d3100 graduated filters

[patrick in memphis]

hi everyone , i am looking at graduated filters..thoughts on them?, the slide type cokin filters seem like they would work best but there is also a lens type that screws onto the barrel...what are the most user friendly for professional results

 

[Nikon Photographer]

I've always found the square slide in ND grads easier to use than screw in circular one's, I've been using Cokin filters since they came out in the U.K, and never had a problem with them, the only screw in filters I use today are Circular Polarizers.

 

[stmv]

I have a set, but always forget to use them, so bulky, and such, so tend to bracket and merge, I figure, that when I have time to carry the cokin, and then screw it on, slide in the filter, frame, etc, well, would also have time to bracket, and merge with a lot less effort.

I view using the graduated filter more of a leftover to film, when predigital, one had a one shot to get the shot right, so, the graduated filter extended the dynamic range of the film, similar to HDR today.

 

[patrick in memphis]

i know what bracketing is but how do you merge photos?

 

[Marcel]

i know what bracketing is but how do you merge photos?

Photoshop has a HDR merge thing but a lot of people use "Photomatix" which does it very nicely too.