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 p.1 #3 · (Grad-ND's) Just wondering about the using the Glass ones | |
Lynn,
Let me elaborate a little on what gearhead5 said: An ND grad filter is a piece of glass in which the top half is darker than the bottom half. To use it, you put the filter on the front of the lens, and move it around a little so that the dark part of the filter covers whatever part of the scene that looks too bright. You might slide it up or down, or angle it to one side or the other, depending on the scene. So if you use a screw on type filter, it is not possible to move it aroung. This is why you need to use a square, or rectangular filter, not screwed into the lense, so that you can have the ability to move it around.
There are two ways to hold these filters to the front of the lens. The first, is by using a filter holder, that you screw onto the lense. The second way, is to just hold the filter in front of the lens with your hand. I started out by using a filter holder. But once I learned how to hand hold the filter, I rarely use the holder. Hand holding is much faster, more convenient, and offers the additional benefil of allowing you to slowly move the filter during the actual exposure, in order to blur the transition line that exists between the light and dark part of the filter.
Most guys that are heavy into filters, will eventually want 4 ND grads, a 2 stop hard, a 3 stop hard, a 2 stop soft, and a 3 stop soft. To start, just get one. My recommendation would be a 2 stop hard. Hi Tech makes a "P" size 2 stop hard for forty bucks. It's cheaper than the Lee or Singh, but very good. Stay away from the Cokin filters, as many say they have a color cast, and they're not much cheaper than the excellent Hi Tech.
Hope this helps to get you started,
Harvey
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