ND filter question

B

bbinnard

Well-known member
I'll be shooting both stills and HD video of animals and scenery outdoors near the equator (Gallapagos Islands & Machu Pichu.) I expect there will be lots of full sun. But maybe not. I do understand the need for ND filters for video. But since I am new to video I have some questions:

1. Is one filter enough? If so, which on? Or do I need a set of 3?

2. If 3 is the answer, what about the variable ones? Are they worth the increased price?

3. I normally keep a UV filter on my lens basically for protection (and because I had one with nothing else for it to do.) Do I take this off every time I want to use an ND?

4. I'll be merging stills & video. If I use an ND for the video but not the stills won't the results look odd? I mean, won't it appear like the exposures are different? Will I have to do something to the video in Vegas to make it match the stills? Or vice-versa?

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.
 
I don't know about the other questions, but for #4 you shouldn't have to worry about it. Some color correction will most likely be necessary, but that has nothing to do with the ND filters. You will be using ND to avoid having a high shutter speed in video, because a high shutter speed would make the video look as if a strobe light were being used. For stills there is no such problem, and you would only want to use ND if you want more motion blur.
 
The ND filter shouldn't have any real effect on the color or contrast of your image*(see last suggestion below), so whether you have it on or off the lens, the look should match. Obviously, you'll have to adjust your exposure to match whenever you change it.

I'd recommend having 2 strengths of ND filter. An 8x (which cuts 3-stops) and a 2x (1-stop). The 8x does a pretty decent job of letting you shoot video in the sun at 1/50th or 1/60th shutter at a reasonable f-stop. The 2x allows you flexibility to have 4-stops. Or take off the 8x and use the 2x to cut just one stop if that's all you need.

I'd take off the UV filter when using ND, because you want the least amount of glass in front of the lens as possible. The ND filter will protect the lens.

*Also, buy a high quality ND filter. The low-grade ones let light spill into the side of it, which can cause flares, low contrast and color shifts. Make sure to get one that specifically is made to block out light from the side. I've had good luck with Hoya HMC filters.
 
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