I'm in the market for a Neutral Density filter, I'd like to be able to take those wonderful blurry water pictures. What strength filter do you have, and do you have an example of the kind of blurriness you achieved with it?
The ND filter won't cause any blurring though, Franziska.
I use a +1 (mainly to protect the lens).
I found it difficult to discern a difference between 0 and 1.
I think Franziska is referring to the blurring of water ... i.e. with long exposure photography
Obviously depends on time of day and brightness of light. Try under moonlight - lets you gett really long exposures = more blurring.
I have a reclollection that a .5 second exposure is needed for that effect, but I've no idea where I get that from. I would imagine that at least a +3 would be required.
If you have time - you can buy sheets of ND gel from lighting equipment suppliers (I mean like stage lighting). Pretty cheap too. You could then experiment by doubling and trebling the stuff up to see what strength you need, and then buy your filter.
If it's bright sunlight @ F16, i'd guess your shutter speed is about 1/60? And typically dpeending on how fast the water falls, you will have to get it under 1/10 seconds, probably around 1/2 to 1/8...
that's about 3-4 stops lower than @ 1/60 seconds, so you'll need at least a 3 stop filter or they're named ND.9 usually.
However, most waterfalls are in the SHADE, and thus you really don't need them..... and you can choose the time of day to photograph if it's in bright sunlight.
Also, don't stack the filters -- it not only can cause vignetting but it will affect image quality. This is usually a problem in bright sunlight where you would want a polarizer to reduce reflection in the streams but it only cuts about 1.5 stops.... adding a nd filter could affect image quality as you're now stacking them together.
Good suggestions, thanks everyone. I will try and see if I can buy the gelfilters and experiment, otherwise I think I might just go for a ND0.6 or 0.9.
Good suggestions, thanks everyone. I will try and see if I can buy the gelfilters and experiment, otherwise I think I might just go for a ND0.6 or 0.9.
I'll post photos when I have some results :)
Keep in mind that you can use the ND filter for studio shots also. As I did here and here.
