Filter help

[cdryden]

Hello everyone,

I am looking for a recommendation on which filter to buy. I am in need of a decent 10 stop 58mm filter at a affordable price. ($50 or less) I am using a Canon Rebel T3 if that makes any difference.

Thanks,
C

 

[cdryden]

Ok, after reading some more on the subject I have realized I am probably going to have to expand my budget some for this item. So, what would be a decent quality 10 stop filter around $100.00?

 

[astroNikon]

If you are looking for a screw in filter I would first look at the german makers ... Lee, B+W, Heliopan. If you can find them used on ebay, etc then you can save some money too.

Tiffen and other makers also offer Pro level filters but I haven't researched them.

I have all B+W filters myself - screwing.
I'll be adding square filters for when I dive in GNDs.

 

[astroNikon]

just looking at amazon .... for $55 you can get a single coating 10x 3.0 B+W 58mm ND filter
Amazon.com : B+W 58mm ND 3.0-1, 000X with Single Coating (110) : Camera Lens Neutral Density Filters : Camera & Photo


truthfully I would spend a couple extra dollars and get it from a reputable camera dealer such as Adorama $55.88 w/free shipping
B + W 58mm 110 3.0 (1000X) ND Filter 65-1066172

 

[Ido]

Don't buy the Tiffen 3.0 Neutral Density Filter. I did, and sorely regret it. It leaves a severe magenta cast over the image, which isn't correctable in RAW processing, other than converting to black and white, obviously.

The B+W 3.0 ND MRC 110M seems like a safe choice. Safest would be a LEE Big Stopper, but that's out of your price range.

 

[astroNikon]

Also, the 58mm filter only fits lens that use 58 or smaller (with a step up ring).

You may want ot consider something larger - 77mm is considered the normal Pro size and use a step up ring. but the 77mm is quite a bit more money, and you may not know what lenses you want in the future. So just getting this 58 would be fine. I have some 52 & 67mm B+W filters but now only get 77 as I went to 77mm filter sized lenses last year before knowing much about it all.

 

[astroNikon]

Also, when you take long exposures .. make sure you cover your viewfinder. On a long exposure it allow light to get to the sensor. Better cameras has a viewfinder shutter that lets you close it. (cheapo solution: use your camera strap and flop it over it, or even a piece of electrical tape (that has something over the area to prevent it from sticking to the viewfinder glass)). The camera comes with a small viewfinder cover that you remove your little eyepiece and replaec it with .. not very convenient if you ask me ... I just cover mine with a little device or my camera strap.

fyi .. when light get in through the viewfinder everything goes purple

 

[cdryden]

Awesome advice, thank you both so much. I just starting to take photography seriously and obviously still have a lot to learn, so I appreciate your help greatly.