Fader ND filters - Any recommendations?

Victor Nguyen · October 10th, 2012, 10:33 AM

I have the light craft workshop and really don't like how it degrade the image. Anybody use Tiffen here and can comment on them?

Iker Riera · October 27th, 2012, 10:41 AM

I've been using the Fader ND Mk II for a while and recently started using the newer Digi Pro-HD version.

Built quality is better and it's overall easier to handle. It still gets a bit soft when on telephoto lenses but more common focal lengths it should work great.

Here's a review we did of it recently (Click CC for English subtitles)

Trevor Dennis · October 27th, 2012, 03:46 PM

I bought a Fader ND way back because I baulked at the asking price for the Shing Ray. It is garbage at anything past its half way setting, causing uneven vigetting, and a pronounced, but also uneven colour cast. I never ever use it, but my concience won't let me pass on such a lemon to anyone else.

So I now use Formatt Hitech 100mm resin filters, but besides a set of three GNDs, I only have the eight stop ND with gaskit, and it works flawlessly. To look through it is like a welding mask, but its effect is completely even across the frame, and there is no noticable colour cast.

Alastair Traill · November 2nd, 2012, 10:59 PM

Below are two pictures, the first was taken through a Fotga “Slim wide band FADER ND design for digital camera” variable density filter and the other through a Hoya UV(0) filter that I use as a lens protector. The Fotga is about $20 au including postage.

To eliminate camera movement as far as possible the Nikon D300 was tripod mounted and used in mirror up mode. The lens used was a 300 mm f4 Nikkor and the camera was set in aperture priority mode (f 5.6). The camera set the exposure that varied over an 8 fold range.

I used the full range of Fotga settings and the results were all very similar, i.e. no better or no worse anywhere over the full range.

Apart from the results l Iike everything else about the Fotga. I would be interested in seeing the results from more upmarket filters.

http://www.dvinfo.net/forum/images/a...attach/jpg.gif

Tim Polster · November 5th, 2012, 10:21 AM

I purchased a bunch of these filters and tested them on a GH2. The overall winner for me was the Fader HD. It is their most expensive and is made for video use. It has a two stop difference over the Heliopan.

Ted Ramasola · November 5th, 2012, 08:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alastair Traill

The lens used was a 300 mm f4 Nikkor and the camera was set in aperture priority mode (f 5.6). The camera set the exposure that varied over an 8 fold range.

I used the full range of Fotga settings and the results were all very similar, i.e. no better or no worse anywhere over the full range.

Apart from the results l Iike everything else about the Fotga. I would be interested in seeing the results from more upmarket filters.

Though I my tests were with a DIY vari-nd, it shows the same results as your's with a long lens, mine was a nikkor 80-200 f2.8.
HOWEVER, I found out that mated with the "right" lens, the filter can be consistently sharp at all apertures. In my case a 50mm f1.4 is sharp with the a vari-nd at all apertures and at different filter power settings.

For those interested here are the tests with color and resolution charts. And for those interested, how to DIY it.

Alastair Traill · November 5th, 2012, 09:58 PM

Hi Ted,

I wonder why the longer focal lengths are so adversely affected? Does this happen with the up market versions?

Ted Ramasola · November 5th, 2012, 11:26 PM

Hi Alastair,

I recalled back I saw a shootout done with some brands, if my memory serves me right, they compared the Singh ray and LCW and it showed loss of sharpness with long lenses. I just can't recall which. The heliopan apparently is sharp and useful with several lens types. I have no personal experience with that so maybe someone who tried it can chime in.

On a side note, I use the mosaic VAF-5D2, and it does the opposite! The longer focal lengths are ok but on the wide end its picky with certain models.

October 10th, 2012, 10:33 AM	#46
Victor Nguyen Major Player Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Houston,Texas Posts: 289	Re: Fader ND filters - Any recommendations? I have the light craft workshop and really don't like how it degrade the image. Anybody use Tiffen here and can comment on them?

October 27th, 2012, 10:41 AM	#47
Iker Riera Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Caracas, Venezuela Posts: 164	Re: Fader ND filters - Any recommendations? I've been using the Fader ND Mk II for a while and recently started using the newer Digi Pro-HD version. Built quality is better and it's overall easier to handle. It still gets a bit soft when on telephoto lenses but more common focal lengths it should work great. Here's a review we did of it recently (Click CC for English subtitles) Yardbless Pro Shooter - LCW Fader ND Digi Pro-HD Review - YouTube

October 27th, 2012, 03:46 PM	#48
Trevor Dennis Major Player Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: New Zealand, Rapaura (near Blenheim) Posts: 434	Re: Fader ND filters - Any recommendations? I bought a Fader ND way back because I baulked at the asking price for the Shing Ray. It is garbage at anything past its half way setting, causing uneven vigetting, and a pronounced, but also uneven colour cast. I never ever use it, but my concience won't let me pass on such a lemon to anyone else. So I now use Formatt Hitech 100mm resin filters, but besides a set of three GNDs, I only have the eight stop ND with gaskit, and it works flawlessly. To look through it is like a welding mask, but its effect is completely even across the frame, and there is no noticable colour cast. __________________ Stills at: www.flickr.com/photos/trevor-dennis/

November 2nd, 2012, 10:59 PM	#49
Alastair Traill Major Player Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Melbourne Australia Posts: 626	Re: Fader ND filters - Any recommendations? Below are two pictures, the first was taken through a Fotga “Slim wide band FADER ND design for digital camera” variable density filter and the other through a Hoya UV(0) filter that I use as a lens protector. The Fotga is about $20 au including postage. To eliminate camera movement as far as possible the Nikon D300 was tripod mounted and used in mirror up mode. The lens used was a 300 mm f4 Nikkor and the camera was set in aperture priority mode (f 5.6). The camera set the exposure that varied over an 8 fold range. I used the full range of Fotga settings and the results were all very similar, i.e. no better or no worse anywhere over the full range. Apart from the results l Iike everything else about the Fotga. I would be interested in seeing the results from more upmarket filters. http://www.dvinfo.net/forum/images/a...attach/jpg.gif Attached Thumbnails

November 5th, 2012, 10:21 AM	#50
Tim Polster Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Arlington, TX Posts: 2,231	Re: Fader ND filters - Any recommendations? I purchased a bunch of these filters and tested them on a GH2. The overall winner for me was the Fader HD. It is their most expensive and is made for video use. It has a two stop difference over the Heliopan.

November 5th, 2012, 09:58 PM	#52
Alastair Traill Major Player Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Melbourne Australia Posts: 626	Re: Fader ND filters - Any recommendations? Hi Ted, I wonder why the longer focal lengths are so adversely affected? Does this happen with the up market versions?

November 5th, 2012, 11:26 PM	#53
Ted Ramasola Trustee Join Date: May 2005 Location: Allen, Texas U.S.A Posts: 1,117	Re: Fader ND filters - Any recommendations? Hi Alastair, I recalled back I saw a shootout done with some brands, if my memory serves me right, they compared the Singh ray and LCW and it showed loss of sharpness with long lenses. I just can't recall which. The heliopan apparently is sharp and useful with several lens types. I have no personal experience with that so maybe someone who tried it can chime in. On a side note, I use the mosaic VAF-5D2, and it does the opposite! The longer focal lengths are ok but on the wide end its picky with certain models. __________________ Ted Ramasola http://ramasolaproductions.com