Variable ND filter for Lanscape

G

gerfoto

New member
Hello, i just bought a Promaster 77mm variable ND filter that says "density factor of ND3 to ND400". So, my question, when shooting how do i know which NDx value i am using ? You know like a fixed ND filter, ND8, ND16 and so on.. Thanks for your help, G
 
4

480sparky

Senior Member
You really don't.

Then again, why would you need to know? Turn it until you get the aperture/shutter speed/ISO combination you desire.
 
G

gerfoto

New member
480sparky said:
You really don't.

Then again, why would you need to know? Turn it until you get the aperture/shutter speed/ISO combination you desire.
Click to expand...

Hmm, I guess I can do that too. So, this app (see attachment) is useless with the variable ND filter IMG_3673.jpg, right ?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Marcel

Marcel

Happily retired
Staff member
Super Mod
But is the filter graduated? What tells you if the written graduations are real?

The way I used mine (I've only used it once because I found it gave uneven graduation in the sky), was to use the camera meter to decide the settings I want. Usually, it's trial and error, specially for getting the desired result with waterfalls.
 
4

480sparky

Senior Member
Pretty much. An app can tell you that if you want a certain shutter speed for a given ISO/aperture combo and you can't slow your shutter down enough, it'll return which single ND filter to use.

So why not just set your ISO & aperture, then turn the VND until the meter displays the shutter speed you desire?
 
4

480sparky

Senior Member
Marcel said:
But is the filter graduated? What tells you if the written graduations are real?

The way I used mine (I've only used it once because I found it gave uneven graduation in the sky), was to use the camera meter to decide the settings I want. Usually, it's trial and error, specially for getting the desired result with waterfalls.
Click to expand...

We're discussing variable NDs, not graduated.
 
G

gerfoto

New member
480sparky said:
Pretty much. An app can tell you that if you want a certain shutter speed for a given ISO/aperture combo and you can't slow your shutter down enough, it'll return which single ND filter to use.

So why not just set your ISO & aperture, then turn the VND until the meter displays the shutter speed you desire?
Click to expand...

I guess I can do that too.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
G

gerfoto

New member
Marcel said:
But is the filter graduated? What tells you if the written graduations are real?

The way I used mine (I've only used it once because I found it gave uneven graduation in the sky), was to use the camera meter to decide the settings I want. Usually, it's trial and error, specially for getting the desired result with waterfalls.
Click to expand...

The filter is graduated with marks (small single lines) on it.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
4

480sparky

Senior Member
2 stops = ND4
3 stops = ND8
4 stops = ND16
5 stops = ND32
6 stops = ND64
7 stops = ND128
8 stops = ND256
8 2/3 stops = ND400

My guess is you'll start having issues with a Promaster around 7 stops/ND128. You'll likely start seeing a dark, out-of-focus X in your images.

VND X.jpg
 
Last edited:
Top