Get an ND Filter & Forget HSS for wide aperture strobed portraits

[Tom]

Strobist: Soccer Through Sunset

In this post about some soccer portraits he needed to take, David Hobby goes over the reason he bought a neutral density filter rather than going the HSS route.

Why ND over HSS?
1. HSS robs you of your power
2. You have to pay for HSS on every light you buy
3. A ND filter will work with any of your lenses, any of your flashes and you can continue to use it even if you switch from one camera company to another.

This is the ND Filter that Hobby suggests.
Singh-Ray Filters: Vari-ND Variable Neutral Density Filter

[Sonny]

A MUST read!

Strobist: Q&A: Controlling the Sun When Using Flash - A Comparative Guide

[khatley]

I just picked up the Tiffen version last week.

[Tom]

David Hobby posted a follow up of this blog post:
Strobist: Q&A: Controlling the Sun When Using Flash - A Comparative Guide

Might answer some questions you have on HSS vs ND Filter

[S-Man]

I like using a 3-stop ND filter outside with my AB-1600. Lets me shoot at around f2-2.2.

[Tom]

Originally Posted by S-Man

I like using a 3-stop ND filter outside with my AB-1600. Lets me shoot at around f2-2.2.

Yeah, I think I am going to grab one of these ND filters. I just got two 1100 w/s strobes for on location outdoor portraits. Getting some nice bokeh with great light will be really nice.

[Jaymoney$]

Has anyone had any color issues? Please post more pic samples if any.

[S-Man]

I'll post some stuff when I get home. I don't notice much color effect. Maybe a cooler white balance if any effect. That's one of the reasons you don't want to skimp on these filters. Spend some money on a good brand.

[KenJulio]

I can do a comparison of the Singh-Ray and LCW Fader mk I this weekend and will post them up after I get back.

Any specific test wanted?
White foam board shot with the same lens, body, settings?

[PEC]

Ken,

How are you liking the Tiffen Vari-ND? Any color cast or sharpness degredation?

[groovyone]

Originally Posted by KenJulio

I can do a comparison of the Singh-Ray and LCW Fader mk I this weekend and will post them up after I get back.

Any specific test wanted?
White foam board shot with the same lens, body, settings?

Which one of yours do I have in my possesion now?

[KenJulio]

Keith - you have the LCW Fader Vari-ND mk1

I have the LCW Fader Vari-ND filter(s) in their first model. currently there is a mk2 version available. The mk2 version is to provide better IQ compared to the mk1 that I have.

For the Singh-Ray, I have seen several samples where the images are sharp and dont appear soft as from I've seen from users' samples on the web for the LCW Fader.

So I'll have both this coming weekend to play with, both being the Singh-Ray and LCW Mk1

[S-Man]

This is one I've added a color adjustment to because I like how it looks.
f3.5 51mm ISO 50 1/125


This is just the standard natural color:
f2.8 Tamron 28-75 @75mm 1/125 ISO 50
(I think he was standing under the shade of a tree, too)


Without the ND filter I would have had to shoot these at f11-f16. Sun was on full blast that day. You also have to be careful because some people don't like how fake it looks. You can balance it more so it doesn't look so cut-and-paste, but I kinda dig that style.

[Bentley]

I just ordered this to play with.

Amazon

Amazon

[The Philos]

I always carry a 2 and 10 stop filter with me (a CPL will suck out another 1 to 1 1/2 stops if need be).