ND filter on G9... gimmick?

[catkit]

Thanks Neil, really beautiful images you have there. Could the same effect be achieved with a long shutter speed or is that effect something than can only be achieved with a filter?

cat

 

[jackkurtz]

I've never used a ND filter, not even on my dSLR bodies. But the purpose of the ND filter is to reduce the light striking the sensor by one or two stops. That allows you more flexibility to control f-stop and shutter speeds which can be useful, especially for landscapes. It's not a gimmick, but it's not something I look for either.

jack

--
A few of my photos:
http://web.mac.com/kurtzjack/ or
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[jerryk]

Thanks Neil, really beautiful images you have there. Could the same
effect be achieved with a long shutter speed or is that effect
something than can only be achieved with a filter?

cat

No Neil, but that was achieved with a long exposure time . The problem is without a ND filter you cannot get the exposure time long enough because there is too much light. The ND filter removes 3 stops worth of light, so you can increase the exposure time 3 stop, say from 1/8 second to 1 second.

--
jerryk.smugmug.com

 

[Mike Davis]

Hi Gena,

I have used very often the ND filter in my G5, specially for
mountains/landscapes with a tripod you can use lower shutter speeds
and it gives a more depth of field.

Could you please explain why you need a lower shutter speed for
mountains?
How does it give a more depth of field?

You're right. ND filters can not possibly affect DoF.

All sorts of amazing misunderstandings abound regarding ND filters. There's an article at MyCanonG7.com where the author, Siegfried Seierlein, claims that the built-in ND filter increases the "dynamic range" of the sensor.

Quote: "When you apply the build in ND filter of the G7 then you will get the feeling the dynamic range of the sensor has increased."

Source: http://www.mycanong7.com/25701/273101.html

I can cut him a little bit of slack for saying "you will get the feeling" but if you read the surrounding paragraph and the ones that immediately preceed the quoted sentance, you have to ask yourself: Why is he even talking about situations where the luminance range of the scene can exceed the sensor's range? This article is about the G7's built-in ND filter - which has NO ability to compress the luminance range of a scene. Arrrgh! (And he's got a book for sale! Run!)

Mike Davis
http://www.accessz.com

 

[Ian Steven]

I have used the ND filter on my G6 in the Swiss mountains in the
winter on very sunny days. The snowy alps were much more visible with
the filter on.
Teri

The camera will meter the same whether the filter is on or off. The aperture and/or shutter speed will be different, but the scene will be the same. It's just like putting a real ND filter on. The idea is it will not affect the scene at all except for the light allowed through, hence the name, neutral density. Your scene of the alps must have been different for another reason.

 

[TeriF]

Thank you for the quick lesson. I don't know then what I did differently the last time I took pictures of the mountains, they were better than before, I thought it was because of the ND filter. We'll go back on Christmas...time for more practise.
Teri
--
http://www.pbase.com/terif

 

[Gena]

You don't need a longer exposure for landscape. You also don't need a wide aperture for landscape. You do want to use the lowest ISO to reduce the noise. So how's the ND filter going to help when its purpose is to reduce the light to the sensor so it works AGAINST these needs.

 

[jackkurtz]

For folks who want very slow shutter speeds and shallow DoF to isolate subjects, like a single leaf, or get that silky flowing water look.

jack
--
A few of my photos:
http://web.mac.com/kurtzjack/ or
http://www.sportsshooter.com/members.html?id=4177

 

[Gena]

Ok, so now single leaf is landscape. Oh, boy.

For folks who want very slow shutter speeds and shallow DoF to
isolate subjects, like a single leaf, or get that silky flowing water
look.

jack
--
A few of my photos:
http://web.mac.com/kurtzjack/ or
http://www.sportsshooter.com/members.html?id=4177

 

[Steve930]

Peter, here is something you can do with an ND filter, which can allow you to leave the shutter open for longer for special effects. Granted, this was a real filter on a dSLR, not the software one on the G9, but I don't see why you couldn't do the same sort of thing, as long as you have a tripod or some way to keep the camera still.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/55439572@N00/1457725913/

--
'To see the world in a grain of sand...'

 

[Abana]

You're right. ND filters can not possibly affect DoF.

My understanding is that they do allow you to limit the depth of field by limiting the light reaching the sensor, thereby allowing you to use a wider aperture to obtain a shallower DOF. Is this not correct?

abana

 

[Steve930]

Nice examples. I like them all, and #1 especially.
--
'To see the world in a grain of sand...'

 

[mpanoff]

i sometimes "need" a long exposure for landscapes. sometime I can't stop down the lens enough, sometimes I want to show motion blur.. sometimes I'm not even doing landscapes, but it's really bright out.. and I want to add some DOF blur with a wide aperture, yet use a slower shutter speed.... I could go on-and-on, there are far too many creative combinations. Remember there is one proper exposure, and many CREATIVE ways of setting up your camera to accomplish this.

 

[jackkurtz]

A couple of things here: 1) that was an example, anytime you want to isolate a subject with shallow DoF you could use the ND filter. and 2) the original poster was looking for useful examples. that's one.

jack
--
A few of my photos:
http://web.mac.com/kurtzjack/ or
http://www.sportsshooter.com/members.html?id=4177

 

[Mike Davis]

Hi Albana,

You're right. ND filters can not possibly affect DoF.

My understanding is that they do allow you to limit the depth of
field by limiting the light reaching the sensor, thereby allowing you
to use a wider aperture to obtain a shallower DOF. Is this not
correct?

Yes, but your argument does not invalidate the statement you've quoted.

ND filters do NOT impact the DoF of an image. If you mount an ND filter the DoF of the image will neither increase, as HondaCRV claimed, nor decrease.

ND filters only reduce the amount of light entering the lens. You can compensate the reduced exposure by increasing your camera's ISO setting, by slowing the shutter speed, or by widening the aperture, as you've suggested.

Mounting an ND filter will not change the DoF.
Increasing the ISO setting will not change the DoF.
Reducing the shutter speed will not change the DoF.

Widening the aperture, as you've suggested, WILL reduce the DoF.

Mike Davis

---
http://www.accessz.com