I am interested in picking up some ND filters, and have been looking at the SR Vari ND and Vari N Duo filters (77mm). I am shooting a 5D, mostly coastal landscape. For you folks who have used these I have a couple of questions:
How well do these perform on full frame cameras and how consistent are they across the whole frame? (I know they will vignette)
Do you get up to 8 stops of more on both types?
On the Vari N Duo, can you use the CPL without the ND? How does it perform versus a straight CPL?
I have read that the thin does not perform as well as the standard thickness filter. Do any of you have experience with the thin or a comparison between the two versions?
Yes I have lots of questions and yes I have read other posts from this forum and others. I have seen some great pictures using these, but haven't gotten the feeling that these can compete with the 4x6 filters, and am looking for some experienced user input before I make this decision.
Thanks,
Darryl
I've also been investigating these filters. In speaking to Bob Singh, he tells me that on full frame, the Duo begins to vignette at 24mm. I didn't want to be restricted to that parameter, I just ordered a BW 1.8, which is a six stop ND. Together with my polarizer, that gives me 8 stops. The big advantage of the SR is the convenience in variability, and framing the shot. Reduce the ND to frame, then increase it afterwards. Although I've also heard that live view is a great aid in composing a shot with the a normal ND screwed in place.
The SR polarizer in the Duo works independently. I understand from SR that you get a total of six stops with the Duo, including the polarizer.
The SR blog is a great source of info. Of course most of the guys who write on the blog are sponsored with product by SR, but still, a lot of great info there.
Bob Singh is a great guy to talk to. Here's the link to his blog. You'll find the phone number there: http://singhray.blogspot.com/
I've owned a Vari-ND and have moved to the DUO with which I'm very happy. I also have the Mor-Slo (5 stop) which I've combined with a Nikon CPL with great effect. However, the ability to compose and focus and then apply ND cannot be over emphasized. With the DUO, you can do that and then dial in the amount of CPL you are seeking depending on the reflections you seek. The DUO is the way to go although you may not get the full 8 stops. dave
Thank you for your replies. I went to the singhray blog and have been reading quite a bit. These look like great filters, and the only downsides I have heard are some un-eveness at the highest levels and the Duo's smaller range of 6 stops. I do wish the Duo had at least the 8 stops of the Vari-ND. I have not shot much using ND's and the ease of use is a big factor. More to ponder and think about before I decide.
Keep in mind that there are two separate types ov Varios....... one has a built in LB polarizer, the other doesn't. The earlier version, the one without the polarizer, is known as the Vari ND. The newer version, with the polarizer, is called the Vari ND Duo.
The earlier version of the Vari ND was available in a thin ring mount, which reduced vignetting. The newer version, the Duo, is not available in a thin ring mount. In addition, the Vari ND Duo is thicker to begin with, as it has the built in polarizer. So vignetting may come in at different points, depending on which of the 3 versions is in question..... the thin ring Vari ND, the regular Vari ND, and the Vari ND Duo. I'm thinking that the least vignetting will be on the thin ring Vari ND, and the greatest will be on the Vari ND Duo.
Bob Singh could tell you for sure, and he's a very nice guy to talk to. You might want to give him a holler to get the vignetting thing all sorted out.
I now use the vari-ND, after trying out the Duo. I decided I wanted the individual control of ND and/or CP.
I use it them both on a 1.3 crop body, the 1Dlll, and have had no problems, even when stacked!
bshamilton wrote:
I now use the vari-ND, after trying out the Duo. I decided I wanted the individual control of ND and/or CP.
With the DUO, you can set the CPL to min which effectively makes the filter an ND. This give individual control although the downside if you'll have 5-6 stops rather than the 8 stops of the orig ND. dave
dasams wrote:
With the DUO, you can set the CPL to min which effectively makes the filter an ND. This give individual control although the downside if you'll have 5-6 stops rather than the 8 stops of the orig ND. dave
True to a degree....but there is not a zero level of cp effect. That's what I get if I have both. And that's why I went to both.
Seth Tower wrote:
The Duo is a monster. I bet that sucker vignettes like crazy on an ultra wide.
If I'm not mistaken, when I called Singh to ask, they told me the Duo begins to vignette at 24mm on full frame. I think someone posted that the vignetting comes in even sooner. Then if you need to add more ND, and use Singh's 5 stop More Slo in addition, there is going to be even more vigging.
I called Bob Singh and he states that on a Canon 40D which is a crop will vignette at 18mm on my 10-20mm Sigma. So in a nutshell it aint gonna work with that lens.
hfillmore wrote:
If I'm not mistaken, when I called Singh to ask, they told me the Duo begins to vignette at 24mm on full frame. I think someone posted that the vignetting comes in even sooner.
My Duo vignettes from 24 - 28 on my Nikon 24-70 2.8. It does not, however, vignette on my 24 PC-E and I can even shift a few mm without interference. dave
I have been using the Standard ring mount Vari-N-Duo on my 40D with both the Tokina 11-16 and Tamron 17-50. I have not seen any Vignetting at all while using the 17-50. I do get Vignetting on the Tokina out to about 13 but it is not that bad just some edge Vignetting. Overall very pleased with the Vari-N-Duo.
Also just added to the Singh-Ray Website the Vari-N-Duo is now available in a thin mount for $50.00 more still only in 77mm
Thank you everyone for the good discussion here. It has swayed me to go to a more traditional filter set for now instead of the Duo. My personal decision factors were 1) more stops 2) vingetting and 3) price. I do hope to play with the Vari Duo in the future though.
