Need advice on graduated neutral density filter

I will soon be going to Yosemite National Park and can't wait. I have read multiple places that a graduated neutral density filter would be a good idea. I have never used one and have never really been much for filters.

It seems to me that such a filter that screwed onto the lens like most other filters would be less helpful than one that you can slide back and fort or up and down so that you could place the transition part of the filter where you want it. Also it seems like it would have to rotate (either the filter or the bracket that holds it) much like a plolorizing filter.

I would appreciate remarks on the above as well as brand name recomendations.

My trip isn't until the end of May, but I do want to have some time to practice with the filter before I go ... so I have some time, but not forever.

Comments please.

TIA
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Two places I'd rather be ... on the road with my kit and my lady, or in my favorite store trying to satisfy my LBA.

I've never used GND filters, but I have used ND filters and can highly recommend Hitech filters from Formatt http://www.formatt.co.uk/stills-filters/products.aspx

They offer them individually as well as in kits in both hard and soft transitions. These are from the UK and you will pay a premium, but I highly recommend the brand and the seller. I have no affiliation with the brand or company. If you e-mail them, they will even make a recommendation. I would go with a larger size that you can hold in front of the lens instead of relying on a holder, but that is just my opinion.
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'I help people see the little things in life that they miss when they are looking at the big picture.'

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i copied this from an earlier post:

i ordered a
B&H # HIGND.9SCP
85mm Graduated Neutral Density (ND) 0.9 Resin Filter - Soft (HiTech or HiTek)

it does not come with one of those hard cases you might get with a Cokin filter. it came in a tight fitting little plastic pouch that closes with a flap that tucks into a belt/strap. i think it is fine.

i had read this filter might not fit in the Cokin P holder. some people filed the width of the resin filter to adjust the fit. well, i found that it did fit my P holder. i ordered in late November and have no clue if width varies by production runs.

i had read good things about the HiTech filter. also, it is a little bit taller than a Cokin brand. i thought this might be good and ensure full coverage of any wide angle lenses i get in the future. i can slide it up to almost not ND shading at the top and still have bottom of lens covered. also, if you like to use the filter by holding it up (w/o P holder) in front of the lens, you have more room for finger-gripping.

i have held the filter in front of the lens or, when consistency between shots is necessary, have used a holder.

if the longer filter graduates from none to all in the same distance (on the filter) as the shorter Cokin, i figure this is a good thing to have the longer filter. however, if the graduation is more spread out because of the the longer filter... this might not be good. on either less-wide-angle lenses or lenses with small filter diameter, you may never have zero ND effect on some part of the lens. if this makes any sense... as far as this paragraph goes, i don't have anything to compare to as this is my first graduated ND... so, mostly wondering if anyone has any comments about the width of transition between all-or-none and how that might vary by filter brand.

Bill Beckett said:

I will soon be going to Yosemite National Park and can't wait. I have read multiple places that a graduated neutral density filter would be a good idea. I have never used one and have never really been much for filters.

It seems to me that such a filter that screwed onto the lens like most other filters would be less helpful than one that you can slide back and fort or up and down so that you could place the transition part of the filter where you want it. Also it seems like it would have to rotate (either the filter or the bracket that holds it) much like a plolorizing filter.

I would appreciate remarks on the above as well as brand name recomendations.

My trip isn't until the end of May, but I do want to have some time to practice with the filter before I go ... so I have some time, but not forever.

Comments please.

TIA
--

Two places I'd rather be ... on the road with my kit and my lady, or in my favorite store trying to satisfy my LBA.

Click to expand...

I've been looking into a Grad ND filter as well. Still debating if I really need one. I have a screw-in 49mm Cokin Chromafilter G2 (hard step) which came with a recent purchase but, have yet to use it due to weather.

Realistically if I were to buy a Grad ND I wouldn't go cheap. From what I have read 0.6 grads are the most used as 0.3 can be too weak and 0.9 can be a bit harsh. Heliopan, Singh-Ray or Cokin are all good names.

Here is a really quick eg from my window with the 49mm Cokin Chromafilter G2 (hard step). The view here is perfect for a hard step as the lower half is dark and the upper half is light. Not the best but at least it gives you an idea of the result.

no filter:



with filter:



--
K-x
http://www.pbase.com/ajuett/kx

'A single photo speaks 1000 words and is timeless. A video needs 1000 frames just to show 30 seconds of time.' - Andrew Juett

These threads may help:

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1036&message=25266491&q=nd+grads+Lance+B&qf=m

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1036&message=22765077&q=nd+grads+Lance+B&qf=m
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Lance B
http://www.pbase.com/lance_b

I have a B+W grad filter and have almost never used it. I find it much easier to 3-5 bracket shots and then quick mask/ grad filter it in Photoshop later.

Grad Filters with hard stops can be difficult to use in the field and the often times i find myself spending too much time setting up the shot to fit the limitations of the filter when i could have just bracketed and fixed later.

anyways thats my opinion i've only ever shot digital and have always used PS, so my workflow might be different than other users. anyways just my 2cents, some people like to get the shot right at the exact moment, and other people like me, shoot as many shots as possible then PS them later.

Either way its fun to experiment with filters in the field and then figure out what style suits you best, at the end of the day you need to find the best 'field work flow system' for you.

If your lenses are longer than 12mm I recommend the Cokin P filter system with Hitech ND filters.
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http://www.pentaxphotogallery.com/home#section=ARTIST&subSection=2323984&subSubSection=0&language=EN

K10D, K-7
Pentax Primes: DA21/3.2, FA*24/2, F28/2.8, FA35/2, FA43/1.9, FA77/1.8, F135/2.8
Sigma Zooms: Sigma 10-20, Sigma 100-300 F4

'Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming... 'Wow! What a ride!'

I used a screw-on graduated Neutral Density Tiffen filter in this photo to insure that I got plenty of color and definition in the sky and to bring the exposure more in balance with the foreground. The flat graduated Neutral Density filters give you more control, and are great if you have a sturdy tripod and the time to setup your shot. I find that hand holding the filter in front of the lens and moving it up and down as you release the shutter gives a softer blend, hiding the teltale darkening effect of the filter better.



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My Frugal Photography Adventure http://stylepeterson.com

I have the hi-tech grad filters in both the hard and soft edge. Purchased them here: http://www.teamworkphoto.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=78_767_277&products_id=10289

These filters fit the cokin P holder, Teamwork photo shipped very quickly and the price is good for these three filter kits.
--
Cheers Chris

Growing old is inevitable.
Growing up is optional !

Please visit my gallery at: http://www.pbase.com/chris_t2

mgerpe said:

I find it much easier to 3-5 bracket shots and then quick mask/ grad filter it in Photoshop later.

Click to expand...

Along this line, do you think the k-x's HDR feature would accomplish the same thing?

it would accomplish a bit of the same thing...
i think

i haven't used the HDR feature of the camera (don't own one), but i have fooled around a bit with blended images. i guess what i do isn't real HDR; it is more to extend dynamic range.

i think you would have more latitude to make adjustments if you took separate shots to combine later. but, the device built into the camera is convenient and posts here shows it does work.

math guy said:

mgerpe said:

I find it much easier to 3-5 bracket shots and then quick mask/ grad filter it in Photoshop later.

Click to expand...

Along this line, do you think the k-x's HDR feature would accomplish the same thing?

Click to expand...

Tan68 said:

math guy said:

Along this line, do you think the k-x's HDR feature would accomplish the same thing?

Click to expand...

it would accomplish a bit of the same thing...
i think

i haven't used the HDR feature of the camera (don't own one), but i have fooled around a bit with blended images. i guess what i do isn't real HDR; it is more to extend dynamic range.

Click to expand...

Is there a hard definition of HDR? I just think of it as combining multiple exposures to get one image which maximizes the accurately-exposed area. So I would say that what you described is HDR, but I'm no expert.

Tan68 said:

i think you would have more latitude to make adjustments if you took separate shots to combine later. but, the device built into the camera is convenient and posts here shows it does work.

Click to expand...

I have a graduated ND that I used to use with my old Minolta SLR, but it's the wrong size for my new lenses. So before I spend money on a new one, I think I'll try the HDR idea to see how it works.. or your suggestion of three separate shots to work on later. As infrequently as I found myself needing the graduated ND (not nearly as often as I use my regular ND), this may be a more practical solution.