I want to buy a graduated neutral density for my DSLR.?

Question

I am new to filters and polarizers and have a question or two about them.

Can I buy a grad.neutral density filter that just screws onto the threads of the lense? Or do I have to buy the filter strips and then adapters to shoot with them?

If there are circular grad. ND filters rings that mount directley to the lense what brand Grad ND filter would you recomend?

Plus, Are all the threads on these lenses for adapting filters the same? I realize there diamaters are different but Iam refering to the threads for attaching the filters or Uv protectors to them. Thanxs!

Answer 1

Firstly, you most likely don't need a grad filter. Unless of course you don't want to mess around with Photoshop. But seriously, a DSLR has a huge enough dynamic range to adjust later on in Photoshop to get the gradiant you need.

I do recommend a circular polarizer though. This is the one filter that can't be replaced with Photoshop.

Yes, you can get these filters so they screw onto the lens and yes, there are adaptors to screw the same filter onto different sized lenses.

UV filters do nothing for DSLR's because they are unaffected by UV. UV filters are only good for film cameras. As you may be thinking of using a UV filter anyway just to protect the lens, all you are doing is creating yet another surface to introduce more lens flare. Unless you are planning on throwing stones at your lens, there is no reason you need a filter to protect it. I've never used a filter to protect my lenses and they are still perfect.

Answer 2

Unless you are planning on keeping your lenses indoors in a pollution-free environment I must disagree with Mason about the value of a UV filter for lens protection. Out in the real world where there are people and dirt and pollution your lens needs protection. A quality UV filter - Hoya, B+W, Tiffen - will not degrade your image quality.

Many years ago a UV filter saved my brand new 85mm f1.7 lens from permanent damage. While shooting at a festival a child with sticky fingers touched the filter. The resulting mess (a mixture of cola and cotton candy)resulted in replacing a $15 filter instead of a $400 lens. Fortunately I had a spare filter and continued shooting.

The only lens I own that faces the world naked is my 16mm full-frame fisheye. You'd better believe I'm extremely careful with it.

If you're thinking about using one filter on different lenses with different filter sizes, just remember that you want to step-up. In other words, buy the polarizer for your largest diameter (perhaps 72mm) and then use step-up rings. 55mm to 72mm or 62mm to 72mm. The only time you may have a problem is when you're using the step-up ring on an extreme wide-angle lens - you may get vignetting (darkening of the corners of your image). Never use step-down rings due to vignetting.

Answer 3

They make filters that are threaded to mount to the filter attachment threads of your lens, and they make square filters that require a holder, and are commonly referred to as "slot type" filters. In my experience, slot mounted ND grad filters are better suited to a wider variety of situations than thread mounted filters only because you have the option to vary the horizon line. There are a variety of manufacturers from Lee to cokin, some more expensive than others and often come in kits with different strengths, or stops from .3, .6., and, .9. I would recommend you get several depending on how many stops you'll need. Lee filters are the best, I'm told, but I use cokin. Personally, I don't have $300 for a Lee set. You can buy a cokin 3 filter set, a holder, and step ring adapter (for your lens' filter threads) for under $50 at wolfcamera. It works fine for me with minimal aberrations, what distortion I do get if any can be corrected in photoshop. But I usually don't get any.

Answer 4

I didn't use Graduated Neutral and Polarizing Filter for taking photos, it could be able to get a Dark Blue Sky, I used Aperutre at f/22,Shutter speed at 1/250 and ISO 200 film speed for outdoor photography which on a sunny day ,it given best result, you must try it now.