ND variable filter brand

Gruyanidas

Senior Member
I have a problem chosing filter mentioned in title because I don't have much of choice for my kit lens in my country. Brand offered on the market are Fader and Nicna. I know they are not even 3rd party but I wonder if someone here already using or used any of those 2 and can share some experience with it.

Послато са SM-G903F уз помоћ Тапатока
 

BackdoorArts

Senior Member
Variable ND's, in my experience, are worthless in the highest 1/3-1/2 of their range (i.e. a 10 stop variable is generally only useful until 6 stops). After that you get unevenness ("clouds") across the range. This is even with the better ones. I'd stay away from anything cheap unless you're sure you can return it. Buy decent glass (Hoya & Tiffen are my go-to filters).
 

RocketCowboy

Senior Member
I agree with Jake. Adding my experience, being able to return a variable ND filter was a good thing when I tried out a Polaroid branded variable. I've since picked up a couple Hoya fixed ND filters and have been happy.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 

Marcel

Happily retired
Staff member
Super Mod
I did buy a Polaroid filter that was almost useless with my Df and 16-35. But, I tried it with my Sigma 10-20 with my Fuji X-E2 and was really surprised with the results. Here's a proof shot. 13 seconds exposure.

231067-post-your-fuji-x-images-_dsf8673.jpg
 

Marcel

Happily retired
Staff member
Super Mod
Well, I have to agree with Jake. I went back to do long exposures with the Polaroid and as soon as I tried to cut the light a bit much (-4), it started to blotch. So I guess I'd have to rate it very difficult to work with and not to be trusted too much. With a DSLR you can't really see the immediate effect in the viewfinder because it get too dark, but I could see it on my electronic viewfinder as you probably could in Live View.

So I guess a good brand ND would be a much better investment than this variable ND one.

Sorry for my previous post. I guess I was lucky for that shot that turned out good.
 

RocketCowboy

Senior Member
I did buy a Polaroid filter that was almost useless with my Df and 16-35. But, I tried it with my Sigma 10-20 with my Fuji X-E2 and was really surprised with the results. Here's a proof shot. 13 seconds exposure.

231067-post-your-fuji-x-images-_dsf8673.jpg

Yeah, that output is much better than what I saw on the D7100 with 10-24mm DX lens.
 
This is very funny. Last night my wife and I were discussing Variable ND filters and the cost involved. From super cheap to $500 or more. So I know I can't afford the top of the line and I know better than to buy cheap. So what brand is decent at a reasonable price, say $100 = $150. Is there any in this range that I would want to put on my D750 with the 24-120 on it?
 

BackdoorArts

Senior Member
This is very funny. Last night my wife and I were discussing Variable ND filters and the cost involved. From super cheap to $500 or more. So I know I can't afford the top of the line and I know better than to buy cheap. So what brand is decent at a reasonable price, say $100 = $150. Is there any in this range that I would want to put on my D750 with the 24-120 on it?

None. For that price look for a good 77mm 9 or 10 stop ND and a 77mm 3 stop (Tiffen/Hoya). You need nothing more, I promise you - you can tweak everything with ISO if necessary (3 stops of ISO is nothing on modern cameras). I used to think that you need nothing more than the 9-10 stop but I was just confronted with shooting in gorges in Watkins Glen and the 9 stop was too much. I actually got away with no filter and shooting at Lo-1.0, but a 3 stop would have been perfect.
 
None. For that price look for a good 77mm 9 or 10 stop ND and a 77mm 3 stop (Tiffen/Hoya). You need nothing more, I promise you - you can tweak everything with ISO if necessary (3 stops of ISO is nothing on modern cameras). I used to think that you need nothing more than the 9-10 stop but I was just confronted with shooting in gorges in Watkins Glen and the 9 stop was too much. I actually got away with no filter and shooting at Lo-1.0, but a 3 stop would have been perfect.


I have used the ISO LO-1.0 a a lot more than I thought I would. Will check on the fixed ones.
 

Gruyanidas

Senior Member
Found at AliExpress ND64 squared from Zomei company for about 50 euros. According to price it is expectable to be at least decent. Any of you tried this?

Послато са SM-G903F уз помоћ Тапатока
 

Bikerbrent

Senior Member
Reviews on the AliExpress look OK for a non-variable density filter, which I would recommend over the variable density. The only thing that bothers me is I am very nervous about the quality of Chinese products.
 
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