Fader ND is killing my sharpness

Lenilenapi said:
kidwoo,
That's a brilliant idea. I just unscrewed the retaining ring. Unfortunately I don't have an 82mm linear pola to place in there but I do have a circular one I'll try.
Click to expand...

Do you know what you get when you stack a circular polarizer on top of another circular polarizer? You get a knock-off of Singh-Ray's Gold-N-Blue Polarizer. To make a variable ND, you have to mount the CPL (the one going in front) backwards.

Next question is what is the quality of the bottom filter. That's probaby a pretty cheap pola as well. Who said that one was glass? Unfortunately if I replace both, then I might as well spend $300 on a Sing-Ray (if its better that is). Since I already have an 82mm circular its cheaper to just add an 86mm linear as a second filter and that will cover a wide lens as well. A little more cumbersome to carry around though.
Click to expand...
If you think about it, a screw-in polarizer has two pieces of glass, right? On a CPL, the rear element is a quarter-wave plate, I believe. Could you try replacing the rear element of a CPL with linear polarizer glass?
 
Lenilenapi said:
kidwoo,
That's a brilliant idea. I just unscrewed the retaining ring. Unfortunately I don't have an 82mm linear pola to place in there but I do have a circular one I'll try. I did place an 82mm glass UV in and it fit.
Next question is what is the quality of the bottom filter. That's probaby a pretty cheap pola as well. Who said that one was glass? Unfortunately if I replace both, then I might as well spend $300 on a Sing-Ray (if its better that is). Since I already have an 82mm circular its cheaper to just add an 86mm linear as a second filter and that will cover a wide lens as well. A little more cumbersome to carry around though.

Lenny
Click to expand...


I said the rearward element was glass just based on the highly scientific method known as 'finger tapping'. :D

I'm going to try to get a lens for the front. The way I look at it, I've already blown the money and I doubt I'll bother returning it. Might as well use the mount. I'll replace the outer one and just see what happens.


I just unthreaded a retainer ring on the outside plastic element with two pin spanner looking grooves. That was easy........and keeps the mounting/rotating structure in tact. So to replace this, I just need a decent quality, linear polarizer that I can access the glass with right?

So who's got a heliopan or B+W polarizer that can look at it and tell me if it's easy to remove the glass?
 
Last edited:
No seriously..........



Who makes a polarizer with an easily removable glass element? I know some of you guys have these things. Product images are pretty generic looking from most retailers.

Speak up. :)
 
I tried some glass 4x4 filters and when you stack them up they to soften the image just like a Fader ND. But if you go for a smaller aperture 4-5.6 the lens itself regains much of what is lost.
 
Last edited:
I tried using a 77mm Fader ND with a Canon 400mm 5.6 for still photography and experienced horrible loss of resolution!

No filter
1/2000 f 5.6 ISO 200

IMG_83884.JPG



Fader ND
1/800 f 5.6 ISO 200
IMG_83888.JPG
 
Honestly, I've noticed very minimal sharpness loss. If there are any - it's worth the trade off; which is a more shallower depth of field when filming in the blazing sun.
 
i just used my 75-300 on my t2i with a nature 72mm fader and can see a very bad blur when i shoot with it.

it seems that telephoto lenses amplify the blur.

anyone find a solution?

with fader ND

1277684724.jpg


without

1277684808.jpg
 
I just sent back the new version for a refund. On my 70-200, it looked blurry. Unacceptable. Their eBay page says they accept no returns but with eBay's buyer protection it's possible to receive a full refund via the resolution center.
 
I've used Fader ND filters of different brands and I can say that longer tele lenses will loose sharpness. Sometimes it's okay and sometimes it's not. I do prefer fixed ND-filters and the ones I have never loose any detail or sharpness.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top