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Archive 2013 · Best value in a variable ND system

  
 
eco_bach
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Best value in a variable ND system


Time to invest in a decent variable ND for my Canon 24-70 mk2. Not sure which brand to go with

Singh ray
http://www.singh-ray.com/varind.html
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/706712-REG/Singh_Ray_R_87_82mm_Vari_ND_Variable_Neutral.html
Light craft
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/742538-REG/Light_Craft_322_82mm_Fader_ND_Mark.html

or heliopan
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/829300-REG/Heliopan_708290_82mm_Variable_Gray_ND.html

Do you get what you pay for or is the Lightcraft optically as good as the others?

Other brands?



Apr 14, 2013 at 08:01 PM
rkgatteleport
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Best value in a variable ND system


Um, if you want cheap and already have a mm circular polarizer, pick up a linear polarizer
(don't know if you can find 'em that big secondhand) and screw them together with the linear one on the outside. You might have vignetting issues you don't like if you shoot wide and all variable ND setups have color issues.

If you're really serious you might be better off going with a set of neutral density filters.

Good luck,

rkg
(Richard George)



Apr 15, 2013 at 10:02 AM
jjgeis
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Best value in a variable ND system


The original Lightcraft was very poor. I returned mine. I would say a good variable ND is expensive. Getting rid of the color cast at high ND is the trick. You also may find thin is better, for wide angle lenses.


Apr 24, 2013 at 07:07 PM
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Best value in a variable ND system


singh ray by far, or heliopan


May 03, 2013 at 02:47 PM
Arka
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Best value in a variable ND system


I'm not a big fan of Vari-ND. Mine causes more problems than it solves, esp. when shooting wide.

Arka C.



May 03, 2013 at 04:20 PM
JakeB17
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Best value in a variable ND system


I have a Hoya variable ND and I like it a lot. It is sharp, thin profiled, and doesn't have much color cast. It's also quite a bit less expensive than the singh ray or Heliopan.

It's the best vari-ND i've tested. However you should be aware that variable NDs and wide angle lenses don't mix well. Variable NDs create X patterns near the end of the their darkest range, which show up clearly on wide lenses. The problem goes away around 50mm (on full frame), but at 24mm or wider you won't be able to take advantage of the full range of the filter.

For wide glass I just stick to normal NDs.



Jun 07, 2013 at 06:49 PM
Micky Bill
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Best value in a variable ND system


Dont forget that they are polarizing light as well as reducing it which may or may not be what you want to do.



Jun 07, 2013 at 07:04 PM
harvey steeves
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Best value in a variable ND system


although I have a few variable NDs of different brands, I find that I am going more to set ND filters because of the X-issue with wide angle lenses and the color casts.


Jun 11, 2013 at 09:17 PM





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