Combining ND filters? And the maths?

[lookingforajob]

I've recently managed to get a Lee DSLR starter kit, a Big Stopper, a Little Stopper and a circular Polariser with the ring you need to attach the CP onto the casing thrown in. So thats seems like a decent set up kit.

I got it because my friend sold it to me for £50 - so it all seemed like a bit of a bargain (He's brought it all thrown in in a cupboard and never used it). However I am a bit clueless on how to use it...

I've looked on youtube and understand the basics... However I do have one question: Lets say I'm using the big stopper and the CP, do I have to work out the correct exposure fur 11 2/3 stops? Because the CP has 1 2/3 stops? The little cards that come with the big/little stopper don't take this into account. I've downloaded a couple of apps on my phone - and neither of them give this option.

So how do I work it out?

[peter tdci]

Bit of a bargain!

I think that you are on the right track, but why not set up your shot/focus first with the CP and measure the exposure. Then you can adjust that for the Big/Little Stopper.

[lookingforajob]

peter tdci said:

Bit of a bargain!

I think that you are on the right track, but why not set up your shot/focus first with the CP and measure the exposure. Then you can adjust that for the Big/Little Stopper.

Thanks - I never thought about it being as simple as that! I was trying to make this as complicated as possible whilst ignoring the clever way of doing it!

And it was a bit of a bargain. I think I got a mates discount because his wife has told him to clear the "junk" under the stairs. He was going to give it to me for nothing but I insisted that I gave him enough to have a drink.

One other question... The big/little stopper have a foam gasket, whilst the 0.6ND "proglass" doesn't is there is a reason for this? Also will the foam get in the way of the image? When fitten into the holder I can see it so am worried it will show up in my image.

Also any advice for looking after it? I've got the little metal tins for the big/little stopper and I've placed them in the big case that came with the dslr starter kit. Can imagine the horrible feeling if I come to use it and it's all broken - it's all a compromise between using the stuff and not wanting to hurt it so much it stays in the house.

[RobDickinson]

Put the big stopper closest to the camera the gasket stops light leak onto the back of the filter causing nasty reflections and over exposure.

I keep my big stopper on general filter case in soft wallet seems OK but am careful. Did think about a hard case for it.

Considering the little stopper as 10 stops is often too much. I think mine is closer to 11 too.

Always work out composition focus and the rest before putting in the big Nd.

[lookingforajob]

RobDickinson said:

Put the big stopper closest to the camera the gasket stops light leak onto the back of the filter causing nasty reflections and over exposure.

I keep my big stopper on general filter case in soft wallet seems OK but am careful. Did think about a hard case for it.

Considering the little stopper as 10 stops is often too much. I think mine is closer to 11 too.

Always work out composition focus and the rest before putting in the big Nd.

Thanks. I'll make sure to follow your advice.

Can't really comment on them yet as I've not used them. I've got as far as attaching them to my lens. Only thing I don't like is that you have to take the ring on and off to put the lens cap on. For me I'd like them to create some caps to go on with the metal ring in place.

That said I did go into the Garden today and had a play with the 0.6nd hard graduated filter. Given it's the sunniest day of the year it did a marvellous job of pulling detail out of the sky and not blowing it out. I'm sure 0.9 would have been better, but I don't have however much it is to buy that at the moment.

One more stupid question - do Lee make bigger screws? With the attachment on to hold the CP filter I can only fit one filter slot in. Thats a shame as I'd love to play with the little/big stopper a graduated filter and also the CP. I don't have the skill but have seen some amazing shots using this online.

[RobDickinson]

I have Lee lens ring caps that go on over the rings which I never remove. They are pretty cheap and come in packs of 3..

There's many parts including longer screws available.

[peter tdci]

I've got the DSLR kit and it has two slots for 100mm filters. I've also got the circular CP holder which attached to the front.

With this I can use my Big Stopper, an ND grad and the CP all at once if I wanted to.

If you need to expand, there's always this http://www.teamworkphoto.com/holder-system-upgrade...

[lookingforajob]

peter tdci said:

I've got the DSLR kit and it has two slots for 100mm filters. I've also got the circular CP holder which attached to the front.

With this I can use my Big Stopper, an ND grad and the CP all at once if I wanted to.

If you need to expand, there's always this http://www.teamworkphoto.com/holder-system-upgrade...

I've got the same kit - it's just the screws are not long enough to put it all together, so I have had to take one of the slots out. I will look into buying longer screws. I really don't need anything more complicated than this for a long time. If money was no issue I'd get the 0.9ND hard graduated filter, but I can't afford it and don't really need it right now.

[RobDickinson]

I don't remember buying replacement screws.

Either had 2 sets from the holder or the 105mm ring came with screws..

You have removed the facing bits on the front before fitting the ring?

[lookingforajob]

RobDickinson said:

I don't remember buying replacement screws.

Either had 2 sets from the holder or the 105mm ring came with screws..

You have removed the facing bits on the front before fitting the ring?

My holder came pre made up with only one set, and no screws came with the ring didn't have any screws . I'm not really sure what you mean by the facing bits? It didn't have instructions on how to put it together so I just did my best - but I didn't remove anything that I didn't put back when I tried to put it back together.

EDIT - just found these: http://www.wexphotographic.com/buy-lee-screws-pack...

And: http://www.wexphotographic.com/buy-lee-screws-pack...

So they do come in different sizes. Think it's a bit cheap of Lee not to include them with the kit or the ring. Oh well, I'll just have to bite the bullet and order some. Also 3 quid for 4 tiny screws seems daylight robbery - but maybe I'm just tight.

Edited by lookingforajob on Thursday 17th July 23:20

[lookingforajob]

Actually as usual I'm talking rubbish: https://leefilters.uservoice.com/knowledgebase/art...

What you said makes sense now - I was just too thick to understand it. I'll sort it now and have a play around tomorrow!

[Nighthawk]

£50 quid for the lee bits, bargain of the century right there. The big and little stoppers are on an offer price of £189 alone.

I'm after the little stopper to use with my big stopper and was wondering how to correctly work out the increase in shutter when they're used together

[lookingforajob]

Nighthawk said:

£50 quid for the lee bits, bargain of the century right there. The big and little stoppers are on an offer price of £189 alone.

I'm after the little stopper to use with my big stopper and was wondering how to correctly work out the increase in shutter when they're used together

Yes I know I did very well. Worked out if I brought the bits from a dealer it would be over £600 :0. However I wouldn't have. For me I got lucky and now want to play with them. I've got a 16-35 2.8 ii to play with as well so should be able to get some reasonable shots if I can get past my incompetence.

I think (and I'm probably wrong) that you add them in a linear fashion. Which would mean you have 16 stops. That's massive though - why would you want to create such a massively long exposure? That's just me being nosy and I am interested. The app on my phone will give you the correct settings for that... However unless you are shooting on the sunniest day of the year (like today), I'd take a book with you. It's going to be a long long wait!

If you don't have an iphone you can create your own little card like they give you.

[Nighthawk]

The long shutter allows creativity to enter your shots, it's not just about bringing the exposure into line.

Think of a swelling sea being transformed into a serene and smooth waterscape, or clouds being smears across a frame. Or just allow the super long shutter to remove people or other faster moving objects from the frame without ever entering photoshop


edit to add, yup I use an iPhone

[lookingforajob]

Nighthawk said:

The long shutter allows creativity to enter your shots, it's not just about bringing the exposure into line.

Think of a swelling sea being transformed into a serene and smooth waterscape, or clouds being smears across a frame. Or just allow the super long shutter to remove people or other faster moving objects from the frame without ever entering photoshop


edit to add, yup I use an iPhone

Cool there are a few free apps. If you search the app store for nd filter calculator you will find one which has some reviews - I think it's pretty good.

I do get what you are saying about creativity etc... However have a look at just how long the exposure will be! Unless you are shooting wide open on a great day you might be in for a shock! 1/30th turns into 32 minutes!!! I'm personally looking at having a minute or two to smooth out water flow and even that might look a bit over done (the fun will be playing and seeing what works and what doesn't).

That said - I've just searched online and have found some amazing architectural images taken using 16stops - so it's clearly working well for some people. Can't say it's the type of image that I'd want to take myself - but I am amazed at what the photographer did with a 7d! The images looked brilliant.