DIY Variable ND. Does it work? Kinda..

[Ted Ramasola]

The DIY "vari-nd", note the quotes, is made by stacking a linear pola over a circular pola. Nope, cpl over cpl doesn't work.

It "works" fine. But in my tests only one lens, the 50mm f1.4 nikkor, held up sharpness and color in almost all filter strength settings and all lens aperture settings.

I also tested a 105mm f2.8 and 80-200mm f2.8. My wide lenses vignette so I didn't include in the video.

If you're interested in making one for your own experiment, go here: http://www.ramasolaproductions.com/6.html

 

[Jordan_S]

I wonder what results would have been with testing your CPL and LPL alone before stacking them. I combined B+W filters and have been satisfied with the images I get. I did not, however, conduct any tests and I do need to fix color and contrast in post. What's interesting though is that when I want to achieve narrow DOF and require a variable ND filter, the lens I usually go to is my Nikkor 50mm f/1.4. It's my fastest lens.