How many and which grayfilters do you use ?

[Solarflare]

I have more and more realized that having some grayfilters could really help me in various situations.

For example, in order to use a fill flash in bright light, since I have a too cheap camera to do the fast sync, and my simple FB-400 flash cant do it either.

Or just to use my prime lens in bright light, without having to close the aperture, since my camera only manages 1/4000 sec shutter speed max.

I'm just unsure which filters to get. I heard its better to never use more than one grayfilter at a time, to avoid reducing picture quality. So maybe I should get ND4, ND16, ND64, and ND256 ?

What do you think ?

P.s.: Hey now my signature is gone all the time.

P.p.s.: Also, drat. Wrong section. Any moderator could move this to http://www.thephotoforum.com/forum/p...ment-products/ ?

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[cgipson1]

I have never heard them called Gray filters... only Neutral Density filters!

I have a 4 stop and a 10 stop... they have always gotten the job done.

[tirediron]

There are some options, depending on your budget. You can buy something like Singh-Ray's 'Vario-grad' which will give you from one to ten stops simply by rotating the front filter element, but it's pricey, around $400 in 77mm. If you go for regular filters, then I would suggest a 1-2-3 kit, which, if combined give you a total of six stops. That would take your 1/4000 shutter speed down to 1/60! Good NDs should run $60-75 in smaller sizes.

[usayit]

3 stop and 10 stop

[Solarflare]

Thanks guys

Yeah I know I can add grayfilters, but I've been told its better quality if I dont. Its also easier.

I decided to get 2, 4 and 6 stops

[usayit]

I highly recommend spending the money to get a large filter size and use filter step-up rings to fit them to various lenses. Costs more but will be more beneficial in the long run.

[Solarflare]

Thanks but too late Also I right now only need 52mm for both my lenses