitech) and excellent as are B+W but [understatement]there can be supply difficulties[/understatement].

With the pack of three Tiffen filters you'd have some versatility but you'd only be able to use one at a time on a ultra-wide angle lens without monstrous vignetting.

If it's something brand new to you, have you thought about spending <£5 on some welding glass just to play with the technique before forking out your hard-earned? Some great examples in the welding glass thread.

[Speed addicted]

I'd agree with trying welding glass first, it's a bit rough and ready but will let you know if you like the effect before dropping £100+ on filters and holders.
I bodged mine into a cokin holder and groud off the first slot so I could use the 10-20 without seeing the holder in the widest shots.
Total cost was around £12.
You do have to either convert to black and white or adjust the coulor away from bright green though!

[PGD5]

Yeah my welding glass was 40p, so it makes for a good test. I'm not keen on the heavy green tint you get with it and cant quite get rid of but hey, it was 40p. I simply blue-tac'd it onto the front of an older UV filter too, no expence spared here

[markmullen]

AndWhyNot said:

Those both seem pricey in direct comparison to hitech (no link sorry) which has been mentioned in a positive context on here recently and costs c£80. LEE are more expensive (than hitech) and excellent as are B+W but [understatement]there can be supply difficulties[/understatement].

I've got the new Hitech Pro Stop which now has a gasket like the Big Stopper (which I've got on backorder), a vast improvement on the old one which used to get light leaks which ended up looking like flare spots and made it next to unusable. The new one is very good, still a blue cast but nothing unworkable.

[XKjimmy]

Thanks for the replies guys. The welding glass idea is great too, I shall get hold of some and have an experiment.
Some great photos in that thread too!

[craikeybaby]

My first comment would be to stay clear of the variable ND filters, I've only heard bad things.

I have got both screw in filters and Lee filters (screw in bought first) screw in ones are great if all your lenses have the same filter thread, but step up rings can be used to get around that. 7dayshop do some cheap screw in ND filters, which I haven't had any problems with.

If you think you will ever want a set of graduated filters, just go straight to square filters in a holder, it saves you having to buy things twice.