ND Grads

[Scott-Tx]

hey fellas... i'm about to order some nd grads and was wondering, of
those that use them, which do you use most often? i was thinking i
would start with a 2 stop soft and 2 stop hard singh-ray. if need be,
i could also stack them to get 4 stops soft or hard.

any inputs would be appreciated!
scott

 

[Baxter Bradford]

Please use the search the site facility.

It has been covered extensively several times with a wide range of opinions and advice.

 

[Scott-Tx]

will do, thanks for the suggestion.

 

[ddolde]

I use a 3 stop hard and 2 stop soft, both Singh Ray in the Lee size. But am feeling the need for a 2 stop hard next.

 

[Steve Hamley]

Scott,

3 stop hard and 2 stop soft. After that, 3 stop soft (for irregular mountains), and 1 stop soft. Adding the 1 stop lets you have 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 stops out of a 3-filter set using a 2-filter holder. To be honest, I've never used them stacked as a 5-stop set, but rarely the 4-stop is nice.

Steve

 

[marko_trebusak]

Scott, it depends on focal length and front diameter of your lens. Longer lenses would prefer hard edge, and shorter would prefer soft, bigger diameter would prefer soft, and smaller diameter would prefer hard. It also depend on subject: straighter the transition between dark and light part of subject is, harder the transition shall be. As for me, I use 3 hard (Lee) most of the time, and I feel need for additional stop with transparency film. But I'm using 135 and 300 mm lens.

Marko

 

[Scott-Tx]

thanks for all the tips, fellas. marko, excellent point wrt the lenses i use. my biggest lens has a 95mm front element... all others are stepped up to 77mm. i shoot from 75mm to 600mm on 4x5 and te occasional 8x10. about 80% of what i shoot happens from 75-210.

scott