Graduated ND Filters and Others for Landscapes

[Happyfunball]

I have been shying away from graduated ND filters as I have always thought I would end up with this funky transition in the middle of my shot, but have seen some great shots with grad NDs by cdmac and others around here without that as a dominant feature in the picture. While I use Circ. Polarizers, R72s (IR), and UVs for protection...I havn't made that jump yet in my short time shooting landscapes. I can certainly see the value of reigning in some contrast, but am a bit nervous about making the investment.

Have many of you had experience with them? Any thoughts on the graduated filters in a digital world? Any other filters you would recommend for landscapes?

Of course, the ads in the photo magazines tell me I need 3 grad. filters, warming filters, cooling filters, 5 ND filters, a set for each lens...pretty soon I could have bought one of those fancy L lenses I keep lusting after :)

Thanks for the input!


- Jason

[jeffkohn]

Film shooters (especially slide) don't have much choice, but shooting digital you have some options. You can always bracket exposures and then combine multiple shots in post. This may be a little more work in some cases (not always though), but it's actually more flexible and can work better in those tough shots where there's no place to hide the transition of a grad filter.

Of course, the ads in the photo magazines tell me I need 3 grad. filters, warming filters, cooling filters, 5 ND filters, a set for each lens...pretty soon I could have bought one of those fancy L lenses I keep lusting after :)

I think using warming and cooling filters is a bit silly for digital, just get the WB right. I suppose ND filters can be useful in some situations but I've never felt the need to buy one. Keep in mind that your polarizer eats about 1-2 stops of light, so it can double as an ND filter too.

[Badge]

You can fix a lot with software. I use one grad filter, say you have a street scene, one side in dark shade, the other in full sun, using your filter sidewise gives me good results and better than trying to fix the photo completely using software. I do not use the filter much but it does come in real handy for these type of situations. I might still bracket the shot for use in processing. All this is a lot of work and I will only do it when the shot is one that I really want.

[Silvernic]

I absolutely love my graduated filter for landscape shots!!!

[Happyfunball]

Thanks for the suggestions all. I believe I will add a grad ND filter to my arsenal, but will probably wait until I invest in my first L glass. It seems many of the newer L zooms are using 77mm filters, so it might make more sense to get a filter that will work across several lenses rather than the three different sizes I have now for my four lenses.

Thanks again!

- Jason

[jeffkohn]

Originally Posted by Happyfunball

Thanks for the suggestions all. I believe I will add a grad ND filter to my arsenal, but will probably wait until I invest in my first L glass. It seems many of the newer L zooms are using 77mm filters, so it might make more sense to get a filter that will work across several lenses rather than the three different sizes I have now for my four lenses.

Thanks again!

- Jason

Actually the filters are square, you just need a holder for each lens size and they're pretty cheap.

[wapiti]

Jason,

I use Singh-Ray graduated ND's with Cokin holders. I have the holders in 52,62, and 77mm and that covers all of my lens.

I have not used my ND's since I have gone principally digital, but at the same time, I have done very little landscapes in digital. That will change if I go to Yellowstone/Grand Teton at the end of this month. As has been priviously mentioned, much of the work of grads can be done with software.
Bill