neutral density filter

Don't expect "quality" results from either of those options, they are way to affordable to expect decent results. Anytime you put glass in front of your lens you are going to be degrading the image in one way or another. With low quality ND's you will often find a color cast (green or purple tint) in your footage. Low quality filters often result in low contrast, especially when filming into a a strong light source or backlit situations. Variable NDs are convenient but will result in an X pattern if pushed too far (on top of the former mentioned issues).
 
Tiffen is a brand Shane Hurlbut uses and recommends. I have Tiffen ND 6 (2 stop reduction), ND 9 (3 stops), and ND 1.2 (4 stops reduction) and have seen no problems with them. At the heavier densities like when "stacking" the ND 6 and ND 9 for 5 stop reduction, a very very slight magenta cast may show in the image or footage but it is so slight as to be either nothing to have to correct or something very easily corrected in the post processing if you have a fair eye for color.

I have Polaroid variable ND filters in 46mm, 52mm, and 58mm but rarely use them. They don't seem to have any problems but for anything critical I will use single strength ND filters (the Tiffens).

Hoya is also reputed to be an excellent quality brand.
 
do you think it would be good to have 3 ND filters ?

If i buy only a 0.9 ND filter, would it be a bit enough you think ?

I hesitate between buying the 3 filters or only one.

Thanks in advance,
 
deleuze3 said:
do you think it would be good to have 3 ND filters ?

If i buy only a 0.9 ND filter, would it be a bit enough you think ?

I hesitate between buying the 3 filters or only one.

Thanks in advance,
Click to expand...

I almost never use the 0.3 or 0.6 ND strengths. I found that when need ND I needed a LOT! In the bright Texas sun often the 0.9 (3 stops) was not enough. Just yesterday I got caught without any ND filter and wound up having to use f22 even with lowest ISO on the camera to get correct exposure. I kept the shutter at 1bu/60th because it was a moving shot and I wanted no "strobing" or stuttery effect. I did wind up with some minor diffraction effect, slight softness.

Much depends on how bright daylight is where you are. If you feel a 3 stop reduction will work when you need ND, the 0.9ND should be enough. I try to keep a 1.2ND in my bag but forgot to put it in yesterday.
 
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