Have 4 lenses, now looking at ND filters. Need help!

S

sparky33

Well-known member
I have and use all of these to shoot outdoors:
Nokton 25mm F.95 - 52mm thread
Panasonic 20mm pancake - 46mm thread
Panasonic 14-140mm kit lens - 62mm thread
Panasonic 100-200mm lens - 67mm thread

Keeping the image sharp is very important at all distances.
Should I just get a Singh-Ray variable ND and be done with it?
If so, which size should I get, and which one? 77mm? 82mm?
Which step down rings? I've also heard with the 20mm pancake you don't want to direct attach a step down ring to it. I do have a HOYA UV filter on all of these (except the Nokton which I just bought).
I may switch to any/all lenses at any given time while shooting. Again, if I have to spend $300-$400 bucks that's fine.

What would you do?
Thanks for your help!

Shawn
 
max thread 67 + for avoiding stacking vignetting - next 1-2 size = 72/77 are enough , singh-ray have 77 (if you not planning larger lenses)
step rings for minimal affecting of quality must be slim and exact (not as stack 46-52-57-62-67-72-77 but 46-77 52-77 62-77 67-77)

about UV - even good glass in middle not ideal ... but possible it may be leaved inplace - you will be need to ckeck taht by yourself

for fast switching need "ready to shoot" already interconnected devices ... or with fast changing possibility as in cokin-p system ...
 
Last edited:
DaLiV said:
max thread 67 + for avoiding stacking vignetting - next 1-2 size = 72/77 are enough , singh-ray have 77 (if you not planning larger lenses)
step rings for minimal affecting of quality must be slim and exact (not as stack 46-52-57-62-67-72-77 but 46-77 52-77 62-77 67-77)

about UV - even good glass in middle not ideal ... but possible it may be leaved inplace - you will be need to ckeck taht by yourself

for fast switching need "ready to shoot" already interconnected devices ... or with fast changing possibility as in cokin-p system ...
Click to expand...

So it looks like I'd be ok for the 52-77, 62-77, and 67-77. I cannot find a 46-77 step up ring, so would 46-52-77 be ok for the 20mm pancake?

Thanks for your help before I spend all this $$$.

Shawn
 
In the same boat Sparky. I am waiting and looking at Heliopan. Tiffen also has a new Variable ND either out or coming soon.
But i'm think Heliopan has the best price-point for me without losing quality.
 
The Tiffen looks sweet, but according to an ebay seller "the first batch had manufacturing problems".

http://www.vimeo.com/23699170


The cheapest I could find the Heliopan is from this site:
http://hedlerusa.com/viewcategory.php?groupid=36

I read Phillip's review on the Helipan but no one answered him about long focus lengths and sharpness. I say our best bet TODAY is the Singh-Ray "thin" version. But who knows. Also, would do I do with the 20mm pancake? 46-52-77? Don't want my 2nd best lens to vingette!
 
So guys, before I buy all this, let me know if you think I'll have any trouble.

I am getting the 67mm Heliopan here:
http://hedlerusa.com/viewitem.php?productid=341

This will cover the Panasonic 100-300 lens without an adapter. Also will cover the Nokton as the lens hood is threaded 67mm as well.

So that leaves the 20mm pancake. I will get a 46mm-67mm step up adapter from here:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/46mm-67mm-STE...Photography_Adapter_Rings&hash=item2c5dda0a36

Lastly, I'll get a 62mm - 67mm from anywhere for the 14-140.

Can anyone see any flaws in what I'm doing here? Will this work?

Thanks!
Shawn
 
Well I have made my purchase. Went ahead with the Singh-Ray 77mm Vari-ND, 46-52mm, 52-77mm, 67-77mm, 62-77mm adapters. I will let you know if I've made a tragic mistake or a great purchase, or somewhere in between.
I kept coming back to Singh-Ray for a couple of reasons; it was always called "the sharpest" from many sites where people had it (and others) and I just kept watching that Canon 7D video (first hit on YouTube) where it was being used.
 
So far I'm very impressed. I'm going to setup a shoot this weekend with all the lenses, which should cover the 20mm, 25mm, 14-140 and 100-300. I will shoot all video in 24p cinema mode, 1/50 shutter, ISO 160. I will do ETC tests as well, and zoom completely out with and without the Singh-Ray.

All I can say so far is I have 0 vignetting problems, but again, the widest lens is the 20mm. I'm using 2 step ups for it; 46-52 and 52-77. The Singh-Ray gets really dark past the maximum setting. I will say I actually shot a properly exposure picture in broad daylight @ 1/50 shutter for the first time with the Nokton!

I'm going to shoot for Saturday or Sunday as close to noon and set something up colorful I can zoom in on a bit.

Lastly, I'll host the videos and pictures on my web server to eliminate the Vimeo/Youtube recompression variable so others can make their own decision. I'm cool like that :)

Standby...
Shawn
 
I'm interested in what sharpness degradation there is with the variable ND on the 100-300mm. I have heard this is a big No-No and only to use a fixed ND on extreme telephoto because of blurring of the image. I really need an ND solution for the 100-300 that can be used in full daylight for nature video and photography. Recommendation after your test shoot would be very welcome.
 
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