Hi All,

I have a query regarding filters - specifically with Grad, ND, Polarisers.

I was in Lake district during last long weekend shooting waterfalls and waterscapes and i really felt the need of a polariser and grad filter to avoid the glare/reflection on the watersurface and also to get slower shutter speeds. The only filter i use now is the UV filter to protect my much beloved 17-40F4.

I want recomendation regarding these filters as i am sure i will be making use of them the most as my main interest is towards landscapes and macro.

What ND Grad filter to use 2 stop or 4 stop - soft or hard - which make - handholding type of one which fits on a P mount

What Polariser filter - Linear or Circular polariser - again which make and details.

Thanks in advance for all the responses.

Cheers,
Shiva

Hi Shiva,

I always keep a UV filter on my lenses, if for nothing else than to protect the end of the lens.

I have not had any experience with Grad filters, but use a circular polariser regularly. I find it deepens the colour of the sky and enriches the colours, and as you said removes reflection from water etc.

I like the Circ polariser because you can change the amount of effect easily by rotating the end, however depending on your lens the end might move with focusing so your lovely set-up shot get ruined.

Kind Regards

Paul

HI,

Grad filters are very good for adding that touch to a image. So hard Vs Soft. I have several different Cokin Grad filters and use them all the time on landscape shots, to mask the sky mostly. But you can use then for mask say a lake (or sea) if the reflection is to great. But the biggest problem I have had and this is why I am going to buy a “Lee Filter” Pro system is that you want to mask at different angles. The Lee filter holder can double up so you can have one filter at one angle and another at a different angle.

But for filters I am sorry to say that the one you don’t have will be the one that you want on that day. Soft are good when you need to mask say a sky and mountain area as it will not be to harsh on the darker mountains. But you will also need a hard edge grad for the times when the horizon is a straight line (link a sunset shot form a beach).

Basically start with a Coking grad set and see what works for you, they are not much and you will find what is the filter for your type of photography.

Let us know how you get on.

Hi,

If you are looking to slow down the shutter to get the soft water effect you probably want ND filters rather than ND grads.

As Lee mentioned grads are for evening up the exposure in a shot. Think of them as holding back some of the light in the bright areas, but letting it through from the darker areas, to all ow you to set an exposure that captures detail in the whole scene.

How many stops? That depends on the conditions on the day, and the scene you are shooting. If your camera has a spot meter, you can meter from the higlight and shadow areas of the scene, and work out the difference between the two. This is how much ND you need to even up the exposure.

As Lee mentioned soft edged grads are used to mask areas that range from highlight to shadow. Hard edged are used if part of the image is in shadow, or there is a fixed line where the brightness changes abruptly, like the horizon.

Hope this helps