Choosing a .3 or .6 ND filter for xf305. Thoughts?

[8string]

Man there is a huge range of price options for ND filters on the market. What's the story? I need about 1 or 2 stops at most (something to split the difference or get me where I need to be with aperture when using the built in ND filters on the xf305). So what do you think? I can spend over $400 from Singh Ray or $58 from Tiffen. What is the right choice here, if there is one? And what's with the "extra wide glass" filters?

 

[Harry Pallenberg]

Curious why you need the extra ND? I live in sunny So Cal and between the 3 built-in choices and the -3 or -6 gain I can stay at a fairly wide open F stop. Although a circular polarizer would be nice.

And for what it is worth - I have always bought Tiffen (for DSLR GH2) and have never had an issue.

 

[robmneilson]

Tiffen is fine, I'd stay away from Cavision. I've got cheap Cavision ND's and when I stacked an ND grad and my Schneider Pol I got a magenta shift from the ND.

 

[8string]

Harry, maybe it's my imagination, but it seems like when I shoot in broad sunlight, and want to stop down to about F2.8 or 5.6 I end up not having the right ND in place (for Washington State sun). It's not scientific, but it appears that I could use additional ND, so I thought that adding a full stop or two would worth throwing in, rather than going into the menus and reducing gain. But I will give it a try before spending the money.

 

[Fotojorno]

Curious why you need the extra ND? I live in sunny So Cal and between the 3 built-in choices and the -3 or -6 gain I can stay at a fairly wide open F stop. Although a circular polarizer would be nice.

And for what it is worth - I have always bought Tiffen (for DSLR GH2) and have never had an issue.

Does decreasing the gain on the XF300 effect the DR of the camera? Just found out I'll be using one for 2 months in the desert and DR is not something I want to take a hit on. Thanks..