What strength NDs for the FS100?

Michael Solomon

Michael Solomon

Well-known member
So I just ordered my mattebox and I'm putting together a set of filters. What strength ND's would you guys recommend for shooting outdoors? Mattebox can accomodate to 4x4's at the same time.

I was thinking a 0.9 and a 1.5 for the NDs

Will that cover me for overcast -> full sunny day (if I stack both)
 
I wonder why that shutter too.

I use a 3/6/9 and can stack two for a 1.5.
even at that strength you can get a chroma problem on current sensors. The EX1/3 were bad with this. - I forget the tech name for it other than chroma shift - but black turns to magenta and you can hardly torture it back in correction. study up on this before you buy. I have shot a truckload of EXTs for national broadcast and 3/6/9 is a good mix. I always wanted a 1.2 but never felt I needed it enough to part with $150 ;) .
 
1/2500 works perfectly for slo-mo when shooting at 50fps, when I shot at 1/100 (aka the 180 rule) the footage was very blurry, I shoot very fast action sport.
 
plasticam said:
I wonder why that shutter too.

I use a 3/6/9 and can stack two for a 1.5.
even at that strength you can get a chroma problem on current sensors. The EX1/3 were bad with this. - I forget the tech name for it other than chroma shift - but black turns to magenta and you can hardly torture it back in correction. study up on this before you buy. I have shot a truckload of EXTs for national broadcast and 3/6/9 is a good mix. I always wanted a 1.2 but never felt I needed it enough to part with $150 ;) .
Click to expand...

Hrmm... Can't decide if I want to to a 0.3 and a 0.9 ---or--- a 0.9 and a 0.6

So strength wise you never find yourself needing anything over 5 stops (1.5)?
 
I have the same series9 .3.6.9 i've owned since the 80's so they don't stack easly, but i'm not a huge fan of WFO at all costs, more likely to try to be in 4/5.6/8 range when possiable.. so getting to 1.4 on a sunny day is a question i'm not likely going to need to answer

i've not seen IR polution in the blacks with the FS, but yea, it's a PITA to remove should it show up, might not be a bad idea to rent an IR/ND and test them against standard ND's if you need a huge pile of stops removed

d
 
If it makes you feel better, I have spent more than that on a single filter - and then purchased 50 of them at a time. They are a necessary part of almost any camera system big or small, still or motion.
 
Yah, I keep forgetting those "hidden costs" when upgrading to a new camera system. New pelican case cost $220. new rail system cost $500, $300 mattebox, filters, adapters, etc. Ay yai yai.

Thought I would buy an external recorder and some zeiss glass but now that's just way too far out of the budget after all of the "essential" accessories ><

Oh well, maybe in the future. Can always rent the lenses but it's hard to find a recorder to rent
 
Here's my set, lets me be very flexible. On a bright day I usually run a .6 or .9 with a pola.
.3 .6 .9 1.2, pola, .6 grad
 
But a good set of 4x5.65 filters is an investment that will likely work with any future camera purchase, and if taken care of last a lifetime.
 
Good point David. the sting diminishes every year ;)
and don't forget your wedges. I have a lot of grads in differing colors and densities. a .6 neutral being the workhorse I think.
I love my sunrise and sunsets too.
 
This is all so true....filters really don't care what camera is behind them. If shooting is your profession, the cost of filters at the end of your career will be about $.001 per day. Way better than what you will get out of your FS100. Bargain.
 
Yah, for now though I'm bankrupt. Bought two 4x4 ND's, will have to rent the others for now which I don't have a problem with. Will suffice until I finally buy what I'm missing.
 
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