Cool product

[dylanstraub]

I was in the local camera joint the other day looking for a 52mm ND filter (2 stops) and the guy showed me this cool Promaster filter that changes from light grey to very dark in the same way you would rotate a circular polarizer. This is a really cool product and I'm just itching to try it out. If it's as good as I think it will be I might opt for the 58mm too. Anyway I just thought I'd share.

 

[rokvi]

Is that the one that goes up to 10? and was it expensive?

 

[Ernicus]

circular variable nd filter. they are pretty awesome, and usually pretty pricey...seen some as high as 300 bucks for one.

 

[dylanstraub]

Yeah I'm pretty sure it does go up to 10 and then resets back to one. It's just pure awesomeness and I only paid $43 for it. It didn't break the bank because it's a promaster and not a hoya. I'm not sure if there really is a difference between the two brands (other than marketing budget lol) so I'll happily use the Promaster.

 

[SCraig]

I'd recommend just getting the 58mm with a step down ring to 52mm. No reason to have two of the same filter when a step-down ring will do the job.

 

[Dao]

I once looked at the variable ND filter. And noticed that it may have issue with wide angle focal length which is what I really want to use that for (Landscape with water smoothing type scenario), then I decided not to bother anymore.

The issue with variable filter for wide angle lens is the irregularities. I really do not want uneven exposure on my photos. (Even the one that cost over $300 has issue like that, so I assume anything below that should have it)

Of course, if it is used for shooting wide aperture with my 85mm lens in a sunny day, it may not have any issue.

 

[tirediron]

There's a reason that your Promaster cost $43 and the equivalent product from Singh-Ray costs ~$400 and it's NOT marketing budgets. Remember that in even the cheapest lens, tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars of R&D have been used. Does it really make sense to handicap that with a cheap filter? Tiffen and Hoya are not at the top of the pack in filters, but some of their multi-coated lines are decent. If you can, I would suggest returning this and saving for something a little better. It will pay off in the long run!