ND filter, please help....

[tron76]

I am totally Frustrated ...i have been seeing photos of amazing water effects online.....and everywhere it says...u need ND filters for this..so i bought a circular ND variable one...i tried to use it today....and...the results were TERRIBLE...i turned the ND filter to near the darkest it can go.....and when shooting landscape it was dark on the top left and bottom right of the pic.........and worse...when i put the cam into portrait ......i had big thick black vignettes going horizontally through the pics....totally destroying it...i tried using both full auto and manual ...neither seems to give the desired effect...................really disappointed.if someone can please give me some advise it would be great

 

[christop]

Sounds like you bought a circular polarizer (CPL) instead of a neutral density (ND) filter. I've never heard of a circular ND filter before.

 

[480sparky39 38]

I'm on my mobile right now, so I cannot see the images.

But I'll bet you dollars to donuts you bought a super-cheap VND.

 

[KmH]

Sounds like you bought a circular polarizer (CPL) instead of a neutral density (ND) filter. I've never heard of a circular ND filter before.

They make variable ND filters.

Good ones are in the $400 neighborhood.

Cheap ones are often called Faders. UltraPro 77mm Variable NDX Fader Filter ND2 - ND1000

 

[christop]

Huh, I hadn't heard of variable neutral density filters before... do they work by using two polarizing filters at a variable angle to each other?

 

[EIngerson]

I would recommend a LEE set-up, but you can get a Cokin kit for a very reasonable price and get some good results.
Amazon.com: Complete ND Neutral Density Filter Set Compatible with Cokin P Series - Includes: Graduated ND2 ND4 ND8, Full ND2 ND4 ND8 Filters, DSLR Camera Bag, Square Filter Holder, Square Lens Hood, Complete Adapter Ring Set, MagicFiber Microfiber L

 

[tron76]

hi...sorry i should give more info....its an INCA pro 77mm variable ND filter..2-8 stops by rotating the outer ring...

 

[KmH]

Using the Shift key and loosing the ... also helps.

Notice that very few members use texting lingo on the forums, because it is not a readable.

 

[BrianV]

By amazing water effects- you mean wanting a slow shutter-speed to catch the motion of the water?

Buy a couple of ND filters, 4x and 8x. you can stack them. Variable ND filters that use Polarizing filters have some interaction with polarized light in the scene. That seems like it was going on in your image.

 

[Buckster]

Using the Shift key and loosing the ... also helps.

Notice that very few members use texting lingo on the forums, because it is not a readable.

Notice also that very few members actually care about such things, as long as they can understand the message.

Notice also that you seem to have some OCD issues.

BTW, since you're so big into constantly correcting others, "loosing" is something you do to make something loose as in not tight, while "losing" is something that happens to your keys resulting in them being missing.

Also, why do you have "a" between "not" and "readable"? What grammatical function does that serve?

 

[Helen B]

Try backing the filter off from the maximum density. A lot of variable NDs do that when turned to the very maximum.

... ..... .. . .......


(It isn't interaction with polarized light in the scene, it is interactions between the two polarizing filters when exactly crossed. The VND may be a pair of CPLs, with the pola elements next to each other and the wave plates on the outside of the sandwich. This dramatically reduces the polarizing effect in terms of the subject - polarized light from the subject is first circularly polarized.)

 

[tron76]

@Helen, yes i thought that might have been the problem, but the lower setting wasnt giving me that ''dream'' like water i was hoping for, i guess the water was too still...? im not sure.
but i may return this filter and go for another type.

And yes buckster is right i dont care to much about how many dots i use in my....text..... i am quite new to photography and i am learning so i came here for peer advice..thats what it is for.....its nice when people help to share the joy of a hobby we all enjoy
personally i love landscapes and esp those photos of beaches with rocks and the waves which have just melted around the rocks like in a dream....that is the effect i was going for...i thought this filter would help me to do that...
if you have other advice on how i go about getting that style please let me know

thanks

 

[deeky]

My first advice for getting good help here - first impressions are important, lose the attitude. Just understand that when you ask for advice on the internet, you open yourself up to any and all advice. That's just the way it is.

As far as the effect, you are shooting at only 1 second shutter speed. The effect I think you want is shot at a much longer exposure. To acheive that, use something like a 10-stop ND filter. Also, I think getting down lower to the water level a little will help and yes, you are right - a little water movement is needed to create the milky effect you seem to be wanting.

 

[chris]

I am assuming that what you are trying to get is for the water to look 'misty' and blurred while other elements in the shot look sharp. If that is so then you need to find some water that is flowing rapidly over rocks or a rough sea. Your photos are of a placid stretch of water with little apparent movement so you will always struggle to get the dreamy effect that you are after.

Also, if you cannot get a long enough exposure time with low ISO and small (high f number) aperture then get a decent neutral density filter not a cheap variable one. For the exposure times needed for the effect you want you will also need a tripod or somewhere solid to rest the camera.

 

[tron76]

deeky, not sure where the ''attitude'' was in my original question but thanks for the other advice.
i think ill do what chris said also and take back the variable and get the other rectangle slide in ones i have seen online..it seems that are more effective

thanks everyone.