ND Grad - recommendations?

F

fritz

Well-known member
Can anyone recommend a good ND Grad filter? I can't afford a matte box, so I am looking at getting a 72mm screw in filter. Can you get ones which are rotatable, so you can decide where you want the light and dark parts after you screw it on?

Also, how many stops should I be looking to take out on the dark part if I am using it to bring the brightness of the sky in line with the land or the ocean? I'm thinking the answer to this one is probably 'it depends on the time of day'...!

Any help appreciated!
 
Although they exist, it makes absolutely no sense to buy a 72mm screw in ND grad because you can't adjust the height of the transition. An inexpensive solution is to buy a Cokin P-size filter holder with 72mm adapter ring, and buy 2-stop Soft and 3-stop Hard Hitech (Formatt) P-size resin ND grads.
 
Thanks for your advice Barry. I did a search and found a place called 'The Filter Connection': (www.2filter.com) They have a Hitech P/85 Gradual Package for $55.54 which contains a filter with a holder and adaptor ring. Have you heard of this place? Also, is the quality of a resin filter ok, or is it a big step down from using glass filters?
 
I've heard TFC is honest, but slow on shipping. A high quality optical resin filter can equal or even exceed the optical quality of a glass filter, but the durability is considerably less. So handle it carefully and you'll be fine.
 
Thanks very much for your help Barry. It sounds like this is a much better option than getting a screw in filter - I think you've saved me a lot of hassle!
 
Just one more quick question - would you be able to tell me if the Cokin filter holder would vignette into shot on wide angles at all? I have spoken to a guy at B&H and I'm ready to order, but he was not able to give me any info on this. Most of the shots I do are wide angle landscapes, so it's pretty critical for me.

Thanks Barry (or anyone else who replies)!
 
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