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What ND Filters Do I Need?


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Well, I don't have experience shooting desert landscapes but, after two or three martinis I'll believe I'm an expert :D I'll suggest my pragmatic approach based on shooting snow landscapes up north here above the 49th.

 

I have two in my kit; a 0.9 or ND8 (3 stop) and a 1.8 / ND64 (6 stop). Based on the scene, I can use the 3 or the 6 or combine the two for a 9 stop ND.

 

I'd advise not going cheap when purchasing ND filters. You'll find much less colour/color cast with good quality B+W or Hoya screw on filters or Lee slide in filters.

 

Bonus suggestion... check out the PlayMemories Sky HDR App. It and the Smooth Reflection App have meant a lot less use of my ND filters.

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I do a lot of desert landscapes in very hot and bright weather

and of course I can not stop down the A7 enough. What range

of ND filters is recommended?

  

This defies logic .... and physics.  

    

The daylight exposure for ISO100 is f/16@1/100sec. 

   

That leaves 5 more stops, via shutter speed, to deal 

with brighter subject colors and unusually bright sun.   

   

IOW f/16@1/4000 is 2 [or 3] stops underexposed for 

an exceptionally bright subject on a very bright day. 

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Thinking of getting 55mm (of course) HOYA variable

neutral density 1.5 to 9. $66.

 

Any thoughts before I do.

 

Thanks

   

I've already doubted the need for any ND at all, 

but since you intend to apply some, and asked 

for "Any thoughts", here's one: Initially, just get 

a polarizer. It could come in handy to cut thru 

glare and enrich desert colors, and it will also 

serve as a 1.5 or 2 stop ND.   

   

If you get an additional polarizer you can use 

the pair as a variable ND. Depending on your 

lens's angle of view, and clearance of its filter 

threads, planning for the option of mounting 

the pair on that lens could indicate buying an

oversized polarizer in the first place. $66 will

cover the cost of both polarizers. Or at least it

will cover most of that, and if it costs a bit over 

$66, you do get a benefit from the pair, in that 

you can still use half the pair as polarizer. You 

don't have that option with a variable ND. 

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Thinking of getting 55mm (of course)

 

(of course)... not sure I understand. Are you only ever planning on using this filter on lenses with 55mm thread diameter? I know you've been inquiring about different legacy glass. I suggest trying to maximize filter usability by buying the largest diameter filter you can afford and picking up a step up ring for your current lens. That way if you purchase another lens with a larger than 55mm diameter you just need to pick up a cheap step up ring to use the filter on it instead of buying a larger one to fit.

 

Since you're looking at a variable ND, that eliminates graduated ND's which I can see using to better control land and sky exposures in the desert.

 

Username made some valid points. I don't know what you're trying to accomplish with a solid ND filter (shallower DOF, longer exposures?) but I can certainly understand a polarizer being more applicable to general desert landscapes. I definitely find my polarizer comes in handy in a number of scenarios.

 

Seriously, look into the two PlayMemory applications I referenced, they pretty much negate the need to carry ND filters (both solid and graduated) in most situations for the fraction of the cost of mid range quality glass ones. Use the money you save towards a good polarizer. 

 

I know you're looking at lenses in the 10-35m range from a previous post. If you do end up investing in a polarizer for you landscapes I'd caution against using it at the ultra wide end due to the uneven effect it will have on skies.

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Thanks to both of you for jogging my brain. I have several top end 62mm and bigger CP filters so all I need is a graduated for the sky and some set-up rings. I'll go that route. ALSO don't understand PlayMemories so I'll investigate. remember though I don't know if it is relevant but I'm only talking video here.

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Thanks to both of you for jogging my brain. .....  

remember though I don't know if it is relevant

but I'm only talking video here.

     

" .... don't know if it is relevant but 

I'm only talking video here."  

  

HUGELY relevant. I woulda never mentioned the 

"logic and physics" thing. I even double checked 

your OP to see if video was mentioned before I 

wrote about low ISO and very high shutter speed 

as negating any need of ND filters ... cuz I was 

wondering how the obvious solution of very high

shutter speed would escape your thinking. Maybe 

I just shoulda asked you if you were doing video. 

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