Fader ND is killing my sharpness

Chris, those shots look great (especially since we had snow showers this morning)! Thanks for posting them.

You know where I'm coming from. Can you say which brand of the fader ND you have... LCW or off-brand?
 
thanks! haha...um, it's 80 degrees here LOL, sorry. i have the HL-Optics 62mm Nature FaderND[W]...i' don't think it's the real deal, cuz it just came in a translucent plastic case with ho hologram...i love it though...for video it's extremely convenient.
 
shutter 4000 (maximum on the gh1) wasn't enough on a day like today where i live, so some compromise would have to be made.
 
Maybe find place somewhere inside to get 1/50 shutter and test fader there,lens stoped down will always be sharper and this test doesnt prove anything besides that fader is losing sharpness(emm.. besides that pic with fader have less things in focus) but i would like it to be fair without stopping lens down and only adjusting shutter speed.
 
good idea, but i'm not the one who started this thread*, so i'm not obligated to test any further...i had never noticed a drastic decrease in detail, as i mostly shoot video, not stills. i was merely testing my findings in a quick fashion, and i thought i'd share. i know the variables in play, and i may have been hasty in posting my "test".

i am happy with my Fader, and i have found it very useful for me, and i will continue to use it as i see fit.

*the original poster "vroom" isn't contributing much to this thread, and i'm not gonna sweat the tests. it either works to your satisfaction or it doesn't. pardon me, i'm not trying to sound rude, but i'm not going to run around my house right now testing the thing any further, because i already know how i like to use it.
 
Chris Light said:
i have the HL-Optics 62mm Nature FaderND[W]...i' don't think it's the real deal, cuz it just came in a translucent plastic case with ho hologram...i love it though...for video it's extremely convenient.
Click to expand...

Well, there goes my theory. (which isn't a bad thing to happen in this case)

Chris Light said:
...i'm not going to run around my house right now testing the thing any further...
Click to expand...


Crack me up.
 
Isaac_Brody said:
You have a loss of sharpness because you're shooting wide open with a much shallower dof. The sharpness for lenses often goes down the more wide open you shoot. You shoot at a 1.4 and it's not going to be equal sharpness to shooting at a 5.6.
Click to expand...

precisely; ill have my girl take some shots and email them to me; same shutter speed, aperture, ISO, focus point etc; just throw more light on the subject.
 
Chris Light said:
yeah...i know that. that's why a side by side sharpness test is virtually impossible with a Fader ND
Click to expand...


Could you please do the test again sometime, without changing the f stop?

Do it indoors and keep the f'stop and the lens consistant. Then all you need to do is either change the ISO or shutter. I'd suggest the shutterm while keeping the ISO at a consistant 200, aperture at F2.8. Thanks!
 
Here's 3 full res screen grabs. Same camera set up and aperture in all 3 (boosted iso's) Shot with a T2i, Tamron 28-75 2.8, and the Lightcraft Workshop Fader ND 77mm with step up ring

No Fader
4532663747_471feae865_o.png


Fader @ 1.5 Big Dots
4533297560_45258b818e_o.png


Fader @ 3 Big Dots
4533297674_8e49112004_o.png



You be the judge, but I can't tell a difference myself. My guess is that people are forgetting that 2.8 with a filter is always going to be softer than 5.6-11 without a filter.
 
Last edited:
anyone using one with the tamron 17-50mm 2.8?

Im wondering whether to buy one for this lens since i use it the most, or for my nikon 50 1.4 (for my 7D)

I figured i woudl use it on the tamron since it more vestatile, but the 50 has more DOF to gain, hmmm?
 
jonE5 said:
anyone using one with the tamron 17-50mm 2.8?

Im wondering whether to buy one for this lens since i use it the most, or for my nikon 50 1.4 (for my 7D)

I figured i woudl use it on the tamron since it more vestatile, but the 50 has more DOF to gain, hmmm?
Click to expand...

I have both and it does give you more on the 50mm of course but I've shot alot with the Tamron. I made a DIY one but I suggest you buy one larger than the Tamron as it's pretty wide angle and you'll get vignetting unless you step up

Get step up rings for both.
 
boulder said:
[...] I suggest you buy one larger than the Tamron as it's pretty wide angle and you'll get vignetting unless you step up. Get step up rings for both.
Click to expand...

Actually, what you'll get on the wide end is an unevenly colored sky. Getting the largest size you think you'll need plus adapter rings is good economic advice.
 
I just tested my HL-Optics 62mm Nature FaderND and yup when the lens is long the image is much softer. Quite disappointing. I tested on a zoom lens and at wide angle I didn't see much difference but once past 50mm or so it was noticeable and at 105mm - whoa.
I kept iris constant and changed shutter speed. Just eyeballed the results by looking through the cam @ 5 & 10x's magnification. My 6ND was clean as a whistle. I want to try it with 2 polas. I guess that may be a better though more expensive solution.

Lenny Levy
 
Sorry for the delay in posting examples. Just got off work.

My fader says this along the ring: "L.C.W. 77mm Fader ND (W)." I ordered it on eBay from user "bonifaceleung."

Here are the sample shots. All shots share these constants: tripod mounted, consistent lighting, f/2.8, 200mm, Tungsten WB preset, and ISO 100.

Without Fader ND (1/400 shutter):
IMG_0347.jpg


Fader ND at minimum (1/125 sec shutter):
IMG_0340.jpg


Fader ND at first dot (1/125 sec shutter):
IMG_0341.jpg


Fader ND at second dot (1/100 sec shutter):
IMG_0342.jpg


Fader ND at third dot (1/60 sec shutter):
IMG_0343.jpg


Fader ND at fourth dot (1/60 sec shutter):
IMG_0344.jpg


Fader ND at fifth dot (1/13 sec shutter):
IMG_0345.jpg


Fader ND at maximum (1/3 sec shutter):
IMG_0346.jpg



Not only can you see the immediate (but fairly consistent) loss of sharpness, but also the Fader ND's green tint, as well as some chromatic aberration.

This test was done at 200mm, and the above are 100% crops, so this may not affect video performance, but it certainly affects still performance. Maybe once the new Fader ND is released, there will be some sort of replacement option.


As posted before, Mr. Leung is aware and open about the issue:

"Dear purpleoatmeal,

Hello. I am sorry to tell that we find the existing Fader ND will cause the image blurry when it is used with Canon 70-200 and 100-400L on photo taking.
We found that the problem only exist when it is used for photo taking and videography is fine.
Due to this issue, we are making a new version Fader ND that could probably solve this problem.

Thank you.

- bonifaceleung"
 
Last edited:
vroom, thanks for posting.

That's some scary skidaddle. But it is at 200mm.

What's it look like somewhere between 30mm and 50mm?
 
bluesgeek said:
vroom, thanks for posting.

That's some scary skidaddle. But it is at 200mm.

What's it look like somewhere between 30mm and 50mm?
Click to expand...

Here are a few more 100% crops using the same constants as before, except focal length:

Without Fader ND (33mm, 1/500 sec shutter):
IMG_0349.jpg


Fader ND at third dot (33mm, 1/60 sec shutter):
IMG_0353.jpg


Without Fader ND (55mm, 1/400 sec shutter):
IMG_0348.jpg


Fader ND at third dot (55mm, 1/50 sec shutter):
IMG_0352.jpg
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top