Can anyone recommend a graduated Nd filter and holder for me?

[shoulderpet]

Hi
Newbie here, looking forward to participating in this forum.

I am hoping someone can help, I take a lot of sunset photos and one thing that has become clear to me is that I need a graduated Nd filter but I do not know where to start.

Looking at the choices and not knowing which brands are good, what will work with what etc I am feeling somewhat overwhelmed.

Hoping someone can recommend an Nd filter and a compatible holder, I currently use a Sigma 17-50 lens with a 77mm thread

Thank you

 

[RAZKY]

Hi
Newbie here, looking forward to participating in this forum.

I am hoping someone can help, I take a lot of sunset photos and one thing that has become clear to me is that I need a graduated Nd filter but I do not know where to start.

Looking at the choices and not knowing which brands are good, what will work with what etc I am feeling somewhat overwhelmed.

Hoping someone can recommend an Nd filter and a compatible holder, I currently use a Sigma 17-50 lens with a 77mm thread

Thank you

Cokin P resin filters with their plastic holders are probably the best value, although glass filters such as Lee are more scratch-resistant. It's unlikely you'll see an optical difference between the two. My Cokin Neutral Density filters show absolutely no color cast, but some have reported otherwise. Glass filters and aluminum holders do have a much more substantial feel, of course.

 

[Thiophilos]

Years ago I wanted to improve my landscape photos. A book on the subject recommended graduated filters. I bought some but never used them. In the digital age with the excellent dynamic range of modern sensors, we fix brightness differences later in post-processing.

And yeah, that book was written in the days of slide film.

First time poster - are you coming back to look at replies?

 

[Scott Whaley]

I take a lot of sunset photos & never use a filter. Just under expose your photos to get the photo you like. Here is a simple of one of my shots.

 

[shoulderpet]

Thanks for the replies, I am wondering if instead of getting a graduated Nd filter and having to get the holder and adapter ring etc I wonder instead if I can just get a screw on Nd filter and take a picture with a long exposure time and pictures with shorter exposure times and combine them in post processing.

One thing that may be an issue is lens flare, hopefully if this happens it gets diluted down when the images are combined.

 

[Thiophilos]

Thanks for the replies, I am wondering if instead of getting a graduated Nd filter and having to get the holder and adapter ring etc I wonder instead if I can just get a screw on Nd filter and take a picture with a long exposure time and pictures with shorter exposure times and combine them in post processing.

One thing that may be an issue is lens flare, hopefully if this happens it gets diluted down when the images are combined.

You don't need an ND filter to take pictures at different exposures. Many cameras can be set to do exposure bracketing. Then combine them in post, either as HDR or by selecting the parts you want.

Most of the time the photos have enough dynamic range that it can be done in a single exposure. Then dodge and burn in post. That is much easier. Just watch the histogram to make sure the highlights are not clipped.

If a single exposure won't cover the tonal range, then you are dealing with an extreme situation, and it will be hard to get it to look good regardless of how you do it.