A few weeks back, my variable ND filter arrived - from 2-8 stops (near pitch black!) of density. As someone constantly playing with light during sessions, I've found it awesome so far. Samples/info posted here because I know my wedding peeps are the ones who keep asking me about it.

Pros: It's awesome.
Cons: Vignetting/difficult to focus with more stops gobbled up. Not for the n00b of outdoor lighting, as it adds another sometimes confusing variable.

f/2.8 1/180 ISO 100 in broad daylight.

shut.

up.

wow...

Amazing color!!!

That is awsome! I must learn..............................

Can you tell more about the filter?

I've been wondering how that was working for you...thanks for posting. I guess the results speak for themselves . I do have a question though...is it graduated anywhere to tell you how many stops you have dialed in?

Jerm, what was the link again to the one you purchased? I think I need to get mine now, nice samples.

Do you have a link to these filters? I need to pick up some!

You can get them here
Don't know if you can get them from other vendors though...

Questions:

It has some numbers on the dial, but I don't use them, I'm starting to just be able to estimate it.

Purchased from E to the bay. Spence I PM'ed you re: info and such.

Jeremy
these shots are great. I actually was in some pretty tough sun today and was playing around with my circular polarizer which only cuts light by a stop or so. I will have to look at picking up a ND filter. Can you pm the info as well. Thanks
Doug

Doug,

Scott's link is the one I have, I think, but mine is from ebay.

alright ya I just googled lightcraft and found it.
did you pay what the lightcraft store is advertising it for or less cause of ebay?
Doug

The link posted above is correct. Those are the ebay ones, price should be same. Ordered mine, but they are on backorder. Another 2-3 weeks, oh well.

jeremy_clay wrote:
Questions:

It has some numbers on the dial, but I don't use them, I'm starting to just be able to estimate it.

Purchased from E to the bay. Spence I PM'ed you re: info and such.



Gotcha...if you were using a flash meter and the filter was accurately graduated it would be super easy to just set your aperture that way. Then again it's almost as fast just to chimp your way there anyway. Since my meter is apparently dead I'd be still be chimping at this point . Very cool though...it's high on my "I want" list.
Looks like they're back ordered until next month, so they probably won't have any on ebay until then either...
*edit* Spencer beat me to it.

Phenomenal use of ND.

Folks, just so you know, if lit correctly, a standard ND filter would get very close to this effect.

Guys, just an FYI, you can make your own Variable ND filter. All you need are TWO POLARIZING FILTERS. Stack them, but make sure you TURN AROUND THE GLASS in one of the holders, turn the dial and viola, variable ND

I'm confused. Are you (Jerm and others) saying these images were shot without flash in the sun?

cordellwillis wrote:
I'm confused. Are you (Jerm and others) saying these images were shot without flash in the sun?

They were shot with flash...he just used his ND filter to shoot them at f2.8 instead of say f16 or f22 (whatever would have been required to keep the ambient under control at 1/180th of a second).

pic #1 - she is hovering off the pavement. Nice shots.

nice work jerm

i think this is a must with your style for sure

that looks amazing.

Scott Clark wrote:
cordellwillis wrote:
I'm confused. Are you (Jerm and others) saying these images were shot without flash in the sun?

They were shot with flash...he just used his ND filter to shoot them at f2.8 instead of say f16 or f22 (whatever would have been required to keep the ambient under control at 1/180th of a second).


Thanks Scott. That makes more sense now I have a couple of Hoya ND filters I keep forgetting about. Gotta pull those suckers out of retirement.

cordellwillis wrote:
Scott Clark wrote:
cordellwillis wrote:
I'm confused. Are you (Jerm and others) saying these images were shot without flash in the sun?

They were shot with flash...he just used his ND filter to shoot them at f2.8 instead of say f16 or f22 (whatever would have been required to keep the ambient under control at 1/180th of a second).


Thanks Scott. That makes more sense now I have a couple of Hoya ND filters I keep forgetting about. Gotta pull those suckers out of retirement.

Dig 'em out and play . I've got a bunch of ND filters too...what's really interesting about the variable one he got is you don't have to pack more than one, and it's infinitely variable so you're not just stuck at one density. And 8 stops...yikes, that's stronger than any single filter I have .

Jeremy, write a how to on a bunch of stuff for me, and I'll follow it. Excellent photos!