How many stops ...

L

Lawrence

Senior Member
I want to buy a ND filter and have no idea what density to go for.

Small window of opportunity to purchase from USA as my flat mate is going over next week. These things cost a fortune over here so I figure to get what I need while she is there.

So do I get a 4 stop filter or a 10 stop filter? Both seem popular.

I will be going to Australia in August where the sun can be bright so my leaning are towards a 10 stop.
I want to use the filter for slowing water shots (waterfall and waves on beach, sea etc) mainly and landscapes.
 
Horoscope Fish

Horoscope Fish

Senior Member
Lawrence said:
I want to buy a ND filter and have no idea what density to go for.

Small window of opportunity to purchase from USA as my flat mate is going over next week. These things cost a fortune over here so I figure to get what I need while she is there.

So do I get a 4 stop filter or a 10 stop filter? Both seem popular.

I will be going to Australia in August where the sun can be bright so my leaning are towards a 10 stop.
I want to use the filter for slowing water shots (waterfall and waves on beach, sea etc) mainly and landscapes.
Click to expand...
I have both a 4 stop and a 10 stop. My advice in the proverbial "nutshell", is this: If you want to do several-second exposures in full daylight at low ISO, get the 10-stop.

The four-stop lends some added flexibility to what I can do on sunny day at the beach, or out in the desert, but it won't let me do, say, a 15-second exposure at ISO 100 even at f/16.

Hope that helps.
....
 
L

Lawrence

Senior Member
Horoscope Fish said:
I have both a 4 stop and a 10 stop. My advice in the proverbial "nutshell", is this: If you want to do several-second exposures in full daylight at low ISO, get the 10-stop.

The four-stop lends some added flexibility to what I can do on sunny day at the beach, or out in the desert, but it won't let me do, say, a 15-second exposure at ISO 100 even at f/16.

Hope that helps.
....
Click to expand...

Thanks Paul - I was thinking the 10 stop for that very reason. I am pretty sure most of the times I will want it for long exposures.
At the end of the day it would be nice to have everything but budget and carrying capacity rule.
 
hark

hark

Administrator
Staff member
Super Mod
I'd say 10-stop as well. You will always have the option to raise your ISO if you need a slightly faster shutter speed when using the 10-stop. :)
 
L

Lawrence

Senior Member
I was also looking at step up rings and a bit confused. I need 52mm - 67mm and Adorama have two makes. One costs about $24.90 and the other about $4.90. My instinct says buy the dearer one but my brain wants to know why such a huge price difference
 
4

480sparky

Senior Member
Lawrence said:
I was also looking at step up rings and a bit confused. I need 52mm - 67mm and Adorama have two makes. One costs about $24.90 and the other about $4.90. My instinct says buy the dearer one but my brain wants to know why such a huge price difference
Click to expand...


The 4.90 one will most likely be plastic. The 24.90 will most likely be steel or aluminum. Brass is your best choice... I use Heliopans.
 
G

grandpaw

Senior Member
With the brass you will be able to remove the filter much easier and not have it get stuck on the lens like aluminum ones will do sometimes.
 
Fred Kingston

Fred Kingston

Senior Member
I use a knock-off Cokin P system... and use 2,4,6 stop filters... by stacking different combos, you can get anything between 2 to 12 ND... they're cheap enough that you can get multiple sets. I like the Cokin method because I don't have to worry about which lens to buy for. I shoot a lot of B&W film, so the green, yellow, reds all fit the same lenses, and I don't ever have to worry that something doesn't fit...
 
hark

hark

Administrator
Staff member
Super Mod
Lawrence said:
I was also looking at step up rings and a bit confused. I need 52mm - 67mm and Adorama have two makes. One costs about $24.90 and the other about $4.90. My instinct says buy the dearer one but my brain wants to know why such a huge price difference
Click to expand...

I've used the Adorama brand as well as the Sensei brand although not in your particular size plus I have a couple other brands that I don't think are made anymore. All of mine have been aluminum. I keep a handful of thick rubber bands in my bag, and when I have trouble removing a filter from the step up ring, I simply put a rubber band around the filter's circumference. That puts a rubbery grip on the edge of the filter making them simple to remove. I've never experienced trouble with any of the aluminum step up rings.

B&H has a bigger selection of 52mm-67mm step up rings...in case you are interested in taking a peek. ;)

step up ring 52 to 67 | B&H Photo Video
 
L

Lawrence

Senior Member
How weird is this?
In doing all this research and stuff at Adorama I came across a brand I had never heard before - SYRP
A quick google and couple of videos later I figure "Wow - cool find and cheap at the price"

But the bad news is they are on back order.
Naturally I start looking around and discover to my utter amazement that SYRP is a New Zealand based company. They are right here less than 2 hours from me and have stock.
The size I want comes with 2 step-up rings.

If anyone has any experience and anything bad to say about SYRP and thereby save me making a mistake - speak up now or forever hold your peace. :)
 
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