alhajri wrote: Gunzorro: you think it\'s better to get a ND filter for each situation that comes up? At first I thought the graduated filter will offer a range like 5x to 10x but I was mistaken. I think with time I\'ll learn to know that my needs will be before going out to shoot.
Ah, you may be thinking of a variable neutral density filter.
Gradated (mis-spelled graduated so often that has become the usual spelling) neutral density filters, GNDs, have a range of grays visible at one time. They are typically dark at the top and have a hard or soft gradation (hence the name) into clear.
Variable density filters are built from two crossed polarizer filters and produce a controllable density that is the same all the way through the view. Variable density filters are convenient, but expensive and even more likely to have colour casts and flare and contrast loss because of the extra glass surfaces and double filtering.
Single NDs can be stacked for greater density but will have the same problems of multiple surfaces.
Even so, there are many situations where variables and stacked NDs perform more than adequately for the task at hand.
Jan 12, 2013 at 04:15 PM
Previous versions of Monito's message #11263682 « B&W Grad Neutral Density filter »
