Question about filters
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gingerpaul

Original Poster:

2,929 posts

273 months

Wednesday 25th November 2009
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I've just been thinking about ND filters and their applications. I know that they can be used to allow you use a longer shutter speed in bright light, to smooth water flow for example.

Would there be any benefit in using one in bright light other than to increase shutter speeds? I can see that it would allow you to get a shallow depth of field in bright light if you are already at the lowest ISO setting and the fastest shutter speed available. Would there be any advantage in a slower shutter speed in such a scenario in normal light? Say rather than being at 1/1000 you can get to 1/125 for example?

What got me thinking about it is taking photographs when skiing. When the the sun was out there's a lot of light about and the snow is white and reflective. Previous times I've had a very fast shutter speed and thought an ND filter might be a useful tool.

Nick M

3,632 posts

253 months

Wednesday 25th November 2009
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gingerpaul said:
Would there be any benefit in using one in bright light other than to increase shutter speeds? I can see that it would allow you to get a shallow depth of field in bright light if you are already at the lowest ISO setting and the fastest shutter speed available. Would there be any advantage in a slower shutter speed in such a scenario in normal light? Say rather than being at 1/1000 you can get to 1/125 for example?

What got me thinking about it is taking photographs when skiing. When the the sun was out there's a lot of light about and the snow is white and reflective. Previous times I've had a very fast shutter speed and thought an ND filter might be a useful tool.
I think you've largely answered your own question, because yes, you could definitely use a ND filter to slow down shutter speed to give, say, a greater sense of motion by panning with someone who is skiing.

You could also try a polarising filter too, maybe in conjunction with a ND filter if you still need a few more stops less light.

gingerpaul

Original Poster:

2,929 posts

273 months

Wednesday 25th November 2009
quotequote all
I will be getting a circular polarising filter having played about with one already. Very useful. smile

I was wondering if there was an extra benefit that I hadn't thought of. Increasing the dynamic range for example. I can't see how they would do that but I was wondering if there was something I'd not thought of.

What I'd really like are a couple of graduated ND filters but I'd never stop long enough to use them, and that'd be assuming I'd taken them with me in the first place.

Simpo Two

92,838 posts

295 months

Wednesday 25th November 2009
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gingerpaul said:
Increasing the dynamic range for example.
No, all they do is make things darker.

gingerpaul

Original Poster:

2,929 posts

273 months

Thursday 26th November 2009
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Excellent, that clears that up then. I couldn't see how or why they would.

Thanks guys. smile

GlenMH

5,461 posts

273 months

Thursday 26th November 2009
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Be careful to avoid vignetting if you are stacking filters on top of one another...