ND Graduated Filter Solutions? at DVinfo.net

Dave Allen · November 29th, 2010, 01:15 AM

For prosumer style 3 chip videocams shooting in very bright sunny conditions with huge amounts of contrast, do you all prefer a circular graduated ND filter that is screw on, or do you prefer the type that slides into a rectangular lens shade/filter holder?

Brian Drysdale · November 29th, 2010, 03:32 AM

A rectangular grad has the advantage that you can position the graduation precisely either vertically or horizontally in the frame as well as the angle. Only being able to rotate the filter is rather limiting.

Gareth Watkins · November 29th, 2010, 03:48 AM

Hi
Screw on filters have always annoyed me, you need to get a new one for each lens or camera. You can't easily stack them without vignetting, and they are a pain to fit with the lens hood.
Also if you get a good quality filter.. Tiffen, Schneider etc then it makes sense to get a square filter you can use with any camera, with a mattebox. You can get reasonable quality matteboxes relatively cheaply ie. Formatt, TLS, Genus, Cokin...(I have the TLS Kestrel and works just fine with upto 2 filters.)

These filters if looked after last for ever and certainly longer than the camera. As most cameras have differing diameter lens threads, by simply changing the adapter ring for your mattebox you can fit to a new carmera...

I like filters to control the light entering the camera, it aids with post production and gives a nice feel to the shots.

cheers
Gareth

Dave Allen · December 1st, 2010, 09:39 AM

I will have to start looking for those matte box/filter holders....

November 29th, 2010, 01:15 AM	#1
Dave Allen Major Player Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Boston Posts: 497	ND Graduated Filter Solutions? For prosumer style 3 chip videocams shooting in very bright sunny conditions with huge amounts of contrast, do you all prefer a circular graduated ND filter that is screw on, or do you prefer the type that slides into a rectangular lens shade/filter holder? __________________ Dave -

November 29th, 2010, 03:48 AM	#3
Gareth Watkins Major Player Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: France Posts: 578	Hi Screw on filters have always annoyed me, you need to get a new one for each lens or camera. You can't easily stack them without vignetting, and they are a pain to fit with the lens hood. Also if you get a good quality filter.. Tiffen, Schneider etc then it makes sense to get a square filter you can use with any camera, with a mattebox. You can get reasonable quality matteboxes relatively cheaply ie. Formatt, TLS, Genus, Cokin...(I have the TLS Kestrel and works just fine with upto 2 filters.) These filters if looked after last for ever and certainly longer than the camera. As most cameras have differing diameter lens threads, by simply changing the adapter ring for your mattebox you can fit to a new carmera... I like filters to control the light entering the camera, it aids with post production and gives a nice feel to the shots. cheers Gareth __________________ www.gwenllyn.com

December 1st, 2010, 09:39 AM	#4
Dave Allen Major Player Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Boston Posts: 497	I will have to start looking for those matte box/filter holders.... __________________ Dave -

November 29th, 2010, 03:32 AM	#2
Brian Drysdale Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Belfast, UK Posts: 6,143	A rectangular grad has the advantage that you can position the graduation precisely either vertically or horizontally in the frame as well as the angle. Only being able to rotate the filter is rather limiting.