Photographers - A strong neutral density filter is my new best friend (Pics)

[AlabamaLibrul]

I got my B&W ND 1000 (ten stop ND) from Adorama in NYC the other day, and had a chance to get some photos out of it.

If you do landscape stuff, you'll love this thing. They're relatively inexpensive as long as you don't use a lens with a huge filter thread - it was $40 for the 58mm size. High quality glass from Germany, I'm sure you could get eBay ones cheaper.

A neutral density filter is just a fancy way of saying a gray or black piece of glass, density being an old carry-over term from film for blacks, and neutral being, well, neutral in color. They let you take a longer exposure in the same light and get cotton-candy water and wild clouds. There are also some other, more technical benefits to weaker ND filters, if anyone is curious about them I can explain in detail.

Here's my first couple examples:





A crosspost in the photography group, if anyone there would find it useful, would be appreciated.

[driver8]

1. WOW!!

Beautiful photos...

[AlabamaLibrul]

2. Thank You, Driver....

Usually I would have to go outside at ridiculous hours of night to achieve anything like this, and then I wouldn't get the benefits of sunset colors.

I'm very happy with it.

[bluedigger]

3. Good stuff!

Thanks for the tip!

[AlabamaLibrul]

6. You know the Germans always make good stuff!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QwRISkyV_B8

SHAMWOW!

[alfredo]

4. Very good. Now let's see you do some action shots with it.

<grin>

[AlabamaLibrul]

5. I can do action shots with a ND. But not a ten-stop ND.

That'd be more suited for a 3 or 5 stop ND, where you could shoot wide open with a somewhat slower shutter speed. Something this strong would probably eliminate people completely, due to them moving out of the frame.

But I have done action stuff.



:hi:

[alfredo]

7. I haven't done much action photography since the sixties

when I photographed bicycle racing and football (soccer).

Now I only use ND for waterfalls and rapids. Life isn't near as exciting.

I stepped back from SLR's to compacts many years ago, but it appears that with the interchangeable lens compacts, I will be getting back into the madness again. I can't go too mad being retired and supporting two with my SS check.


Forgot to add: love the football shot.

[AlabamaLibrul]

8. Like the micro 4/3 / Sony NEX systems?

I am not specifically opposed to them, but I've seen people put massive zooms on them and it looks like a nightmare to hold. I bet it'd be great with some really small lenses.

I used to use the regular 4/3 (Olympus / Panasonic DSLR) system until about, well, 3 days ago, when I got my used Canon 20D in the mail. Sure it's several years old, but it looks brand new. And apparently, it takes photos just fine. It's about the photographer anyway.

What did you use back in the days of film? I still use some medium format stuff, but I'm moving away from 35mm because digital is starting to be as good.

[alfredo]

9. I had a Spotmatic. It fit my hands better than Nikon and

Minolta. I also had a Yashica D TLR (loved it). The Spotmatic got stolen, then I went with a Yashica Electro X. A Canon Rebel was my last film camera. I got injured and couldn't lug it around anymore. Since then it has been Canon G and S series. Right now it is the Canon G10 that I am using. It is pretty good in situations where you don't have to go above ISO 100. Shutter lag is a pain, but you learn to time things.

I've been looking for something with the Sensor of the NEX, and controls of the GF1. I do like the NEX, GF1, and the Olympus E Pl1. The Samsung NX10 looks good, but I need to see more images to see what the complaints about noise is all about. It could just be the pixel peepers doing the complaining. Most of my images end up online and when I print, it is never over 8X10.

The perfect camera doesn't exist, so I might have to buy something like the NEX and then buy a VF later.

BTW, that Yashica has a nice lens that will be used on any camera I end up buying. It's a Yashinon DS 50 1:1.7. Not their best but not bad. It's in good shape and will be a nice portrait lens. It has no auto/manual switch so any adapter will have to deal with that.

The Kit lens on the Rebel is not too bad a lens so I will give it a try too. Adapters are cheap, and I'm as cheap as they come.

[AlabamaLibrul]

10. The Spotmatic. What a wonderful camera!

Sorry to hear about its demise.

I love TLRs so much that I have two now. A Minolta Autocord, and a Mamiya C3. I don't play favorites.

Out of the NEX and Olympus micro 4/3 models, I can't tell you which to pick. I haven't messed with them. I would say that the 4/3 sensor definitely has a lot of noise over ASA 400 though, so be wary of that. I switched to the Canon system because of it.

Maybe just get a cheap DSLR and some adapters? I got my Canon 20D for $225. I have a Canon 50mm now, and I'm waiting on a Takumar 24mm (equivalent to 35mm on film) and a Vivitar 135mm (about 200mm equivalent) to get here. I don't think adapters can deal with your Yashinon, unfortunately. They need manual aperture control. I bought a really cheap Takumer 55/1.8 for about $40 a while back, but now I have a Canon autofocus version which works great.

[alfredo]

11. I can't use a shoulder strap. A wrist strap is what I use

now. That's why I am shying away from DSLR's. The weight is an issue. The NEX appears to deliver good IQ. I am not sure if I will like the on screen menus or the lack of VF, though I must admit that the VF on the G10 sucks big time.

By the time I have my pennies saved up for a new camera, Nikon and possible Pentax will have their own large sensor interchangeable compact.

[ManiacJoe]

12. Love the second one where...

... the long exposure flattened out the waves and allowed for a nice soft reflection of the sky!

[NNadir]

13. Very nice. High Quality Stuff.