Fader ND & Vari ND

U

USLatin

Panamaniac
Fader ND

Vari ND

Are basically two non-circular polarizers? If so can you use then as a Pola? And would it work differently at different angles?

I would love to learn about how they work.
 
I use a linear pol. and a circular pol. THe linear is on the front and rotates while the circular is taped to not move. It works really well. The vari ND is suppose to work better but I've never seen one, and my setup cost $60 new for Tiffen 77mm from Adorama.

I does seem to still work as a polarizer and if I rotate the circular that is taped I would think that a different angle would get more or less polarization
 
I imagine those are just solid NDs that change only the overall amount of light as you dial- without affecting the color spectrum and reflections as a polarizer does. Sort of like the difference between polarized and non-polarized sunglasses.

Noah
 
From the thread in the 5D forum:

My variable ND solution is DIY. I use a low-profile Marumi 82mm circular polarizer (this one: http://cgi.ebay.com/Marumi-82mm-Cir...ters?hash=item4ceb17eb78&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14) with a Hoya 82mm linear polarizer (here: http://cgi.ebay.com/Hoya-82mm-LINEA...ters?hash=item35a38736fc&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14) screwed on top of it. When fitted on my 28-75mm zoom lens with 67mm filter threads, there is no vignetting from the filters at 28mm. (This is on the 5D.)

The DIY will perform just as well as the Singh-Ray and the Fader ND. It's also more difficult and inconvenient to use. But it's cheaper, and it allows me to control polarization as well, because I have two rings that I can rotate (linear polarizer's ring is for controlling exposure, circular polarizer's ring is for controlling polarization) instead of just one. Two jobs in one.

By the way, the polarizers should be one linear and one circular. Two circular polarizers won't work; all that you get is a variable color filter that goes from blue to yellow. Two linear polarizers will work, but no new linear polarizer models are being released, so you won't find niceties such as a thin frame.
 
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NoahK said:
I imagine those are just solid NDs that change only the overall amount of light as you dial- without affecting the color spectrum and reflections as a polarizer does. Sort of like the difference between polarized and non-polarized sunglasses.

Noah
Click to expand...
No, all variable ND filters are made of two polarizers. That's the only way that it can work. In fact, Singh-Ray even warns that rotating the ring beyond the specified range will result in color shifts and the "crossbar effect."
 
Ok, so are they a circular and a linear? Or are they both linears?

And, could you take it apart to use as a plain pola (for less light loss)? I guess not but might as well ask.
 
USLatin said:
Ok, so are they a circular and a linear? Or are they both linears?

And, could you take it apart to use as a plain pola (for less light loss)? I guess not but might as well ask.
Click to expand...


I'd like to know this as well.
 
As I understand it, it is two linears. You get the effect of a plain pola by "lining them up" (or setting them perpendicular to each other?) and then unscrewing the whole thing a little till you get the orientation desired. Don't quote me on the technical aspect of how this works, but if you fiddle with it the way I described you'll see what I mean.
 
ydgmdlu said:
From the thread in the 5D forum:

My variable ND solution is DIY. I use a low-profile Marumi 82mm circular polarizer (this one: http://cgi.ebay.com/Marumi-82mm-Cir...ters?hash=item4ceb17eb78&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14) with a Hoya 82mm linear polarizer (here: http://cgi.ebay.com/Hoya-82mm-LINEA...ters?hash=item35a38736fc&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14) screwed on top of it. When fitted on my 28-75mm zoom lens with 67mm filter threads, there is no vignetting from the filters at 28mm. (This is on the 5D.)

The DIY will perform just as well as the Singh-Ray and the Fader ND. It's also more difficult and inconvenient to use. But it's cheaper, and it allows me to control polarization as well, because I have two rings that I can rotate (linear polarizer's ring is for controlling.
Click to expand...

ydgmdlu,

I followed your advice and purchased the exact same filters as you had, in 77mm, for my 20mm 1.7 (46mm), 50mm 1.4 FD (52mm) and 14-140 HD (62mm).

i am a complete noob here and besides attaching the CIR-pol to the lens and the LIN-pol on top of that, could you give me some basic instructions on how to use this setup?

I'm very familiar with SLR still photography and general polarizer use, but I'm new to video and ND filters. If you could give me some pointers with this setup on how to position the filters to start and then how to engage them for use while filming (and how to compensate the metering, etc.), particulary with this setup, i would be grateful.

Also, how would i go about dialing-in some actual polarization in addition to the ND filtering in these shots?

Is this setup exactly the same as the Singh-Ray Vari-N-Duo?

many thanks for your help.
 
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