d1rockwild
Well-known member
Hey guys. Sent an email to Light Craft Workshop a couple days ago. No response, so either they didn't understand what I meant (it was confusing) or just didn't care, but basically I shared with them thoughts I have for variable ND filters. thought I'd share it with you guys to see if anyone else would be interested.
I'm an event videographer, so of course, you can never be fast enough when tweaking your gear. One thing that's bugged me about variable ND filters is the flare. So of course, you need, at the least, a lens hood. But if I need to take the ND filter off for low-light stuff, I now have to put on a different lens hood since the ND filter size is different from the lens by itself. Before I continue, yes I'm aware of matteboxes, however they're just a little big and cumbersome for my needs.
So anyway, I thought it'd be awesome if LCW or whomever, came out with something like, filter mounts. These could and would stay on the lens at all times and would have no glass. It would just basically be a filter ring that has a bayonet or snap-on lens hood capability. For the variable ND filter (the part that would actually have glass) would also have some sort of quick-release mechanism to be taken off the filter mount quickly and and easily. A snap-Variable ND filter or perhaps something with magnets that would attach to the filter mount.
The kicker would be, the lens hood could be attached and un-attached without touching the variable ND filter. Likewise, I could attach and un-attach the ND filter witout having to touch the lens hood. Right now, I have to use these cheap, screw-on lens hoods that go directly into the variable ND filter. If I take the filter off, I have to put on a different lens hood for the bare lens. Annoying.
So I guess what I'm suggesting, is a miniaturized mattebox type of thing, as basically, that's the functionality I need, but without the bulk.
It's kind of a tall order, and I don't have every little detail about it in my head, but it seems like it could be done, if LCW came out with their own brand of filter mounts and LCW branded lens hoods. It would cut down on how many hoods I'd bring and greatly increase my speed of adjustments. Of course, the filter/hood mount, plus probably newly designed variable ND filters would be bigger than they are now, they could still be much smaller than a mattebox setup.
Firstly, did that all make sense, and secondly, would anybody else be interested in this? Thanks.
I'm an event videographer, so of course, you can never be fast enough when tweaking your gear. One thing that's bugged me about variable ND filters is the flare. So of course, you need, at the least, a lens hood. But if I need to take the ND filter off for low-light stuff, I now have to put on a different lens hood since the ND filter size is different from the lens by itself. Before I continue, yes I'm aware of matteboxes, however they're just a little big and cumbersome for my needs.
So anyway, I thought it'd be awesome if LCW or whomever, came out with something like, filter mounts. These could and would stay on the lens at all times and would have no glass. It would just basically be a filter ring that has a bayonet or snap-on lens hood capability. For the variable ND filter (the part that would actually have glass) would also have some sort of quick-release mechanism to be taken off the filter mount quickly and and easily. A snap-Variable ND filter or perhaps something with magnets that would attach to the filter mount.
The kicker would be, the lens hood could be attached and un-attached without touching the variable ND filter. Likewise, I could attach and un-attach the ND filter witout having to touch the lens hood. Right now, I have to use these cheap, screw-on lens hoods that go directly into the variable ND filter. If I take the filter off, I have to put on a different lens hood for the bare lens. Annoying.
So I guess what I'm suggesting, is a miniaturized mattebox type of thing, as basically, that's the functionality I need, but without the bulk.
It's kind of a tall order, and I don't have every little detail about it in my head, but it seems like it could be done, if LCW came out with their own brand of filter mounts and LCW branded lens hoods. It would cut down on how many hoods I'd bring and greatly increase my speed of adjustments. Of course, the filter/hood mount, plus probably newly designed variable ND filters would be bigger than they are now, they could still be much smaller than a mattebox setup.
Firstly, did that all make sense, and secondly, would anybody else be interested in this? Thanks.
