Vari ND Artifacts? Check the video

No matter which way one cuts it - a Vari/Fader/DIY/whatever ND-filter are just two polarizing filter clobbered together with all inherent problems that comes with having one infront of the lens times two or more. OK sometimes for still photography but one will always run into situations where weird things happen - especially once the camera is in motion. The most common and overlooked problem IMHO is how they kill the lustre of human skin making the person look dead. As suggested earlier in the thread, for serious work use real ND glass filters.
 
I guess I am most interested about the rough bang for buck of buying an additional linear polarizer for a DIY variable ND if I know I already need one for stills use versus another option. Agreed that it's not perfect compared to straight glass NDs. The skin tone comment is good to know, thanks for the heads-up.

From a practicality standpoint, it seems like two lower strength NDs stacked would allow for more options over a 1.8 if I was to go that route? Almost surreal how often the "fast, cheap, good" rule shows up in photo/video world.
 
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